UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-K
(Mark
One)
☒
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the fiscal year ended December 31 , 2024
or
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the transition period from _________ to _________
Commission
File Number: 001-41254
HWH
INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
87-3296100
(State
or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization)
(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
Number)
4800
Montgomery Lane , Suite 210
Bethesda ,
MD 20814
301 - 971-3955
(Address
of Principal
Executive
Offices)
Registrant’s
telephone number,
including
area code
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title
of each class
Trading
Symbol
Name
of each exchange on which registered
Common
Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
HWH
The
Nasdaq Capital Market
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No
☒
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No
☒
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule
405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting
company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,”
“smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
☐
Large accelerated filer
☐
Accelerated filer
☒
Non-accelerated filer
☒
Smaller reporting company
☒
Emerging growth company
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness
of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C 7262(b)) by the registered
public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐
If
securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statement of the registrant
included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation
received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act): Yes ☐ No
☒
Aggregate
market value of voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of July 1, 2024 based upon the closing
price of the common stock as reported by the Nasdaq Global Select Market on such date, was approximately $ 22,702,995 .
As
of March 31, 2025, there were 6,476,400
shares of Common Stock, par value $ 0.0001 per share of the Company issued and outstanding.
DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
HWH
International Inc.
Form
10-K
For
the Year Ended December 31, 2024
Table
of Contents
Page
PART I
Item
1.
Business
4
Item
1A.
Risk Factors
9
Item
1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
9
Item 1C.
Cybersecurity
9
Item
2.
Properties
9
Item
3.
Legal Proceedings
9
Item
4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
9
PART II
Item
5.
Market for Company’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
10
Item
6.
[RESERVED]
11
Item
7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
12
Item
7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
21
Item
8.
Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
22
Item
9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures
23
Item
9A.
Controls and Procedures
23
Item
9B.
Other Information
23
Item
9C
Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
23
PART III
Item
10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
24
Item
11.
Executive Compensation
29
Item
12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
30
Item
13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
31
Item
14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
34
PART IV
Item
15.
Exhibit and Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules
35
Item
16.
Form 10-K Summary
36
Signatures
36
2
Throughout
this Report on Form 10-K, the terms the “Company,” “HWH,” “we,” “us,” and “our”
refer to HWH International Inc., and “our board of directors” refers to the board of directors of HWH International Inc.
CAUTIONARY
STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This
Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, our future operating results and financial
position, our business strategy, and other objectives for our future operations. The words “anticipate,” “believe,”
“intend,” “expect,” “may,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,”
“potential” and similar expression are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking
statements contain these identifying words. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections
about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. There
are a number of important risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking
statements. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should
not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions
and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact
of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments that we may make.
You
should read this Report on Form 10-K and the documents that we have filed as exhibits to this Report on Form 10-K completely and with
the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. The forward-looking statements contained
in this Report on Form 10-K are made as of the date of this Report on Form 10-K, and we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
3
PART
I
Item
1. Business.
General
The
Company was incorporated in Delaware on October 20, 2021 under the name Alset Capital Acquisition Corp. The Company was formed for the
purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination
with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”). On February 3, 2022, the Company completed its Initial Public Offering.
The Company consummated the Business Combination on January 9, 2024 and changed its name from “Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.”
to “HWH International Inc.”
The
business we acquired in January of 2024 started in South Korea with a single-level membership marketing model with limited products for
sale. We registered the business on April 1, 2019, and we started selling founders packages on July 1, 2019. While we had been profitable
and growing, the COVID-19 pandemic had a material adverse effect on such growth and profits. We created a new corporate structure, with
subsidiaries in the United States, Hong Kong and Singapore, that would allow for quick geographical expansion and turning our focus to
the Hapi Café development.
We
have 9,811 individuals with founding member status. This is a privileged class that will be able to enjoy continuous membership benefits
given that they have trusted the Company and joined at an early stage. Such benefits include the ability to purchase new future memberships,
in the model described below, at a favorable rate to be determined by the Company. They will also continue to be able to earn affiliate
commissions as they sell our products in the marketplace and enjoy discounted rates when visiting Hapi Cafés until further notice.
The total number of founding members was capped at 10,000. The Company is in the midst of implementing a new membership model. While
we are not currently selling memberships, we intend to resume membership sales under this new model.
Members
will get exclusive discounts on Hapi Marketplace products, priority invites to product launch events and other parties, and look to earn
passive income through affiliate commissions at Hapi Marketplace.
Our
operations include:
Hapi
Marketplace, which offers certain products at a discounted price to our members. Hapi Marketplace, HWH’s online consumer
marketplace, went live in September of 2024, and now offers over 6,500 products from manufacturers and wholesalers, including a wide
range of items such as bathroom supplies, fashion products, accessories, cosmetics, and health supplements.
Hapi
Cafés, which are, and will be, in-person, location-based social experiences, offer members the opportunity to build a
sense of community with like-minded customers who share a potential interest in our products. The cafes expose our members to and educate
them about the products and services of our affiliates, providing us with the chance to significantly increase our membership base as
well as increase the amounts spent by our members on our affiliates’ products and services. Each of our cafés is a “Hapi
Café.” We opened proof-of-concept Hapi Café locations in Seoul, South Korea and Singapore in May 2022, July 2022
and April 2024, respectively, and plan to open additional Hapi Cafés as we beta test and further improve our business concept.
We intend to grow our memberships as we grow the number of Hapi Cafés around the world. Hapi Cafe is positioned to be an integral
part of HWH’s business model.
Our
travel business is in the planning stage as we are working with our affiliates to determine the market-by-market services. Through
our travel business, we plan to offer exclusive access to unpublished rates and discounts on air travel, cruises, car rentals,
hotels, and resorts for members. We have made a minority investment into a travel agency with a HK, China and Malaysia presence. The
focus is primarily on educational tours for China’s primary and secondary school students visiting attractions and tours in
China and overseas. We also conduct business for hotel booking offers to a hotel booking platform as well as organizing tour
conferences for groups and communities. The Company shall continue develop consumer traveling services and hotel booking services in
Asia.
4
Hapi
Wealth Builder is in the planning stage as we are exploring the options of providing services to our members through
financial informational materials aimed at various types of investing opportunities. The team has been diligently producing digital
content for Hapi Wealth Builder and working to collaborate with the right partners to launch the program and make it available to
members. We have completed a soft launch with Hapi Cafe China to build the credibility and reputation of the Company and its Hapi Wealth Builder business, which we intend to launch later
in 2025.
Market
Opportunity
Following
the COVID-19 pandemic, we believe people are looking for in-person communities. By offering a social and business centric atmosphere
at our Hapi Cafés, we plan to leverage this deeply-rooted desire and build a membership organization, increase their familiarity
with and educate them about the products and services of our affiliates and how those products and services can help them in their own
individual pursuits of health, wealth and happiness.
Growth
Strategy
Our
strategy is to continuously grow our membership base, while displaying to our members the added benefits of the higher tiers of membership.
We will look to accomplish this by providing a comfortable in person setting of a Hapi Café for our customers in many more locations.
We also plan to continually expand our product offerings and the services our affiliate companies can provide in the belief that this
can serve to grow our membership base and have our members increasingly opt to avail themselves of membership options that offer them
larger discounts and other benefits on the products and services of our affiliates.
Nasdaq
Deficiency
On
March 7, 2024, we received notice from Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”) indicating that, because the market value of our
common stock had been below $50,000,000 for the prior 37 consecutive business days, we no longer complied with the minimum market value
of listed securities (the “MVLS”) requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Market under Rule 5450(b)(2)(A)
of Nasdaq Listing Rules.
Nasdaq’s
notice had no immediate effect on the listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market. Pursuant to Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5810(c)(3)(C),
we had been provided an initial compliance period of 180 calendar days, or until September 3, 2024, to regain compliance with the MVLS
requirement. To regain compliance, the Company’s MVLS was required to be at least $50,000,000 or more for a minimum of ten consecutive
business days prior to September 3, 2024. In that regard, on September 9, 2024, the Company received a notice from the Staff that the
matter of the MVLS deficiency was to be considered at the Company’s upcoming appeal with the Nasdaq Hearings Panel.
5
On
February 22, 2024, the Nasdaq Staff (the “Staff”) notified the Company that for the previous 30 consecutive trading days,
the MVPHS had been below the minimum $15,000,000 required for continued listing as set forth in Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(C) (the “Rule”).
Therefore, in accordance with Marketplace Rule 5810(c)(3)(D), the Company was provided 180 calendar days, or until August 20, 2024, to
regain compliance with the Rule. In that regard, on August 27, 2024, the Company received a notice from the Staff that the Company will
be delisted from the Nasdaq Global Market, unless the Company requested an appeal of this determination by September 3, 2024.
The
Company presented its compliance plan to the Panel at a hearing on October 15, 2024. On October 21, 2024, the Company received a notice
from the Panel granting the Company an extension to phase down its securities to the Nasdaq Capital Market and demonstrate compliance
with the market value of its publicly held shares (the “MVPHS”) and Stockholders’ Equity requirements as set forth
in Nasdaq Listing Rules 5550(a)(5) and 5550(b)(1).
On
September 4, 2024, the Company received written notice (the “Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Staff of Nasdaq notifying
the Company that for the prior 30 consecutive business days prior to the date of the Notice, the Company’s bid price was below
the minimum $1 required for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) (the “Bid
Price Requirement”). In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), Nasdaq provided the Company with 180 calendar days,
or until March 3, 2025, (the “Compliance Date”), to regain compliance with the Bid Price Requirement.
On
March 10, 2025, the Company received written notice (the “Compliance Notice”) from Nasdaq informing the Company that it has
regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), which requires that companies listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market maintain a
minimum bid price of $1.00 per share. Nasdaq notified the Company in the Compliance Notice that, from February 24, 2025 to March 7, 2025,
the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock had been $1.00 per share or greater and, accordingly, the Company had regained
compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) and that the matter was now closed. The Company is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
On
February 18, 2025, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
with the Delaware Secretary of State to effect a 1-for-5 reverse stock split (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Reverse Stock
Split became effective as of market open on February 24, 2025. The par value of the common stock following the reverse stock split remains
at $0.001 per share. The reverse stock split has been retroactively applied to all financial statements presented.
As
of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the total outstanding common shares of the Company were 5,593,920 and 2,000, respectively; the total outstanding
class A common shares of the Company were 0 and 94,750, respectively; the total outstanding class B common shares of the Company were
0 and 431,250, respectively.
Credit
Facility
On
April 24, 2024, we entered into a Credit Facility Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Alset Inc., a Texas corporation
and the Company’s indirect, majority stockholder, pursuant to which Alset Inc. has provided the Company a line of credit facility
(the “Credit Facility”), which provides a maximum, aggregate credit line of up to $1,000,000. As of December 31, 2024, $300,000 credit was used and $700,000 is available to use in the future.
Pursuant
to the Credit Agreement, the Company may request an advance (each, an “Advance”) on the Credit Facility. Each Advance shall
bear a simple interest rate of three percent (3%) per annum. Each Advance and all accrued but unpaid interest shall be due and payable
at the first (1st) anniversary of the effective date of the Credit Agreement. HWH may at any time during the term of the Credit Agreement
prepay a portion or all amounts of its indebtedness without penalty. Each advance shall not be secured by a lien or other encumbrance
on any HWH assets, but shall be solely a general unsecured debt obligation of HWH.
6
Debt
Conversion Agreements
On
September 24, 2024, HWH International Inc. entered into two debt conversion agreements with creditors (each an “Agreement,”
or collectively, the “Agreements”): (i) Alset International Limited (the Company’s majority stockholder); and (ii)
Alset Inc. (which is Alset International Limited’s majority stockholder). Each Agreement converts debt owed by the Company to the
respective creditor into shares of the Company’s common stock. The Agreements are substantially the same with the exception of
the amount of debt to be converted under each.
Under
the terms of their respective agreements, Alset Inc. converted $300,000 of the Company’s debt into 476,190 shares of the Company’s
common stock, and Alset International Limited converted $3,501,759 of the Company’s debt into 5,558,347 shares of the Company’s
common stock. Under the Agreements, the debt conversions resulted in the issuance of newly issued shares of the Company’s common
stock. The debt conversion price was set at $0.63 per share. Cumulatively, the newly issued shares contemplated by the Agreements represent
6,034,537 new shares of the Company’s common stock, constituting an increase to the total issued and outstanding shares of the
Company’s common stock of 37.2% over the amount immediately preceding the effectiveness of the Agreements. The shares contemplated
by the Agreements are restricted securities under the Securities Act of 1933, and shall be issued in reliance upon the safe harbor provided
by Rule 506 of Regulation D.
Stock
Purchase Agreements
On
November 25, 2024, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with Alset Inc. (“AEI”), pursuant to which Alset Inc.
agreed to purchase 4,411,764 shares of the Company’s common stock for a purchase price of $0.68 per share. AEI is the majority
shareholder of the Company, and immediately prior to the effectiveness of the stock purchase agreement, AEI directly and through its
subsidiaries owned 86.6% of the issued and outstanding shares of HWH common stock.
On
December 24, 2024, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with AEI, pursuant to which AEI agreed to purchase 1,300,000 shares
of the Company’s common stock (the “Shares”) for a total of $585,000, representing a purchase price of $0.45 per share.
AEI is the majority shareholder of the Company.
AEI’s
investments are intended to support the growth and development of HWH. The Company believes that these investments of additional funds
into HWH are in the best interests of each of AEI and the Company.
Going
Concern and Management’s Plan
On
January 9, 2024, the Company consummated the Business Combination (the “Closing”) contemplated by the previously announced
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 9, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”). The Company’s common stock commenced
trading on the Nasdaq Global Market LLC under the ticker symbol “HWH” on January 9, 2024, and the Company’s warrants
are expected to commence trading at a later date.
The
Company has incurred continuing losses from its operations and has a working capital deficit of $2,163,723 as of December 31, 2024. There are no assurances the Company will be able to raise capital
on acceptable terms or that cash flows generated from its operations will be sufficient to meet its current operating costs. If the Company
is unable to obtain sufficient amounts of additional capital, it may be required to reduce the scope of its business, which could harm
its financial condition and operating results.
These conditions
raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue ongoing operations. However, the Company believes that the available
cash in the Company’s bank accounts, anticipated cash from operations, and financing availability from related parties are sufficient
to fund our operations for at least the next 12 months.
On April 24, 2024, the Company
entered into a Credit Facility Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Alset Inc., a Texas corporation and the Company’s indirect,
majority stockholder, pursuant to which Alset Inc. has provided the Company a line of credit facility (the “Credit Facility”)
which provides a maximum, aggregate credit line of up to $1,000,000. As of December 31, 2024, there are no outstanding amounts related
to the Credit Facility, as the debt with Alset Inc. was converted to equity on September 24, 2024. The remaining credit of $700,000 is
available for draw as on December 31, 2024.
Pursuant to the Agreement, the
Company may request an advance (each, an “Advance”) on the Credit Facility. Each advance shall bear a simple interest rate
of three percent (3%) per annum. Each Advance and all accrued but unpaid interest shall be due and payable at the first (1st) anniversary
of the effective date of the Agreement. HWH may at any time during the term of the Agreement prepay a portion or all amounts of its indebtedness
without penalty. Each Advance shall not be secured by a lien or other encumbrance on any HWH assets, but shall be solely a general unsecured
debt obligation of the Company.
The Company has obtained letters of financial support from Alset International Limited and Alset Inc., an indirect
and direct owner of the Company, respectively. Alset International Limited and Alset Inc. committed to provide any additional funding
required by the Company and would not demand repayment through twelve months from the issuance of these consolidated financial statements.
7
Our
Organizational Chart:
Employees
At
the present time, the Company has 16 employees. The Company had an agreement with Alset Management Group, Inc., pursuant to which, for
a fee, Alset Management Group, Inc. provided the Company with secretarial and administrative services. This agreement expired at the
time of closing of Business Combination.
Intellectual
Property
We
anticipate filing additional trademark applications as we expand into new areas of business.
Corporate
Information
Our
mailing address is 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 210, Bethesda, MD, 20814. We were incorporated in Delaware on October 20, 2021 under the
name Alset Capital Acquisition Corp. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to
all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
Additional
Information
The
Company is subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, files annual, quarterly, and special
reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). The Commission
maintains an internet website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding
issuers that file electronically with the Commission. The periodic reports, proxy statements and other information that the Company files
with the Commission are available for inspection on the Commission’s website free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after
they are electronically filed with or furnished to the Commission.
The
Company maintains a website at https://www.hwhintl.com where you may also access these materials free of charge. We have included our
website address as an inactive textual reference only and the information contained in, and that can be accessed through, our website
is not incorporated into and is not part of this report on Form 10-K.
8
Item
1A. Risk Factors.
Not
applicable to smaller reporting companies.
Item
1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
Not
applicable to smaller reporting companies.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity.
Risk Management and Strategy
We recognize the critical importance
of developing, implementing, and maintaining robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard our information systems and protect the confidentiality,
integrity, and availability of our data.
Managing Material Risks and Integrated Overall
Risk Management
We have strategically integrated
cybersecurity risk management into our broader risk management framework to promote a company-wide culture of cybersecurity risk management.
This integration ensures that cybersecurity considerations are an integral part of our decision-making processes at every level. Our management
continuously evaluate and addresses cybersecurity risks in alignment with our business objectives and operational needs.
Risks from Cybersecurity Threats
We have not encountered cybersecurity
challenges that have materially impaired our operations or financial standing.
Cybersecurity Governance
Our Board
considers cybersecurity risk as part of its risk oversight function and has delegated to the Audit Committee (the “Committee”)
oversight of cybersecurity, data privacy and other information technology risks. The Committee oversees management’s implementation
of our cybersecurity risk management program and cybersecurity risk exposures, and the steps taken by management to monitor and mitigate
cybersecurity risks. The Committee is composed of members of our board of directors with diverse expertise, which has prepared them to
oversee our cybersecurity risks.
The Committee receives periodic
reports from management on our cybersecurity risks. In addition, management updates the Committee, as necessary, regarding any material
cybersecurity incidents, as well as any incidents with lesser impact potential.
The Committee reports
to the Board regarding its activities, including those related to cybersecurity. The Board also receives briefings from management
on our cybersecurity risk management program.
Our management team, including our Chief Executive Officer, are responsible for assessing and managing
our material risks from cybersecurity threats. The team has primary responsibility for our overall cybersecurity risk management
program and supervises efforts to prevent, detect, mitigate and remediate cybersecurity risks and incidents through various means, which
may include briefings from internal security consultants; threat intelligence and other information obtained from governmental, public
or private sources, including external consultants which may be engaged by us; and alerts and reports produced by security tools deployed
in the information technology environment. Our management team’s experience includes monitoring the cybersecurity landscape
for new risks and best practices, developing and executing cybersecurity strategies, overseeing related governance policies, testing compliance
with applicable technical standards, remediating known risks and leading employee training programs .
Item
2. Properties
Our
executive offices are located at 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 210, Bethesda, MD 20814, and our telephone number is (301) 971-3955. The
cost for our use of this space was included in the $10,000 per month fee we paid to Alset Management Group Inc. for office space, administrative
and shared personnel support services. Upon completion of the Business Combination, the Company ceased paying these monthly fees. At
the present time, our majority stockholder is temporarily providing us office space at no cost. We consider our current office space
adequate for our current operations.
Item
3. Legal Proceedings.
The
Company is not a party to any material pending legal proceedings.
There
are no material proceedings to which any director, officer or affiliate of the Company, or any owner of record or beneficially of more
than five percent of any class of voting securities of the Company, or any associate of any such director, officer, affiliate of the
Company, or security holder is a party adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to the Company
or any of its subsidiaries.
Item
4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not
applicable.
9
PART
II
Item
5. Market for Company’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Small Business Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market
Information
Our
common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “HWH”. As of December 31, 2024, we had approximately
5,593,920 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.
Prior
to our initial listing on the Nasdaq Global Market there was no public trading market for our securities. We subsequently moved to the
Nasdaq Capital Market.
Holders
As
of December 31, 2024, the Company had eight stockholders of record. The number of holders of record does not include a substantially
greater number of “street name” holders or beneficial holders whose shares of the Company’s common stock are held of
record by banks, brokers and other financial institutions.
Dividends
We
have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings for
use in the operation of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend
upon a number of factors, including our results of operations, financial condition, future prospects, contractual restrictions, restrictions
imposed by applicable law and other factors our board of directors deems relevant.
Securities
authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans.
The
Company does not have securities authorized for issuance under any equity compensation plans.
Performance
graph
Not
applicable to smaller reporting companies.
Recent
sales of unregistered securities; use of proceeds from registered securities
On
November 8, 2021, our Sponsor purchased 2,156,250 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.012
per share. Such securities were issued pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Prior to the initial investment in the Company of $25,000 by our Sponsor, the Company had no assets, tangible or intangible. The per
share purchase price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the Company by the aggregate
number of founder shares issued. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that the founder shares
would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after the Initial Public Offering (excluding the placement units and underlying securities).
On
February 3, 2022, we consummated our Initial Public Offering (the “Offering”) of an aggregate of 8,625,000 units (“Units”)
including the issuance of 1,125,000 Units as a result of the underwriter’s full exercise of its over-allotment option. The Units
were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $86,250,000.
10
Simultaneously
with the consummation of the Offering, the Company consummated the private placement of 473,750 units (the “Private Placement Units”)
to the Sponsor, including the issuance of 33,750 Private Placement Units in connection with the underwriter’s full exercise of
its over-allotment option, at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, generating total gross proceeds of $4,735,500 (the “Private
Placement”). The Private Placement was conducted as a non-public transaction and, as a transaction by an issuer not involving a
public offering, was exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance upon Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Of
the gross proceeds received from the Offering, including the full exercise of the over-allotment option, and the Private Placement Units,
$86.25 million and $4.7 million was placed in the Trust Account, respectively.
