−Removed: We will be forced to liquidate if we fail to close a business
−Removed: combination by May 16, 2022.
−Removed: Since inception, we have extended the period of
−Removed: time to consummate a business combination eight times (for a total of up to 36 months to complete a business combination).
−Removed: As of the date
−Removed: of this report, the Company has extended eight times (including three times approved by shareholders on February 5, 2021 and two times
−Removed: by shareholders on November 2, 2021) by an additional three months each time, and so it now has until May 16, 2022 to consummate a business
−Removed: If we fail to complete the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement or any business combination by
−Removed: May 16, 2022, we will be forced to liquidate pursuant to the terms of our current amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
−Removed: There is uncertainty regarding our ability to continue as a going
−Removed: concern, indicating the possibility that we may be required to curtail or discontinue our operations in the future.
−Removed: If we discontinue
−Removed: our operations, you may lose all of your investment.
−Removed: As of December 31, 2021, we had cash outside our
−Removed: trust account of $164,863 available for working capital needs.
−Removed: All remaining cash was held in the trust account and is generally unavailable
−Removed: for our use, prior to the business combination.
−Removed: If our estimates of the costs of consummating our proposed business combination is less
−Removed: than the actual amount necessary to do so, or the amount of interest available to us from the trust account is less than we expect as
−Removed: a result of the current interest rate environment, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial
−Removed: business combination.
−Removed: If we are unable to raise additional capital, we may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity
−Removed: which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, curtailing operations, suspending the pursuit of a potential transaction, and
−Removed: reducing overhead expenses from the filing date of this Annual Report, assuming that a business combination is not consummated during
−Removed: We cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to us on commercially acceptable terms, if at all.
−Removed: conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern if a business combination is not consummated by May
−Removed: Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing
−Removed: either to consummate our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares
−Removed: upon consummation of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with
−Removed: such business combination.
−Removed: Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only consummate such financing simultaneously
−Removed: with the consummation of our initial business combination.
−Removed: Following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient,
−Removed: we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations, and there is no assurance that such financing can be obtained
−Removed: on favorable terms, or at all.
−Removed: Our Private warrants are accounted for as liabilities and the
−Removed: changes in value of our warrants could have a material effect on our financial results.
−Removed: On April 12, 2021, the Acting Director of the
−Removed: Division of Corporation Finance and Acting Chief Accountant of the SEC together issued a statement regarding the accounting and reporting
−Removed: considerations for warrants issued by special purpose acquisition companies entitled “Staff Statement on Accounting and Reporting
−Removed: Considerations for Warrants Issued by Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (“SPACs”)” (the “SEC Statement”).
−Removed: Specifically, the SEC Statement focused on certain provisions that provided for potential changes to the settlement amounts dependent
−Removed: upon the characteristics of the holder of the warrant, which terms are similar to those contained in the warrant agreement governing the
−Removed: Company’s warrants.
−Removed: As a result of the SEC Statement, the Company reevaluated the accounting treatment of the 225,000 warrants that
−Removed: were issued to the Company’s sponsor in a private placement that closed concurrently with the closing of the Initial Public Offering
−Removed: (the “Private Warrants”).
−Removed: The Company previously accounted for the Private Warrants as components of equity.
−Removed: In further consideration of the guidance in Accounting
−Removed: Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (“ASC
−Removed: 815”), the Company concluded that a provision in the warrant agreement related to certain transfer provisions precludes the Private
−Removed: Warrants from being accounted for as components of equity.
−Removed: As the Private Warrants meet the definition of a derivative as contemplated
−Removed: in ASC 815, the Private Warrants should be recorded as derivative liabilities on the balance sheet and measured at fair value at inception
−Removed: (on the date of the Initial Public Offering) and at each reporting date in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, with changes
−Removed: in fair value recognized in the Statements of Operations in the period of change.
−Removed: Our ordinary shares subject to redemption
−Removed: are classified for as outside permanent equity and the changes in classification could have a material effect on our financial results.
−Removed: In addition, in preparation of the Company’s
−Removed: financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company concluded it should restate its financial statements
−Removed: to classify all ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in temporary equity.
−Removed: In accordance with the SEC and its staff’s guidance
−Removed: on redeemable equity instruments, ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (ASC 480), paragraph 10-S99, redemption provisions
−Removed: not solely within the control of the Company require ordinary shares subject to redemption to be classified outside of permanent equity.
−Removed: The Company had previously classified a portion of its ordinary shares in permanent equity.
−Removed: Although the Company did not specify a maximum
−Removed: redemption threshold, its charter provides that currently, the Company will not redeem its public shares in an amount that would cause
−Removed: its net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001.
−Removed: The Company considered that the threshold would not change the nature of the underlying
−Removed: shares as redeemable and thus would be required to be disclosed outside equity.
−Removed: As a result, the Company restated its previously filed
−Removed: financial statements to classify all ordinary shares as temporary equity and to recognize accretion from the initial book value to redemption
−Removed: value at the time of its Initial Public Offering and in accordance with ASC 480.
−Removed: The change in the carrying value of redeemable shares
−Removed: of ordinary shares resulted in charges against accumulated deficit.
−Removed: We have identified a material weakness in
−Removed: our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.
−Removed: If we are unable to develop and maintain an effective
−Removed: system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results in a timely manner,
−Removed: which may adversely affect investor confidence in us and materially and adversely affect our business and operating results.
−Removed: Following the issuance of the SEC Statement, our
−Removed: management and our audit committee concluded that, in light of the SEC Statement, it was appropriate to restate our previously issued
−Removed: audited financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
−Removed: See “—Our Private warrants are
−Removed: accounted for as liabilities and the changes in value of our warrants could have a material effect on our financial results.” As
−Removed: part of such process, we identified a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting.
−Removed: A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination
−Removed: of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement
−Removed: of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected on a timely basis.
−Removed: Effective internal controls
−Removed: are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud.
−Removed: We continue to evaluate steps to remediate the material
−Removed: These remediation measures may be time consuming and costly and there is no assurance that these initiatives will ultimately
−Removed: have the intended effects.
−Removed: If we identify any new material weaknesses in
−Removed: the future, any such newly identified material weakness could limit our ability to prevent or detect a misstatement of our accounts or
−Removed: disclosures that could result in a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements.
−Removed: In such case, we may be unable
−Removed: to maintain compliance with securities law requirements regarding timely filing of periodic reports in addition to applicable stock exchange
−Removed: listing requirements, investors may lose confidence in our financial reporting and our stock price may decline as a result.
−Removed: assure you that the measures we have taken to date, or any measures we may take in the future, will be sufficient to avoid potential future
−Removed: material weaknesses.
−Removed: We may face litigation and other risks as
−Removed: a result of the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting.
−Removed: Following the issuance of the SEC Statement,
−Removed: our management and our audit committee concluded that it was appropriate to restate our previously issued audited financial statements
−Removed: as of December 31, 2020.
−Removed: See “— Our warrants are accounted for as liabilities and the changes in value of our warrants
−Removed: could have a material effect on our financial results.” As part of such restatement, we identified a material weakness in our internal
−Removed: controls over financial reporting.
−Removed: As a result of such material weakness, the restatement described above, the change in accounting for
−Removed: the warrants, and other matters raised or that may in the future be raised by the SEC, we face potential for litigation or other disputes
−Removed: which may include, among others, claims invoking the federal and state securities laws, contractual claims or other claims arising from
−Removed: the restatement and material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements.
−Removed: As of the date of this Annual Report, we have no knowledge of any such litigation or dispute arising due to restatement or material weakness
−Removed: of our internal controls over financial reporting.
−Removed: However, we can provide no assurance that such litigation or dispute will not arise
−Removed: in the future.
−Removed: Any such litigation or dispute, whether successful or not, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results
−Removed: of operations and financial condition or our ability to complete a business combination .
+Added: Risk Factors Relating to AGBA’s Hong Kong
+Added: Operations and Proximity to the PRC
+Added: The business, financial condition, results
+Added: of operations, and prospects of AGBA may be materially and adversely affected if certain laws and regulations of the PRC become applicable
+Added: to AGBA or its subsidiaries.
+Added: AGBA may be subject to the risks and uncertainties associated with the evolving laws and regulations in
+Added: the PRC, their interpretation and implementation, and the legal and regulatory system in the PRC more generally, including with respect
+Added: to the enforcement of laws and the possibility of changes of rules and regulations with little or no advance notice.
+Added: We currently do not have operations in mainland
+Added: Although we do service Chinese clients, all sales of financial products offered by us occur in Hong Kong.
+Added: We do not sell
+Added: any financial products in mainland China, and all of our customer data is maintained outside of mainland China.
+Added: Accordingly, none of
+Added: us are regulated by any regulatory authorities in mainland China.
+Added: Pursuant to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
+Added: Region (the “Basic Law”), which is a national law of the PRC and the constitutional document for Hong Kong, national
+Added: laws of the PRC shall not be applied in Hong Kong except for those listed in Annex III of the Basic Law and applied locally
+Added: by promulgation or local legislation.
+Added: The Basic Law expressly provides that the national laws of the PRC which may be listed in Annex III
+Added: of the Basic Law shall be confined to those relating to defense and foreign affairs as well as other matters outside the autonomy of
+Added: While the National People’s Congress of the PRC has the power to amend the Basic Law, the Basic Law also expressly
+Added: provides that no amendment to the Basic Law shall contravene the established basic policies of the PRC regarding Hong Kong.
+Added: national laws of the PRC not listed in Annex III of the Basic Law do not apply to Hong Kong-based businesses.
+Added: However, the laws and regulations in the PRC
+Added: are evolving, and their enactment timetable, interpretation, and implementation involve significant uncertainties.
+Added: To the extent that
+Added: any PRC laws and regulations become applicable to us, we may be subject to the risks and uncertainties associated with the evolving laws
+Added: and regulations of the PRC, their interpretation and implementation, and the legal and regulatory system in the PRC more generally, including
+Added: with respect to the enforcement of laws and the possibility of changes of rules and regulations with little or no advance notice.
+Added: certain PRC laws and regulations, including existing laws and regulations and those enacted or promulgated in the future, were to become
+Added: applicable to companies such as AGBA or its subsidiaries in the future, the application of such laws and regulations may have a material
+Added: adverse impact on the business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects of AGBA and its ability to offer securities
+Added: to investors, any of which may, in turn, cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
+Added: Relevant organs of the PRC government have made
+Added: recent statements or recently taken regulatory actions related to data security, anti-monopoly, and overseas listings of mainland China
+Added: For example, in addition to the PRC Data Security Law and the Measures for Cybersecurity Review issued by the Cyberspace
+Added: Administration of China which became effective on February 15, 2022 (the “Measures”), relevant PRC government agencies
+Added: have recently taken anti-trust enforcement action against certain mainland China-based businesses.
+Added: Our management understands
+Added: that such enforcement action was taken pursuant to the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law which applies to monopolistic activities in domestic
+Added: economic activities in mainland China and monopolistic activities outside mainland China which eliminate or restrict market competition
+Added: in mainland China.
+Added: In addition, in July 2021, the PRC government provided new guidance on PRC-based companies raising capital
+Added: outside of the PRC, including through arrangements called variable interest entities (“VIEs”).
+Added: In light of such developments,
+Added: the SEC has imposed enhanced disclosure requirements on China-based companies seeking to register securities with the SEC.