On
February 3, 2022, the Company paid a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $1,725,000. In addition, the underwriters were
entitled to a deferred fee of $0.35 per Unit, or $3,018,750 in the aggregate. The deferred fee was payable to the underwriters from the
amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the
underwriting agreement.
On
December 18, 2023, the Company entered into a Satisfaction and Discharge of Indebtedness Agreement (the “Satisfaction Agreement”)
in connection with the Underwriting Agreement, dated January 31, 2022 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), with EF Hutton, LLC
(“EF Hutton”) (now known as D. Boral Capital LLC), in which, pursuant to that certain Underwriting Agreement, the Company
was due to pay $3,018,750 to EF Hutton as deferred underwriting commission (the “Deferred Underwriting Commission”) upon
the closing of the Business Combination. In lieu of the Company tendering the full amount of Deferred Underwriting Commission, the Company
and EF Hutton entered into the Satisfaction Agreement, pursuant to which EF Hutton accepted a combination of $325,000 in cash (the “Cash
Payment”) paid upon the closing of the Business Combination, 149,443 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Shares”)
and a $1,184,375 promissory note (the “Promissory Note”) as full satisfaction of the Deferred Underwriting Commission. Satisfaction
and discharge of the Deferred Underwriting Commission depended on the Company’s delivery of the Cash Payment, the Shares and the
Promissory Note under the terms of the Satisfaction Agreement. Additionally, the Company has granted EF Hutton an irrevocable right of
first refusal (the “ROFR”) to act as the sole investment banker, sole book-runner, and/or sole placement agent, at EF Hutton’s
sole discretion, for each and every future public and private equity and debt offering, including all equity linked financing for a period
commencing on the date of the satisfaction and ending twenty-four months after the closing of the business combination.
On
January 3, 2025, the Company announced the pricing of its public offering of 3,162,500 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per
share and 1,250,000 pre-funded warrants to purchase shares of common stock (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”). These shares and
the Pre-Funded Warrants were offered at a public offering price of $0.40 per share and $0.3999 per the Pre-Funded Warrant. The Pre-Funded
Warrants are exercisable immediately upon issuance and have an exercise price of $0.0001 per share. The gross proceeds to the Company
from the offering were approximately $1.76 million, before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses of approximately $355,017.
The
offering was conducted pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, which was initially filed with the Commission
on October 10, 2024, subsequently amended on October 23, 2024, December 4, 2024, and December 10, 2024, and declared effective on December
19, 2024. The offering closed on January 6, 2025.
D.
Boral Capital LLC (“D. Boral Capital”) was acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering. Pursuant to the Placement
Agency Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay D. Boral Capital a cash fee equal to 7.5% of the gross proceeds from the offering, a
non-accountable expense allowance equal to 1.0% of the gross proceeds, and reimbursement for legal and out-of-pocket expenses up to $75,000.
Purchases
of Equity Securities by the issuer and affiliated purchasers
The
Company did not repurchase any shares of the Company’s common stock during 2024 and 2023.
Item
6. [RESERVED]
11
Item
7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
References
to the “Company,” “HWH International Inc.,” “HWH,” “our,” “us” or “we”
refer to HWH International Inc. and its subsidiaries. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition
and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited interim financial statements and the notes thereto contained
elsewhere in this report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties.
This
Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For
this purpose, any statements contained in this Form 10-K that are not statements of historical fact including, without limitation, statements
under “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding the
Company’s financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, may be deemed
to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, words such as “may”, “will”, “expect”,
“believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate” or “continue” or comparable terminology are intended
to identify forward-looking statements. These statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, and actual results
may differ materially depending on a variety of factors, many of which are not within our control. These factors include by are not limited
to economic conditions generally and in the industries in which we may participate; competition within our chosen industry, including
competition from much larger competitors; technological advances and failure to successfully develop business relationships. Such forward-looking
statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company’s
management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors
detailed in our filings with the SEC.
The
following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated
financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis
set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Overview
HWH
International Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “HWH”) operate a food and
beverage (“F&B”) business in Singapore and South Korea. The F&B business operates four cafés, two of which
are located in South Korea and two in Singapore, as well as an online healthy food store, serving customers in Singapore. The Company
previously operated a membership model in which individuals paid an upfront membership fee to become members. As members, these individuals
received discounted access to products and services offered by the Company’s affiliates. The Company had approximately 9,811 members,
primarily in South Korea. Currently, this membership business has been temporarily suspended, however the Company intends to resume this
business following the ongoing restructuring of the membership model.
HWH
International Inc. was originally incorporated in Delaware on October 20, 2021 under the name Alset Capital Acquisition Corp. The Company
was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar
business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”). The Company consummated the Business Combination
on January 9, 2024 and changed its name from “Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.” to “HWH International Inc.” The
Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early
stage and emerging growth companies.
On
September 9, 2022, the Company entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among the Company,
HWH International Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “HWH Nevada” or “Target”) and HWH Merger Sub Inc., a Nevada
corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”). The Company and Merger Sub are sometimes referred
to collectively as the “ACAX Parties.” Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, a Business Combination between the Company and the
Target was effected through the merger of Merger Sub with and into HWH Nevada, with the Target surviving the merger as a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). Upon the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) on January 9, 2024,
the Company changed its name to “HWH International Inc.” The board of directors of the Company (i) approved and declared
advisable the Merger Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and the transactions contemplated thereby
and (ii) resolved to recommend approval of the Merger Agreement and related transactions by the stockholders of the Company.
12
The
Target was owned and controlled by certain member officers and directors of the Company and its Sponsor. The Merger was consummated following
the receipt of the required approval by the stockholders of the Company and the shareholders of the Target and the satisfaction of certain
other customary closing conditions.
The
total consideration paid at the Closing (the “Merger Consideration”) by the Company to the Target’s shareholders was
$125,000,000, and was payable in shares of the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”).
The number of shares of the Company Common Stock paid to the shareholders of the Target as Merger Consideration was 12,500,000, with
each share being valued at $10.00.
Our
newly acquired business started in South Korea with a single-level membership marketing model with limited products for sale. We registered
the business on April 1, 2019, and we started selling founders package on July 1, 2019. While we had been profitable and growing, the
COVID-19 pandemic had a material adverse effect on such growth and profits. Due to the decline in membership and revenue starting in
2020, we reorganized our internal staff by adding a broader team in each of the United States, Hong Kong and Singapore with direct selling
and business development experience to head up and expand our operations across various geographies and revised our business plan to
a tiered membership model in 2022, with more products and services to be made available to our members. We created a new corporate structure,
with subsidiaries in the U.S., Hong Kong and Singapore, that would allow for quick geographical expansion and turned our focus to the
Hapi Café development.
We
have 9,811 individuals with founding member status. This is a privileged class that will be able to enjoy continuous membership benefits
in time to come, given that they have trusted the Company and joined at an early stage. Such benefits include the ability to purchase
new memberships, in the model described below, at a favorable rate to be determined by the Company. They will also continue to be able
to earn affiliate commissions as they sell our products in the marketplace and enjoy discounted rates when visiting Hapi Cafés
until further notice. The total number of founding members was capped at 10,000. The Company is in the midst of implementing a new membership
model that operates on a yearly subscription basis. While we are not currently selling memberships, we intend to resume membership sales
under this new model.
Members
will get exclusive discounts on Hapi Marketplace products, priority invites to product launch events and other parties, and can earn
passive income when a member’s referral signs up for membership or makes an initial purchase of Hapi Marketplace products through
them.
Our
operations include:
Hapi
Marketplace. On November 4, 2024, the Company announced the launch of its business-to-consumer marketplace, Hapi Marketplace.
Hapi Marketplace features a selection of over forty-seven product categories including wellness, elderly care, auto accessories and more.
Launching first in the United States, we intend for Hapi Marketplace to expand in the near future to South Korea and Hong Kong, followed
by further expansion across Asia.
The
various aspects of the Hapi Marketplace will be launched in phases in different regions, each with their own timeline, depending on
the completion of logistical aspects for implementation (i.e., payment gateway systems, business licenses, banking set up, import
licenses, managerial resources, etc.) We are expanding the product range into robotics for consumer and commercial markets.
Hapi
Cafés, which are, and will be, in-person, location-based social experiences, offer members the opportunity to build a
sense of community with like-minded customers who share a potential interest in our products. The cafes are designed to operate sustainably
as standalone businesses. The cafes also seek to be an avenue to create awareness to and educate potential and existing members about
the products and services of HWH, providing us with the chance to significantly increase our membership base as well as increase the
amounts spent by our members on our affiliates’ products and services. Each of our cafés is a “Hapi Café.”
We opened proof-of-concept Hapi Café locations in Seoul, the Republic of Korea and Singapore in May and July 2022, respectively,
one more opened in Seoul, the Republic of Korea in May 2024. We plan to open additional Hapi Cafés as we beta test and further
improve our business concept. We intend to grow our memberships as we grow the number of Hapi Cafés around the world. Hapi Cafes
are positioned to be integral parts of HWH’s business model. In June 2024, the Company’s decision to close the café
under Alset F&B (PLQ) Pte. Ltd. (“F&BPLQ”) was driven by the unsustainable revenue it generated. We believe it is
more strategic to refocus our efforts and resources on other business ventures that have greater growth potential.
Our
travel business is in the planning stage as we are working with our affiliates to determine the market-by-market services. Through our
travel business, we plan to offer exclusive access to unpublished rates and discounts on air travel, cruises, car rentals, hotels, and
resorts for members.
13
Hapi
Wealth Builder seeks to provide participants the opportunity to attend courses, workshops, and coaching sessions in person, fostering
a collaborative learning environment for those dedicated to learning investment in equities and wealth-building strategies. The team
has been diligently producing digital content for Hapi Wealth Builder and working to collaborate with the right partners to launch the
program and make it available to members. Hapi Wealth Builder will leverage the wealth of knowledge and experience of its leaders to
make wealth building accessible and effective for its members. Our unique community-centric approach will offer members tools for making
informed financial decisions while creating pathways for sustained growth.
On
October 31, 2024, we announced that the Company scheduled the launch of Hapi Wealth, a program dedicated to providing comprehensive
education in equity investment and wealth-building strategies. We are targeting a rollout in selected regions later in 2025
as well.
To
further support its mission, Hapi Wealth is opening its China headquarters, designed as a conducive environment for individuals to participate
in tutorials and workshops. The hub will offer participants the opportunity to attend courses, workshops, and coaching sessions in person,
fostering a collaborative learning environment for those dedicated to learning investment in equities and wealth-building strategies.
Our
Revenue Model
Our
total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $1,253,577 and $830,519, respectively. Our net loss for the years ended
December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $2,606,504 and $1,076,662, respectively.
We
currently recognize revenue from food and beverage sales, sale of products, and memberships to customers. Sales of food and beverage
accounted for approximately 100% and 98% of revenue in the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively. Sales of memberships
accounted for approximately 0% of revenue in the year ended December 31, 2024, and 2% of revenue in the year ended December 31, 2023.
From
a geographical perspective, we recognized 6% and 94% of our total revenue in the year ended on December 31, 2024, in South Korea and
Singapore, respectively, and 8% and 92% in the year ended December 31, 2023, in South Korea and Singapore, respectively.
Matters
that May or Are Currently Affecting Our Business
In
addition to the matters described above, the primary challenges and trends that could affect or are affecting our financial results include:
●
Our ability to improve our revenue through cross-selling and revenue-sharing arrangements among our group of companies;
●
Our ability to identify complementary businesses for acquisition, obtain additional financing for these acquisitions, if and when
needed, and profitably integrate them into our existing operation;
●
Our ability to attract competent and skilled technical and sales personnel for each of our businesses at acceptable compensation
levels to manage our overhead; and
● Our
ability to control our operating expenses as we expand each of our businesses and product and service offerings.
14
Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis
of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The
Company’s consolidated financial statements and related notes include all the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries.
They have been prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S.
GAAP”). All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use
of Estimates and Critical Accounting Estimates and Assumptions
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements
and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates made by management include, but
are not limited to, allowance for credit losses, recoverability and useful lives of property, plant and equipment, the valuation allowance
of deferred taxes, contingencies, and equity compensation. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue
Recognition and Cost of Sales
Product
Sales: The Company’s performance obligation is to transfer ownership of its products to its members. The Company generally
recognizes revenue when a product is delivered to its member. Revenue is recorded net of applicable taxes, allowances, refund or returns.
The Company receives the net sales price in cash or through credit card payments at the point of sale.
If
any member returns a product to the Company on a timely basis, they may obtain a replacement product from the Company for such returned
product. Allowances for product and membership returns are provided at the time the sale is recorded. This accrual is based upon historical
return rates for each country and the relevant return pattern, which reflects anticipated returns to be received over a period of up
to 12 months following the original sale. Product and membership returns for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023 were approximately
$0 and $1,184, respectively.
Membership
Fee: The Company collects an annual membership fee from its members. The fee is fixed, paid in full at the time of joining the membership
and is not refundable. The Company’s performance obligation is to provide its members with the right to (a) purchase products from
the Company, (b) access to certain back-office services, (c) receive commissions and (d) attend corporate events. The associated performance
obligation is satisfied over time, generally over the term of the membership agreement, which is for a one-year period. The Company recognizes
revenue from membership fee over the one-year period of membership.
Food
and Beverage: The revenue received from food and beverage business in the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023 was $1,253,577
and $817,761, respectively.
Cost
of Revenue: Cost of revenue consists of cost of procuring finished goods from suppliers and related shipping and handling fees.
Results
of Operations
Summary
of Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
Years Ended
December 31,
2024
2023
Revenue
$ 1,253,577
$ 830,519
Cost of revenue
651,721
334,825
Operating expenses
3,027,024
3,402,793
Other expenses / (income)
181,336
(2,245,820 )
Provision for income taxes
-
415,383
Net loss
$ 2,606,504
$ 1,076,662
15
Revenue
Revenue
was $1,253,577 and $830,519 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Word of mouth, a social media presence,
and the availability of meeting spaces are significant drivers of our revenue and revenue potential. Our revenue increased in 2024
due to increased customer base from the acquisition of Ketomei Pte. Limited in Singapore and new café under Hapi Café
Korea Inc. in South Korea.
For
the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, our revenue was generated as per the following:
Years Ended
December 31,
2024
2023
Membership Fee
$ -
$ 12,293
Product Sales
-
465
Food and Beverage
1,253,577
817,761
Total
$ 1,253,577
$ 830,519
Cost
of revenue
Cost
of revenue increased from $334,825 in the year ended December 31, 2023 to $651,721 in the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase
is a result of the increase in sales of F&B business.
Sales
commissions decreased from $13,827 to $0 in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively, due to decrease in sale of memberships.
The
gross margin increased from $495,694 to $601,856 in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively. The increase of gross margin
was caused by the increase of customer base in F&B revenue.
Operating
expenses
Operating
expenses decreased from $3,402,793 to $3,027,024 in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively, due to general and administrative
expenses decreased from $2,908,895 to $2,646,627 in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively. The decrease of general
and administrative expenses in 2024 compared with 2023 was mostly caused by the decrease in professional fees paid in relation to pursuing
Business Combination by the Company.
Other
income (expense)
In
the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company had other expenses of $181,336, compared to the other income of $2,245,820 in the year ended
December 31, 2023. This decrease is due to the decrease in interest income from $2,029,414 to $64,407, and unrealized loss on convertible
note receivable – related party from unrealized profit of $0 to unrealized loss of $379,887 in the years ended December 31,
2023 and 2024, respectively.
Net
loss
In
the year ended December 31, 2024 the Company had a net loss of $2,606,504, compared to $1,076,662 in the year ended December 31, 2023.
16
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Our
cash has increased from $1,159,201 as of December 31, 2023 to $4,341,746 as of December 31, 2024. Our liabilities decreased from
$6,207,17 8 at December 31, 2023 to $3,531,523 at
December 31, 2024. Our total assets have decreased from $23,710,684 as of December 31, 2023 to $6,408,722 as of December 31,
2024.
The
Company believes that the available cash in the Company’s bank accounts, anticipated cash from operations, and financing availability
from related parties are sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next 12 months. The Company’s capital requirements
for the planned expansion are based on, among other items, geographical specific property costs, team requirements, and marketing steps
needed. Our expansion consists of plans to take over leases of existing Hapi Cafes we currently do not own, as we look to add more Hapi
Cafes over the next two (2) years. There is no guarantee that we will be able to execute on our plans as laid out above.
On April 24, 2024, the Company
entered into a Credit Facility Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Alset Inc., a Texas corporation and the Company’s indirect,
majority stockholder, pursuant to which Alset Inc. has provided the Company a line of credit facility (the “Credit Facility”)
which provides a maximum, aggregate credit line of up to $1,000,000. As of December 31, 2024, there are no outstanding amounts related
to the Credit Facility, as the debt with Alset Inc. was converted to equity on September 24, 2024. This conversion is reflected under
Advances from Related Parties in the cash flow statement. The remaining credit of $700,000 is available for draw as on December 31, 2024.
Pursuant
to the Agreement, the Company may request an advance (each, an “Advance”) on the Credit Facility. Each advance shall bear
a simple interest rate of three percent (3%) per annum. Each Advance and all accrued but unpaid interest shall be due and payable at
the first (1st) anniversary of the effective date of the Agreement. HWH may at any time during the term of the Agreement prepay a portion
or all amounts of its indebtedness without penalty. Each Advance shall not be secured by a lien or other encumbrance on any HWH assets,
but shall be solely a general unsecured debt obligation of the Company.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern and do not contain any adjustments
that might be required should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
The
Company has obtained letters of financial support from Alset International Limited and Alset Inc., an indirect and direct owner of the
Company, respectively. Alset International Limited and Alset Inc. committed to provide any additional funding required by the Company
and would not demand repayment through twelve months from the issuance of these consolidated financial statements.
Summary
of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
Years Ended December 31,
2024
2023
Net cash used in operating activities
$ (1,659,999 )
$ (2,6 00,370 )
Net cash provided by investing activities
$ 20,452,029
$ 68,431,427
Net cash used in financing activities
$ (15,756,940 )
$ (67,4 63,957 )
Cash
Flows from Operating Activities
Net
cash used in operating activities was $1,659,999 in the year ended of December 31, 2024, as compared to net cash used in operating activities
of $2,6 00,370 in the same period of 2023. The increase of impairment loss on goodwill and unrealized loss on convertible note receivable
– related party, which reflects the change in the value of the convertible note and was deducted from the net income, led to the decrease of cash used in operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2024.
Cash
Flows from Investing Activities
Net
cash provided by investing activities was $20,452,029 in the year of December 31, 2024, as compared to net cash provided by
investing activities of $68,431,427 in the same period of 2023. In the year ended December 31, 2024 we paid $30,394 for purchases of
property and equipment, $850,000 for convertible note receivable – related party, $14,345 for investment in joint venture, $21,102,871 cash was withdrawn from Trust
Account for redemptions and $243,897 cash withdrawn from Trust Account was available to the Company. In the year ended December 31,
2023 we paid $14,574 for purchases of property and equipment, $68,351,348 cash withdrawn was from Trust Account for redemptions,
$299,958 cash withdrawn from Trust Account was available to the Company and $205,305 cash was deposited into Trust
Account.
Cash
Flows from Financing Activities
Net
cash used in financing activities was $15,756,940 in the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to net cash used in financing activities
of $67,4 63,957 in the same period of 2023. In the year ended December 31, 2024 we received $2,170,993 from a related party, and repaid
$21,102,872 of class A common stock. In the year ended December 31, 2023 we received $526,323 from a related party, received $205,305
from proceeds from extension loan and paid $68,351,348 for repayment of class A common stock.
17
Nasdaq
Compliance
On
March 7, 2024, we received notice from Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”) indicating that, because the market value of our
common stock had been below $50,000,000 for the prior 37 consecutive business days, we no longer complied with the minimum market value
of listed securities (the “MVLS”) requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Market under Rule 5450(b)(2)(A)
of Nasdaq Listing Rules.
Nasdaq’s
notice had no immediate effect on the listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market. Pursuant to Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5810(c)(3)(C),
we had been provided an initial compliance period of 180 calendar days, or until September 3, 2024, to regain compliance with the MVLS
requirement. To regain compliance, the Company’s MVLS was required to be at least $50,000,000 or more for a minimum of ten consecutive
business days prior to September 3, 2024. In that regard, on September 9, 2024, the Company received a notice from the Staff that the
matter of the MVLS deficiency was to be considered at the Company’s upcoming appeal with the Nasdaq Hearings Panel.
On
February 22, 2024, the Nasdaq Staff (the “Staff”) notified the Company that for the previous 30 consecutive trading days,
the MVPHS had been below the minimum $15,000,000 required for continued listing as set forth in Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(C) (the “Rule”).
Therefore, in accordance with Marketplace Rule 5810(c)(3)(D), the Company was provided 180 calendar days, or until August 20, 2024, to
regain compliance with the Rule. In that regard, on August 27, 2024, the Company received a notice from the Staff that the Company will
be delisted from the Nasdaq Global Market, unless the Company requested an appeal of this determination by September 3, 2024.
The
Company presented its compliance plan to the Panel at a hearing on October 15, 2024. On October 21, 2024, the Company received a notice
from the Panel granting the Company an extension to phase down its securities to the Nasdaq Capital Market and demonstrate compliance
with the market value of its publicly held shares (the “MVPHS”) and Stockholders’ Equity requirements as set forth
in Nasdaq Listing Rules 5550(a)(5) and 5550(b)(1).
On
September 4, 2024, the Company received written notice (the “Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Staff of Nasdaq notifying
the Company that for the prior 30 consecutive business days prior to the date of the Notice, the Company’s bid price was below
the minimum $1 required for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) (the “Bid
Price Requirement”). In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), Nasdaq provided the Company with 180 calendar days,
or until March 3, 2025, (the “Compliance Date”), to regain compliance with the Bid Price Requirement.
On
March 10, 2025, the Company received written notice (the “Compliance Notice”) from Nasdaq informing the Company that it has
regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), which requires that companies listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market maintain a
minimum bid price of $1.00 per share. Nasdaq notified the Company in the Compliance Notice that, from February 24, 2025 to March 7, 2025,
the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock had been $1.00 per share or greater and, accordingly, the Company had regained
compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) and that the matter was now closed. The Company is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
On
February 18, 2025, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
with the Delaware Secretary of State to effect a 1-for-5 reverse stock split (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Reverse Stock
Split became effective as of market open on February 24, 2025.
Contractual
Obligations
As
of December 31, 2024, we did not have any long-term debt obligations, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations, purchase
obligations or long-term liabilities.
Administrative
Services Agreement
We
agreed to pay Alset Management Group Inc. $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support services
commencing on the date that our securities were first listed on the Nasdaq. Upon completion of the initial Business Combination,
we ceased paying these monthly fees.
Underwriting
Agreement
On
February 3, 2022, the Company paid a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $1,725,000.
18
In
addition, the underwriters, EF Hutton, LLC (“EF Hutton”) (now known as D. Boral Capital LLC), were entitled to a deferred
fee of $0.35 per Unit, or $3,018,750 in the aggregate, however, on December 18, 2023, the Company entered into a Satisfaction and Discharge
of Indebtedness Agreement in connection with the Underwriting Agreement, under which in lieu of the Company tendering the full amount,
the underwriters accepted a combination of $325,000 in cash paid upon the closing of the Business Combination, 149,443 shares of the
Company’s common stock and a $1,184,375 promissory note as full satisfaction. This agreement was effective at the closing of Business
Combination on January 9, 2024. Additionally, the Company has granted EF Hutton an irrevocable right of first refusal (the “ROFR”)
to act as the sole investment banker, sole book-runner, and/or sole placement agent, at EF Hutton’s sole discretion, for each and
every future public and private equity and debt offering, including all equity linked financing for a period commencing on the date of
the satisfaction and ending twenty-four (24) months after the closing of the Business Combination.
Merger
Agreement
As
previously disclosed, on August 1, 2023, the Company held the Special Meeting, at which the Company’s stockholders considered and
adopted, among other matters, a proposal to approve the Business Combination. On the Closing Date, the parties consummated the Business
Combination pursuant to the terms of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated September 9, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”),
by and among the Company, Merger Sub, and HWH Nevada.
Pursuant
to the terms of the Merger Agreement, (and upon all other conditions pursuant to the Merger Agreement being satisfied or waived), on
the Closing Date, (i) the Merger Agreement provided for the combination of HWH Nevada and Merger Sub under the Company, with HWH Nevada
surviving as the Surviving Corporation (collectively, the “Merger”). At the consummation of the Merger, HWH Nevada survived
as a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; and (ii) the Company changed its name to “HWH International Inc.”
The
transaction has closed, as all closing conditions referenced in the Merger Agreement have either been met or waived by the parties. Certain
closing conditions that have been waived by the parties, pursuant to the Merger Agreement include Section 8.1(i), which states “the
aggregate cash available to the Company at the Closing from the Trust Account (after giving effect to the redemption of any shares of
the Company’s Class A Common Stock in connection with the Company’s Proposals, but before giving effect to (i) the payment
of the Outstanding Alset Transaction Expenses, and (ii) the payment of the Outstanding Company Transaction Expenses), shall equal or
exceed Thirty Million dollars ($30,000,000); and 8.1(j), which states “upon the closing, the Company shall not have redeemed shares
of the Company’s Class A Common Stock in the Offer in an amount that would cause the Company to have less than $5,000,001 of net
tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) under the Exchange Act).”
Registration
Rights Agreement
On
January 31, 2022 the Company, the Sponsor, and certain persons and entities holding securities of the Company entered into a Registration
Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company is obligated
to register certain securities, including (i) all of the shares of the Company’s common stock and warrants held by the Sponsor,
and the Company’s common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, and (ii) the shares of the Company’s common stock
and the Company’s common stock underlying warrants that were issued in the Private Placement on January 31, 2022. The Company is
obligated to (a) file a resale registration statement to register such securities within 15 business days after the closing of the Business
Combination, and (b) use reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective by the SEC within 60 business
days after the closing of the Business Combination.
19
Lock-Up
Agreements
In
connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, at the closing, each of the HWH Holders holding more than 5% of the HWH Common
Stock and certain members of HWH’s management team entered into a Lock-Up Agreement with the Company in substantially the form
attached to the letter Agreement dated January 31, 2022 (the “Letter Agreement”) (each, a “Lock-Up Agreement”).
Under the Lock-Up Agreement, each such holder agreed not to, during the period commencing from the Closing and with respect to the shares
of the Company’s Common Stock to be received as part of the Merger Consideration by the HWH Holder (together with any securities
paid as dividends or distributions with respect to such securities or into which such securities are exchanged or converted, the “Restricted
Securities”), (A) ending on the earlier of nine months after the date of the Closing, the date on which the closing sale price
of shares of the Company’s Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations,
recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30 trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Closing
or (y) the date after the Closing on which the Company consummates a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction
with an unaffiliated third party that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their equity holdings
in the Company for cash, securities or other property.
Termination
of Subscription Agreement
On
July 30, 2023, the Company entered into a Subscription Agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”) with Meteora Special Opportunity
Fund I, LP (“MSOF”), Meteora Capital Partners, LP (“MCP”), Meteora Select Trading Opportunities Master, LP (“MSTO”)
and Meteora Strategic Capital, LLC, (“MSC”, and together with MSOF, MCP and MSTO, are referred to herein collectively as
“Meteora”). The Subscription Agreement was subsequently terminated. The Company and Meteora entered into a Settlement Agreement
as of April 11, 2024 (the “Settlement Agreement”). Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company paid Meteora $200,000,
and agreed that Meteora could retain $100,000 already paid to Meteora.
Impact
of Inflation
We
believe that inflation has not had a material impact on our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 or December 31,
2023. We cannot assure you that future inflation will not have an adverse impact on our operating results and financial condition.
Impact
of Foreign Exchange Rates
The
effects of foreign exchange rate changes on the intercompany loans (under ASC 830), which mostly consist of loans from Singapore to South
Korea and which were approximately $0.9 million and $2.1 million on December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, are the reason
for the fluctuation in foreign currency transaction gains or losses which are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and
Other Comprehensive Income. Because the intercompany loan balances between Singapore and South Korea will remain at approximately $1
million over the next year, we expect this fluctuation of foreign exchange rates to still impact the results of operations in 2025, especially
given that the foreign exchange rate may and is expected to be volatile. If the amount of intercompany loan is lowered in the future,
the effect will also be reduced. However, at this moment, we do not expect to repay the intercompany loans in the short term.
Emerging
Growth Company Status
We
are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various
reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies.” Section 107
of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided
in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging
growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies.
We have elected to take advantage of these exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company or until we affirmatively and
irrevocably opt out of this exemption.
20
Controls
and Procedures
We
are not currently required to maintain an effective system of internal controls as defined by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Only in the event that we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer would we be required to comply with the
independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company as
defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to
other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent
registered public accounting firm attestation requirement.
Management
is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements included in this prospectus. The financial statements
have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and reflect management’s
judgment and estimates concerning effects of events and transactions that are accounted for or disclosed.
Management
is also responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial
reporting includes those policies and procedures that pertain to our ability to record, process, summarize and report reliable data.
Management recognizes that there are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any internal control over financial reporting, including
the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of internal control. Accordingly, even effective internal control
over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement presentation. Further, because of
changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting may vary over time.
In
order to ensure that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, management regularly assesses controls and did so most
recently for its financial reporting as of December 31, 2024. This assessment was based on criteria for effective internal control over
financial reporting described in the Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO)
of the Treadway Commission. In connection with management’s evaluation of the effectiveness of our Company’s internal control
over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, management determined that our Company did not maintain effective controls over financial
reporting due to having a limited staff with U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting experience. Management determined that the ineffective controls
over financial reporting constitute a material weakness. To remediate such weaknesses, we plan to appoint additional qualified personnel
with financial accounting, U.S. GAAP and SEC experience.
This
prospectus does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial
reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules
of the SEC that permit us to provide only management’s report in this prospectus.
Item
7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We
are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise
required under this item.
21
Item
8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
HWH
INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Formerly
known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.)
CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December
31, 2024 and 2023
Contents
Page(s)
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 606 )
F-1
Consolidated
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (recast)
F-2
Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Loss for the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (recast)
F-3
Consolidated
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ (Deficit) for the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (recast)
F-4
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (recast)
F-5
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
F-6
22
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To
the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
HWH
International Inc. and Subsidiaries
Bethesda,
Maryland
Opinion
on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We
have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of HWH International Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of
December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’
equity, and cash flows for each of the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the consolidated financial
statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of
the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years then ended,
in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis
for Opinion
These
consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion
on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance
with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part
of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing
an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our
audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether
due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence
regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Emphasis
of Matter
The
Company has significant transactions with related parties which are described in Notes 8, 11, 12, 13, and 21 of the consolidated financial
statements. Transactions involving related parties cannot be presumed to be carried out on an arm’s length basis, as the requisite
condition of competitive, free market dealings may not exist.
GRASSI & CO., CPAs, P.C.
We
have served as the Company’s auditor since 2022.
Jericho,
New York
March
31, 2025
F- 1
HWH
INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Formerly
known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.)
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
(recast)
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash
$ 4,341,746
$ 1,159,201
Account receivable, net
17,546
28,611
Inventory
1,574
1,977
Other receivables, net
342,712
41,203
Convertible loans receivable - related party, at fair value
744,652
-
Investment security – related party
13,272
-
Prepaid expenses
13,495
106,862
Total Current Assets
$ 5,474,997
$ 1,337,854
Non-Current Assets
Property and equipment, net
$ 33,588
$ 129,230
Cash and marketable securities held in Trust Account
-
21,346,768
Deposits
351,240
298,324
Investment at cost
140
-
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
548,757
598,508
Total Non-Current Assets
$ 933,725
$ 22,372,830
TOTAL ASSETS
$ 6,408,722
$ 23,710,684
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$ 483,430
$ 167,355
Accrued commissions
73,022
85,206
Due to related parties, net
1,191,960
2,323,800
Operating lease liabilities - current
340,651
429,687
Deferred underwriting fee payable
-
3,018,750
Notes payable - current
1,222,211
-
Total Current Liabilities
$ 3,311,274
$ 6,024,798
Non-Current Liabilities
Operating lease liabilities - non-current
$ 220,249
$ 182,380
Total Non-Current Liabilities
$ 220,249
$ 182,380
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 15)
-
-
Temporary equity:
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption; 395,207 shares (at approximately $ 53.40 per share) as of December 31, 2023*
$ -
$ 21,102,871
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, $ 0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2023
-
-
Common stock, $ 0.0001
par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized;
5,593,920 and 2,000
issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively *
559
-
Class A common stock, $ 0.0001
par value; 50,000,000
shares authorized; 0
and 94,750 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively *
-
9
Class B common stock, $ 0.0001
par value; 50,000,000
shares authorized; 0
and 431,250
issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively *
-
43
Common stock value
-
43
Additional paid in capital
9,339,413
155,984
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
( 416,861 )
( 197,051 )
Accumulated deficit
( 6,157,747 )
( 3,567,016 )
Total HWH International Inc. Stockholders’ equity (deficit)
$ 2,765,364
$ ( 3,608,031 )
Non-controlling interests
111,835
8,666
Total Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
2,877,199
( 3,599,365 )
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
$ 6,408,722
$ 23,710,684
* The common stock share
amounts were adjusted retrospectively to reflect the 5-for-1 reverse stock split on February 24, 2025
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F- 2
HWH
INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Formerly
known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.)
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Year Ended
December 31, 2024
Year Ended
December 31, 2023
(recast)
Revenue
- Membership
$ -
$ 12,293
- Non-membership
1,253,577
818,226
Total Revenue
$ 1,253,577
$ 830,519
Cost of revenue
- Membership
$ -
$ ( 13,827 )
- Non-membership
( 651,721 )
( 320,998 )
Total Cost of revenue
$ ( 651,721 )
$ ( 334,825 )
Gross profit
$ 601,856
$ 495,694
Operating expenses:
General and administrative expenses
$ ( 2,646,627 )
$ ( 2,908,895 )
Impairment of convertible note receivable – related party, and equity method investment - related party
( 42,328 )
( 493,898 )
Impairment loss on goodwill
( 323,864 )
-
Impairment of investment in Joint Venture
( 14,205
)
-
Total Operating expenses
$ ( 3,027,024 )
$ ( 3,402,793 )
Other income (expense)
Other income
$ 345,997
$ 2,210,921
Interest expense
( 72,076 )
-
Foreign exchange transaction (loss) gain
( 55,221 )
68,797
Loss on equity method investment - related party
( 20,149 )
( 33,898 )
Unrealized loss on convertible note receivable – related party
( 379,887 )
-
Total Other (expense) income
$ ( 181,336 )
$ 2,245,820
Loss before provision for income taxes
( 2,606,504 )
( 661,279 )
Provision for income taxes
-
( 415,383 )
Net loss
$ ( 2,606,504 )
$ ( 1,076,662 )
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling Interests
( 15,773 )
3,830
Net loss attributable to common stockholders
$ ( 2,590,731 )
$ ( 1,080,492 )
Net Loss
( 2,606,504 )
( 1,076,662 )
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment
$ ( 219,898 )
$ ( 49,045 )
Total comprehensive (loss), net of tax:
$ ( 2,826,402 )
$ ( 1,125,707 )
Less Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests
( 15,861 )
3,830
Total Comprehensive loss attributable to common stockholders
$ ( 2,810,541 )
$ ( 1,129,537 )
Year
Ended December 31, 2024
Year
Ended December 31, 2023
Common
stock
Class
A common stock
Class
B common stock
Common
stock
Class
A common stock
Class
B common stock
Loss
per common share
Basic
$
( 0.72
)
$
( 0.72
)
$
( 0.72
)
$
( 2.05
)
$
( 2.05
)
$
( 2.05
)
Diluted
$
( 0.72
)
$
( 0.72
)
$
( 0.72
)
$
( 2.05
)
$
( 2.05
)
$
( 2.05
)
Weighted
average number of common shares outstanding *
Basic *
3,595,124
2,071
9,426
2,000
94,750
431,250
Diluted *
3,595,124
2,071
9,426
2,000
94,750
431,250
* The numbers of
weighted average outstanding common stock - basic and diluted were adjusted retrospectively to reflect the 5-for-1 reverse stock split
on February 24, 2025
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F- 3
HWH
INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Formerly
known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.)
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023 (RECAST)
Class
A Common stock
Class
B Common stock
Common
Stock
Total
HWH
Shares
Par
Value $0.0001
Shares
Par
Value $0.0001
Shares
Par
Value $0.0001
Additional Paid in Capital
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive (Loss)
Accumulated
Deficit
International
Inc. Stockholders’
deficit
Non-
controlling interests
Total
Stockholders’
deficit
Balances at December 31, 2022
94,750
$
9
431,250
$
43
2,000
$
-
$
221
$
( 148,006
)
$
( 1,235,959
)
$
( 1,383,692
)
$
4,836
$
( 1,378,856
)
Remeasurement of Class A common stock to redemption
value
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$
( 1,045,260
$
( 1,045,260
)
-
$
( 1,045,260
)
Contribution from Majority Stockholder
-
-
-
-
-
-
155,763
-
-
155,763
-
155,763
Extension Loan
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$
( 205,305
)
$
( 205,305
)
-
$
( 205,305
)
Net (loss) income
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$
( 1,080,492
)
$
( 1,080,492
)
$
3,830
$
( 1,076,662
)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$
( 49,045
)
-
$
( 49,045
)
$
( 49,045
)
Balances at December 31, 2023
94,750
$
9
431,250
$
43
2,000
$
-
$
155,984
$
( 197,051
)
$
( 3,567,016
)
$
( 3,608,031
)
$
8,666
$
( 3,599,365
)
Balance
94,750
$
9
431,250
$
43
2,000
$
-
$
155,984
$
( 197,051
)
$
( 3,567,016
)
$
( 3,608,031
)
$
8,666
$
( 3,599,365
)
Issuance of Common Stock to EF Hutton for Deferred
Underwriting Compensation
-
-
-
-
29,889
$
3
$
1,509,387
-
-
$
1,509,390
-
$
1,509,390
Issuance of Common Stock during Merger
-
-
-
-
2,686,772
$
269
$
( 294
)
-
-
$
( 25
)
-
$
( 25
)
Issuance of Common Stock to AI
-
-
-
-
1,142,352
$
114
$
3,584,886
-
-
$
3,585,000
-
$
3,585,000
Convert Common Stock Class A and B to Common Stock
( 94,750
)
$
( 9
)
( 431,250
)
$
( 43
)
526,000
$
52
-
-
-
-
-
-
Revaluation for SHRG note receivable and warrants
-
-
-
-
-
-
$
287,812
-
-
$
287,812
$
-
$
287,812
Change in Non-Controlling Interest Ketomei
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$
119,030
$
119,030
AI and AIL Debt conversion to shares
-
-
-
-
1,206,907
121
$
3,801,638
-
-
$
3,801,759
-
$
3,801,759
Net loss
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$
( 2,590,731
)
$
( 2,590,731
)
$
( 15,773
)
$
( 2,606,504
)
Net
income (loss)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$
( 2,590,731
)
$
( 2,590,731
)
$
( 15,773
)
$
( 2,606,504
)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$
( 219,810
)
-
$
( 219,810
)
$
( 88
)
$
( 219,898
)
Balances at December 31, 2024
-
-
-
-
5,593,920
$
559
$
9,339,413
$
( 416,861
)
$
( 6,157,747
)
$
2,765,364
$
111,835
$
2,877,199
Balance
-
-
-
-
5,593,920
$
559
$
9,339,413
$
( 416,861
)
$
( 6,157,747
)
$
2,765,364
$
111,835
$
2,877,199
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F- 4
HWH
INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Formerly
known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Year
Ended
December 31, 2024
Year
Ended
December 31, 2023
(recast)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss
$ ( 2,606,504 )
$ ( 1,076,662 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Interest income
-
( 2,023,638 )
Foreign exchange transaction loss (gain)
55,221
( 68,797 )
Loss on equity method investment - related party
20,149
33,898
Depreciation expense
48,172
58,006
Non-cash lease expense
490,122
509,340
Inventory write off expenses
-
30,752
Impairment of convertible note receivable – related party, and equity method investment - related party
42,328
493,898
Impairment loss on goodwill
323,864
-
Impairment in investment in Joint Venture
14,205
-
Unrealized loss on convertible note receivable – related party
379,887
-
Loss on disposal of equipment
5,878
-
Impairment loss on equipment
69,293
-
Bad debt written off
11,177
-
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Account receivables
5,384
187,813
Other receivables
( 299,525 )
( 375,745 )
Prepaid expenses
90,398
( 93,263 )
Deposit
( 71,147 )
1,008
Inventory
336
184
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
228,644
306,299
Accrued commissions
( 1,904 )
( 54,247 )
Deferred revenue
-
( 21,198 )
Operating lease liabilities
( 465,977 )
( 508,018 )
Net cash used in operating activities
$ ( 1,659,999 )
$ ( 2,600,370 )
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment
$ ( 30,394 )
$ ( 14,574 )
Convertible loans receivable - related party
( 850,000 )
-
Investment at cost
( 14,345 )
-
Cash withdrawn from Trust Account for redemptions
21,102,871
299,958
Cash withdrawn from Trust Account available to the Company
243,897
68,351,348
Cash deposited into Trust Account
-
( 205,305 )
Net cash provided by investing activities
$ 20,452,029
$ 68,431,427
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of loans and borrowing
$ ( 85,061 )
$ -
Repayment of deferred underwriting compensation
( 325,000 )
-
Contribution from Majority Stockholder
-
155,763
Proceeds from extension loan
-
205,305
Advances from related parties
2,170,993
526,323
Borrowing from notes payable - related parties
-
33,475
Repayment to notes payable - related parties
-
( 33,475 )
Proceed of issuance of Class A Common Stock
3,585,000
-
Repayment of Class A Common Stock
( 21,102,872 )
( 68,351,348 )
Net cash used in financing activities
$ ( 15,756,940 )
$ ( 67,463,957 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash
$ 3,035,090
$ ( 1,632,900 )
Effects of foreign exchange rate on cash
147,455
2,307
Cash at beginning of year
1,159,201
2,789,794
Cash at end of year
$ 4,341,746
$ 1,159,201
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Cash Paid for Interest
$ 616
$ -
Cash Paid for Taxes
$ -
$ -
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities
Issuance of HWH common stock to EF Hutton for deferred underwriting compensation
$ 1,509,375
$ -
Settlement of deferred underwriting compensation payable with promissory note
$ 1,184,375
$ -
Debt to equity conversion
$ 3,801,759
$ -
Valuation gain from notes receivable and warrants - SHRG
$ 287,812
$ -
Initial recognition of operating lease right-of-use asset and liability
$ 519,353
$ 125,331
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F- 5
HWH
INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Formerly
known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.)
Notes
to the CONSOLIDATED financial statements
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023
NOTE
1 — DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND LIQUIDITY
HWH
International Inc. (“HWH”) and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) operate a food and
beverage (“F&B”) business in Singapore and South Korea. The F&B business operates four cafés, two of which
are located in South Korea and two in Singapore, as well as an online healthy food store serving customers in Singapore. The Company
previously operated a membership model in which individuals paid an upfront membership fee to become members. As members, these individuals
received discounted access to products and services offered by the Company’s affiliates. The Company had approximately 9,811 members,
primarily in South Korea. Currently, this membership business has been temporarily suspended, however the Company intends to resume this
business following the ongoing restructuring of the membership model.