+Added: While we currently do not have any operations
+Added: in mainland China, there is no guarantee that the recent statements or regulatory actions by the relevant organs of the PRC government,
+Added: including statements relating to the PRC Data Security Law, the PRC Personal Information Protection Law, and VIEs as well as the anti-monopoly enforcement
+Added: actions will continue not to apply to AGBA.
+Added: Should such statements or regulatory actions apply to companies such as AGBA or its
+Added: subsidiaries in the future, it could have a material adverse impact on the business, financial condition, results of operations, and
+Added: prospects of AGBA, our ability to accept foreign investments, and our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors on
+Added: or other international securities exchange, any of which may, in turn, cause the value of our securities to significantly
+Added: decline or become worthless.
+Added: We cannot predict the extent of such impact if such events were to occur.
+Added: AGBA may also become subject to the laws and
+Added: regulations of the PRC to the extent that we commence business and customer facing operations in mainland China as a result of any future
+Added: partnership, acquisition, expansion, or organic growth.
+Added: The PRC government exerts substantial influence,
+Added: discretion, oversight, and control over the manner in which companies incorporated under the laws of PRC must conduct their business
+Added: AGBA is a Hong Kong-based company with no operations in mainland China;
+Added: however, there can be no guarantee that
+Added: the PRC government will not seek to intervene or influence our operations at any time.
+Added: Because (i) we currently do not have operations
+Added: in mainland China, (ii) all sales of financial products offered by us, including those to PRC citizens, occur in Hong Kong,
+Added: and (iii) we do not sell any financial products in mainland China, the PRC government currently does not directly govern the manner
+Added: in which we conduct its business activities outside of mainland China.
+Added: However, the PRC legal system is evolving quickly, and PRC laws,
+Added: regulations, and rules may change quickly with little advance notice, including with respect to Hong Kong-based businesses.
+Added: result, there can be no assurance that we will not be subject to direct influence or discretion over its business from organs of the
+Added: PRC government in the future, due to changes in laws or other unforeseeable reasons or due to our expansion or acquisition of operations
+Added: in or involving mainland China.
+Added: The PRC government has exercised and continues
+Added: to exercise substantial control over many sectors of the PRC economy, including through regulation and/or state ownership.
+Added: PRC government
+Added: actions have had, and may continue to have, a significant effect on economic conditions in the PRC and the businesses which are subject
+Added: If we became subject to the direct intervention or influence of the PRC government at any time due to changes in laws or other
+Added: unforeseeable reasons or as a result of our development, expansion, or acquisition of operations in the PRC, we may be required to make
+Added: material changes in its operations, which may result in increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and
+Added: regulations or penalties for any failure to comply, or both.
+Added: We cannot be assured that the PRC government will not, in the future, release
+Added: regulations or policies regarding other industries, which, if applicable to us, may adversely affect our business, financial condition
+Added: and results of operations.
+Added: In addition, the various segments of AGBA are
+Added: regulated by a number of Hong Kong regulators, including, the Hong Kong Insurance Authority and the Mandatory Provident Fund
+Added: Schemes Authority.
+Added: PRC government influence or oversight over such Hong Kong regulators may have an indirect but material impact
+Added: to us, including but not limited to with respect to capital requirements, its ability to operate certain businesses, its operations in
+Added: certain jurisdictions (including the markets in which we may operate in the future) and/or the implementation of certain controls and
+Added: procedures in relation to risk management or cybersecurity.
+Added: Furthermore, the market prices and/or liquidity of the securities of we could
+Added: be adversely affected as a result of anticipated negative impacts of any such government actions, as well as negative investor sentiment
+Added: towards Hong Kong-based companies subject to direct PRC government oversight and regulation, regardless of actual operating performance.
+Added: There can be no assurance or guarantee that the PRC government would not intervene in or influence our operations, directly or indirectly,
+Added: The securities of AGBA may be delisted
+Added: or prohibited from being traded “over-the-counter” under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (as amended by the
+Added: Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act) if the PCAOB were unable to fully inspect the company’s auditor.
+Added: The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act,
+Added: or the HFCA Act, was enacted into U.S.
+Added: law on December 18, 2020.
+Added: The HFCA Act states that if the SEC determines that a company
+Added: has filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the Public Company Accounting
+Added: Oversight Board of the United States (the “PCAOB”) for three consecutive years beginning in 2021, the SEC shall
+Added: prohibit its securities from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the U.S.
+Added: December 16, 2021, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board of the United States (the “PCAOB”) issued a Determination
+Added: Report which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in:
+Added: (i) China, and (ii) Hong Kong.
+Added: Our management believes that this determination does not impact us, as the auditor of AGBA,
+Added: WWC, P.C., (i) is headquartered in California, U.S.A., (ii) is an independent registered public accounting firm with the PCAOB,
+Added: and (iii) has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis.
+Added: Nonetheless, there can be no assurance that future changes in laws
+Added: or regulations will not impact AGBA, WWC, P.C., or any future auditor of AGBA.
+Added: Accordingly, there can be no assurance that WWC,
+Added: will be able to meet the requirements of the HFCA Act and that we will not suffer the resulting material and adverse impact on its
+Added: stock performance, as a company listed in the United States.
+Added: On December 2, 2021, the SEC adopted final amendments
+Added: implementing congressionally mandated submission and disclosure requirements of the HFCA Act.
+Added: On December 23, 2022, the Accelerating
+Added: Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (AHFCA Act) was enacted, which amended the HFCA Act by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s
+Added: securities from trading on any U.S.
+Added: stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead
+Added: As a result, the time period before the Company’s securities may be prohibited from trading or delisted for the above
+Added: reasons has been reduced accordingly.
+Added: Lack of access to PCAOB inspections prevents
+Added: the PCAOB from fully evaluating audits and quality control procedures of the accounting firms headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong.
+Added: As a result, investors in companies using such auditors may be deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections.
+Added: On August 26, 2022,
+Added: the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or CSRC, the Ministry of Finance of the PRC, and PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol, or
+Added: the Protocol, governing inspections and investigations of audit firms based in China and Hong Kong.
+Added: Pursuant to the Protocol, the
+Added: PCAOB has independent discretion to select any issuer audits for inspection or investigation and has the unfettered ability to transfer
+Added: information to the SEC.
+Added: On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate
+Added: PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong in 2022, and the PCAOB Board vacated its previous
+Added: determinations that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland
+Added: China and Hong Kong.
+Added: However, whether the PCAOB will continue to be able to satisfactorily conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public
+Added: accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainty and depends on a number of factors out of our,
+Added: and our auditor’s, control.
+Added: The PCAOB is continuing to demand complete access in mainland China and Hong Kong moving forward and
+Added: is already making plans to resume regular inspections in early 2023 and beyond, as well as to continue pursuing ongoing investigations
+Added: and initiate new investigations as needed.
+Added: The PCAOB has indicated that it will act immediately to consider the need to issue new determinations
+Added: with the HFCA Act if needed.
+Added: is headquartered in California and has
+Added: been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis.
+Added: We believe, therefore, that WWC, P.C.
+Added: is not subject to the determinations announced by
+Added: the PCAOB on December 16, 2021 with respect to PRC and Hong Kong-based auditors.
+Added: is not included in the list
+Added: of determinations announced by the PCAOB on December 21, 2021 in their HFCA Act Determination Report under PCAOB Rule 6100.
+Added: notwithstanding this new framework, the PCAOB was unable to fully inspect WWC, P.C.
+Added: (or any other auditor of the Company) in the future,
+Added: or if PRC or American authorities further regulate auditing work of Chinese or Hong Kong companies listed on the U.S.
+Added: exchanges in a manner that would restrict WWC, P.C.
+Added: (or any future auditor of the Company) from performing work in Hong Kong, we
+Added: may be required to change its auditor.
+Added: Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the SEC, Nasdaq, or other regulatory authorities would
+Added: not apply additional and more stringent criteria to AGBA in connection with audit procedures and quality control procedures, adequacy
+Added: of personnel and training, or sufficiency of resources, geographic reach or experience as it relates to the audit of our financial statements.
+Added: The failure to comply with the requirement in the HFCA Act, as amended by the AHFCA Act, that the PCAOB be permitted to inspect the issuer’s
+Added: public accounting firm within two years, would subject us to consequences including the delisting of AGBA in the future if the PCAOB
+Added: is unable to inspect AGBA’s accounting firm (whether WWC, P.C.
+Added: or another firm) at such future time.
+Added: Our former auditor, Friedman LLP (“Friedman”),
+Added: the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this annual report is subject to
+Added: laws in the U.S., pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess their compliance with the applicable professional
+Added: Effective September 1, 2022, Friedman combined with Marcum LLP (“Marcum”) and continued to operate as an independent
+Added: registered public accounting firm.
+Added: Friedman and Marcum are both headquartered in Manhattan, New York, and have been inspected by the
+Added: PCAOB on a regular basis, with the last inspections in 2020, and neither Friedman nor Marcum is subject to the determinations announced
+Added: by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021.
+Added: Although not currently subject, AGBA may
+Added: become subject to the PRC laws and regulations regarding offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers,
+Added: and any failure to comply with applicable laws and obligations could have a material and adverse effect on the business, financial condition,
+Added: results of operations, and AGBA’s prospects of AGBA and may hinder AGBA’s ability to offer or continue to offer securities
+Added: to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
+Added: In recent years, the PRC government has initiated
+Added: a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in certain areas in China with little advance notice, including
+Added: cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas using
+Added: a VIE structure, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement.
+Added: On June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress enacted the PRC Data Security Law, which took effect
+Added: on September 1, 2021.
+Added: The law requires data collection to be conducted in a legitimate and proper manner, and stipulates that, for
+Added: the purpose of data protection, data processing activities must be conducted based on data classification and hierarchical protection
+Added: system for data security.
+Added: On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the
+Added: Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued a document to crack down on illegal
+Added: activities in the securities markets and promote the high-quality development of the capital markets, which, among other things,
+Added: requires the relevant governmental authorities to strengthen cross-border oversight of law-enforcement and judicial cooperation,
+Added: to enhance supervision over China-based companies listed overseas, and to establish and improve the system of extraterritorial application
+Added: of the PRC securities laws.
+Added: On August 20, 2021, the 30 meeting of the
+Added: Standing Committee of the 13 National People’s Congress voted and passed the “Personal Information Protection Law of the
+Added: People’s Republic of China”, or “PRC Personal Information Protection Law”, which became effective on November 1,
+Added: The PRC Personal Information Protection Law applies to the processing of personal information of natural persons within the territory
+Added: of China that is carried out outside of China where (1) such processing is for the purpose of providing products or services for
+Added: natural persons within China, (2) such processing is to analyze or evaluate the behavior of natural persons within China, or (3) there
+Added: are any other circumstances stipulated by related laws and administrative regulations.
+Added: On December 24, 2021, the China Securities
+Added: Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”), together with other relevant government authorities in China issued the Provisions of the
+Added: State Council on the Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments), and the Measures
+Added: for the Filing of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments) (“Draft Overseas Listing
+Added: Regulations”).
+Added: The Draft Overseas Listing Regulations requires that a PRC domestic enterprise seeking to issue and list its shares
+Added: overseas (“Overseas Issuance and Listing”) shall complete the filing procedures of and submit the relevant information to
+Added: The Overseas Issuance and Listing includes direct and indirect issuance and listing.