HWH
International Inc. was originally incorporated in Delaware on October 20, 2021 under the name Alset Capital Acquisition Corp. The Company
was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar
business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”). The Company consummated the Business Combination
on January 9, 2024 and changed its name from “Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.” to “HWH International Inc.” The
Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early
stage and emerging growth companies.
On
September 9, 2022, the Company entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among the Company,
HWH International Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “HWH Nevada” or “Target”) and HWH Merger Sub Inc., a Nevada
corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”). The Company and Merger Sub are sometimes referred
to collectively as the “ACAX Parties.” Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Business Combination between the Company and
the Target was effected through the merger of Merger Sub with and into HWH Nevada, with the Target surviving the merger as a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). Upon the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) on January 9, 2024,
the Company changed its name to “HWH International Inc.” The board of directors of the Company (i) approved and declared
advisable the Merger Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and the transactions contemplated thereby
and (ii) resolved to recommend approval of the Merger Agreement and related transactions by the stockholders of the Company.
The
Target was owned and controlled by certain member officers and directors of the Company and its Sponsor. The Merger was consummated following
the receipt of the required approval by the stockholders of the Company and the shareholders of the Target and the satisfaction of certain
other customary closing conditions.
The
total consideration paid at Closing (the “Merger Consideration”) by the Company to the Target’s shareholders was $ 125,000,000 ,
and was payable in shares of the common stock, par value $ 0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”). The
number of shares of the Company Common Stock paid to the shareholders of the Target as Merger Consideration was 12,500,000 , with each
share being valued at $ 10.00 .
Our
newly acquired business started in South Korea with a single-level membership marketing model with limited products for sale. We registered
the business on April 1, 2019, and we started selling founders package on July 1, 2019. While we had been profitable and growing, the
COVID-19 pandemic had a material adverse effect on such growth and profits. Due to the decline in membership and revenue starting in
2020, we reorganized our internal staff by adding a broader team in each of the United States, Hong Kong and Singapore with direct selling
and business development experience to head up and expand our operations across various geographies and revised our business plan to
a tiered membership model in 2022, with more products and services to be made available to our members. We created a new corporate structure,
with subsidiaries in the U.S., Hong Kong and Singapore, that would allow for quick geographical expansion and we turned our focus to
the Hapi Café development.
F- 6
We
have 9,811 individuals with founding member status. This is a privileged class that will be able to enjoy continuous membership benefits
in time to come, given that they have trusted the Company and joined at an early stage. Such benefits include the ability to purchase
new memberships, in the model described below, at a favorable rate to be determined by the Company. They will also continue to be able
to earn affiliate commissions as they sell our products in the marketplace and enjoy discounted rates when visiting Hapi Cafés
until further notice. The total number of founding members was capped at 10,000. The Company is in the midst of implementing a new membership
model that operates on a yearly subscription basis. While we are not currently selling memberships, we intend to resume membership sales
under this new model.
Members
will get exclusive discounts on Hapi Marketplace products, priority invites to product launch events and other parties, and can earn
passive income when a member’s referral signs up for membership or makes an initial purchase of Hapi Marketplace products through
them.
Our
operations include:
Hapi
Marketplace. On November 4, 2024, the Company announced the launch of its business-to-consumer marketplace, Hapi Marketplace.
Hapi Marketplace features a selection of over forty-seven product categories including wellness, elderly care, auto accessories and more.
Launching first in the United States, we intend for Hapi Marketplace to expand in the near future to South Korea and Hong Kong, followed
by further expansion across Asia.
The
various aspects of the Hapi Marketplace will be launched in phases in different regions, each with their own timeline, depending on
the completion of logistical aspects for implementation (i.e., payment gateway systems, business licenses, banking set up, import
licenses, managerial resources, etc.) We are expanding the product range into robotics for consumer and commercial markets.
Hapi
Cafés, which are, and will be, in-person, location-based social experiences, offer members the opportunity to build a
sense of community with like-minded customers who share a potential interest in our products. The cafes are designed to operate sustainably
as standalone businesses. The cafes also seek to be an avenue to create awareness to and educate potential and existing members about
the products and services of HWH, providing us with the chance to significantly increase our membership base as well as increase the
amounts spent by our members on our affiliates’ products and services. Each of our cafés is a “Hapi Café.”
We opened proof-of-concept Hapi Café locations in Seoul, the Republic of Korea and Singapore in May and July 2022, respectively,
one more opened in Seoul, the Republic of Korea in May 2024, and we plan to open additional Hapi Cafés as we beta test and further
improve our business concept. We intend to grow our memberships as we grow the number of Hapi Cafés around the world. Hapi Cafe
is positioned to be an integral part of HWH’s business model. In June 2024, the Company’s decision to close the café
under Alset F&B (PLQ) Pte. Ltd. (“F&BPLQ”) was driven by the unsustainable revenue it generated. We believe it is
more strategic to refocus our efforts and resources on other business ventures that have greater growth potential.
We
have made a minority investment into a travel agency with a HK, China and Malaysia presence. The focus is primarily on educational
tours for China’s primary and secondary school students visiting attractions and tours in China and overseas. We also conduct
business for hotel booking offers to a hotel booking platform as well as organizing tour conferences for groups and communities. The
Company shall continue develop consumer traveling services and hotel booking services in Asia.
F- 7
Hapi
Wealth Builder seeks to provide participants the opportunity to attend courses, workshops, and coaching sessions in person, fostering
a collaborative learning environment for those dedicated to learning about investment in equities and wealth-building strategies. The
team has been diligently producing digital content for Hapi Wealth Builder and working to collaborate with the right partners to launch
the program and make it available to members. Hapi Wealth will leverage the wealth of knowledge and experience of its leaders to make
wealth building accessible and effective for its members. Our unique community-centric approach will offer members tools for making informed
financial decisions while creating pathways for sustained growth.
On
October 31, 2024, we announced that the Company scheduled the launch of Hapi Wealth, a program dedicated to providing comprehensive
education in equity investment and wealth-building strategies. We are targeting a rollout in selected regions later in 2025
as well.
To
further support its mission, Hapi Wealth is opening its China headquarters, designed as a conducive environment for individuals to participate
in tutorials and workshops. The hub will offer participants the opportunity to attend courses, workshops, and coaching sessions in person,
fostering a collaborative learning environment for those dedicated to learning about investment in equities and wealth-building strategies.
NOTE
2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis
of Presentation
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Through November 30, 2023, HWH (then known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.) reported on a twelve-month fiscal year that ended on November
30. In connection with the Business Combination, the Company’s fiscal year end was changed from November 30 to December 31. As
a result of this change, the Company had a one-month transition period that began on December 1, 2023 and ended on December 31, 2023.
For details see note 22 - Change in Fiscal Year.
Principles
of Consolidation
The
consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany
transactions and balances between the Company and its subsidiaries are eliminated upon consolidation. The Company consolidates entities
in which it owns more than 50% of the voting common stock and controls operations. All intercompany transactions and balances among consolidated
subsidiaries have been eliminated.
The
following chart describes the Company’s ownership of various subsidiaries:
The
Company mainly focuses on the F&B business. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, substantially all of the Company’s
business was generated by its wholly owned subsidiaries, 0 % and 2 % from HWH World Inc. (“HWH Korea”), respectively, and 100 %
and 98 % from F&B business, respectively. F&B business was generated by the following subsidiaries at December 31, 2024 and 2023,
respectively: 37 % and 49 % from Alset F&B One Pte. Ltd (“F&B1”), 6 % and 6 % from Hapi Café Korea Inc.(“HCKI”),
20 % and 22 % from Hapi Café SG Pte. Ltd. (“HCSGPL”), 7 % and 21 % from Alset F&B (PLQ) Pte. Ltd. (“F&BPLQ”)
and 30 % and 0 % from Ketomei Pte. Ltd. (“KPL”). HWH Korea was incorporated in the Republic of Korea (“South Korea”)
on May 7, 2019. HWH Korea is in the business of sourcing and distributing dietary supplements and other health products through its network
of members in South Korea. HWH Korea generates product sales via its direct sale model as products are sold to its members. Through the
use of a Hapi Gig platform that combines e-commerce, social media, and a customized rewards system, HWH Korea equips, trains, and empowers
its members. F&B1 was incorporated in Singapore on April 10, 2017, HCSGPL was incorporated in Singapore on April 4, 2022, F&BPLQ
was incorporated in Singapore on November 11, 2022 and KPL was incorporated in Singapore on September 17, 2019. F&B1, HCSGPL, F&BPLQ
and KPL are in the F&B business in Singapore. In the second quarter of 2024, the Company ceased operations of its subsidiary Alset
F&B (PLQ) Pte. Ltd. Due to the closure of this subsidiary, the Company wrote off $ 5,878 of fixed assets, which is included in general
and administrative expenses, and recorded a gain on termination of lease of $ 248 , which is included in other income on the Company’s
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2024.
F- 8
Emerging
Growth Company
The
Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take
advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging
growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation
requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic
reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and
stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further,
Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting
standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do
not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting
standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements
that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of
such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public
or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies
adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which
is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult
or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Functional
and Reporting Currency
The
functional and reporting currency of the Company is the United States dollar (“$”). The financial records of the Company’s
subsidiaries located in South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia are maintained in their local currencies, the Korean Won (₩),
Singapore Dollar (S$), Hong Kong Dollar (HK$) and Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), which are also the functional currencies of these entities.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the balance
sheet.
Making
estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of
a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the balance sheet, which management considered in formulating
its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ
significantly from those estimates.
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
The
Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.
The Company had cash of $ 4,341,746 and $ 1,159,201 as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The Company had no cash
equivalents as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Investments
Held in Trust Account
At
December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had approximately $ 0 and $ 21 million, respectively, in investments in treasury securities held
in the Trust Account. In connection with the closing of the Business Combination on January 9,
2024, Class A Common Stock stockholders redeemed 1,942,108 shares for approximately $ 21 million held in the Trust Account. The Trust
Account was closed in May 2024. The funds in Trust Account were valued at Level 1 observable input.
F- 9
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
The
Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, for
assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. ASC 820 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received
for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability
in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy, which
requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. ASC
820 describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level
1: Observable inputs such as quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level
2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data
Level
3: Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data, which require the use of the reporting entity’s own assumptions
For
purpose of this disclosure, the fair value of a financial instrument is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current
transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced sale or liquidation. The carrying values reported in balance sheets for current
assets and liabilities approximate their estimated fair market values based on the short-term maturity of these instruments.
Investment
Securities at Cost
Investments
in equity securities without readily determinable fair values are measured at cost minus impairment adjusted by observable price changes
in orderly transactions for the identical or similar investments of the same issuer. These investments are measured at fair value on
a nonrecurring basis when there are events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect. An impairment loss,
which is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, equals the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the
fair value of the investment.
Inventory
Inventory
is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method and includes all costs
in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition. Net realizable value is an estimated selling price in the ordinary
course of business less the estimated costs necessary to make the sale. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, inventory consisted of finished
goods procured from suppliers. The Company continuously evaluates the need for reserve for obsolescence and possible price concessions
required to write-down inventory to its net realizable value.
Leases
The
Company follows FASB ASC Topic 842 in accounting for its operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities. At inception
of a contract, the Company assesses whether a contract is, or contains, a lease. A contract is or contains a lease if it conveys the
right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange of a consideration. To assess whether a contract is
or contains a lease, the Company assesses whether the contract involves the use of an identified asset, whether it has the right to obtain
substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the asset and whether it has the right to control the use of the asset. The
right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date. The Company recognizes operating lease
expenses on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For leases that contain related non-lease components, such as maintenance, the
Company will account for these payments as a single lease component.
F- 10
Right-of-use
of Assets
The
right-of-use of asset is measured at cost, which comprises the amount of the lease liability adjusted for any lease payments made at
or before the commencement date, plus any initial direct costs incurred and less any lease incentive received.
Lease
liabilities
Lease
liability is measured at the present value of the outstanding lease payments at the commencement date, discounted using the Company’s
incremental borrowing rate. Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability comprise mainly of fixed lease payments.
Short-term
Leases and Leases of Low Value Assets
The
Company has elected to not recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases that have a lease term of 12
months or less at inception and leases of low value assets. Lease payments associated with these leases are expensed as
incurred.
Property,
Plant and Equipment
Property,
plant and equipment are recorded at cost, less depreciation. Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Expenditures incurred
as a consequence of acquiring or using the asset, or that increase the value or productive capacity of assets are capitalized. When property
and equipment is retired, sold, or otherwise disposed of, the asset’s carrying amount and related accumulated depreciation are
removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in statement of operations. Depreciation is computed by the reducing balance
method (after considering their respective estimated residual values) over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets as follows:
SCHEDULE
OF ESTIMATED USEFUL LIVES OF PROPERTY PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Office Equipment
3 – 5 years
Furniture and Fittings
3 – 5 years
Kitchen Equipment
3 – 5 years
Operating Equipment
3 – 5 years
Leasehold Improvements
Shorter of lease life or asset life
The
Company reviews the carrying value of property and equipment for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying
value of an asset may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition.
In cases where undiscounted expected future cash flows are less than the carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized, equaling an
amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of assets. The factors considered by management in performing this assessment
include current operating results, trends, and prospects, as well as the effects of obsolescence, demand, competition, and other economic
factors.
As
at December 31, 2024, the Company has determined the value-in-use to be zero based on the discounted cash flow of the cash generating
unit (“CGU”), which involves the cash flow projections covering a 3-year period and the fair value less cost of disposal
to be zero considering the re-sale value of these assets to be insignificant. Based on the assessment, the recoverable amount of the
CGU was determined to be zero, which was below the carrying amount of these non-financial assets. Accordingly, impairment losses on plant
and equipment of $ 69,293 are recognized in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations and other
comprehensive loss for the financial year ended December 31, 2024.
Deposit
Deposit
represents rental deposit paid for the office and the cafes used.
F- 11
Revenue
Recognition
ASC
606 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”), establishes principles for reporting information about
the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from the entity’s contracts to provide goods or services
to customers.
In
accordance with ASC 606, revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services. The amount of revenue recognized
reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for these goods or services. The provisions
of ASC 606 include a five-step process by which the determination of revenue recognition, depicting the transfer of goods or services
to customers in amounts reflecting the payment to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASC
606 requires the Company to apply the following steps:
(1)
identify the contract with the customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price;
(4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when, or as, performance
obligations are satisfied.
The
Company generates its revenue primarily from membership fees, product sales and F&B business.
Membership
Fee: The Company collects an annual membership fee from its members. The fee is fixed, paid in full at the time upon joining the
membership and is not refundable. The Company’s performance obligation is to provide its members the right to (a) purchase products
from the Company, (b) access to certain back-office services, (c) receive commissions and (d) attend corporate events. The associated
performance obligation is satisfied over time, generally over the term of the membership agreement which is for a one-year period. The
Company recognizes revenue from membership fee over the one-year period of the membership.
Product
Sales: The Company’s performance obligation is to transfer ownership of its products to its members. The Company generally
recognizes revenue when product is delivered to its members. Revenue is recorded net of applicable taxes, allowances, refunds or returns.
The Company receives the net sales price in cash or through credit card payments at the point of sale.
If
any member returns a product to the Company on a timely basis, they may obtain a replacement product from the Company for such
returned product. We do not have buyback program. However, when the customer requests a return and management decides that the
refund is necessary, we initiate the refund after deducting all the benefits that a member has earned. The returns are deducted from
our sales revenue on our financial statements. Allowances for product and membership returns are provided at the time the sale is
recorded. This accrual is based upon historical return rates for each country and the relevant return pattern, which reflects
anticipated returns to be received over a period of up to 12 months following the original sale. Product and membership returns for
the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $ 0
and $ 1,184 ,
respectively. The table below represents a breakout of the returns related to product sales and the returns related to
memberships:
SCHEDULE
OF PRODUCT SALES AND RETURNS RELATED TO MEMBERSHIPS
Membership
Products
Total
Returns
Membership
Products
Total
For the year ended:
December 31, 2024
$ -
$ -
$ -
December 31, 2023
$ 1,184
$ -
$ 1,184
Revenue returns
$ 1,184
$ -
$ 1,184
Food
and Beverage : The Company’s performance obligation is to transfer ownership of its F&B products to its customers. The Company
generally recognizes revenue when F&B products are delivered to its customers. Revenue is recorded net of applicable taxes, allowances,
refunds or returns. The Company receives the net sales price in cash or through credit card payments at the point of sale or from web-based
ordering system. The revenue received from Food and Beverage business for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $ 1,253,577 and
$ 817,761 , respectively.
F- 12
Contract
Assets and Liabilities
Below
is a summary of the beginning and ending balances of the Company’s contract assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2024 and
2023.
SCHEDULE
OF CONTRACT ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Prepaid Sales Commission
Balances at the beginning of the year
$ -
$ 6,839
Movement for the year
-
( 6,839 )
Balances at the end of the year
$ -
$ -
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Deferred Revenue
Balances at the beginning of the year
$ -
$ 21,198
Movement for the year
-
( 21,198 )
Balances at the end of the year
$ -
$ -
Value-added
Tax
The
Company is obligated to pay value-added tax (“VAT”), among other things, on its inventory purchase as well as its rent payments
and payment of professional fees. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, included in other receivables was VAT paid of $ 33,914 and $ 37,179 ,
respectively, due primarily to the purchase of inventory and payment of rents and accounting fees.
Cost
of Revenue
Cost
of revenue consists of the cost of procuring finished goods from suppliers and related shipping and handling fees from third-parties
money platform, contractor fees for part-time staff, franchise commission and sales commission from membership business.
Below
is a breakdown of the Company’s cost of revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
For
the years ended:
SCHEDULE
OF COST OF REVENUE
Total
December 31, 2024
Finished goods
$ 492,113
Related shipping
3,370
Handling fee
47,590
Contractor fee
43,787
Franchise commission
17,133
Depreciation
47,728
Total of Cost of revenue
$ 651,721
December 31, 2023
Finished goods
$ 151,703
Related shipping
9,346
Handling fee
22,629
Contractor fee
30,977
Franchise commission
18,428
Sales commission
13,827
Inventory written off
30,753
Depreciation
57,162
Total of Cost of revenue
$ 334,825
F- 13
Shipping
and Handling Fees
The
Company utilizes the practical expedient under ASC 606-10-25-18B treating shipping and handling as fulfillment activities rather than
a promised service (i.e. a revenue element). Shipping and handling fees are included in cost of revenue within the statements of operations.
Commission
Expense
The
Company compensates its sales leaders with leadership incentives for services rendered, relating to the development, retention, and management
of their sales organizations. Leadership incentives are payable based on achieved sales volume, which are recorded in cost of revenue.
Member will get 25 % commission of the membership fee income if the member successfully refers a new member to subscribe to the membership.
The commission will be payable after the referee’s membership is confirmed and been paid by the new member.
Advertising
Expenses
Costs
incurred for advertising the Company’s products are charged to operations as incurred. Advertising expenses for the years ended
December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $ 19,472 and $ 4,191 , respectively.
Income
Taxes
The
Company accounts for income taxes pursuant to the provision of ASC 740-10, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (“ASC 740-10”),
which requires, among other things, assets and liabilities approach to calculating deferred income taxes. The assets and liabilities
approach requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences
between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is provided to offset any net deferred
tax assets for which management believes it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets will not be realized. Tax positions
that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold are measured at the largest amount of tax benefit, that is, more than 50 percent
likely of being realized upon settlement with the applicable taxing authority.
The
Company follows the provision of ASC 740-10 related to Accounting for Uncertain Income Tax Positions. When tax returns are filed, there
may be uncertainty about the merits of positions taken or the amount of the position that would be ultimately sustained. In accordance
with the guidance of ASC 740-10, the benefit of a tax position is recognized in the financial statements in the period during which,
based on all available evidence, management believes it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination,
including the resolution of appeals or litigation processes, if any. Tax positions taken are not offset or aggregated with other positions.
The
Company has not recorded any unrecognized tax benefits. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to
income taxes in income tax expense.
Delaware
Franchise Tax
The
State of Delaware, where the Company is incorporated, imposes a franchise tax that applies to most business entities that are formed
or qualified to do business, or which are otherwise doing business, in Delaware. Delaware franchise tax is
based on authorized shares or on assumed par and non-par capital, whichever yields a lower result. Under the authorized shares method,
each share is taxed at a graduated rate based on the number of authorized shares. During years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 the Company
incurred $ 48,180 and $ 205,000 in Delaware franchise tax, respectively.
Non-controlling
Interests
Non-controlling
interests represent the equity in a subsidiary not attributable, directly or indirectly, to owners of the Company, and are presented
separately in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Income, and within equity in the Consolidated Balance
Sheets, separately from equity attributable to owners of the Company.
On December 31,
2024 and 2023, the aggregate non-controlling interests in the Company were $ 111,835
and $ 8,666 ,
respectively.
F- 14
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
In
the year ended December 31, 2024, we incurred a net loss, a loss from operations and negative cash flow from operations as we expanded
our business of operating cafés and restructured our membership model. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
Notwithstanding
the above, the Company believes that the available cash in the Company’s bank accounts, anticipated cash from operations, and
financing availability from related parties are sufficient to alleviate substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to
continue as a going concern for at least the next 12 months. The Company’s capital requirements for the planned expansion are
based on, among other items, location-specific property costs, team requirements, and marketing steps needed. Our expansion includes
plans to take over leases of existing Hapi Cafes that we currently do not own, with a goal to add additional Hapi Cafes over the
next two years. Executing these plans will require a minimum investment for each Hapi Café location. There is no
guarantee, however, that we will be able to achieve these plans as described.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern and do not contain any adjustments
that might be required should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
On
April 24, 2024, the Company entered into a Credit Facility Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Alset Inc., a Texas
corporation and the Company’s indirect, majority stockholder, pursuant to which Alset Inc. has provided the Company a
non-revolving line of credit facility (the “Credit Facility”), which provides a maximum, aggregate credit line of up to
$ 1,000,000 . During
2024, $ 300,000 was drawn from the loan, which was converted to equity on September 24, 2024. This conversion is reflected under
Advances from Related Parties in the cash flow statement. The remaining credit of $ 700,000 is available for draw as on December 31,
2024.
Pursuant
to the Credit Agreement, the Company may request an advance (each, an “Advance”) on the Credit Facility. Each Advance shall
bear a simple interest rate of three percent (3%) per annum. Each Advance and all accrued but unpaid interest shall be due and payable
at the first (1 st ) anniversary of the effective date of the Credit Agreement. The Company may at any time during the term
of the Credit Agreement prepay a portion or all amounts of its indebtedness without penalty. Each advance shall not be secured by a lien
or other encumbrance on any of the Company’s assets, but shall be solely a general unsecured debt obligation of the Company.
The
Company has obtained letters of financial support from Alset International Limited and Alset Inc., a majority owners of the Company.
Alset International Limited and Alset Inc. committed to provide any additional funding required by the Company and would not demand repayment
through twelve months from the issuance of these consolidated financial statements.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncement
Management
does not believe that any recently issued, but not effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect
on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Segment
reporting
On
November 27, 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2023-07, Improvements
to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”). ASU 2023-07 amends ASC 280, Segment Reporting (“ASC 280”)
to expand segment disclosures by requiring disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the Company’s
chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), the amount and description of other segment items, the title and position of the
CODM, and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and
deciding how to allocate resources. ASU 2023-07 further permits disclosure of more than one measure of segment profit or loss and extends
the full disclosure requirements of ASC 280 to companies with single reportable segments. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 on December
31, 2024 on a retrospective basis. See —Segment reporting below for additional information.
Accounting
pronouncements pending adoption
On
November 4, 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (“ASU 2024-03”). ASU 2024-03
amends ASC 220, Comprehensive Income to expand income statement expense disclosures and require disclosure in the notes to the
financial statements of specified information about certain costs and expenses. ASU 2024-03 is required to be adopted for fiscal years
commencing after December 15, 2026, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the standard
on the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Segment
reporting
The
Company reports its segment information to reflect the manner in which the CODM reviews and assesses performance. The Company’s
Chief Executive Officer and President and Chief Operating Officer have joint responsibility as the CODM and review and assess the performance
of the Company as a whole.
The
primary financial measures used by the CODM to evaluate performance and allocate resources are net income (loss) and operating income
(loss). The CODM uses net income (loss) and operating income (loss) to evaluate the performance of the Company’s ongoing operations
and as part of the Company’s internal planning and forecasting processes. Information on Net income (loss) and Operating income
(loss) is disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Segment expenses and other segment items are provided to the CODM on
the same basis as disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The
CODM does not evaluate performance or allocate resources based on segment assets, and therefore such information is not presented in
the notes to the financial statements.
NOTE
3 - MERGER WITH HWH INTERNATIONAL INC. (A NEVADA CORPORATION)
HWH
International Inc. (f.k.a. Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.; “SPAC”, the “Company”) was a special purpose acquisition
company, incorporated in Delaware on October 20, 2021 and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset
acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. On January 9, 2024, the Company,
HWH International Inc. (a Nevada corporation, “HWH Nevada”) and HWH Merger Sub Inc. consummated the merger (the “Reverse
Recapitalization” or “Business Combination”) pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger dated as of September 9, 2022.
The
transaction was accounted for as a Reverse Recapitalization in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Under this method of accounting, SPAC was treated
as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. This determination is primarily based on the fact that subsequent
to the Reverse Recapitalization, HWH Nevada stockholders comprise a majority of voting power on the Company, most of senior management
of HWH Nevada continued as senior management of the combined company and identified a majority of the members of the board of directors
of the combined company, both companies are under common control, and HWH Nevada’s operations comprise the ongoing operations of
the combined company. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Company is considered to be a continuation of HWH Nevada, with the net
identifiable assets of SPAC deemed to have been acquired by HWH Nevada in exchange for HWH Nevada common shares accompanied by a recapitalization,
with no goodwill or intangible assets recorded.
F- 15
In
connection with the Business Combination:
●
The
holders of 8,591,072 Public Shares properly exercised their right to have such shares redeemed for a full pro rata portion of the
Trust Account holding the proceeds from the IPO.
●
Immediately
prior to the consummation of the Reverse Recapitalization (i) each of the 1,972,896 shares of SPAC’s Class A Common Stock was
cancelled and converted into 1,972,896 shares of the Company’s common stock; (ii) each of the issued and outstanding 2,156,250
shares of SPAC’s Class B Common Shares were converted into 2,156,250 shares of SPAC’s Class A Common Stock and subsequently
into 2,156,250 shares of the Company’s common stock; (iii) each of the SPAC’s 476,890 units were split into their component
securities; and (iv) 909,875 new shares of the Company’s common stock were issued in connection with the conversion of the
SPAC’s rights into the Company’s common shares.
●
12,500,000
shares of the Company’s common stock were delivered as consideration in the Business Combination
●
149,443
shares of the Company’s common stock were issued to a third party as payment for $ 1,509,375 of underwriting compensation.
The
transaction described above was a transaction between entities under common control. SPAC, prior to the Business Combination, was 26 %
owned by Alset International Limited, a public company listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited and 32 % owned by Alset
Inc., the ultimate owner of both SPAC and HWH Nevada. HWH Nevada was wholly-owned by Alset International Limited. In the transactions
under common control, financial statements and financial information were presented as of the beginning of the period as though the assets
and liabilities had been transferred at that date.
SCHEDULE
OF RESTATED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND BALANCE SHEETS
Consolidated
Statement of Operations and Other Comprehensive Loss for the Year Ended on December 31, 2023
As SPAC previously
booked
Merger with HWH-NV
Recast
Revenue
-Membership
$ -
$ 12,293
$ 12,293
-Non-membership
-
818,226
818,226
Total revenue
$ -
$ 830,519
$ 830,519
Cost of revenue
-Membership
$ -
$ ( 13,827 )
$ ( 13,827 )
-Non-membership
-
( 320,998 )
( 320,998 )
Total cost of revenue
$ -
$ ( 334,825 )
$ ( 334,825 )
Gross profit
$ -
$ 495,694
$ 495,694
Operating expenses:
General and administrative expenses
$ ( 1,034,367 )
$ ( 1,874,528 )
$ ( 2,908,895 )
Impairment of convertible note receivable – related party, and investment in associate, related party
-
( 493,898 )
( 493,898 )
Total operating expenses
$ ( 1,034,367 )
$ ( 2,368,426 )
$ ( 3,402,793 )
Other income (expenses)
Other income
$ 2,023,638
$ 187,283
$ 2,210,921
Foreign exchange transaction gain
68,797
68,797
Loss on equity method investment, related party
-
( 33,898 )
( 33,898 )
Total other income
$ 2,023,638
$ 222,182
$ 2,245,820
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes
989,271
( 1,650,550 )
( 661,279 )
Provision for income taxes
( 415,383 )
-
( 415,383 )
Net income (loss)
$ 573,888
$ ( 1,650,550 )
$ ( 1,076,662 )
Less: Net income attributable to Non-Controlling Interests
-
3,830
3,830
Net income (loss) attributable to the common shareholders
$ 573,888
$ ( 1,654,380 )
$ ( 1,080,492 )
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign exchange translation adjustment
-
( 49,045 )
( 49,045 )
Total Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
$ -
$ ( 49,045 )
$ ( 49,045 )
Comprehensive income (loss):
$ 573,888
$ ( 1,703,425 )
$ ( 1,129,537 )
F- 16
Consolidated
Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2023
As SPAC previously
booked
Merger with HWH-NV
Recast
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash
$ 280,398
$ 878,803
$ 1,159,201
Account receivable, net
-
28,611
28,611
Inventory
-
1,977
1,977
Other receivables, net
-
41,203
41,203
Prepaid expenses
100,000
6,862
106,862
Total Current Assets
$ 380,398
$ 957,456
$ 1,337,854
Non-Current Assets
Property and equipment, net
$ -
$ 129,230
$ 129,230
Cash and marketable securities held in Trust Account
21,346,768
-
21,346,768
Deposits
-
298,324
298,324
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
-
598,508
598,508
Total Non-Current Assets
$ 21,346,768
$ 1,026,062
$ 22,372,830
TOTAL ASSETS
$ 21,727,166
$ 1,983,518
$ 23,710,684
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$ 30,156
$ 137,199
$ 167,355
Accrued commissions
-
85,206
85,206
Due to related parties, net
205,305
2,118,495
2,323,800
Operating lease liabilities - current
-
429,687
429,687
Deferred underwriting fee payable
3,018,750
-
3,018,750
Total Current Liabilities
$ 3,254,211
$ 2,770,587
$ 6,024,798
Non-Current Liabilities
Operating lease liabilities - Non-current
$ -
$ 182,380
$ 182,380
Total Non-Current Liabilities
$ -
$ 182,380
$ 182,380
Commitments and Contingencies
-
-
-
Temporary equity:
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption; 395,207 shares (at approximately $ 53.40 per share) as of December 31, 2023*
$ 21,102,871
$ -
$ 21,102,871
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, $ 0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023
-
-
-
Common stock, $ 0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 2,000 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 *
-
-
-
Class A common stock, $ 0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 94,750 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 *
9
-
9
Class B common stock, $ 0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 431,250 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 *
43
-
43
Common stock value
43
-
43
Additional paid in capital
155,974
10
155,984
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
-
( 197,051 )
( 197,051 )
Accumulated deficit
( 2,785,942 )
( 781,074 )
( 3,567,016 )
Total Stockholders’ Deficit
$ ( 2,629,916 )
$ ( 978,115 )
$ ( 3,608,031 )
Non-controlling interests
-
8,666
8,666
Total Stockholders’ Deficit
( 2,629,916 )
( 969,449 )
( 3,599,365 )
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
$ 21,727,166
$ 1,983,518
$ 23,710,684
* The common stock share
amounts were adjusted retrospectively to reflect the 5-for-1 reverse stock split on February 24, 2025
NOTE
4 — ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET
Accounts
receivable, net at December 31, 2024, December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 of $ 17,546 , $ 28,611 and $ 9,070 , respectively, represent
collections received by the credit card processor in F&B business and rent receivable. Accounts receivable are recorded at invoiced
amounts net of an allowance for credit losses and do not bear interest. The allowance for credit losses is the Company’s best estimate
of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company’s existing accounts receivable. The measurement and recognition of credit
losses involves the use of judgment. Management’s assessment of expected credit losses includes consideration of current and expected
economic conditions, market and industry factors affecting the Company’s customers (including their financial condition), the aging
of account balances, historical credit loss experience, customer concentrations, customer creditworthiness, and the existence of sources
of payment. The Company also establishes an allowance for credit losses for specific receivables when it is probable that the receivable
will not be collected and the loss can be reasonably estimated. Accounts receivable considered uncollectible are charged against the
allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. As of December 31, 2024
and 2023, the allowance for credit losses was an immaterial amount. The Company does not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related
to its customers. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, $ 11,177 and $ 0 of rent receivable was written off, respectively.
NOTE
5 — PREPAID COMMISSIONS
During
the normal course of business, the Company pays commission to its members for product sales as well as membership sales. Prepaid commissions
are recorded for commissions paid on membership sales and recognized as an expense over the same period as the related membership revenue.
F- 17
NOTE
6 — INVENTORY
As
of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the balance of finished goods was $ 1,574 and $ 1,977 , respectively. There is no provision for slow-moving
or obsolete inventory during the year ended December 31, 2024. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company wrote off $ 30,753
of expired, slow-moving and obsolete inventory. This was recorded in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations in cost
of revenue (non-membership) during the year ended December 31, 2023.
NOTE
7 — PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
The
components of property and equipment are as follows:
SCHEDULE
OF PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Total
December 31, 2024
Cost:
Office Equipment
$ 37,455
Furniture and Fittings
42,328
Kitchen Equipment
30,473
Operating Equipment
11,594
Leasehold Improvements
133,548
Accumulated Depreciation:
Office equipment
( 30,179 )
Furniture and Fittings
( 40,028 )
Kitchen Equipment
( 13,221 )
Operating Equipment
( 5,107 )
Leasehold Improvements
( 65,048 )
Impairment:
Office equipment
( 6,774 )
Furniture and Fittings
( 2,300 )
Kitchen Equipment
( 8,931 )
Operating Equipment
( 3,450 )
Leasehold Improvements
( 46,772 )
Total, net
$ 33,588
December 31, 2023
Cost:
Office Equipment
$ 30,861
Furniture and Fittings
46,376
Kitchen Equipment
23,044
Operating Equipment
8,522
Leasehold Improvements
122,083
Accumulated Depreciation:
Office Equipment
( 15,848 )
Furniture and Fittings
( 31,518 )
Kitchen Equipment
( 8,368 )
Operating Equipment
( 3,373 )
Leasehold Improvements
( 42,549 )
Total, net
$ 129,230
For
the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded depreciation expenses of $ 48,172 and $ 58,006 and impairment of property
and equipment of $ 69,293 and $ 0 , respectively. The impairment was determined by the Company based on the discounted cash flow of the
cash generating unit (“CGU”), which involves the cash flow projections covering a 3-year period and the fair value less cost
of disposal. Based on the assessment, the recoverable amount of the CGU was determined to be zero, which was below the carrying amount
of these non-financial assets. As of December 31, 2024, the Company disposed of office equipment, at a cost of $ 7,429 , and furniture
and fittings, at a cost of $ 2,784 , from F&BPLQ due to café’s closure. $ 5,878 loss on disposal of PPE was recorded in
the general and administrative expenses.
NOTE
8 — INVESTMENTS AT COST
Investments
in equity securities without readily determinable fair values are measured at cost minus impairment adjusted by observable price changes
in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. These investments are measured at fair value on
a nonrecurring basis when there are events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect. An impairment loss,
which is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, equals to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds
the fair value of the investment. No impairment was recorded as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Joint
Venture
On
April 25, 2024, the Company entered into a binding term sheet (the “Term Sheet”) through its subsidiary Health Wealth Happiness
Pte. Ltd. (“HWHPL”) outlining a joint venture with Chen Ziping, an experienced entrepreneur in the travel industry, and Chan
Heng Fai Ambrose, HWH’s Executive Chairman, as a part of HWH’s strategy of building its travel business in Asia. The planned
joint venture company (referred to here as the “JVC” or “HTHPL”) will be known as HapiTravel Holding Pte. Ltd.
The JVC will be initially owned as follows: (a) HWHPL will hold 19 %
of the shares in the JVC; (b) Mr. Chan will hold 11 %;
and (c) the remaining 70 %
of the shares in the JVC will be held by Mr. Chen.
On
November 6, 2024, the Company signed a loan agreement with HTHPL in the amount of $ 137,658 at a rate of 5 % per annum, the maturity date
of which is on or before the second anniversary of the effective date.
On
December 18, 2024, the Company sold Hapi Travel Pte. Ltd. (“HTPL”) to HTHPL for a consideration of $ 834 .
F- 18
As
of December 31, 2024, HTHPL owed the Company a total of $ 139,370 , which is recorded in other receivables in the financial statements, which included
the subscription fee for 19 % of the shares of the JVC.
Ideal
Food & Beverage Pte. Ltd.
On
March 14, 2024, the Company entered into a share subscription agreement through its subsidiary Alset F&B Holding Pte. Ltd. (“F&BH”)
for 19,000 shares of Ideal Food & Beverage Pte. Ltd. (“IFBPL”), constituting 19 % of the issued shares of IFBPL. The
subscription fee of $ 14,010 was paid to IFBPL on May 23, 2024.
On
March 14, 2024, the Company entered into a share subscription agreement through its subsidiary Alset F&B Holding Pte. Ltd. (“F&BH”)
for 19,000 shares of Ideal Food & Beverage Pte. Ltd. (“IFBPL”), constituting 19 % of the issued shares of IFBPL. The subscription
fee of $ 14,010 was paid to IFBPL on May 23, 2024. The Company impaired this investment of $ 14,010 to $ 0 and total impairment expenses
were $ 14,205 , which included $ 14,010 of investment and $ 195 exchange difference, due to net liabilities of IFBPL as of December 31, 2024.
NOTE
9 — COMMISSIONS EXPENSE
Accrued
commissions as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 represent mainly sales commission payable. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023,
sales commission expenses of $ 0 and $ 13,827 respectively, were recorded and included in cost of revenue in the Company’s consolidated
statement of operations.
NOTE
10 – LOANS DUE TO THIRD PARTIES
Loans
for Operations
The
Company’s subsidiary, Ketomei Pte Ltd (“Ketomei”) has a loan from DBS Bank Limited, which was used to fund Ketomei’s
current operations. Ketomei owes the bank $ 34,155 at December 31, 2024.
Ketomei also borrowed $ 42,696 from an individual on February 21, 2022, which consisted of principal of $ 36,807 and
interest of $ 5,889 for 2 years at 8 % interest rate per annum. Ketomei repaid $ 39,015 in 2024 and owes $ 3,681 at December 31, 2024, which
will be repaid in 6 installments in 2025.
Promissory
Note to EF Hutton LLC
On
December 18, 2023, the Company entered into a Satisfaction and Discharge of Indebtedness Agreement in connection with an underwriting
agreement previously entered into by HWH and EF Hutton LLC (“EF Hutton”) (now known as D. Boral Capital LLC), a division
of Benchmark Investments, LLC, under which in lieu of HWH tendering the full amount due of $ 3,018,750 , the underwriters accepted a combination
of $ 325,000 in cash paid upon the closing of Business Combination, 149,443 shares of the Company’s common stock and a $ 1,184,375
promissory note as full satisfaction. This agreement was effective at the closing of Business Combination on January 9, 2024. The 149,443
shares were issued at the price of $ 10.10 , totaling the amount of $ 1,509,375 . The fair value of the HWH shares at issuance on January
9, 2024 was $ 2.82 per share or $ 421,429 . No gain or loss was recognized upon issuance of the shares on January 9, 2024, as this was an
adjustment to prior underwriting costs accounted for in equity. The promissory note carries interest rate equal to SOFR (secured overnight
financing rate for U.S. Government Securities Business Day published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York) plus a margin of one percent.
The principal amount of the promissory note and any accrued interest shall mature (i) partially in the event HWH completes an offering
within one year of the date of the promissory note, the amount of outstanding debt maturing being proportionate to the amount of proceeds
of the future offering, or (ii) in partial installments through October of 2028, the outstanding balance being paid annually until the
balance owed is paid in full. The first installment of the note that was due in October 2024 was paid in January 2025, resulting in a default due
to the delay in payment. We are currently in negotiations with EF Hutton to resolve the default status and restore the account to good
standing.
NOTE
11 — DUE TO ALSET INC.
Alset
Inc (“AEI”) is our ultimate holding company that is incorporated in the United States of America. The amount due to AEI represents
short-term working capital advances to the Company for its daily operations. There is no written, executed agreement and no financial/non-financial
covenants and the amount due to AEI is non-interest bearing. Since the amount due to AEI is due upon request, it is classified as a current
liability. The amounts due to AEI at December 31, 2024 and 2023 are $ 209,614 and $ 202,645 respectively.
On
April 24, 2024, the Company entered into a Credit Facility Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Alset Inc., pursuant to
which AEI has provided the Company a line of credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) which provides a maximum, aggregate
credit line of up to $ 1,000,000 .
Pursuant
to the Credit Agreement, the Company may request an advance (each, an “Advance”) on the Credit Facility. Each Advance shall
bear a simple interest rate of three percent ( 3 %) per annum. Each Advance and all accrued but unpaid interest shall be due and payable
at the first (1 st ) anniversary of the effective date of the Credit Agreement. The Company may at any time during the term
of the Credit Agreement prepay a portion or all amounts of its indebtedness without penalty. Each Advance shall not be secured by a lien
or other encumbrance on any of the Company’s assets, but shall be solely a general unsecured debt obligation of the Company. On
September 24, 2024 the Company drew $ 300,000 from the credit line and accrued $ 3,164 in interest. On December 31, 2024, $ 3,164 of the
interest remained outstanding.
On
September 24, 2024, the Company entered into a Debt Conversion Agreement (the “AEI Conversion”) with Alset Inc., pursuant
to which a debt of $ 300,000 due to AEI was converted into shares of the Company’s common stock at a price per share of $ 0.63 for
a total of 476,190 shares.
NOTE
12 — DUE TO/FROM RELATED PARTIES
Due
to Alset International Limited.
Alset
International Limited (“AIL”) is incorporated in Singapore and is a fellow subsidiary of the common parent company,
Alset Inc. The amount due to AIL represents short-term working capital advances to the Company for its daily operations. There is no
written, executed agreement and no financial/non-financial covenants and the amount due to AIL is non-interest bearing. Since the
amount due to AIL is due upon request, it is classified as a current liability. The amounts due to AIL at December 31, 2024 and 2023
are $ 5,096,047
and $ 1,729,901 ,
respectively.
On
September 24, 2024, the Company entered into a Debt Conversion Agreement (the “AIL Conversion”) with Alset International
Limited, pursuant to which a debt of $ 3,501,759 due to AIL was converted into shares of the Company’s common stock at a price per
share of $ 0.63 for a total of 5,558,347 shares.
Due
to Alset Business Development Pte. Limited.
Alset
Business Development Pte. Limited (“ABD”) is incorporated in Singapore and is a fellow subsidiary of the common parent company,
Alset Inc. The amount due to ABD represents amount loaned by ABD to Hapi Cafe Inc. for the investment in Ketomei Pte. Ltd (“Ketomei”)
in March 2022, and also represents amount loaned HWHPL to ABD in November 2024. There is no written, executed agreement and no financial/non-financial
covenants and the amount due to ABD is non-interest bearing. Since the amount due to ABD is due upon request, it is classified as a current
liability. The amount due from ABD at December 31, 2024 is $ 4,113,701 and amount due to ABD at December 31, 2023 is $ 184,507 .