+Added: Where an enterprise whose principal business
+Added: activities are conducted in PRC seeks to issue and list its shares in the name of an overseas enterprise (“Overseas Issuer”)
+Added: on the basis of the equity, assets, income or other similar rights and interests of the relevant PRC domestic enterprise, such activities
+Added: shall be deemed an indirect overseas issuance and listing (“Indirect Overseas Issuance and Listing”) under the Draft Overseas
+Added: Listing Regulations.
+Added: On December 28, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration
+Added: of China (“CAC”) jointly with the relevant authorities formally published Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021) which
+Added: took effect on February 15, 2022 and replaced the former Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2020) issued on July 10, 2021.
+Added: Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021) stipulates that operators of critical information infrastructure purchasing network products
+Added: and services, and online platform operators (together with the operators of critical information infrastructure, the “CII Operators”)
+Added: carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security, shall conduct a cybersecurity review, and that any
+Added: online platform operator who controls more than one million users’ personal information must go through a cybersecurity review
+Added: by the cybersecurity review office if it seeks to be listed in a foreign country.
+Added: We may collect and store certain data (including
+Added: certain personal information) from their clients, who may be PRC individuals, in connection with their business and operations and for
+Added: “Know Your Customers” purposes (to combat money laundering).
+Added: Given that (1) AGBA and its subsidiaries are incorporated
+Added: either in Hong Kong or the British Virgin Islands and are located in and conduct their operations in Hong Kong, (2) we
+Added: have no subsidiaries, VIE structure, nor any operations in mainland China, and (3) pursuant to the Basic Law, the national laws
+Added: of the PRC shall not be applied in Hong Kong except for those listed in Annex III of the Basic Law (which is confined to laws
+Added: relating to defense and foreign affairs, as well as other matters outside the autonomy of Hong Kong), our management does not currently
+Added: expect the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021), the PRC Personal Information Protection Law, or the Draft Overseas Listing Regulations
+Added: to impact our operations.
+Added: As of date of this annual report, we have conducted all sales activities in Hong Kong and in the aggregate
+Added: have collected and stored personal information of less than one million users in the PRC, all of the data collected is stored in servers
+Added: located in Hong Kong, and none of us or our subsidiaries have been informed by any PRC governmental authority of any requirement
+Added: that it file for a cybersecurity review or a CSRC review.
+Added: Accordingly, our management does not currently expect that the laws and regulations
+Added: in the PRC on data security, data protection or cybersecurity apply to us or that the oversight of the CAC will be extended to our operations
+Added: in Hong Kong, because (i) AGBA is not a “CII Operator” or a “Network Platform Operator” as defined
+Added: under the relevant PRC cyberspace laws;
+Added: (ii) AGBA does not harm PRC national security, public interests, or the legitimate rights
+Added: and interests of citizens or organizations of the PRC;
+Added: (iii) AGBA is not subject to PRC government cyberspace scrutiny;
+Added: and (iv) AGBA
+Added: is compliant with PRC cyberspace laws that have been issued up to the date of this annual report.
+Added: However, since these statements and regulatory
+Added: actions are new, it is highly uncertain how soon the legislative or administrative regulation making bodies will act, what existing or
+Added: new laws or regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations will be modified or promulgated, if any, and whether any of these
+Added: will apply to us, if at all.
+Added: There can be no assurance that we will be able to comply in all respects with any PRC regulatory requirements
+Added: that may become applicable to it in the future.
+Added: For example, our current practice of collecting and processing personal information may
+Added: be ordered to be rectified or terminated by regulatory authorities.
+Added: In the event of a failure to comply with any applicable regulations,
+Added: we may become subject to the consequences of such non-compliance, including fines and other penalties, which, in turn, may have a material
+Added: adverse effect on the business, operations, financial condition, and prospects of AGBA and may hinder the ability of AGBA to offer or
+Added: continue to offer securities to investors.
+Added: Such an impact could, in turn, cause the value of such securities to significantly decline
+Added: or be worthless.
+Added: Governments in the jurisdictions AGBA operates
+Added: or intends to operate may restrict or control to varying degrees the ability of foreign investors to invest in businesses located or
+Added: operating in such jurisdictions.
+Added: Because we are incorporated in the British Virgin
+Added: Islands, shareholders may be deemed to be foreign investors in Hong Kong and therefore be subject to restrictions or controls in
+Added: Hong Kong on the ability of foreign investors to invest in business located or operating in Hong Kong.
+Added: As a result, there may
+Added: be a risk of loss to our investors due to, among other things, expropriation, nationalization or confiscation of assets, or the imposition
+Added: of restrictions on repatriation of capital invested, in each case by the governmental or regulatory agencies empowered in Hong Kong.
+Added: While, in some cases, the British Virgin Islands has entered into international investment treaties or agreements designed to encourage
+Added: and protect investment by BVI persons in foreign jurisdictions, there can be no guarantee that such treaties or agreements will cover
+Added: Hong Kong or that such treaties or agreements will be fully implemented or effective.
+Added: In other cases, we may not be able to take
+Added: advantage of certain treaties because it or they are British Virgin Islands companies and are therefore exposed to additional risk of
+Added: AGBA is subject to many of the economic
+Added: and political risks associated with emerging markets, particularly China, due to its operations in Hong Kong.
+Added: Adverse changes in
+Added: Hong Kong’s or China’s economic, political, and social conditions as well as government policies could adversely affect
+Added: AGBA’s business and prospects.
+Added: We currently conduct its business in Hong Kong
+Added: and is considering options for expansion of its business in mainland China.
+Added: Accordingly, we are subject to risks and uncertainties including
+Added: fluctuations in mainland China’s GDP, unfavorable or unpredictable treatment in relation to tax matters, expropriation of private
+Added: assets, exchange controls, restrictions affecting its ability to make cross-border transfers of funds, regulatory proceedings, inflation,
+Added: currency fluctuations, or the absence of, or unexpected changes in, regulations and unforeseeable operational risks.
+Added: In addition, our
+Added: business, prospects, financial condition, and results of operations may be significantly influenced by political, economic, and social
+Added: conditions in Hong Kong and China generally and by continued economic growth in China.
+Added: The Chinese economy differs from the economies
+Added: of most developed jurisdictions (such as Hong Kong) in many respects, including the amount of government involvement, level of development,
+Added: growth rate, control of foreign exchange, and allocation of resources.
+Added: Although the PRC government has implemented measures that focus
+Added: on accounting for market forces to effect economic reform and are aimed at reducing the state ownership of productive assets and establishing
+Added: improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of China’s productive assets are still owned by the
+Added: In addition, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating development through industrial policies.
+Added: The PRC government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through its allocation of resources, control
+Added: of payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, monetary policy, and preferential treatment for particular industries or
+Added: Many of the economic reforms carried out by the PRC government are unprecedented or experimental and are expected to be refined
+Added: and improved over time.
+Added: This refining and adjustment process may not necessarily have a positive effect on the operations and business
+Added: development of AGBA.
+Added: Other political, economic, and social factors may also lead to further adjustments of the reform measures.
+Added: For example, the PRC government has in the past implemented a number of measures intended to curtail certain segments of the economy,
+Added: including the real estate industry, which the government believed to be overheating.
+Added: These actions, as well as other actions and policies
+Added: of the PRC government, could cause a decrease in the overall level of economic activity in the PRC and, in turn, have an adverse impact
+Added: on our business and financial condition.
+Added: While the Chinese economy has experienced significant
+Added: growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy.
+Added: The PRC government
+Added: has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources.
+Added: Some of these measures, which may
+Added: benefit the overall Chinese economy, may have a negative effect to us.
+Added: For example, our financial condition and results of operations
+Added: may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations.
+Added: In addition, the PRC government
+Added: has from time to time implemented certain measures, including interest rate changes, to control the pace of economic growth.
+Added: These measures
+Added: may cause decreased economic activity in China, as evidenced by the slowing of growth of the Chinese economy since 2012.
+Added: COVID-19 has had a severe and negative impact on the Chinese economy since the first quarter of 2020.
+Added: Whether this will lead to
+Added: a prolonged downturn in the Chinese economy is still unknown.
+Added: In addition, any future escalation of the ongoing trade war between the
+Added: United States and China, regional or national instability, the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or the armed conflict
+Added: between Russia and Ukraine may negatively impact the growth of the Chinese economy.
+Added: Any prolonged slowdown in the Chinese economy or
+Added: adverse changes in the policies of the Chinese government or in the laws and regulations in China could have a material adverse effect
+Added: on the overall economic growth of China and may reduce the demand for our services and solutions among potential Chinese customers and
+Added: materially and adversely affect its business and results of operations.
+Added: National laws of the PRC do not apply in Hong Kong
+Added: unless they are listed in Annex III of the Basic Law and applied locally by promulgation or local legislation.
+Added: National laws that
+Added: may be listed in Annex III are currently limited under the Basic Law to those which fall within the scope of defense and foreign
+Added: affairs as well as other matters outside the limits of the autonomy of Hong Kong.
+Added: National laws and regulations relating to data
+Added: protection, cybersecurity and the anti-monopoly have not been listed in Annex III and so do not apply directly to Hong Kong.
+Added: The laws and regulations in the PRC are evolving, and their enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation involve significant
+Added: uncertainties.
+Added: To the extent any PRC laws and regulations become applicable to us, it may be subject to the risks and uncertainties associated
+Added: with the legal system in the PRC, including with respect to the enforcement of laws and the possibility of changes of rules and regulations
+Added: with little or no advance notice.
+Added: We may also become subject to the laws and regulations of the PRC to the extent it commences business
+Added: and customer facing operations in mainland China as a result of any future acquisition, expansion, or organic growth.
+Added: AGBA’s potential expansion of activities
+Added: in China is subject to various risks.
+Added: We, as of the date of this annual report, primarily
+Added: operate in Hong Kong.
+Added: We have been pursuing and will continue to pursue its growth strategy in China, particularly in the Greater
+Added: Bay Area, comprising Macau, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and the surrounding area.
+Added: Currently, we do not have any Chinese operating entities and
+Added: does not plan to use “variable interest entities,” or VIEs, in the future to conduct its operations.
+Added: Our management intends
+Added: for such expansion to be conducted through customer referrals and partnerships, with its actual sales activities conducted in Hong Kong.
+Added: For instance, we are currently in active discussions to establish a strategic partnership with the Potential Partner in China to provide
+Added: offshore insurance solutions to its over 20 million customers.
+Added: Accordingly, our management expects the main source of revenue from
+Added: such expansion in China to be generated from referral income.
+Added: Any expansion of our China-related activities
+Added: may expose it to additional risks, including:
+Added: ● Changing global
+Added: environment, including changes in U.S., Chinese, and international trade policies;
+Added: ● Challenges associated
+Added: with relying on local partners in markets that are not as familiar to AGBA, including joint
+Added: venture partners to help AGBA establish its business;
+Added: ● Difficulties managing
+Added: operations in new regions, including complying with the various regulatory and legal requirements;
+Added: ● Different governmental
+Added: approval or licensing requirements;
+Added: ● Challenges in
+Added: recruiting sufficient suitable personnel in new markets;
+Added: ● Challenges in
+Added: providing services and solutions as well as support in these new markets;
+Added: ● Challenges in
+Added: attracting business partners and customers;
+Added: ● Potential adverse
+Added: tax consequences;
+Added: ● Foreign exchange
+Added: ● Limited protection
+Added: for intellectual property rights;
+Added: ● Inability to effectively
+Added: enforce contractual or legal rights;
+Added: ● International
+Added: travel restrictions and temporary lock-downs due to COVID-19;
+Added: ● Local political,
+Added: regulatory, and economic instability or wars, civil unrest, and terrorist incidents.