Due
to BMI Capital Partners International Limited.
BMI
Capital Partners International Limited (“BMI”) is incorporated in Hong Kong and is a fellow subsidiary of the common parent
company, Alset Inc. The amount due to BMI represents short-term working capital advances to the Company for its daily operations. There
is no written, executed agreement and no financial/non-financial covenants and the amount due to BMI is non-interest bearing. Since the
amount due to BMI is due upon request, it is classified as a current liability. The amounts due to BMI at December 31, 2024 and 2023
are $ 0 and $ 1,442 , respectively.
F- 19
General
and Administrative Services
Commencing
on the date the Company’s common stock was first listed on the Nasdaq, the Company has agreed to pay to Alset Management Group
Inc. a total of $ 10,000 per month for office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support for up to 24 months. Upon completion
of the Business Combination, the Company ceased paying these monthly fees. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company
recorded a charge of $ 0 and $ 120,000 , respectively, to the statement of operations pursuant to the agreement.
Related
Party Loans
Working
Capital Loans
In
order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain
of the Company’s officers and directors were permitted to, but were not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required
(“Working Capital Loans”). Such Working Capital Loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. The notes were to be repaid
upon completion of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $ 1,500,000 of the notes may
be converted upon completion of a Business Combination into units at a price of $ 10.00 per unit. Such units would be identical to the
Private Placement Units. The Business Combination has closed, and there are no amounts outstanding
under these Working Capital Loans. No amounts were converted into the units at the Business Combination.
Extension
Loan
On
May 1, 2023, the Company amended the Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) with Wilmington Trust,
National Association, a national banking association, which was entered into on January 31, 2022. On May 2, 2023 the Company filed an
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The Trust Agreement and Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
were amended, in part, so that the Company’s ability to complete a business combination was extended in additional increments of
one month up to a total of twenty-one (21) additional months from the closing date of the Offering, subject to the payment into the Trust
Account by the Company of one-third of 1% of the funds remaining in the Trust Account following any redemptions in connection with the
approval of the amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The Sponsor funded the first 30-day
extension payment on May 3, 2023. The Sponsor also made subsequent extension payments on June 5 th and July 6 th of
$ 68,928 and $ 69,158 , respectively. The Sponsor was entitled to the repayment of these extension payments, without interest. As of December
31, 2024 and 2023 there was $ 0 and $ 205,305 outstanding under the extension loan, respectively.
NOTE
13 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
On
August 31, 2023, Hapi Café Inc. and Ketomei Pte. Ltd. entered into a binding term sheet pursuant to which HCI agreed to lend Ketomei
up to $ 36,634 pursuant to a convertible loan, with a term of 12 months. After the initial 12 months, the interest on such loan will be
3.5 %. This loan was written off upon the acquisition of Ketomei in February 2024.
On
October 26, 2023, the same parties entered into another binding term sheet pursuant to which HCI agreed to lend Ketomei up to $ 37,876
pursuant to a non- convertible loan, with a term of 12 months. After the initial 12 months, the interest on such loan will be 3.5 %. This
loan was written off upon the acquisition of Ketomei in February 2024.
On
February 20, 2024, the Company invested additional $ 312,064 for an additional 38.41 % ownership interest in Ketomei by converting $ 312,064
of convertible loan. The loan was impaired at the year ended December 31, 2023, therefore, $ 312,064 was transferred from impairment of
convertible loan to impairment of loss on goodwill. After this additional investment, the Company owns 55.65 % of Ketomei’s
outstanding shares and Ketomei is consolidated into the financial statements of the Company beginning on February 20, 2024.
On
March 20, 2024, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Sharing Services Global Corporation (“SHRG”),
pursuant to which the Company purchased from SHRG a (i) Convertible Promissory Note (“CN 1”) in the amount of $ 250,000 , convertible
into 208,333,333 shares of SHRG’s common stock at the option of the Company, and (ii) certain warrants exercisable into 208,333,333
shares of SHRG’s common stock at an exercise price of $ 0.0012 per share, the exercise period of the warrant being five (5) years
from the date of the securities purchase agreement, for an aggregate purchase price of $ 250,000 . At the time of filing, the Company has
not converted any of the debt contemplated by CN 1 nor exercised any of the warrants.
On
May 9, 2024, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Sharing Services Global Corporation, pursuant to which the
Company purchased from SHRG a Convertible Promissory Note (“CN 2”) in the amount of $ 250,000 , convertible into 125,000,000
shares of SHRG’s common stock at the option of the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $ 250,000 . CN 2 bears an 8 % interest
rate and has a scheduled maturity three years from the date of the CN 2. Additionally, upon signing CN 2, SHRG owed the Company a commitment
fee of 8 % of the principal amount, $ 20,000 in total, to be paid either in cash or in common stock of SHRG, at the discretion of the Company.
On
June 6, 2024, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Sharing Services Global Corporation, pursuant to which the
Company purchased from SHRG a Convertible Promissory Note (“CN 3”) in the amount of $ 250,000 , convertible into 125,000,000
shares of SHRG’s common stock at the option of the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $ 250,000 . CN 3 bears an 8 % interest
rate and has a scheduled maturity three years from the date of the CN 3. Additionally, upon signing CN 3, SHRG owed the Company a commitment
fee of 8 % of the principal amount, $ 20,000 in total, to be paid either in cash or in common stock of SHRG, at the discretion of the Company.
On
August 13, 2024, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Sharing Services Global Corporation, pursuant to which
the Company purchased from SHRG a Convertible Promissory Note (“CN 4”) in the amount of $ 100,000 , convertible into 50,000,000
shares of SHRG’s common stock at the option of the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $ 100,000 . CN 4 bears an 8 % interest
rate and has a scheduled maturity three years from the date of the CN 4. Additionally, upon signing CN 4, SHRG owed the Company a commitment
fee of 8 % of the principal amount, $ 8,000 in total, to be paid either in cash or in common stock of SHRG, at the discretion of the Company.
As
of December 31, 2024, a total of $ 48,000
in commitment fees and $ 39,323
of convertible note interest was recorded under other receivable.
SHRG
is a related party of our Company, as our stockholders Alset Inc. and Alset International Limited, in addition to certain entities affiliated
with them, are significant stockholders of SHRG, and our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman are also the Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman, respectively, of SHRG.
F- 20
Financial
assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below and disclosed on the consolidated balance sheet as of December
31, 2024:
SCHEDULE
OF FINANCIAL ASSETS MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE ON A RECURRING BASIS
Fair
Value Measurement Using
Amount
at
Level
1
Level
2
Level
3
Fair
Value
December
31, 2024
Assets
Warrants
– SHRG
$
-
$
13,272
$
-
$
13,272
Convertible
loans receivable – SHRG
-
744,652
-
744,652
Total
Investment in securities at Fair Value
$
-
$
757,924
$
-
$
757,924
The
fair value of the SHRG warrants under level 2 category as of December 31, 2024 was calculated using a binomial option pricing model valued
with the following weighted average assumptions:
SCHEDULE
OF FAIR VALUE WEIGHTED AVERAGE ASSUMPTIONS
December 31, 2024
Stock price
$ 1.000
Exercise price
$ 1.6800
Risk free interest rate
4.34 %
Annualized volatility
204.14 %
Dividend yield
0.00 %
Year to maturity
4.21
Warrants measurement input
4.21
The
Company has elected to recognize the convertible loan at fair value and therefore there was no further evaluation of embedded features
for bifurcation. The Company engaged a valuation firm to perform the valuation of convertible loans. The fair value of the
convertible loans is calculated using the binomial tree model based on probability of remaining as straight debt using discounted cash
flow with the following assumptions:
As of December 31, 2024
CN#
1
2
3
4
Issued date
March 18, 2024
May 9, 2024
June 6, 2024
August 13, 2024
Risk-free interest rate
4.248 %
4.253 %
4.255 %
4.261 %
Expected life
2.21 year
2.35 year
2.43 year
2.62 year
Discount rate
6.00 %
8.00 %
8.00 %
8.00 %
Expected volatility
204.138 %
204.138 %
204.138 %
204.138 %
Expected dividend yield
0 %
0 %
0 %
0 %
Debt measurement input
0 %
0 %
0 %
0 %
Fair value
$ 212,708
$ 230,871
$ 212,865
$ 88,208
Changes
in the observable input values would likely cause material changes in the fair value of the Company’s Level 2 financial instruments.
A significant increase (decrease) in this likelihood would result in a higher (lower) fair value measurement.
Revenue
from F&B business amounting to approximately $ 4,488 and $ 7,444 during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, was
related to corporate sales. That revenue was derived from corporate sales to related parties who purchased meals and paid for their staff.
Included
in Accounts Receivable, net at December 31, 2024 and 2023 is $ 1,652 and $ 6,181 , respectively, of amounts due from related parties.
Included
in other income during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 is $ 6,462 and $ 6,756 , respectively of rental income from related parties.
NOTE
14 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
From time to time the Company
may be named in claims arising in the ordinary course of business. Currently, no legal proceedings, government actions, administrative
actions, investigations or claims are pending against the Company or involve the Company that, in the opinion of management, could reasonably
be expected to have a material adverse effect on its business and financial condition. For all periods presented, the Company was not
a party to any pending material litigation or other material legal proceedings.
Registration
Rights
The
holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and
any shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the Working
Capital Loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement
to be signed prior to or on the effective date of Initial Public Offering requiring the Company to register such securities for resale.
The holders of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration demands, that the Company
register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration
statements filed subsequent to completion of a Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities
pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. However, the registration rights agreement provides that the Company will not be required
to effect or permit any registration or cause any registration statement to become effective until the securities covered thereby are
released from their lock-up restrictions. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration
statements.
F- 21
Underwriting
Agreement
The
Company granted the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of Initial Public Offering to purchase up to 1,125,000 additional Units
to cover over-allotments, if any, at the Initial Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. On February 3,
2022, the underwriters elected to fully exercise their over-allotment option. The Units were sold at an offering price of $ 10.00 per
Unit, generating additional gross proceeds to the Company of $ 11,250,000 .
The
underwriters were paid a cash underwriting discount of $ 0.20 per Unit, or $ 1,725,000 in the aggregate, upon the closing of the Initial
Public Offering. In addition, the underwriters were entitled to a deferred fee of $ 0.35 per Unit, or $ $ 3,018,750 in the aggregate. The
deferred fee was paid to the underwriters in the form of cash, shares and promissory note upon completion of the Business Combination
NOTE
15 — STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
The
total amount of authorized capital stock of the Company is 56,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 55,000,000 shares of common stock, and
(b) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
The
Company previously had shares of Class B common stock outstanding, which automatically converted into Class A common stock at the time
of the Business Combination, on a one-for-one basis.
Rights
- Each holder of a right automatically received one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon consummation of the Business
Combination.
Warrants
— Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation
of the Units and only whole warrants will trade. The Public Warrants became exercisable 30 days after the completion of the Business
Combination. The Public Warrants will expire five years after the completion of the Business Combination.
The
Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation
to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Class
A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A
common stock is available, subject to the Company satisfying its obligations with respect to registration, or a valid exemption from
registration is available. No warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and the Company will not be obligated to issue
any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified
under the securities laws of the state of residence of the exercising holder, or an exemption from registration is available.
F- 22
Redemption
of Warrants When the Price per Share of Class A Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $18.00 — Once the warrants become exercisable,
the Company may redeem the outstanding Public Warrants:
●
in
whole and not in part;
●
at
a price of $ 0.01 per Public Warrant;
●
upon
a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, or the 30-day redemption period to each warrant holder; and
●
if,
and only if, the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $ 18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits,
stock dividends, reorganization, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on
the trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to warrant holders.
If
and when the warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may exercise its redemption right even if it is unable to register
or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
If
the Company calls the Public Warrants for redemption, as described above, its management will have the option to require any holder that
wishes to exercise the Public Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis,” as described in the warrant agreement. The exercise
price and number of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in
the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary dividend or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, except as
described below, the Public Warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of common stock at a price below its exercise price. Additionally,
in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Public Warrants.
The
Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units being sold in the Initial Public Offering except
the Private Placement Warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants) were transferable,
assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of the Business Combination, subject to certain exceptions.
The
following table summarizes the warrant activity for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
SCHEDULE
OF WARRANT ACTIVITY
Warrant for
Weighted
Remaining Contractual
Aggregate
Common
Average
Term
Intrinsic
Shares
Exercise Price
(Years)
Value
Warrants Outstanding as of December 31, 2023
909,875
$ 57.5
5.03
$ -
Warrants Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2023
909,875
$ 57.5
5.03
$ -
Granted
-
-
Exercised
-
-
Forfeited, cancelled, expired
( 1 )
-
Warrants Outstanding as of December 31, 2024
909,874
$ 57.5
4.03
$ -
Warrants Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2024
909,874
$ 57.5
4.03
$ -
Warrant
for
Weighted
Remaining
Contractual
Aggregate
Common
Average
Term
Intrinsic
Shares
Exercise
Price
(Years)
Value
Warrants
Outstanding as of December 31, 2022
909,875
$
57.5
6.03
$
-
Warrants
Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2022
909,875
$
57.5
6.03
$
-
Granted
-
-
Exercised
-
-
Forfeited,
cancelled, expired
-
-
Warrants
Outstanding as of December 31, 2023
909,875
$
57.5
5.03
$
-
Warrants
Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2023
909,875
$
57.5
5.03
$
-
Issuance
of HWH Shares to EF Hutton
On
December 18, 2023, the Company entered into a Satisfaction and Discharge of Indebtedness Agreement in connection with an underwriting
agreement previously entered into by the Company and EF Hutton, a division of Benchmark Investments, LLC, under which in lieu of the
Company tendering the full amount due of $ 3,018,750 , the underwriters accepted a combination of $ 325,000 in cash payable upon the closing
of the Business Combination, 149,443 shares of the Company’s common stock and a $ 1,184,375 promissory note as full satisfaction.
This agreement was effective at the closing of the Business Combination on January 9, 2024. The 149,443 shares were issued at the price
of $ 10.10 , totaling the amount of $ 1,509,375 . The fair value of the Company shares at issuance
on January 9, 2024 was $ 2.82 per share or $ 421,429 . No gain or loss was recognized upon issuance of the shares on January 9, 2024 as
this was an adjustment to prior underwriting costs accounted for in equity.
F- 23
NOTE
16 — INCOME TAXES
The
provision for income taxes consisted of the following:
SCHEDULE
OF PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
2024
2023
Current
$ -
$ 415,383
Deferred
-
-
Total
$ -
$ 415,383
SCHEDULE
OF EFFECTIVE INCOME TAX RATE RECONCILIATION
2024
2023
Income taxes at statutory rate
20.39 %
18.91 %
Change in valuation allowance
( 20.39 )%
( 18.91 )%
Other
- %
- %
Effective tax rate
- %
- %
Significant
components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
SCHEDULE
OF DEFERRED TAX ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
2024
2023
Deferred tax assets:
Receivable from related party
$ 897
$ 1,020
Inventory
5,800
6,766
Lease Liability
108,318
126,336
Accrued Commission
11
18,745
Net Operation Loss
777,572
468,414
Total deferred tax assets
$ 892,598
$ 621,281
Deferred tax liabilities:
Prepaid commissions
$ -
$ -
Right-of-Use Assets
( 105,754 )
( 123,371 )
Total deferred tax liabilities
$ ( 105,754 )
$ ( 123,371 )
Deferred tax assets / (liabilities), net
$ 786,844
$ 497,910
Less valuation allowance
( 786,844 )
( 497,910 )
Deferred tax asset c/f
$ -
$ -
After
consideration of all the evidence, both positive and negative, management has recognized a valuation allowance with respect to its net
deferred tax assets as at December 31, 2024 and 2023, as it believes it is unlikely that such deferred tax assets will be realized against
taxable income in future years.
NOTE
17 — LEASES
The
Company has operating leases for its office spaces, one F&B store in South Korea and two F&B stores in Singapore. In the second
quarter of 2024, the Company ceased its operations of F&BPLQ and recorded a gain on termination of the operating lease of $ 248 , which
is included in other income on the Company’s Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2024.
The
related lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. Since the Company’s
leases do not provide an implicit rate that can be readily determined, management uses a discount rate based on the incremental borrowing
rate. The Company’s weighted-average remaining lease term relating to its operating leases is 1.76 years, with a weighted-average
discount rate of 3.39 %.
The
Company has also utilized the following practical expedients:
●
Short-term
leases – for leases that are for a period of 12 months or less, the Company will not apply the recognition requirements of
ASC 842.
●
For
leases that contain related non-lease components, such as maintenance, the Company will account for these payments as a single lease
component.
F- 24
The
current portion of operating lease liabilities and the non-current portion of operating lease liabilities are presented on the balance
sheets. Total lease expenses amounted to $ 490,122 and $ 509,340 , which were included in general and administrative expenses in the statements
of operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Total cash paid for operating leases amounted to $ 465,733
and $ 580,580 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. In addition, the Company leases certain equipment on a short-term
(12 months or less) basis. Total short-term lease expense of $ 20,615 and $ 14,348 is included in general and administrative expenses for
the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Supplemental balance sheet information related to operating leases is as follows:
SCHEDULE OF BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION RELATED TO OPERATING LEASES
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Right-of-use assets
$ 548,757
$ 598,508
Lease liabilities - current
$ 340,651
$ 429,687
Lease liabilities - non-current
220,249
182,380
Total lease liabilities
$ 560,900
$ 612,067
As
of December 31, 2024, the aggregate future minimum rental payments under non-cancelable agreements are as follows:
SCHEDULE OF AGGREGATE FUTURE MINIMUM RENTAL PAYMENTS
Maturity of Lease Liabilities
Total
12 months ending December 31, 2025
$ 353,550
12 months ending December 31, 2026
156,668
12 months ending December 30, 2027
68,426
Total undiscounted lease payments
$ 578,644
Less: Imputed interest
( 17,744 )
Present value of lease liabilities
$ 560,900
Operating lease liabilities - Current
340,651
Operating lease liabilities - Non-current
$ 220,249
NOTE
18 — DISAGGREGATION OF REVENUE
Selected
financial information of the Company’s operating revenue for disaggregated revenue purposes by revenue source are as follows: Product
sales only represent sales to members, not third parties who are not members.
SCHEDULE OF DISAGGREGATION OF REVENUE
Year Ended
December 31, 2024
Year Ended
December 31, 2023
Membership Fee
$ -
$ 12,293
Product Sales
-
465
Food and Beverage
1,253,577
817,761
Total
$ 1,253,577
$ 830,519
Revenue
$ 1,253,577
$ 830,519
F- 25
NOTE
19 — CONCENTRATION RISK
The
Company maintains cash balances at various financial institutions in different countries. These balances are usually secured by the central
banks’ insurance companies. At times, these balances may exceed the insurance limits. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, uninsured
cash balances were $ 6,403,985 and $ 21,989,947 , respectively.
Major
Suppliers
For
the year ended December 31, 2024, five suppliers accounted for approximately over 80 % of the Company’s total cost of revenue.
For
the year ended December 31, 2023, five suppliers accounted for approximately over 54 % of the Company’s total cost of revenue.
NOTE
20 — INVESTMENT IN ASSOCIATE AND CONVERTIBLE NOTES RECEIVABLE, RELATED PARTY
Until
February 20, 2024, the Company held an equity method investment in a related party, Ketomei, and also had a convertible note receivable
with Ketomei. The following table shows the activity of the investment and note during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
SCHEDULE OF EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENT IN A RELATED PARTY
December 31, 2023
Additions
Loss on
investment
Impairment
December 31, 2024
Investment in associate, related party
$ -
$ 14,744
$ ( 14,744 )
$ -
$ -
Convertible note receivable, related party
-
42,328
-
( 42,328 )
-
Total
$ -
$ 57,072
$ ( 14,744 )
$ ( 42,328 )
$ -
December 31,
2022
Additions
Loss on
investment
Impairment
December 31, 2023
Investment in associate, related party
$ 155,369
$ 4,128
$ ( 33,898 )
$ ( 125,599 )
$ -
Convertible note receivable, related party
198,125
170,174
-
( 368,299 )
-
Total
$ 353,494
$ 174,302
$ ( 33,898 )
$ ( 493,898 )
$ -
During
the year of 2024, the Company impaired convertible note receivable of $ 42,328
to $ 0
and goodwill of $323,864 to $0, which was generated from net asset value during the acquisition. Total impairment expenses
were $ 366,192 .
On
February 20, 2024, the Company invested an additional $ 312,064 for an additional 38.41 % ownership interest in Ketomei by converting $ 312,064
of convertible loan. The loan was impaired at the year ended December 31, 2023, therefore, $ 312,064 was transferred from impairment of
convertible loan to impairment of equity method investment. After this additional investment, the Company owns 55.65 % of Ketomei’s
outstanding shares and Ketomei is consolidated into the financial statements of HWH International Inc. beginning on February 20, 2024.
During
the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company held convertible notes receivable with SHRG. The following table shows the activity of
the notes during the year ended December 31, 2024.
SCHEDULE OF EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENT IN A RELATED PARTY
December
31,
2023
Additions
Net
Unrealized Losses
December
31, 2024
Convertible
note receivable - related party
$
-
$
850,000
$
105,348
$
744,652
Total
$
-
$
850,000
$
105,348
$
744,652
During
the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company revalued the convertible note receivable with SHRG of $ 850,000 to $ 744,652 . The total $ 379,887
revaluated loss amount was booked in unrealized loss on convertible note receivable – related party and $ 287,512 revaluated gain
amount was booked in additional paid in capital as this was a related party transaction.