+Added: Moreover, changes in China’s economic,
+Added: political, or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our growth plans.
+Added: If we are unable
+Added: to effectively avoid or mitigate these risks, its ability to grow its China-related business will be affected, which could have
+Added: a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
+Added: As we further expand into the international market,
+Added: it is increasingly subject to additional legal and regulatory compliance requirements, including local licensing and periodic reporting
+Added: We may inadvertently fail to comply with local laws and regulations, and any such violation could subject to regulatory
+Added: penalties, such as revocation of licenses, which would in turn harm its brand, reputation, business operation and financial results.
+Added: Although we have policies and procedures in place to enhance compliance with local laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that
+Added: its employees, contractors, or agents will stay compliant with these policies and procedures.
+Added: AGBA’s financial services revenues
+Added: are highly dependent on macroeconomic conditions as well as market conditions in Hong Kong, China, and globally.
+Added: in the global financial markets and economic conditions could adversely affect the AGBA and its institutional clients and customers.
+Added: Given the significant proportion of its business
+Added: operations concentrated in Hong Kong, our success depends largely on the health of the Hong Kong financial industry, which
+Added: is affected by changes in general economic conditions beyond the our control.
+Added: Economic factors such as increased interest rates, slow
+Added: economic growth or recessionary conditions, changes in household debt levels, and increased unemployment or stagnant or declining wages
+Added: affect the our customers’ income and thus their ability and willingness to take loans from us, invest with us, or engage with our
+Added: other financial products.
+Added: Domestic and global events affect all such macroeconomic conditions.
+Added: Weak or a significant deterioration in
+Added: economic conditions reduce the amount of disposable income both individual and institutional consumers have, which in turn reduces consumer
+Added: spending and their willingness to engage with the our financial services.
+Added: Any or all of the circumstances described above may lead to
+Added: further volatility in or disruption of the credit and other financial markets at any time and could adversely affect our financial condition.
+Added: Changes in the condition of Hong Kong’s
+Added: and China’s economies generally affect the demand and supply of financial products, which in turn will affect demand for the solutions
+Added: that we provide.
+Added: For example, a credit crisis, or prolonged downturn in the credit markets could severely affect our operating environment
+Added: by, for example, causing a tightening in credit guidelines, limited liquidity, deterioration in credit performance, or increased foreclosures.
+Added: Since a significant portion of our revenue is generated from transaction-based fees and commissions, a decrease in transaction volumes
+Added: could cause a material decline in our revenues for the duration of such crisis.
+Added: Global economies could suffer dramatic downturns
+Added: as the result of a deterioration in the credit markets and related financial crisis as well as a variety of other factors including,
+Added: extreme volatility in security prices, diminished liquidity and credit availability, and ratings downgrades or declining valuations of
+Added: certain investments.
+Added: In past economic downturns, governments have taken unprecedented actions to address and rectify these extreme market
+Added: and economic conditions, including by providing liquidity and stability to the financial markets.
+Added: If these actions are not successful,
+Added: the return of adverse economic conditions may significantly affect the businesses of our customers, which could in turn negatively affect
+Added: our revenues.
+Added: In addition, there is considerable uncertainty
+Added: over the long-term effects of the expansionary monetary and fiscal policies adopted by central banks and financial authorities in
+Added: some of the world’s leading economies, including the European Union, the United States, and China.
+Added: There have been concerns
+Added: over unrest and terrorist threats in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.
+Added: There have also been concerns on the relationship among China
+Added: and other Asian countries, which may result in or intensify potential conflicts in relation to territorial disputes, and escalations
+Added: in the trade tensions between the United States and China.
+Added: Starting from 2018, changes in U.S.
+Added: trade policies have occurred,
+Added: including the imposition of tariffs.
+Added: These types of developments, including a potential trade war, could have a material adverse impact
+Added: on the Chinese economy and in turn on the Hong Kong economy.
+Added: On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom ceased to be a member
+Added: of the European Union (commonly referred to as “Brexit”).
+Added: The effects of Brexit on worldwide economic and market conditions
+Added: remain uncertain.
+Added: Brexit could adversely affect European and worldwide economic and market conditions and could contribute to instability
+Added: in global financial and foreign exchange markets.
+Added: Furthermore, protests in Hong Kong in 2019, political instability in the
+Added: Korean Peninsula, a slump in commodity prices, uncertainty over interest rates in the United States, the outbreak and spread of
+Added: the COVID-19 pandemic, and the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine have also resulted in instability and volatility in the
+Added: global financial markets.
+Added: Recently, the global stock markets have experienced extreme volatility, in reaction to the outbreak of the
+Added: conflict between Russia and Ukraine and governments’ responses thereto.
+Added: It is unclear whether these challenges and uncertainties
+Added: will be contained or resolved, and what effects they may have on the global political and economic conditions in the long term.
+Added: Failure to comply with existing or future
+Added: laws and regulations related to data protection or data security could lead to liabilities, administrative penalties, or other regulatory
+Added: actions, which could negatively affect the AGBA’s operating results, business, and prospects.
+Added: The regulatory framework for the collection,
+Added: use, safeguarding, sharing, transfer and other processing of personal data worldwide is rapidly evolving and is likely to remain uncertain
+Added: for the foreseeable future.
+Added: Regulatory authorities in virtually every jurisdiction in which we have implemented or are considering a
+Added: number of legislative and regulatory proposals concerning personal data protection.
+Added: Our management has been monitoring the evolution
+Added: of this area of law and intends to take steps to ensure compliance with laws applicable to our current operations in Hong Kong and
+Added: potential future operations in China.
+Added: While our management believes that we are not
+Added: currently subject to PRC laws relating to the collection, use, sharing, retention, security, and transfer of confidential and private
+Added: information, such as personal information and other data, We may be subject to such laws in the future.
+Added: These laws continue to develop,
+Added: and the PRC government may adopt other rules and restrictions in the future.
+Added: Non-compliance could result in penalties or other significant
+Added: legal liabilities.
+Added: Risk Factors Relating to AGBA’s Business
+Added: The ability of AGBA to continue as a going
+Added: concern is dependent upon its ability to raise additional funds and implement its business plan.
+Added: Our consolidated financial statements
+Added: accompanying this annual report were prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates continuity of
+Added: operations, realization of assets, and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business.
+Added: For the year ended
+Added: December 31, 2022, we reported approximately US$44.5 million net loss and $19.3 million net cash outflows from operating
+Added: As of December 31, 2022, we had the accumulated losses of approximately US$39.4 million and cash and cash
+Added: equivalents of $6.4 million.
+Added: Our management intends to continue to monitor
+Added: our capital structure and evaluate various funding alternatives that may be needed to finance its growth strategy, business development,
+Added: and operating expenses, including fundraising through equity or debt capital markets.
+Added: Nonetheless, there can be no assurance that we
+Added: will be successful in such fundraising or that if it can secure such funds that they will be sufficient to meet the financing needs of
+Added: AGBA and to allow us to continue as a going concern.
+Added: See “ Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
+Added: and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Going Concern .”
+Added: The success and growth of AGBA will depend,
+Added: in part, upon its ability to be a leader in technological innovation in its industries.
+Added: We operate in industries experiencing rapid technological
+Added: change and frequent product introductions.
+Added: To succeed, we must lead its peers in designing, innovating, and introducing new technology
+Added: and product offerings.
+Added: The process of developing new technologies and products is complex, and if we are unable to successfully innovate
+Added: and continue to deliver a superior client experience, the demand for its products and services may decrease, it may lose market share
+Added: and its growth and operations may be hampered.
+Added: For example, part of our Platform Business relies
+Added: on its continued ability to process loan applications over the internet, accept electronic signatures, provide instant process status
+Added: updates, and provide other client- and loan applicant-expected conveniences.
+Added: Our proprietary platform technology is integrated into
+Added: all steps of its business processes.
+Added: Our dedication to incorporating technological advancements into its service platforms requires significant
+Added: financial and personnel resources.
+Added: Maintaining and improving this technology will require us to expend significant capital expenditures
+Added: on its proprietary technology platforms.
+Added: To the extent that we are dependent on any particular
+Added: technology or technological solution, it may be harmed if such technology or technological solution becomes non-compliant with existing
+Added: industry standards, fails to meet or exceed the capabilities of its competitors’ equivalent technologies or technological solutions,
+Added: becomes increasingly expensive to service, retain, and update, becomes subject to third-party claims of intellectual property infringement,
+Added: misappropriation, or other violation, or malfunctions or functions in a way not anticipated.
+Added: Additionally, new technologies and technological
+Added: solutions are continually being released.
+Added: As such, it is difficult to predict the problems that we may encounter in improving its websites’
+Added: and other technologies’ functionality.
+Added: The technologies that AGBA uses may contain
+Added: undetected errors, which could result in customer dissatisfaction, damage to the AGBA’s reputation, or loss of customers.
+Added: Some of the solutions that we offer are built
+Added: on large stacks of data, requiring sophisticated and innovative technologies to address our operating needs, predict operating patterns,
+Added: and help make decisions in terms of business strategies and implementation plans.
+Added: We aim to make its operations and solutions more streamlined,
+Added: automated, and cost-effective by using advanced technologies which are currently under development.
+Added: We may encounter technical obstacles,
+Added: and it may discover problems that prevent such technologies from operating properly, or at all, which could adversely affect our information
+Added: infrastructure and other aspects of its business where such technologies are applied.
+Added: If our solutions do not function reliably or fail
+Added: to achieve its customers’ expectations for performance, we may lose existing customers or fail to attract new ones, which may damage
+Added: its reputation and adversely affect its business, financial condition, and results of operations.
+Added: Material performance problems, defects,
+Added: or errors in our existing or new software, applications, and solutions may arise and may result from the interface between solutions
+Added: and systems and data that it did not develop, the function of which is beyond its control, or defects and errors that were undetected
+Added: in internal testing.
+Added: These types of defects and errors, and any failure by us to identify and address them, could result in a loss of
+Added: revenue or market share, diversion of development resources, harm to our reputation and increased service and maintenance costs.
+Added: or errors may discourage existing or potential customers from utilizing our solutions.
+Added: Correcting these types of defects or errors could
+Added: prove to be impossible or impracticable.
+Added: The costs incurred in correcting any defects or errors may be substantial and could have a material
+Added: adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
+Added: We rely on our business relationships with
+Added: product issuers and the success of those product issuers, and the future development depends, in part, on the growth of such product
+Added: issuers and their continued collaboration.
+Added: The Platform Business relies, in part, on financial
+Added: products provided by certain banks, insurance companies, or other companies that offer financial products (product issuers).
+Added: Our management
+Added: team believes that establishment of business relationships with major product issuers such as MassMutual Asia Limited, Prudential Hong Kong
+Added: Limited, and Zurich International Life Limited, which facilitates our ability to provide a wide variety of products to satisfy customers’
+Added: needs and enables it to negotiate favorable terms with such product issuers, to the benefit of its customers, contributes to its current
+Added: The long-term business relationships that the Platform Business has established with major product issuers are formed on
+Added: the basis of the terms of business, broker contracts, and/or conditions issued by the product issuer(s) setting out the terms and
+Added: conditions upon which product issuer(s) are prepared to accept business referred or introduced to them.