F- 26
NOTE
21 — CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR
In
connection with the Business Combination, the Company changed its fiscal year end from November 30 to December 31. The Company reported its audited financial statements on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2023. The Company’s financial
statement for one month of December 2023, that were not previously reported include expenses related to business combination,
ordinary business expenses and investment income.
HWH
INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Formerly
known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
SCHEDULE OF CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
December 31, 2023
(recast)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash
$ 280,398
Other current assets
100,000
Total current assets
380,398
Cash and marketable securities held in Trust Account
21,346,768
Total assets
$ 21,727,166
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$ 30,156
Extension Loan – Related Party
205,305
Total current liabilities
235,461
Deferred underwriting compensation
3,018,750
Total liabilities
3,254,211
Commitments and contingencies
-
Temporary equity:
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption; 395,207 shares (at approximately $ 53.40 per share) as of December 31, 2023*
21,102,871
Stockholders’ deficit:
Preferred stock, $ 0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding
-
Class A common stock, $ 0.0001
par value; 50,000,000
shares authorized; 94,750
issued and outstanding (excluding 395,207
shares subject to possible redemption) as of December 31, 2023 *
9
Class B common stock, $ 0.0001
par value; 5,000,000
shares authorized; 431,250
shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 *
43
Common
stock, value
43
Additional Share Capital
155,974
Accumulated deficit
( 2,785,942 )
Total stockholders’ deficit
( 2,629,916 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit
$ 21,727,166
* The common stock share
amounts were adjusted retrospectively to reflect the 5-for-1 reverse stock split on February 24, 2025
F- 27
HWH
INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Formerly
known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.)
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the One
Month Ended
December 31, 2023
(recast)
EXPENSES
Administration fee - related party
$ 10,000
General and administrative
( 115,724 )
TOTAL EXPENSES
( 105,724 )
OTHER INCOME
Investment income earned on cash and marketable securities held in Trust Account
94,130
TOTAL OTHER INCOME
94,130
Pre-tax loss
199,853
Income tax expense
35,372
Net loss
$ 235,225
NOTE
22 — SUBSEQUENT EVENT
Public
Offering
On
January 3, 2025, the Company announced the pricing of its public offering of 3,162,500
shares of common stock, par value $ 0.0001
per share (the “Shares”) and 1,250,000
pre-funded warrants to purchase shares of common stock (“Pre-Funded Warrants”). The Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants were
offered at a public offering price of $ 0.40
per share and $ 0.3999
per Pre-Funded Warrant. The Pre-Funded Warrants were exercisable immediately upon issuance and have an exercise price of $ 0.0001
per share. The gross proceeds to the Company from the offering were approximately $ 1.76
million, before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses of approximately $ 355,017 .
The
offering was conducted pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-282567), which was initially
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2024, subsequently amended on October 23, 2024, December 4, 2024, and
December 10, 2024, and declared effective on December 19, 2024. The offering closed on January 6, 2025.
D.
Boral Capital LLC (“D. Boral Capital”) was acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering. Pursuant to the Placement
Agency Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay D. Boral Capital a cash fee equal to 7.5 % of the gross proceeds from the offering, a
non-accountable expense allowance equal to 1.0 % of the gross proceeds, and reimbursement for legal and out-of-pocket expenses up to $ 75,000 .
Amendment
to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
On
January 8, 2025, the Company amended the text of Section 7.3 of Article VII of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation with the State of Delaware to permit the stockholders of the Company to take action by majority written consent. This Amendment
of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the Company’s
annual meeting of stockholders on December 12, 2024.
The
Reverse Stock Split
On
January 16, 2025, the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, approved by written
consent, an amendment of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of the
Company’s common stock, par value $ 0.0001 per share, at a ratio of 1-for-5 (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The reverse
stock split was effectuated on February 24, 2025.
Acquisition
of L.E.H. Insurance Group, LLC
On
November 19, 2024, HWH entered definitive agreements to acquire a controlling 60 %
interest in L.E.H. Insurance Group, LLC (“LEH”). The acquisition closed on February 27, 2025. This acquisition was
facilitated through the purchase of shares from Sharing Services Global Corp. (“SHRG”) SHRG sold its 60 %
interest in LEH to HWH, while the remaining 40 %
stake was retained by the original owner. However, following this transaction, the original owner sold their 40 %
interest to SHRG. John Thatch, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is also the Chief Executive Officer of both LEH and SHRG.
LEH is a licensed insurance agency representing over 600 insurance companies, serving as an independent advisor to businesses and
individuals. LEH provides personalized insurance solutions, offering expert guidance to meet the unique coverage needs of each
customer. LEH is in the early stages of its development, has no employees on its payroll, and has yet to turn a profit.
Securities P urchase A greement
with S H RG
On March 31, 2025, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Sharing Services Global Corporation
(“SHRG”), pursuant to which SHRG issued a convertible promissory note to the Company in the amount of $ 150,000 , the indebtedness
thereunder being convertible into SHRG common stock at $ 0.80 per share at HWH’s option until maturity of the convertible note three
(3) years from the date of the securities purchase agreement. Further, SHRG granted the Company warrants exercisable into 937,500 shares
of SHRG common stock, the exercise period of the warrants being three (3) years from the date of the securities purchase agreement at
an exercise price of $ 0.85 per share.
F- 28
Item
9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
Not
Applicable.
Item
9A. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
In
connection with the preparation of our Report on Form 10-K, an evaluation was carried out by management, with the participation of our
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules
13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2024. Disclosure controls and procedures
are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including
the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
During
evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2024, conducted as part of our annual audit and preparation of our
annual financial statements, management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operations of our disclosure controls
and procedures and concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective for those reasons set forth below.
Management’s
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management
is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements included in this Annual Report. The financial statements
have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and reflect management’s
judgment and estimates concerning effects of events and transactions that are accounted for or disclosed.
Management
is also responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial
reporting includes those policies and procedures that pertain to our ability to record, process, summarize and report reliable data.
Management recognizes that there are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any internal control over financial reporting, including
the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of internal control. Accordingly, even effective internal control
over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement presentation. Further, because of
changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting may vary over time.
In
order to ensure that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, management regularly assesses controls and did so most
recently for its financial reporting as of December 31, 2024. This assessment was based on criteria for effective internal control over
financial reporting described in the Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO)
of the Treadway Commission. In connection with management’s evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control
over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, management determined that the following issues constitute as material weakness:
●
The Company has limited accounting personnel, and as such, is unable to properly segregate duties relating to the Company’s internal
controls over financial reporting.
●
Additionally, well-defined accounting policies and procedures have not been established and many financial close procedures, including
period-end review and reconciliations, did not occur on a timely basis or failed to identify material adjustments.
This
Annual Report filed on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding
internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting
firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in
this Annual Report.
Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We
continue taking steps to enhance and improve the design of our internal controls over financial reporting. During the period covered
by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we have not been able to completely remediate the material weaknesses identified above. To remediate
such weaknesses, we plan to appoint additional qualified personnel with financial accounting, U.S. GAAP, and SEC experience.
Item
9B. Other Information.
Insider
Trading Arrangements
During
the quarterly period ended December 31, 2024, none of our directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) promulgated under the Exchange
Act) adopted or terminated any “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or any “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,”
as each term is defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K.
Item
9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
None.
23
PART
III
Item
10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Identification
of Directors and Executive Officers
The
name, age and position of our officers and directors are set forth below:
Name
Age
Position(s)
Heng
Fai Ambrose Chan
80
Executive
Chairman, Director
John
“J.T.” Thatch
63
Chief
Executive Officer
Rongguo
(Ronald) Wei
53
Chief
Financial Officer
Lim
Sheng Hon Danny
33
Chief
Operating Officer
William
Wu
58
Independent
Director
Wong
Shui Yeung
54
Independent
Director
Wong
Tat Keung
54
Independent
Director
The
mailing address for each of the officers and directors named above is c/o of the Company at: 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 210, Bethesda,
MD 20814.
Business
Experience
Heng
Fai Ambrose Chan. Mr. Chan has served as our Chairman since October 2021 and served as our Chief Executive Officer from October 2021
to January 2024. Mr. Chan is an expert in banking and finance, with 45 years of experience in these industries. He has restructured numerous
companies in various industries and countries during the past 40 years. Mr. Chan has served as a director of Alset International Limited,
an SGX listed company, since May 2013, has served as its Chief Executive Officer since April 2014 and has served as its Chairman of the
Board since June 2017. Mr. Chan has served as a director of Hapi Metaverse Inc. since October 2014 and as Chairman since July 2021. Mr.
Chan has served as a director of the LiquidValue Development Inc. since January 2017 and has served as its Chairman of the Board since
December 2017. Mr. Chan has served as a director of DSS, Inc., an NYSE listed company, since January 2017 and has served as its Chairman
of the Board since March 2019. Mr. Chan is the founder of Alset Inc., a Nasdaq listed company, the majority shareholder of the Company
and has served as its Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since its inception in March 2018. Mr. Chan has served as director
of Sharing Services Global Corporation, an OTC Pink listed company, since April 2020 and has served as its Chairman of the Board since
July 2021. Mr. Chan has served as director of Value Exchange International, Inc., an OTCQB listed company, since December 2021. Mr. Chan
has served as director of Impact BioMedical Inc., a NYSE listed company, since March 2025.
Mr.
Chan was the Executive Chairman of China Gas Holdings Limited, an HKSE listed company, an investor and operator of municipal gas pipeline
infrastructure in China from 1997 to 2002. Mr. Chan served as director of Heng Fai Enterprises Limited (now known as Zensun Enterprises
Limited), an HKSE listed company, an investment holding company, from September 1992 to 2015, and as the Managing Chairman from 1995
to 2015. Mr. Chan was the Managing Director of SingHaiyi Group Ltd. (now known as SingHaiyi Group Pte. Ltd.), a Singapore property development
company formerly listed on the SGX, from March 2003 to September 2013. Mr. Chan served as a director of Skywest Ltd., a public Australian
airline company from 2005 to 2006. Mr. Chan served as a director of Holista CollTech Ltd., an ASX listed company, from July 2013 until
June 2021. Mr. Chan served as a director of Global Medical REIT Inc., an NYSE listed company, a healthcare facility real estate company,
from December 2013 to July 2015. Mr. Chan served as a director of OptimumBank Holdings, Inc. from June 2018 until April 2022. Mr. Chan
served as a director of RSI International Systems, Inc. (now known as ARCpoint Inc.), a TSXV listed company, the developer of RoomKeyPMS,
a web-based property management system, from June 2014 to February 2019.
Mr.
Chan leads the board and guides our company. Mr. Chan brings extensive knowledge to our company and a deep background in growth companies,
emerging markets, mergers and acquisitions, and capital market activities. The board of directors appointed Mr. Chan in recognition of
his abilities to assist the Company in expanding its business and the contributions he can make to the Company’s strategic direction.
24
John
“JT” Thatch. Mr. Thatch has served as HWH’s Chief Executive Officer since January 9, 2024. Mr. Thatch has also
served as a director of DSS, Inc., a NYSE traded company, from May 2019 to October 2023, during which time he was their Lead Independent
Director. Mr. Thatch is an accomplished, energetic, entrepreneur-minded executive who has the vision and knowledge to create growth and
shareholder value for any organization. Mr. Thatch has successfully started, owned and operated several sized businesses in various industries,
including service, retail, wholesale, on-line learning, finance, real estate management and technology companies. Since March 2018, Mr.
Thatch has served as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Sharing Services Global Corporation, a publicly traded
holding company focused in the direct selling and marketing industry. He is a minority member of Superior Wine & Spirits, a Florida-based
wholesale company since February of 2016. Mr. Thatch served as Chief Executive Officer of Universal Education Strategies, Inc. from January
2009 to January 2016, an organization involved in the development and sales of educational products and services. From 2000 to 2005,
he was the Chief Executive Officer of Onscreen Technologies, Inc., currently listed on NASDAQ as Orbital Energy Group “OEG”,
once a global leader in the development of cutting-edge thermal management technologies for integrated LED technologies, circuits, superconductors
and solar energy solutions. Mr. Thatch was responsible for all aspects of the company including board and stockholder communications,
public reporting and compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley, structuring and managing the firm’s financial operations, and expansion initiatives
for all corporate products and services. Mr. Thatch’s public company financial and management experience in the strategic growth
and development of various companies qualify him to serve as Chief Executive Officer of HWH.
Rongguo
(Ronald) Wei. Mr. Wei has served as our Chief Financial Officer since October of 2021. Mr. Wei is a finance professional with more
than 15 years of experience working in public and private corporations in the United States. As the Co-Chief Financial Officer of Alset
Inc., the majority shareholder of Alset International Limited, HWH’s owner, and Chief Financial Officer of SeD Development Management
LLC, Mr. Wei is responsible for oversight of all finance, accounting, reporting and taxation activities for those companies. Prior to
joining SeD Development Management LLC in August 2016, Mr. Wei worked for several different U.S. multinational and private companies
including serving as Controller at American Silk Mill, LLC, a textile manufacturing and distribution company, from August 2014 to July
2016, serving as a Senior Financial Analyst at Air Products & Chemicals, Inc., a manufacturing company, from January 2013 to June
2014, and serving as a Financial/Accounting Analyst at First Quality Enterprise, Inc., a personal products company, from 2011 to 2012.
Mr. Wei served as a member of the Board Directors of Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc., a biotech company, from February to May 2017,
and has served as Chief Financial Officer of that company from February 2017 until November 2017. Before Mr. Wei came to the United States,
he worked as an equity analyst at Hong Yuan Securities, an investment bank in Beijing, China, concentrating on industrial and public
company research and analysis. Mr. Wei is a certified public accountant and received his Master of Business Administration from the University
of Maryland and a Master of Business Taxation from the University of Minnesota. Mr. Wei also holds a Master in Business degree from Tsinghua
University and a Bachelor’s degree from Beihang University.
Lim
Sheng Hon Danny. Mr. Lim was appointed Chief Operating Officer of HWH in February 2024 and also serves as Chief Strategy Officer
of the Company. Mr. Lim has served as Senior Vice President, Business Development and as Executive Director of Alset International Limited,
an SGX listed company since 2020. Mr. Lim has served as a director of Alset Inc., a Nasdaq listed company, the majority shareholder of
the Company, since October 2022. Mr. Lim has served as a director of DSS, Inc., an NYSE listed company, since October 2023. Mr. Lim has
served as a director of Value Exchange International Inc., an OTCQB listed company, since December 2023.
Mr.
Lim has over 8 years of experience in business development, merger & acquisitions, corporate restructuring and strategic planning
and execution. Mr. Lim manages business development efforts, focusing on corporate strategic planning, merger and acquisition and capital
markets activities. Mr. Lim oversees and ensures executional efficiency, and facilitates implementation of the Group’s strategies
by internal and external stakeholders. Mr. Lim liaises with corporate partners or investment prospects for potential working/investment
collaborations, and operational subsidiaries locally and overseas to augment a close parent-subsidiary working relationship. Mr. Lim
graduated from Singapore Nanyang Technological University with a Bachelor’s Degree with Honors in Business, specializing in Banking
and Finance.
25
We
have also assembled a group of independent directors who will provide public company governance, executive leadership, operational oversight,
private equity investment management and capital markets experience. Included in this group is William Wu, Wong Shui Yeung (Frankie)
and Wong Tat Keung (Aston).
William
Wu. Mr. Wu has served as a member of our Board of Directors since January of 2022. Mr. Wu previously served as the Executive Director
and Chief Executive Officer of Power Financial Group Limited from November 2017 to January 2019. Mr. Wu has served on the Board of Directors
of Alset Inc. since November of 2020. Mr. Wu has served as an independent non-executive director of JY Grandmark Holdings Limited since
November 2019. Mr. Wu has served as a member of the Board of Directors of DSS, Inc. since October of 2019. Mr. Wu has served as a Director
of Asia Allied Infrastructure Holdings Limited since February 2015. Mr. Wu previously served as a Director and Chief Executive Officer
of RHB Hong Kong Limited from April 2011 to October 2017. Mr. Wu served as the Chief Executive Officer of SW Kingsway Capital Holdings
Limited (now known as Sunwah Kingsway Capital Holdings Limited) from April 2006 to September 2010. Mr. Wu holds a Bachelor of Business
Administration degree and a Master of Business Administration degree of Simon Fraser University in Canada. He was qualified as a Chartered
Financial Analyst of The Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts in 1996.
Mr.
Wu previously worked for a number of international investment banks and possesses over 28 years of experience in the investment banking,
capital markets, institutional broking and direct investment businesses. He is a registered license holder to carry out Type 6 (advising
on corporate finance) and Type 9 (asset management) regulated activities under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the
Laws of Hong Kong). We believe that Mr. Wu’s knowledge of complex, cross-border financial matters is highly relevant to our business
and qualifies him to serve as an independent member of the board.
Mr.
Wu demonstrates extensive knowledge of complex, cross-border financial matters highly relevant to our business, making him well-qualified
to serve as an independent member of the board. Mr. Wu serves on our Audit Committee and Compensation Committee.
Wong
Shui Yeung (Frankie). Mr. Wong has served as a member of our Board of Directors since January of 2022. Mr. Wong is a practicing member
and fellow of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He
has over 25 years’ experience in accounting, auditing, corporate finance, corporate investment and development, and company secretarial
practice. Mr. Wong has served as a director of Alset Inc. and DSS Inc. since November 2021 and July 2022, respectively, the shares of
which are listed on NASDAQ and NYSE, respectively, and Value Exchange International, Inc. since April 2022, the shares of which are listed
on the OTCQB. He has served as an independent non-executive director of Alset International Limited since June 2017, the shares of which
are listed on the Catalist Board of the Singapore Stock Exchange and First Credit Finance Group Limited since February 2024, the shares
of which are listed on the GEM Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Mr. Wong was an Independent Non-Executive Director of
SMI Holdings Group Limited from April 2017 to December 2020 and SMI Culture & Travel Group Holdings Limited from December 2019 to
November 2020, the shares of which were listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.
Mr.
Wong’s knowledge of complex, cross-border financial, accounting and tax matters highly relevant to our business, as well as working
experience in internal corporate controls, qualify him to serve as an independent member of the board. Mr. Wong serves on our Audit Committee
and Compensation Committee.
Wong
Tat Keung (Aston). Mr. Wong has served as a member of our Board of Directors since January of 2022. Mr. Wong has over 20 years’
experience in audit, accounting, taxation and business advisory. Since 2010, Mr. Wong has served as the director of Aston Wong CPA Limited.
He has been an independent non-executive director of Alset International since January 2017, and a director of Alset Inc. since November
2020. Mr. Wong has been an independent non-executive director of Roma Group Limited, a valuation and technical advisory firm, since March
2016, and has served as an independent non-executive director of Lerthai Group Limited, a property, investment, management and development
company, since December 2018. Previously, he served as the director and sole proprietor of Aston Wong & Co., a registered certified
public accounting firm, from January 2006 to February 2010. From January 2005 to December 2005, he was a Partner at Aston Wong, Chan
& Co., Certified Public Accountants. From April 2003 to December 2004, he served at Gary Cheng & Co., Certified Public Accountants
as Audit Senior. He served as an Audit Junior to Supervisor of Hui Sik Wing & Co., certified public accountants from April 1993 to
December 1999. He served as an independent non-executive director of SingHaiyi from July 2009 to July 2013 and ZH Holdings from December
2009 to July 2015. Mr. Wong is a Certified Public Accountant admitted to practice in Hong Kong. He is a Fellow Member of Association
of Chartered Certified Accountants and an Associate Member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He holds a Master
in Business Administration degree (financial services) from the University of Greenwich, London, England.
26
Mr.
Wong demonstrates extensive knowledge of complex, cross-border financial, accounting and tax matters highly relevant to our business,
as well as working experience in internal corporate controls, making him well-qualified to serve as an independent member of the board.
Mr. Wong serves on our Audit Committee and Compensation Committee.
Family
Relationships
There
are no family relationships among the officers and directors, nor are there any arrangements or understanding between any of the directors
or officers of the Company.
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
To
our knowledge, no director, officer or beneficial owner of more than ten percent of any class of our equity securities, failed to file
on a timely basis reports required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
Code
of Ethics
We
adopted a code of ethics on January 31, 2022, that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal
accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions.
Corporate
Governance
There
have been no changes in any state law or other procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our board of directors.
We do not have a standing nominating committee though we intend to form a corporate governance and nominating committee.
Insider
Trading Policy
On
March 18, 2025 we adopted an insider trading policy and procedures governing the purchase, sale, and/or other dispositions of our securities
by directors, officers and employees, which are reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations,
and applicable Nasdaq listing standards (the “Insider Trading Policy”).
The
foregoing description of the Insider Trading Policy does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and
conditions of the Insider Trading Policy, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 19.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Board
Committees
Our
Board of Directors has an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee. Each of these committees is currently composed of Wong Tat Keung,
William Wu and Wong Shui Yeung.
Our
Audit Committee and Compensation Committee will each comply with the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. At least one
member of the Audit Committee will be an “audit committee financial expert,” as that term is defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii)
of Regulation S-K, and each member will be “independent” as that term is defined in Rule 5605(a) of the Nasdaq Marketplace
Rules. Our Board of Directors has determined that each of Wong Tat Keung, William Wu and Wong Shui Yeung is independent.
Involvement
in Certain Legal Proceedings
None
of our directors, executive officers and control persons/promoters has been involved in any of the following events during the past ten
years:
●
Any
bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of which such person was a general partner or executive officer either at the
time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time,
27
●
Any
conviction in a criminal proceeding or being subject to any pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor
offenses);
●
Being
subject to any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction,
permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his or her involvement in any type of business, securities
or banking activities; or
●
Being
found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have
violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended, or vacated.
Conflicts
of Interest
In
general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business
opportunities to a corporation if:
●
the
corporation could financially undertake the opportunity;
●
the
opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and
●
it
would not be fair to the corporation and its stockholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation.