+Added: However, there is no assurance
+Added: that the Platform Business will succeed in maintaining existing and/or establishing new, strategic relationships with product issuers.
+Added: If the Platform Business cannot maintain and/or establish such relationships, it and its subsidiaries’ access to similar financial
+Added: products may be restricted, and their business, operations, and financial position may, in turn, be adversely affected.
+Added: The Platform Business’s future development
+Added: depends, in part, on the growth of such product issuers, on their continued development of new financial products, and on their continued
+Added: collaboration.
+Added: Failure by such product issues to continue to sell new financial products may, in turn, limit our ability to offer such
+Added: products to their customers.
+Added: There can be no assurance that if any product issuer discontinued its business or ceased to collaborate
+Added: with us could find replacement products on comparable terms, or at all.
+Added: If the Platform Business cannot maintain its current pipeline
+Added: of products from product issuers, it and its subsidiaries’ access to similar financial products may be restricted, and their business,
+Added: operations, and financial position may, in turn, be adversely affected.
+Added: The property agency segment of the Platform
+Added: Business has historically operated on thin margins, which expose it to risk of non-profitability and recent trends have caused the segment
+Added: to be loss-making.
+Added: property agency segment of the Platform Business, run by OnePlatform International Property Limited (“OIP”), has historically
+Added: operated with thin profit margins.
+Added: In accordance with its contracts with property developers and agreements with its own staff, commission
+Added: income from OIP’s operations is dispersed broadly
+Added: among both the consultancy force and salespersons, often equaling up to 50% of the commission.
+Added: This significant split of commission income
+Added: has historically resulted in marginal profit for OIP.
+Added: In recent years, the segment has been loss-making
+Added: and was supported by intercompany loans.
+Added: While our management intends to generate sufficient cash flows from the segment to repay such
+Added: intercompany loans and create positive profit margins, there can be no assurance that the property agency segment of the Platform Business
+Added: will be able to generate such cash flows now or in the future.
+Added: Without a change in the commission sharing mechanism or optimization of
+Added: the segment’s operating costs, the property agency segment’s ability to achieve additional profits may be limited.
+Added: can be no assurance that OIP will be able to achieve changes in commission sharing or optimization of operating costs to sufficient levels,
+Added: In addition, given the competitive environment in which OIP operates, there also can be no guarantee that such changes would
+Added: not create a loss of engagement with property developers and salespersons.
+Added: Such disruptions to the property agency segment of the Platform
+Added: Business could have negative effects on its business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
+Added: AGBA relies on third parties for various
+Added: aspects of its business and the services and solutions that it offers.
+Added: AGBA’s business, results of operations, financial condition,
+Added: and reputation may be materially and adversely affected if these third parties do not continue to maintain or expand their relationship
+Added: with AGBA, or if they fail to perform in accordance with the terms of their relevant contracts.
+Added: We rely on third parties for various aspects
+Added: of its business and the solutions they offer.
+Added: For example, we rely on computer hardware, software, and cloud services, internet and telecommunication
+Added: services, and third-party supplied data.
+Added: We expect to continue to rely on these third parties to supplement its capabilities for
+Added: a significant period, if not indefinitely.
+Added: Therefore, we need all of these parties to function in a flawless and timely manner in order
+Added: to conduct its business.
+Added: However, there can be no assurance that these third parties will provide their support properly or in a cost-effective manner
+Added: or that the third party-supplied data we rely on will be complete, accurate, or reliable.
+Added: In the event of problems with any of these
+Added: third-party providers, transitioning to new providers may disrupt our business and increase costs.
+Added: If any of the third-party service providers
+Added: fail to perform properly, there can be no assurance that we would be able to find suitable replacement suppliers on commercially reasonable
+Added: terms on a timely basis, or at all.
+Added: The third-party service providers may carry out their business in an inappropriate manner or
+Added: in violation of regulations or laws.
+Added: Any of such occurrences could diminish our ability to operate or damage its business reputation,
+Added: or cause it regulatory or financial harm, any of which could negatively affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
+Added: Failure to maintain and enlarge the customer
+Added: base of AGBA or to strengthen customer engagement may adversely affect its business and results of operations.
+Added: Our revenue growth depends, in part, on its ability
+Added: to maintain and enlarge its customer base and strengthen customer engagement so that more of its customers will use our solutions more
+Added: often and contribute to our revenue growth.
+Added: Although we maintain business relationships with its existing customers and has successfully
+Added: developed different marketing channels to generate business from referrals, recurring business, and direct marketing, less than 15% of
+Added: the total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 was generated by recurring business from existing customers purchasing new
+Added: products through the Platform Business.
+Added: This diffusion of our customer base requires us to constantly maintain and refresh its broad customer
+Added: Our customers are, however, geographically concentrated, as substantially all of its major customers are located in Hong Kong.
+Added: Fluctuations in the macro-economic environment in Hong Kong may have adverse effects on our major clients.
+Added: There can be no assurance that our customers
+Added: will continue to use its services and solutions once their existing contract or relationship expires or that they will purchase additional
+Added: solutions from us.
+Added: This risk is especially apparent in circumstances where it is inexpensive for them to switch service providers.
+Added: Our ability to maintain and enlarge its customer base and strengthen customer engagement will depend on many factors, some of which are
+Added: out of our control, including:
+Added: ● its ability to
+Added: continually innovate technologies to keep pace with rapid technological changes;
+Added: ● its ability to
+Added: continually innovate solutions in response to evolving customer demands and expectations
+Added: and intense market competition;
+Added: ● its ability to
+Added: customize solutions for customers;
+Added: ● customer satisfaction
+Added: with our solutions, including any new solutions that AGBA may develop, and the competitiveness
+Added: of pricing and payment terms;
+Added: ● the effectiveness
+Added: of our solutions in helping customers improve efficiency, enhance service quality, and reduce
+Added: acceptance of our pricing models;
+Added: ● Our ability to
+Added: transition customers from “hook products,” which AGBA provides at low or even
+Added: no charge, to products that provide more revenue and better margins;
+Added: ● the success and
+Added: growth of our customers, which could be affected by general-economic and market conditions,
+Added: regulatory developments and other factors.
+Added: As many of our customers are engaged using a
+Added: transaction-based model, a reduction of transactions by its customers would adversely affect our business and results of operations.
+Added: For example, the COVID-19 pandemic may have a negative impact on business growth, project implementation, and our customers’
+Added: usage of its solutions, and thus, our revenue.
+Added: In addition, we have derived some of its customers
+Added: either through acquisitions of new businesses or by intra-group referrals.
+Added: If we cannot develop customers organically, conduct as
+Added: many acquisitions, or receive as many customer referrals as it has historically, it may not be able to grow its customer base as quickly,
+Added: A number of AGBA’s business partners
+Added: are commercial banks and other financial institutions that are highly regulated, and the tightening of laws, regulations, or standards
+Added: in the financial services industry could harm its business.
+Added: A number of our business partners are commercial
+Added: banks and other financial institutions that are highly regulated and must comply with complex and changing government regulations and
+Added: industry standards, which are subject to significant changes, in the various jurisdictions in which they operate.
+Added: Global, regional, or
+Added: local regulatory developments, including those in respect of consumer protection, credit availability, risk management, and data privacy,
+Added: could adversely affect our customers or otherwise result in a reduction in the volume and frequency of its business transactions.
+Added: Our financial institution partners must sometimes
+Added: include restrictive provisions in their contracts with service providers, with respect to security and privacy, ongoing monitoring, risk
+Added: management, and other limitations.
+Added: These provisions may increase our costs, limit the scope of the solutions we offer, or otherwise restrict
+Added: customer access.
+Added: In addition, our customers may have less capacity or incentive to purchase solutions from us, may pass on their increased
+Added: costs to us, or may cease to use certain of our solutions.
+Added: As aspects of our business employ a broker-based model, any reduction
+Added: of transactions by our partners may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
+Added: As a result of such laws and regulations, certain
+Added: of our business partners have had, or will have, to adjust their business practices in ways that reduce their use of our solutions, and
+Added: these types of changes in response to regulatory developments may adversely affect our business, result of operations, and financial
+Added: Significant increases and decreases in
+Added: the number of transactions by AGBA’s clients can have a material negative effect on AGBA’s profitability and its ability
+Added: to efficiently process and settle transactions.
+Added: Significant volatility in the number of client
+Added: transactions and rebalancing activity may result in operational problems such as a higher incidence of failures to deliver services and
+Added: errors in processing transactions, and such volatility may also result in increased personnel and related processing costs.
+Added: We may experience
+Added: adverse effects on its profitability resulting from significant reductions in product sales and may encounter operational problems arising
+Added: from unanticipated high transaction volume because we are not able to control such fluctuations.
+Added: In addition, significant transaction volume could
+Added: result in inaccurate books and records, which would expose us to disciplinary action by governmental agencies and other relevant regulators.
+Added: We operate in a competitive and evolving
+Added: if we are unable to compete effectively, it may lose market share.
+Added: The market competition in which we operate is
+Added: intense and all aspects of their businesses are highly competitive.
+Added: we compete for clients, customers, and personnel directly with other
+Added: financial advisory firms, securities firms, and, increasingly, with other types of organizations and businesses offering financial services,
+Added: such as banks and insurance companies.
+Added: The financial technology services industry in Hong Kong and China is also highly competitive
+Added: and rapidly evolving.
+Added: New competitors, including affiliates of financial institutions, traditional IT companies, and internet companies,
+Added: are entering this market.
+Added: We primarily face competition posed by major,
+Added: existing financial institutions, including traditional banks and insurance agencies.
+Added: However, we also face threats of new players entering
+Added: its industries, particularly the fintech industry, in Hong Kong and China.
+Added: While our management believes that we have a competitive
+Added: advantage by having a full suite of financial products (including insurance, investment, and credit) coupled with a captive customer
+Added: base and well-established infrastructure (including operational capabilities and technology), some of our competitors may have greater
+Added: brand recognition, larger customer bases or greater financial, technological, or marketing resources.
+Added: There can be no assurance that
+Added: our competitors will not be able to respond more quickly and effectively than us to new or changing opportunities, technologies, standards,
+Added: or customer requirements, or successfully adapt to significant changes in regulatory and industry environments.
+Added: The financial services industry continues to
+Added: evolve technologically, with an increasing number of firms of all sizes providing lower cost, computer-based “robo-advice”
+Added: and enhanced digital experiences for clients with previously limited personalized service.
+Added: Industry and technology changes may result
+Added: in increased prevalence of robo-advisors.
+Added: We are subject to risk from accelerated industry changes and competitive forces, which have
+Added: resulted and are expected to continue to result in significant costs for strategic initiatives to respond to such changes.
+Added: to compete in its industries is based primarily on a business model designed to serve clients through personalized relationships with
+Added: financial advisors offering a full-product suite complemented by a low-cost digital platform.
+Added: We may be subject to operational
+Added: risk if its current business model is unable to keep pace with a rapidly changing environment, which includes client, industry, technology,
+Added: and regulatory changes.
+Added: In addition, our ability to compete and adapt its business model may be impacted by changing client demographics,
+Added: preferences, and values.
+Added: If our services do not meet client needs, it could lose clients, thereby reducing revenues and profitability.
+Added: Talent competition among our competitors also
+Added: exists for financial advisors, technology specialists, and corporate staff.
+Added: Our continued ability to expand its business and to compete
+Added: effectively depends on its ability to attract qualified employees and to retain and motivate current employees.
+Added: Additionally, during
+Added: an economic downturn, there is increased risk that our successful personnel may leave or be hired away by its competitors, if we experience
+Added: reduced profitability.
+Added: Competition may also result in continued pricing
+Added: pressures, which may lead to price reductions for our services and offerings and may adversely affect its profitability and market share.
+Added: In addition, we may face competition from its own customers or financial product providers, who may develop their own solutions internally
+Added: after they have gained experience and expertise independently or through their use of our solutions.
+Added: If we are unable to successfully
+Added: compete in its relevant industries, its business, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
+Added: If we are unable to protect or promote
+Added: its brand and reputation, its business may be materially and adversely affected.
+Added: Our brand names and reputation are subject to
+Added: a variety of factors that are beyond its control.
+Added: For example, customer complaints about our services and negative publicity about the
+Added: financial services industry could diminish consumer confidence in our solutions.
+Added: Failure to protect our customers’ privacy or effectively
+Added: adopt security measures could have the same effect.
+Added: Measures that we may take from time to time to combat risks of fraud and breaches
+Added: of privacy and security can damage relations with its customers.
+Added: These measures heighten the need for prompt and accurate customer service
+Added: to resolve irregularities.
+Added: If we cannot handle customer complaints effectively or balance different customers’ needs appropriately,
+Added: its reputation may suffer, and we may lose customers’ confidence.
+Added: Furthermore, we may be subject to claims seeking to hold it liable
+Added: for inaccurate or false information.
+Added: Any claims, regardless of merit, may force us to participate in costly time-consuming litigation
+Added: or investigations, divert significant management and staff attention, and damage its reputation and brand.
+Added: In addition, our reputation
+Added: may be undermined if its customers and product issuers, many of whom are financial institutions, violate laws and regulations such as
+Added: financial supervision regulations and anti-money laundering laws, when interacting with our solutions.
+Added: Any significant damage to
+Added: our reputation, or to the perceived quality or awareness of its brands or solutions, or any significant failure by us to promote and
+Added: protect its brands and reputation, could make it more difficult for us to maintain a good relationship with its customers, promote its
+Added: services or retain qualified personnel, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business.
+Added: Our future marketing and efforts to build its
+Added: brands will likely require it to incur additional expenses.
+Added: In 2022, AGBA changed the branding of many of its group companies to reflect
+Added: new brands, such as “AGBA”, “AGBA Focus”, “AGBA Perform” and “OnePlatform,” that align
+Added: with our new approach to the market.
+Added: These re-branding efforts include obtaining
+Added: new trademark and domain name registrations, which efforts are ongoing.
+Added: Increased marketing expenses in the short term may be required
+Added: to familiarize our customers and the public with these new brand names.
+Added: These efforts may not result in increased revenues in the immediate
+Added: future or at all and, even if they do, any increases in revenues may not offset the expenses incurred.
+Added: If we fail to successfully promote,
+Added: protect, and maintain its brands while incurring additional expenses, its results of operations and financial condition would be adversely
+Added: affected, and its ability to grow its business may be impaired.
+Added: Breach of AGBA’s security measures
+Added: or those of any third-party cloud computing platform provider, or other third-party service providers, may result in AGBA’s data,
+Added: IT systems, and services being perceived as not being, or actually not being, secure.
+Added: Some of our services involve storage and transmission
+Added: of its customers’ and their end-customers’ proprietary and other sensitive data, including financial information and other
+Added: personally identifiable information.
+Added: Our security measures may be breached as a result of efforts by individuals or groups of hackers
+Added: and sophisticated organizations, including by fraudulently obtaining system information of our employees or customers.
+Added: Our security measures
+Added: also could be compromised by employee error or malfeasance, which could result in unauthorized access to, or denied authorized access
+Added: to, our IT systems, customers’ data, or its own data, including with respect to our intellectual property and other confidential
+Added: business information.
+Added: Because the techniques used to breach, obtain
+Added: unauthorized access to, and sabotage IT systems change frequently, grow more complex over time, and are generally not recognized until
+Added: launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate or implement adequate measures to prevent such techniques.
+Added: In addition, we
+Added: are often an early adopter of new technologies and new ways of sharing data and communicating internally and with partners and customers.
+Added: As its IT systems continue to evolve, their complexity increases.
+Added: In addition, our customers may authorize third-party technology
+Added: providers to access their customer data, and some of our customers may not have adequate security measures to protect their data that
+Added: is stored on our servers.
+Added: Because we do not control its customers or third-party technology providers, or the processing of such
+Added: data by third-party technology providers, we cannot ensure the integrity or security of such transmissions or processing.
+Added: third parties may also conduct attacks designed to temporarily deny customers access to our services.
+Added: A security breach could expose us to a risk of
+Added: loss or inappropriate use of proprietary and sensitive data, or the denial of access to this data.
+Added: A security breach also could result
+Added: in a loss of confidence in the security of its services, damage our reputation, negatively impact future sales, disrupt its business,
+Added: and lead to legal liability.
+Added: Finally, the detection, prevention, and remediation of known or potential security vulnerabilities, including
+Added: those arising from third-party hardware or software, may result in additional direct and indirect costs, for example, we may be
+Added: required to purchase additional infrastructure or its remediation efforts may degrade the performance of our solutions.
+Added: Unexpected network interruptions, security
+Added: breaches, or computer virus attacks, and failures in AGBA’s information technology systems, could have a material adverse effect
+Added: on AGBA’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
+Added: Our information technology systems support all
+Added: phases of its operations and are an essential part of the group’s technology infrastructure.
+Added: The robust reliability of our platform
+Added: is one of its competitive strengths that it relies on to attract and retain customers.
+Added: If our systems fail to perform, it could experience
+Added: disruptions in operations, slower response times, or decreased customer satisfaction.
+Added: We must process, record, and monitor a large number
+Added: of transactions, and its operations are highly dependent on the integrity of its technology systems and its ability to make timely enhancements
+Added: and additions to such systems.
+Added: System interruptions, errors, or downtime can result from a variety of causes, including unexpected interruptions
+Added: to the internet infrastructure, technological failures, changes to systems, changes in customer usage patterns, linkages with third-party systems,
+Added: and power failures.
+Added: Our systems also are vulnerable to disruptions from human error, execution errors, errors in models such as those
+Added: used for risk management and compliance, employee misconduct, unauthorized trading, external fraud, computer viruses, denial of service
+Added: attacks, computer viruses or cyber-attacks, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, power outages, capacity constraints, software flaws,
+Added: events impacting our key business partners and vendors, and other similar events.
+Added: AGBA has in the past experienced network interruptions,
+Added: which did not have a material adverse impact on the business.
+Added: However, our business depends on the performance and reliability of its
+Added: internet infrastructure.
+Added: There can be no assurance that our internet infrastructure will remain sufficiently reliable for its needs.
+Added: Any failure to maintain the performance, reliability, security, or availability of its network infrastructure may cause significant damage
+Added: to its ability to attract and retain customers.
+Added: Major risks involving our network infrastructure include:
+Added: ● breakdowns or
+Added: system failures resulting in a prolonged shutdown of its servers;
+Added: ● disruption or
+Added: failure in the national backbone networks in Hong Kong, China, and the other markets
+Added: where AGBA operates, which would make it impossible for customers to access our solutions;
+Added: ● damage from natural
+Added: disasters or other catastrophic events such as typhoons, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes,
+Added: floods, telecommunications failures, or other similar events;
+Added: ● any infection
+Added: by or spread of computer viruses or other system failures.
+Added: Any network interruption or inadequacy that causes
+Added: interruptions in the availability of our platform or deterioration in the quality of or access to its solutions could reduce customer
+Added: satisfaction and result in a reduction in the activity level of our customers.
+Added: Furthermore, increases in the volume of traffic on our
+Added: platform could strain the capacity of its existing computer systems and bandwidth, which could lead to slower response times or system
+Added: This strain could cause a disruption or suspension in our services delivery, which could, in turn, hurt its brand and reputation.
+Added: We may need to incur additional costs to upgrade its technology infrastructure and computer systems to accommodate increased demand if
+Added: it anticipates that its systems cannot handle higher volumes of traffic and transaction in the future.
+Added: In addition, it could take an
+Added: extended period to restore full functionality to our technology or other operating systems in the event of an unforeseen occurrence,
+Added: which could affect our ability to deliver its solutions.
+Added: There can be no assurance that we will not suffer unexpected losses, reputational
+Added: damage, or regulatory actions due to technology or other operational failures or errors, including those of our vendors or other third
+Added: AGBA’s inability to use software
+Added: licensed from third parties, including open-source software, could negatively affect its ability to sell its solutions and subject it
+Added: to possible litigation.
+Added: Our technology platform incorporates software
+Added: licensed from third parties, including open-source software, which we use without charge.
+Added: Although we monitor its use of open-source software,
+Added: the terms of many open-source licenses that it is subject to have not been interpreted by courts, and there is a risk that these
+Added: licenses could be construed to impose unanticipated conditions or restrictions on its ability to provide its solutions.
+Added: the terms of open-source software licenses may require us to provide software that it develops to others on unfavorable license
+Added: For example, certain open-source licenses may require us to offer the components of its platform that incorporate open-source software
+Added: for free, to make source code for modifications or derivative works available to others, and to license such modifications or derivative
+Added: works under the terms of the particular open-source license.
+Added: In addition, we could be required to seek licenses
+Added: from third parties to continue offering its solutions, and these types of licenses may not be available or may be on terms not acceptable
+Added: Alternatively, we may need to re-engineer its solutions or discontinue using certain functionalities of its solutions.
+Added: Our inability to use third-party software could result in business disruptions, or delays in developing future offerings or enhancements
+Added: of its existing solutions, which could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
+Added: AGBA’s business in the credit industry
+Added: requires sufficient liquidity to maintain its business activities, and it may not always have access to sufficient funds.
+Added: Liquidity, or ready access to funds, is essential
+Added: to our business, particularly its money lending business through OnePlatform Credit Limited (“OCL”) and Hong Kong Credit
+Added: Corporation Limited (“HKCC”).
+Added: A tight credit market could have a negative impact on the ability of either or both of OCL
+Added: and HKCC to maintain sufficient liquidity to meet their working capital needs and to meet regulatory requirements.
+Added: Short-term and
+Added: long-term financing are two sources of liquidity that could be affected by a tight credit market.
+Added: In a tight credit market, lenders
+Added: may reduce their loan amounts.
+Added: There can be no assurance that financing will be available at attractive terms, or at all, in the future.
+Added: Additionally, our access to funds held at a broker-dealer is
+Added: subject to regulatory capital requirements and may require approval from regulators.
+Added: A significant decrease in our access to funds could
+Added: negatively affect its business, financial management, and reputation in the industry.
+Added: AGBA is subject to credit risk due to the
+Added: nature of the transactions it processes for its clients.
+Added: We are exposed to the risk that third parties
+Added: who owe it money, securities, or other assets will not meet their obligations.
+Added: Many of the transactions in which AGBA engages expose
+Added: it to credit risk in the event of default by its counterparty or client, such as loans or cash balances held at major financial institutions.