The
Company’s Audit Committee, pursuant to its written charter, is responsible for reviewing and approving related-party transactions
to the extent the Company enters into such transactions. The Audit Committee will consider all relevant factors when determining whether
to approve a related party transaction, including whether the related party transaction is on terms no less favorable to the Company
than terms generally available from an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related
party’s interest in the transaction. No director may participate in the approval of any transaction in which he is a related party,
but that director is required to provide the Audit Committee with all material information concerning the transaction. The Company also
requires each of its directors and executive officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information
about related party transactions.
These
procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a
conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.
As
a result of the relationship between HWH Nevada and the Company, the Company obtained a fairness opinion in connection with the board’s
approval of the Agreement and Plan of Merger with HWH Nevada.
28
Item
11. Executive Compensation.
None
of our executive officers has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. We agreed to pay to Alset Management Group
Inc. a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. Upon completion of the Business
Combination, we ceased paying these monthly fees. No compensation of any kind, including any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting
fee or monies in respect of any payment of a loan, was paid by us to our Sponsor, officers or directors or any affiliate of our Sponsor,
officers or directors, prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of the Business
Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, these individuals were reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses
incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on
suitable business combinations. Our Audit Committee reviews on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our Sponsor, officers
or directors or our or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to the Business Combination were made using funds held outside the Trust
Account. Other than quarterly Audit Committee’s review of such payments, we do not expect to have any additional controls in place
governing our reimbursement payments to our directors and executive officers for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection
with identifying and consummating the Business Combination.
After
the completion of the Business Combination, directors or members of our management team who remained with the Company may be paid consulting
or management fees, or other fees, from the Company. We have not established any limit on the amount of such fees that may be paid by
the Company to our directors or members of management. No compensation has been paid to the Company’s Chairman for his services.
In 2024 we set the cash compensation for our three independent directors at $10,000 per year, to be paid in quarterly increments of $2,500
beginning with the quarter which ended on March 31, 2024.
Director
Compensation
The
following table sets forth the cash and non-cash compensation awarded to or earned by the members of our Board of Directors during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2024:
Name
Directors’ Fee
Salary
Consultation
Bonus
Total Compensation
Wong Tat Keung
$ 10,000
$ 10,000
William Wu
$ 10,000
$ 10,000
Wong Shui Yeung
$ 10,000
$ 10,000
Chan Heng Fai
$ -
$ -
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
There
were no grants of stock options through the date of this report.
We
do not have any long-term incentive plans that provide compensation intended to serve as incentive for performance.
The
board of directors of the Company has not adopted a stock option plan. The Company has no plans to adopt it but may choose to do so in
the future. If such a plan is adopted, this may be administered by the board or a committee appointed by the board (the “Committee”).
The Committee would have the power to modify, extend or renew outstanding options and to authorize the grant of new options in substitution
therefore, provided that any such action may not impair any rights under any option previously granted. The Company may develop an incentive-based
stock option plan for its officers and directors.
Stock
Awards Plan
The
Company has not adopted a Stock Awards Plan but may do so in the future. The terms of any such plan have not been determined.
29
Item
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Security
Ownership
The
following table and accompanying footnotes set forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock
as of March 31, 2025, referred to in the table below as the “Beneficial Ownership Date,” by:
●
each
person who is known to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock;
●
each
member of our board of directors, director nominees and each of our named executive officers individually; and
●
all
of our directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group.
Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and
the percentage ownership of that person, shares of common stock subject to stock options or warrants held by that person that are currently
exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the Beneficial Ownership Date and shares of restricted stock subject to vesting until the
occurrence of certain events, are deemed outstanding, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other
person (however, neither the stockholder nor the directors and officers listed below own any stock options or warrants to purchase shares
of our common stock at the present time). The percentages of beneficial ownership are based on 6,476,400 shares of HWH International
Inc. Common Stock outstanding as of the Beneficial Ownership Date.
To
our knowledge, except as set forth in the footnotes to this table and subject to applicable community property laws, each person named
in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares set forth opposite such person’s name.
Name
and Address
Number
of Common
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
Percentage
of
Outstanding
Common
Shares (1)
Directors
and Executive Officers (2):
Heng Fai Ambrose Chan (3)(4)
5,067,334
78.2 %
John “JT”
Thatch
0
0.00 %
Rongguo (Ronald) Wei
0
0.00 %
Lim Sheng Hon Danny
0
0.00 %
William Wu
0
0.00 %
Wong Shui Yeung
0
0.00 %
Wong Tat Keung
0
0.00 %
All Directors and Officers
(7 individuals)
5,067,334
78.2 %
Alset Acquisition Sponsor,
LLC (3)
535,475
5.5 %
Alset International Limited
1,991,669
30.8 %
Alset Inc. (3)
5,064,734
78.2 %
Other
Stockholders: None
(1)
Based
upon 6,476,400 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 31, 2025.
(2)
The
mailing address for each individual and entity set forth above is c/o HWH International Inc., 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 210, MD
20814.
(3)
Alset
Acquisition Sponsor, LLC, our Sponsor, is the record holder of the securities reported herein. Alset Inc. and Alset International
Limited are the owners of 55% and 45% respectively of Alset Acquisition Sponsor, LLC. Alset Inc. owns 85.5% of Alset International
Limited. Heng Fai Ambrose Chan is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Majority Stockholder of Alset Inc. Mr. Chan may be deemed
to share beneficial ownership of the securities held of record by our Sponsor. Mr. Chan disclaims any such beneficial ownership except
to the extent of his pecuniary interest.
(4)
Heng
Fai Ambrose Chan directly owns 2,600 shares of HWH International Inc.
30
Item
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Family
Relationships
Not
applicable.
Policies
and Procedures for Transactions with Related Persons
Following
the Business Combination, the Company’s Code of Ethics was amended to require it to avoid, wherever possible, all related party
transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interests, except under guidelines approved by the Board (or the Audit
Committee). Related-party transactions are defined as transactions in which (1) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected
to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (2) the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a participant, and (3) any (a) executive officer,
director or nominee for election as a director, (b) greater than 4% beneficial owner of the Company Common Stock, or (c) immediate family
member of the persons referred to in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than solely
as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity). A conflict-of-interest situation can arise when
a person takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts
of interest may also arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her
position.
The
Company’s Audit Committee, pursuant to its written charter, is responsible for reviewing and approving related-party transactions
to the extent the Company enters into such transactions. The Audit Committee will consider all relevant factors when determining whether
to approve a related party transaction, including whether the related party transaction is on terms no less favorable to the Company
than terms generally available from an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related
party’s interest in the transaction. No director may participate in the approval of any transaction in which he is a related party,
but that director is required to provide the Audit Committee with all material information concerning the transaction. The Company also
requires each of its directors and executive officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information
about related party transactions.
These
procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a
conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.
As
a result of the relationship between the Company and HWH Nevada, the Company obtained a fairness opinion in connection with the board’s
approval of the Agreement and plan of Merger with HWH Nevada.
Transactions
with Related Persons, Promoters, and Certain Control Persons
Founder
Shares
On
November 8, 2021, the Sponsor received 2,156,250 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock (the “Founder Shares”)
for $25,000. The Founder Shares include an aggregate of up to 281,250 shares subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’
over-allotment is not exercised in full or in part, so that the number of Founder Shares will equal, on an as-converted basis, to approximately
20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock after the Initial Public Offering (excluding the placement units
and underlying securities). In connection with the exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option, these shares are no longer
subject to forfeiture.
The
holder of the Founder Shares have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares until
the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of a Business Combination and (B) subsequent to a Business Combination, (x)
if the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock capitalizations,
reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days
after a Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar
transaction that results in all of the Public Stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities
or other property.
31
Advances
from Related Party
The
Sponsor paid certain offering costs on behalf of the Company and advanced working capital to the Company. These advances are due on demand
and are non-interest bearing. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Sponsor paid a total of $33,475 of operating costs on behalf
of the Company. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company repaid the outstanding balance. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023,
$0 and $0 was due to the related party, respectively.
General
and Administrative Services
The
Company agreed to pay the Alset Management Group Inc. a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative
support for up to 24 months commencing on the date the Units were first listed on the Nasdaq. Upon completion of the Business Combination
the Company ceased paying these monthly fees. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded a charge of $0
and $120,000, respectively, to the statement of operations pursuant to the agreement.
Related
Party Loans
Working
Capital Loans
In
order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain
of the Company’s officers and directors were permitted to, but were not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required
(“Working Capital Loans”). Such Working Capital Loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. The notes were to be repaid
upon completion of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of the notes may
be converted upon completion of a Business Combination into units at a price of $10.00 per unit. Such units would be identical to the
Private Placement Units. The Business Combination has closed, and there are no amounts outstanding
under these Working Capital Loans. No amounts were converted into the units at the Business Combination.
Extension
Loan
On
May 1, 2023, the Company amended the Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) with Wilmington Trust,
National Association, a national banking association, which was entered into on January 31, 2022. On May 2, 2023 the Company filed an
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The Trust Agreement and Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
were amended, in part, so that the Company’s ability to complete a business combination was extended in additional increments of
one month up to a total of twenty-one (21) additional months from the closing date of the Offering, subject to the payment into the Trust
Account by the Company of one-third of 1% of the funds remaining in the Trust Account following any redemptions in connection with the
approval of the amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The Sponsor funded the first 30-day
extension payment on May 3, 2023. The Sponsor also made subsequent extension payments on June 5 th and July 6 th of
$68,928 and $69,158, respectively. The Sponsor was entitled to the repayment of these extension payments, without interest. As of December
31, 2024 and 2023 there was $0 and $205,305 outstanding under the extension loan, respectively.
Due
To Alset Inc.
Alset
Inc (“AEI”) is our ultimate holding company that is incorporated in the United States of America. The amount due to AEI represents
short-term working capital advances to the Company for its daily operations. There is no written, executed agreement and no financial/non-financial
covenants and the amount due to AEI is non-interest bearing. Since the amount due to AEI is due upon request, it is classified as a current
liability. The amounts due to AEI at December 31, 2024 and 2023 are $209,614 and $202,645 respectively.
On
April 24, 2024, the Company entered into a Credit Facility Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Alset Inc., pursuant to
which AEI has provided the Company a line of credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) which provides a maximum, aggregate
credit line of up to $1,000,000.
32
Pursuant
to the Credit Agreement, the Company may request an advance (each, an “Advance”) on the Credit Facility. Each Advance shall
bear a simple interest rate of three percent (3%) per annum. Each Advance and all accrued but unpaid interest shall be due and payable
at the first (1 st ) anniversary of the effective date of the Credit Agreement. The Company may at any time during the term
of the Credit Agreement prepay a portion or all amounts of its indebtedness without penalty. Each Advance shall not be secured by a lien
or other encumbrance on any of the Company’s assets, but shall be solely a general unsecured debt obligation of the Company. On
September 24, 2024 the Company drew $300,000 from the credit line and accrued $3,164 in interest. On December 31, 2024, $3,164
of the interest remained outstanding.
On
September 24, 2024, the Company entered into a Debt Conversion Agreement (the “AEI Conversion”) with Alset Inc., pursuant
to which a debt of $300,000 due to AEI was converted into shares of the Company’s common stock at a price per share of $0.63 for
a total of 476,190 shares.
Due
to Alset International Limited
Alset
International Limited (“AIL”) is incorporated in Singapore and is a fellow subsidiary of the common parent company, Alset
Inc. The amount due to AIL represents short-term working capital advances to the Company for its daily operations. There is no written,
executed agreement and no financial/non-financial covenants and the amount due to AIL is non-interest bearing. Since the amount due to
AIL is due upon request, it is classified as a current liability. The amounts due to AIL at December 31, 2024 and 2023 are $5,096,0 47
and $1,729,901, respectively.
On
September 24, 2024, the Company entered into a Debt Conversion Agreement (the “AIL Conversion”) with Alset International
Limited, pursuant to which a debt of $3,501,759 due to AIL was converted into shares of the Company’s common stock at a price per
share of $0.63 for a total of 5,558,347 shares.
Due
to Alset Business Development Pte. Limited
Alset
Business Development Pte. Limited (“ABD”) is incorporated in Singapore and is a fellow subsidiary of the common parent company,
Alset Inc. The amount due to ABD represents amount loaned by ABD to Hapi Cafe Inc. for the investment in Ketomei Pte. Ltd (“Ketomei”)
in March 2022, and also represents amount loaned HWHPL to ABD in November 2024. There is no written, executed agreement and no financial/non-financial
covenants and the amount due to ABD is non-interest bearing. Since the amount due to ABD is due upon request, it is classified as a current
liability. The amount due from ABD at December 31, 2024 is $4,113,701 and amount due to ABD at December 31, 2023 is $184,507.
Due
to BMI Capital Partners International Limited
BMI
Capital Partners International Limited (“BMI”) is incorporated in Hong Kong and is a fellow subsidiary of the common parent
company, Alset Inc. The amount due to BMI represents short-term working capital advances to the Company for its daily operations. There
is no written, executed agreement and no financial/non-financial covenants and the amount due to BMI is non-interest bearing. Since the
amount due to BMI is due upon request, it is classified as a current liability. The amounts due to BMI at December 31, 2024 and 2023
are $0 and $1,442, respectively.
Related
Party Transactions
On
August 31, 2023, Hapi Café Inc. and Ketomei Pte. Ltd. entered into a binding term sheet pursuant to which HCI agreed to lend Ketomei
up to $36,634 pursuant to a convertible loan, with a term of 12 months. After the initial 12 months, the interest on such loan will be
3.5%. This loan was written off upon the acquisition of Ketomei in February 2024.
On
October 26, 2023, the same parties entered into another binding term sheet pursuant to which HCI agreed to lend Ketomei up to $37,876
pursuant to a non- convertible loan, with a term of 12 months. After the initial 12 months, the interest on such loan will be 3.5%. This
loan was written off upon the acquisition of Ketomei in February 2024.
33
On
February 20, 2024, the Company invested additional $312,064 for an additional 38.41% ownership interest in Ketomei by converting $312,064
of convertible loan. The loan was impaired at the year ended December 31, 2023, therefore, $312,064 was transferred from impairment of
convertible loan to impairment of equity method investment. After this additional investment, the Company owns 55.65% of Ketomei’s
outstanding shares and Ketomei is consolidated into the financial statements of the Company beginning on February 20, 2024.
On
March 20, 2024, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Sharing Services Global Corporation (“SHRG”),
pursuant to which the Company purchased from SHRG a (i) Convertible Promissory Note (“CN 1”) in the amount of $250,000, convertible
into 208,333,333 shares of SHRG’s common stock at the option of the Company, and (ii) certain warrants exercisable into 208,333,333
shares of SHRG’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.0012 per share, the exercise period of the warrant being five (5) years
from the date of the securities purchase agreement, for an aggregate purchase price of $250,000. At the time of filing, the Company has
not converted any of the debt contemplated by CN 1 nor exercised any of the warrants.
On
May 9, 2024, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Sharing Services Global Corporation, pursuant to which the
Company purchased from SHRG a Convertible Promissory Note (“CN 2”) in the amount of $250,000, convertible into 125,000,000
shares of SHRG’s common stock at the option of the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $250,000. CN 2 bears an 8% interest
rate and has a scheduled maturity three years from the date of the CN 2. Additionally, upon signing CN 2, SHRG owed the Company a commitment
fee of 8% of the principal amount, $20,000 in total, to be paid either in cash or in common stock of SHRG, at the discretion of the Company.
On
June 6, 2024, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Sharing Services Global Corporation, pursuant to which the
Company purchased from SHRG a Convertible Promissory Note (“CN 3”) in the amount of $250,000, convertible into 125,000,000
shares of SHRG’s common stock at the option of the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $250,000. CN 3 bears an 8% interest
rate and has a scheduled maturity three years from the date of the CN 3. Additionally, upon signing CN 3, SHRG owed the Company a commitment
fee of 8% of the principal amount, $20,000 in total, to be paid either in cash or in common stock of SHRG, at the discretion of the Company.
On
August 13, 2024, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Sharing Services Global Corporation, pursuant to which
the Company purchased from SHRG a Convertible Promissory Note (“CN 4”) in the amount of $100,000, convertible into 50,000,000
shares of SHRG’s common stock at the option of the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $100,000. CN 4 bears an 8% interest
rate and has a scheduled maturity three years from the date of the CN 4. Additionally, upon signing CN 4, SHRG owed the Company a commitment
fee of 8% of the principal amount, $8,000 in total, to be paid either in cash or in common stock of SHRG, at the discretion of the Company.
SHRG
is a related party of our Company, as our stockholders Alset Inc. and Alset International Limited, in addition to certain entities affiliated
with them, are significant stockholders of SHRG, and our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman are also the Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman, respectively, of SHRG.
Item
14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The
following table indicates the fees paid by us for services performed for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Year
Ended
December
31, 2024
Year
Ended
December
31, 2023
Audit Fees
$ 283,563
$ 193,170
Audit-Related Fees
$ 115,594
$ 50,861
Tax Fees
$ -
$ -
All Other Fees
$ -
$ -
Total
$ 398,157
$ 244,031
Audit
Fees . This category includes the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the independent auditors
during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 for the audit of our consolidated financial statements and review of previous years’
Form 10-Qs.
Tax
Fees . This category includes the aggregate fees billed for tax services rendered in the preparation of our federal and
state income tax returns.
All
Other Fees . This category includes the aggregate fees billed for all other services, exclusive of the fees disclosed above,
rendered during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
34
PART
IV
Item
15. Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1)
List of Financial statements included in Part II hereof:
Consolidated
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (recast)
Consolidated
Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (recast)
Consolidated
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit for the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (recast)
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (recast)
(a)(2)
List of Financial Statement schedules included in Part IV hereof:
None.
(a)(3)
Exhibits
The
following exhibits are filed with this report or incorporated by reference:
Exhibit
No.
Description
1.1
Underwriting Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022
2.1
Merger Agreement dated September 9, 2022 by and among Alset Capital Acquisition Corp., HWH Merger Sub, Inc. and HWH International Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 12, 2022.
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated February 2, 2022, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022.
3.2
By Laws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022.
3.3
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Alset Capital Acquisition Corp., dated May 2, 2023, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 3, 2023.
3.4
Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 3, 2023.
4.1
Specimen Unit Certificate, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022
4.2
Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022
4.3
Specimen Warrant Certificate, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022
4.4
Specimen Right Certificate, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022
4.5
Warrant Agreement between Vstock Transfer LLC and the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022
4.6
Rights Agreement between Vstock Transfer LLC and the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022
4.7*
Description of the Registrant’s Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
10.1
Letter Agreement among the Registrant and our officers, directors and Alset Management Group, Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022.
10.2
Promissory Note, dated November 8, 2021, issued to Alset Acquisition Sponsor LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022.
10.3
Investment Management Trust Agreement between Wilmington Trust Company and the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022.
10.4
Registration Rights Agreement between the Registrant and certain security holders, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022.
10.5
Securities Subscription Agreement, dated November 8, 2021, between the Registrant and Alset Acquisition Sponsor LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022.
35
10.6
Placement Unit Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and Alset Acquisition Sponsor, LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022.
10.7
Form of Indemnity Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022 .
10.8
Administrative Support Agreement by and between the Registrant and Alset Management Group, Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022
10.9
Sponsor Support Agreement dated as of September 9, 2022, by and among Alset Capital Acquisition Corp. and each of the Persons set forth on Schedule I attached thereto, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 12, 2022.
10.10
Shareholder Support Agreement dated as of September 9, 2022, by and among Alset Capital Acquisition Corp., HWH International Inc. and each of the Persons set forth on Schedule I attached thereto, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 12, 2022.
10.11
Amendment No. 1 to Investment Management Trust Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 3, 2023.
10.12
Form of Forward Share Purchase Agreement, dated July 30, 2023, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 31, 2023.
10.13
Form of FPA Funding Amount PIPE Subscription Agreement, dated July 30, 2023, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 31, 2023.
10.14
Amendment No. 2 to Investment Management Trust Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 3, 2023.
10.15
Satisfaction and Discharge Agreement, dated December 18, 2023, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 12, 2024.
10.16
Credit Facility Agreement dated April 24, 2024, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 25, 2024.
10.17
Debt Conversion Agreement dated September 24, 2024, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 25, 2024.
10.18
Debt Conversion Agreement dated September 24, 2024, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 25, 2024.
10.19
Stock Purchase Agreement dated November 25, 2024, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 26, 2024.
10.20
Stock Purchase Agreement dated December 24, 2024, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 26, 2024.
14
Code of Ethics, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022
19.1**
Insider Trading Policy
21*
Subsidiaries of the Company
31.1*
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1**
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2**
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
97.1
Clawback Policy of HWH International Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 97.1 of the registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2024
99.1
Audit Committee Charter, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022
99.2
Compensation Committee Charter, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022
101.INS
XBRL
Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
*
Filed herewith.
**
Furnished herewith.
Item
16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
36
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
HWH
International Inc.
Dated:
March 31, 2025
By:
/s/
Rongguo (Ronald) Wei
Name:
Rongguo
(Ronald) Wei
Title:
Chief
Financial Officer
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/
John Thatch
Chief
Executive Officer
March 31, 2025
John
Thatch
(Principal
Executive Officer)
/s/
Rongguo (Ronald) Wei
Chief
Financial Officer
March 31, 2025
Rongguo
(Ronald) Wei
(Principal
Financial Officer and
Principal
Accounting Officer)
/s/
Wong Shui Yeung (Frankie)
Director
March 31, 2025
Wong
Shui Yeung (Frankie)
/s/
William Wu
Director
March 31, 2025
William
Wu
/s/
Wong Tat Keung (Aston)
Director
March 31, 2025
Wong
Tat Keung (Aston)
/s/
Heng Fai Ambrose Chan
Director
March 31, 2025
Heng
Fai Ambrose Chan
37
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