+Added: In addition, our credit risk may be increased when the collateral it holds cannot be realized or is liquidated at prices insufficient
+Added: to recover the full amount of the obligation due to us.
+Added: Financial instruments that potentially subject us to credit risk consist
+Added: of cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts, and loans receivable.
+Added: Cash equivalents are maintained with high credit quality institutions,
+Added: the composition and maturities of which are regularly monitored by management.
+Added: The Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board pays compensation
+Added: up to a limit of HK$500,000 (approximately US$64,050) if the bank with which an individual/a company hold its eligible deposit fails.
+Added: We maintain cash and other funds in escrow at financial institutions in Hong Kong, which can be subject to credit risk.
+Added: While management
+Added: believes that these financial institutions are of high credit quality, it also continually monitors their credit worthiness, and there
+Added: can be no assurance that they will remain of high credit quality.
+Added: We have evaluated the need for an allowance for
+Added: doubtful accounts based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends, and other information.
+Added: there can be no assurance that its customers will not default on their obligations or otherwise expose us to the negative impacts of
+Added: Restrictions imposed by the outstanding
+Added: indebtedness and any future indebtedness of AGBA may limit its ability to operate its business and to finance its future operations or
+Added: capital needs or to engage in acquisitions or other business activities necessary to achieve growth.
+Added: The terms of the outstanding indebtedness and
+Added: any future indebtedness may restrict us from taking certain actions, including, among other things:
+Added: ● incurring additional
+Added: indebtedness;
+Added: ● creating or incurring
+Added: ● paying dividends
+Added: and distributions on, or purchase, redeem, defease, or otherwise acquire or retire for value,
+Added: capital stock;
+Added: ● making repayments
+Added: or repurchases of debt that is contractually subordinated with respect to right of payment
+Added: ● creating negative
+Added: pledges or restrictions on the payment of dividends or payment of other amounts owed from
+Added: subsidiaries;
+Added: ● making acquisitions,
+Added: investments, loans (including guarantees), advance or capital contributions;
+Added: ● engaging in consolidations,
+Added: amalgamations, mergers, liquidations, dissolutions, dispositions and/or selling, transferring,
+Added: or otherwise disposing of assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries;
+Added: ● entering into
+Added: certain sale and leaseback transactions;
+Added: ● engaging in certain
+Added: transactions with affiliates;
+Added: ● changing material
+Added: lines of business.
+Added: There can be no guarantee that we will be able
+Added: to maintain compliance with any of its loan covenants or, if we fail to do so, that it will be able to obtain waivers from the lenders
+Added: and/or amend the covenants.
+Added: Even if we comply with all of the applicable covenants, the restrictions on the conduct of business could
+Added: adversely affect us by, among other things, limiting its ability to take advantage of financings, mergers, acquisitions, investments,
+Added: and other corporate opportunities that may be beneficial to business.
+Added: A breach of any of the covenants in existing
+Added: or future credit agreements could result in an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, could trigger acceleration of indebtedness
+Added: and an increase in the interest rates applicable to such indebtedness, and may result in the acceleration of or default under any other
+Added: debt we may incur in the future to which a cross-acceleration or cross-default provision applies.
+Added: Any such acceleration of
+Added: indebtedness could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations, and financial condition of AGBA.
+Added: event of any default under existing or future credit facilities of AGBA, the applicable lenders could elect to terminate borrowing commitments
+Added: and declare all borrowings and loans outstanding, together with accrued and unpaid interest and any fees and other obligations, to be
+Added: due and payable.
+Added: In addition, if AGBA was to grant a security interest in a significant portion of its assets to secure obligations under
+Added: a lending agreement, the applicable lenders, during the existence of an event of default, could exercise their rights and remedies thereunder,
+Added: including by way of initiating foreclosure proceedings against any assets constituting collateral for obligations of AGBA as borrower.
+Added: AGBA’ performance depends on key
+Added: management and personnel.
+Added: Any failure to attract, motivate and retain staff could severely hinder AGBA’s ability to maintain and
+Added: Our future success is significantly dependent
+Added: upon the continued service of a handful of its key personnel.
+Added: If we lose the services of any member of management or other key personnel,
+Added: it may not be able to locate suitable or qualified replacements, and it may incur additional expenses to recruit and train new staff,
+Added: which could severely disrupt its business and growth, therefore materially and adversely affecting our business, financial condition,
+Added: results of operations, and prospects.
+Added: If any dispute arises between our current or former personnel, we may have to incur substantial
+Added: costs and expenses in order to enforce such agreements in Hong Kong or elsewhere (as relevant), and we may not be able to enforce them
+Added: The wide range and diversity of the services
+Added: and solutions that we provide may require the hiring and retention of a wide range of experienced personnel who can adapt to a dynamic,
+Added: competitive, and challenging business environment.
+Added: We will need to continue to attract and retain experienced and capable personnel at
+Added: all levels as it expands its business and operations.
+Added: Competition for talent in Hong Kong’s financial technology industry
+Added: is particularly intense, and the availability of suitable and qualified candidates is limited.
+Added: Substantially all of AGBA’s operations
+Added: are housed in one location.
+Added: If the facilities are damaged or rendered inoperable by natural or man-made disasters, AGBA’s business
+Added: may be negatively impacted.
+Added: The current headquarters adopts an open-office design
+Added: throughout the entire building to minimize overall expenses, promote collaborative culture, and create a more flexible workspace environment.
+Added: As a result, most of our operations currently
+Added: are housed in one building.
+Added: Certain of our subsidiaries compensate the Legacy Group for the use of their office space through existing
+Added: service agreements.
+Added: See “ Certain Transactions and Related Party Transactions — Certain Transactions of AGBA ”.
+Added: AGBA Tower, and our offices therein, could be harmed or rendered inoperable by natural or man-made disasters, including earthquakes,
+Added: fires, power shortages, telecommunications failures, water shortages, floods, hurricanes, typhoons, extreme weather conditions, medical
+Added: epidemics, and other natural or man-made disasters, pandemics, epidemics, or other business interruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
+Added: If due to such disaster a significant portion of our team members must work remotely for an extended period, our business may be negatively
+Added: On January 25, 2022, we purchased an office
+Added: premise located at Kaiseng Commercial Centre, No 4 & 6, Hankow Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong from the Legacy Group for
+Added: a consideration of approximately US$8.0 million.
+Added: The purchase price was offset by the deduction of a previously paid earnest deposit
+Added: of US$7.2 million and partially settled by cash.
+Added: Our management expects to use this office premise for its own occupancy and to
+Added: meet its anticipated business expansion in the foreseeable period.
+Added: This transaction is not expected to affect the existing AGBA Tower
+Added: lease or current administrative service agreements.
+Added: AGBA may not be able to identify or pursue
+Added: suitable acquisition or expansion opportunities or achieve optimal results in future acquisitions or expansions, and it may encounter
+Added: difficulties in successfully integrating and developing acquired assets or businesses.
+Added: To further grow its businesses and increase its
+Added: competitiveness and profitability, we intend to continue expanding its services and solutions in both Hong Kong and China.
+Added: been actively looking for acquisition or expansion opportunities that may be beneficial.
+Added: Over the past few years, Fintech has invested
+Added: in a number of companies in the fintech space, such as Tandem.
+Added: We will continue to seek opportunities for acquisition and expansion.
+Added: However, acquisitions or expansions may not be successfully completed, and we may not be able to find or consummate suitable acquisition
+Added: or expansion alternatives.
+Added: Any expansion of AGBA into China may also involve risks related to businesses operating in China.
+Added: If we successfully
+Added: complete any acquisition or expansion, it may raise financing, either in the capital markets or in the form of bank financing, to cover
+Added: all or part of the purchase price, which will lead to changes to our capital structure and may restrict us in other ways.
+Added: to the extent that any of these business initiatives are funded through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership
+Added: interest of our shareholders could be diluted.
+Added: We have acquired and may in the future acquire
+Added: other businesses or companies with advanced financial technologies, leading financial technology products, valuable intellectual property,
+Added: or other businesses or assets with capabilities and strategies that our management believes are complementary to and are likely to enhance
+Added: its businesses.
+Added: However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to identify attractive acquisition targets, negotiate favorable
+Added: terms, obtain necessary government approvals or permits, complete necessary registrations or filings, or obtain necessary funding to
+Added: complete these acquisitions on commercially acceptable terms, or at all.
+Added: Acquisitions and expansions involve numerous
+Added: risks, including potential difficulties in retaining and assimilating personnel, risks and difficulties associated with integrating the
+Added: operations and culture of AGBA, diversions of management attention and other resources, lack of experience and industry and market knowledge
+Added: of the new businesses, risks and difficulties associated with complying with laws and regulations related to the acquisitions and failure
+Added: to properly identify problems with acquisition targets through the due diligence process.
+Added: In addition, acquisitions and expansions may
+Added: significantly stretch our capital, personnel, and management resources and, as a result, we may fail to manage its growth effectively.
+Added: Any new acquisition or expansion plans may also result in its inheritance of debts and other liabilities, assumption of potential legal
+Added: liabilities in respect of the new businesses, and incurrence of impairment charges related to goodwill and other intangible assets, any
+Added: of which could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
+Added: In particular, if any new businesses we acquire fail
+Added: to perform as expected, we may be required to recognize a significant impairment charge, which could materially and adversely affect
+Added: its business, financial condition, and results of operations.
+Added: There may also be established players in these sectors and markets that
+Added: enjoy significant market share, and it may be difficult for us to win market share from them.
+Added: Furthermore, some of the overseas markets
+Added: that we may target may have high barriers of entry for foreign players.
+Added: There can be no assurance that our acquisition or expansion plans
+Added: will be successful.
+Added: As a result, there can be no assurance that we will be able to realize the strategy behind an acquisition or expansion
+Added: plan, reach the desired level of operational integration, or achieve its investment return targets.
+Added: AGBA and its directors, management, and
+Added: employees currently are and may in the future be subject to litigation and regulatory investigations and proceedings, and any adverse
+Added: findings may have a material adverse effect on AGBA’s business, results of operations, financial condition, and prospects and harm
+Added: its reputation.
+Added: Many aspects of our business involve substantial
+Added: litigation and regulatory risks, and our members and management may be subject to claims and lawsuits in the ordinary course of their
+Added: business or in connection with the Legacy Group.
+Added: We are also, from time to time, subject to examinations, informal inquiries and investigations
+Added: by regulatory and other governmental agencies.
+Added: In the ordinary course of business, we are also subject to arbitration claims, lawsuits,
+Added: and litigation, either as plaintiff or defendant.
+Added: Actions brought against us may result in settlements,
+Added: injunctions, fines, penalties, or other results adverse to the directors, management, and employees that could harm its business, financial
+Added: condition, results of operations, and reputation.
+Added: Any action against our directors, management, and employees, even those without merit
+Added: and even if the relevant party is successful in defending itself against them, may cause us to incur significant costs, and could place
+Added: a strain on its financial resources, divert the attention of management from its core business, and harm its reputation.
+Added: A significant
+Added: judgment or regulatory action against our directors, management, and employees or a material disruption in the business of AGBA arising
+Added: from adverse adjudications in proceedings against its directors, officers or employees would have a material adverse effect on its liquidity,
+Added: business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation, and prospects.
+Added: As a publicly listed company, we are likely to
+Added: face additional exposure to claims and lawsuits.
+Added: These claims could divert management’s time and attention away from its business
+Added: and result in significant costs to investigate and defend, regardless of the merits of the claims.
+Added: In some instances, we may elect or
+Added: be forced to pay substantial damages if it is unsuccessful in its efforts to defend against these claims, which could harm its reputation,
+Added: business, financial condition, and results of operations.
+Added: We implement policies and conduct regular compliance
+Added: training designed to deter wrongdoing, promote honest and ethical conduct, and ensure the accuracy of financial statements and public
+Added: communications as well as compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules, and regulations.
+Added: However, there can be no assurance that
+Added: all of our directors, management, and employees will strictly abide by these rules and policies, or that we can effectively and timely
+Added: deter, detect, and remedy all misconduct.
+Added: Any gross misconduct by our directors, management, and employees, including, but not limited
+Added: to those in relation to commercial, labor, employment, financial, operational, accounting, auditing or securities matters, may lead to
+Added: investigations and/or litigation and have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations, and
+Added: harm its reputation.
+Added: We may not have sufficient insurance coverage
+Added: to cover our business risks.
+Added: We maintain insurance to cover its potential exposure
+Added: for claims and losses.
+Added: However, our insurance coverage may be inadequate or unavailable to protect us fully, and we may not be able to
+Added: acquire any coverage for certain types of risks such as business liability or service disruptions, and our coverage may not be adequate
+Added: to compensate us for all losses that may occur, particularly with respect to loss of business or operations.
+Added: Any business disruption,
+Added: litigation, regulatory action, outbreak of epidemic disease, or natural disaster could also expose us to substantial costs and resource
+Added: There can be no assurance that our existing insurance coverage will be sufficient to prevent us from any loss or that we will
+Added: be able to successfully claim our losses on a timely basis, or at all.
+Added: If we incur any loss that is not covered by its existing insurance
+Added: policies, or the amount of compensation that it receives is significantly less than its actual loss, our business, financial condition
+Added: and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
+Added: Any failure to protect the intellectual
+Added: property rights of AGBA or its subsidiaries or to ensure the continuing right to own, use or license all intellectual property required
+Added: for its or their operations could impair AGBA’s ability to protect its proprietary technology and its brand.
+Added: Our success and ability to compete depends in
+Added: part upon its intellectual property.
+Added: As of the date of this report, our portfolio of intellectual property includes, primarily, domain
+Added: names and trademarks.
+Added: We are currently in the process of re-branding its business, and as part of this exercise, we is in the process
+Added: of obtaining domain names and trademark registrations for its new brands, such as “AGBA”, “AGBA Focus”, “AGBA
+Added: Perform” and “OnePlatform.” We primarily rely on copyright, trade secret and trademark laws, trade secret protection
+Added: and confidentiality or license agreements with our employees, customers, partners and others to protect our intellectual property rights.
+Added: The steps that we take to secure, protect, and
+Added: enforce its current and future intellectual property rights may be inadequate.
+Added: We may not be able to obtain any further trademarks (including
+Added: those for “AGBA” and “OnePlatform”) or patents, our current intellectual property could be invalidated, our competitors
+Added: could design their products around our current technology, or we could lose access to third party intellectual property on which we may
+Added: In order to protect our intellectual property
+Added: rights, we may be required to spend significant resources to monitor and protect these rights.
+Added: Litigation brought to protect and enforce
+Added: our intellectual property rights could be costly, time consuming and distracting to our management and could result in the impairment
+Added: or loss of its intellectual property.
+Added: Furthermore, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights may be met with defenses, counterclaims
+Added: and countersuits attacking the validity and enforceability of our intellectual property rights.
+Added: Accordingly, we may not be able to prevent
+Added: third parties from infringing upon or misappropriating its intellectual property.
+Added: Any failure to secure, protect and enforce its intellectual
+Added: property rights could substantially harm the value of our technology, products, brand, and business.
+Added: We may not be able to prevent others from
+Added: unauthorized use of our intellectual property, which could harm our business and competitive position.
+Added: We regard our trademarks, domain names, trade
+Added: secrets, and other intellectual property as critical to our business.
+Added: Unauthorized use of our intellectual property by third parties may
+Added: adversely affect our business and reputation.
+Added: We rely on a combination of intellectual property laws and contractual arrangements to protect
+Added: our proprietary rights.
+Added: It is often difficult to register, maintain, and enforce intellectual property rights in countries or regions
+Added: with less developed regulatory regimes or inconsistent and unreliable enforcement mechanisms.
+Added: Sometimes laws and regulations are subject
+Added: to interpretation and enforcement and may not be applied consistently due to the lack of clear guidance on statutory interpretation.
+Added: standards relating to the validity, enforceability, and scope of protection of intellectual property rights in other countries are uncertain
+Added: and may afford little or no effective protection of our proprietary technology, and the risk of intellectual property misappropriation
+Added: may be higher in these countries.
+Added: Consequently, we may be unable to prevent its proprietary technology from being infringed or exploited
+Added: abroad, which could affect its ability to expand into international markets or require costly efforts to protect its technology.
+Added: in the process of obtaining new domain names and trademark registrations in connection with its ongoing re-branding efforts.
+Added: to promptly obtain such registrations or otherwise fully project such intellectual property may expose us to intellectual property related
+Added: risks, which may materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.
+Added: In addition, our contractual agreements, including
+Added: IP assignment arrangements in employment contracts, may be breached by counterparties, and there may not be adequate remedies available
+Added: to us for any such breach.
+Added: Accordingly, we may not be able to effectively protect its intellectual property rights or to enforce its
+Added: contractual rights in Hong Kong, China, or other jurisdictions in which we operate.
+Added: Detecting and preventing any unauthorized use
+Added: of our intellectual property is difficult and costly, and the steps has taken may be inadequate to prevent infringement or misappropriation
+Added: of its intellectual property.
+Added: If we resort to litigation to enforce or protect its intellectual property rights, such litigation could
+Added: result in substantial costs and a diversion of its managerial and financial resources.
+Added: There can be no assurance that we will prevail
+Added: in such litigation.
+Added: In addition, our trade secrets may be leaked or otherwise become available to, or be independently discovered by,
+Added: its competitors, and, in that case, we would have no right to prevent others’ use of them.
+Added: We may be subject to intellectual property
+Added: infringement claims, which may be expensive to defend and may disrupt its business and operations.
+Added: There can be no certainty that the operations
+Added: or any aspects of our business do not or would not infringe upon or otherwise violate patents, copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual
+Added: property rights held by third parties.
+Added: We may be subject to penalties, legal proceedings, and claims relating to the intellectual property
+Added: rights of others.
+Added: In addition, there may be other third-party intellectual property that is infringed by our solutions, services,
+Added: or other aspects of its business.
+Added: There could also be intellectual property rights that we are not aware of that our solutions or services
+Added: may inadvertently infringe.
+Added: To the extent that we seek to register any new intellectual property, there can be no assurance that such
+Added: applications will be approved, that any issued intellectual property rights would adequately protect our intellectual property, or that
+Added: such intellectual properties would not be challenged by third parties or found by competent authority to be invalid or unenforceable.
+Added: There can be no assurance that holders of patents
+Added: purportedly relating to some aspect of our technology platform or business, if any such holders exist, would not seek to enforce these
+Added: patents against us in Hong Kong, China, or any other jurisdictions.
+Added: Furthermore, the application and interpretation of PRC patent
+Added: laws and the procedures and standards for granting patents in the PRC are still evolving and are uncertain, and there can be no assurance
+Added: that PRC courts or regulatory authorities would agree with our analysis.
+Added: If we are found to have violated the intellectual property rights
+Added: of others, it may be subject to liability for its infringement activities or may be prohibited from using such intellectual property,
+Added: and it may incur licensing fees or be forced to develop alternatives of its own.
+Added: In addition, we may incur significant expenses, and
+Added: may be forced to divert management’s time and other resources from its business and operations to defend against these third-party infringement
+Added: claims, regardless of their merits.
+Added: Successful infringement or licensing claims made against us may result in significant monetary liabilities
+Added: and may materially disrupt its business and operations by restricting or prohibiting its use of the intellectual property in question,
+Added: which may materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition, and results of operations.
+Added: Additionally, registering, managing, and enforcing
+Added: intellectual property rights in the PRC is often difficult.
+Added: Statutory laws and regulations may not be applied consistently due to the
+Added: lack of clear interpretation guidance.
+Added: We have registered for certain trademarks in
+Added: Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan.
+Added: However, third parties may file applications to register the same or similar trademarks.
+Added: third parties may object its registrations, and the relevant trademark authority may not rule in our favor in such disputes.
+Added: If our trademarks
+Added: are revoked or otherwise canceled, we may be prohibited from using those trademarks in its business operations, and we may need to change
+Added: certain of its products logos, which may have an adverse effect on its business and operations.
+Added: We are party to a number of related party
+Added: transactions, which may result in interdependence or potential conflicts of interest.
+Added: In the ordinary course of their business, our
+Added: subsidiaries enter into transactions with related parties.
+Added: Related parties may be individuals (being members of key management personnel
+Added: and/or their close family members) or other entities and include entities which are under the significant influence of related parties
+Added: of the Group and the Legacy Group.
+Added: Such interdependence may mean that any material adverse changes in the operations or financial condition
+Added: of related parties could adversely affect our results of operations.
+Added: We expect that it will continue to enter into transactions with related
+Added: While we employ strong corporate governance provisions
+Added: and related party transaction policies that require such transaction to be conducted on an arm’s length basis, there can be no
+Added: assurance that relevant government regulators will make the same conclusion with respect to such transactions.
+Added: Further, there can be
+Added: no assurance that such related party transactions, if questioned, will not have an adverse effect on our business or results of operations.
+Added: We operate in a variety of heavily regulated
+Added: industries in Hong Kong and globally, which expose its business activities to risks of noncompliance with an increasing body of complex
+Added: laws and regulations.
+Added: Due to the heavily regulated nature of the industries
+Added: in which we operate, primarily the insurance, Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF), asset management and money lending industries, we are required
+Added: to comply with a wide array of Hong Kong laws and regulations that regulate, among other things, the manner in which they conduct
+Added: their businesses, which of our operating entities can provide certain services, and the fees that they may charge.
+Added: Governmental authorities
+Added: and various Hong Kong agencies, including, among others, the Insurance Authority, the Mandatory Provident Fund Authority, the Securities
+Added: and Futures Commission, and the Inland Revenue Department, have broad oversight and supervisory authority over us.
+Added: Because of the financial services that we offer
+Added: and deliver, we engage in the relevant service must be licensed in Hong Kong as well as all relevant jurisdictions that require
+Added: licensure and must comply with each such jurisdiction’s respective laws and regulations, as well as with judicial and administrative
+Added: decisions applicable to it.
+Added: Presently, in Hong Kong, we maintain Insurance Broker Licenses, HKSFC Licenses, and Money Lenders Licenses,
+Added: in addition to their business registrations with the Hong Kong Companies Registry.
+Added: In addition, these companies are currently subject
+Added: to a variety of, and may in the future become subject to additional, laws that are continuously evolving and developing, including laws
+Added: on advertising as well as privacy laws.
+Added: These licensing requirements and other regulations
+Added: directly impact our business and require ongoing compliance, monitoring, and internal and external audits as they continue to evolve
+Added: and may result in ever-increasing public scrutiny and escalating levels of enforcement and sanctions.
+Added: Subsequent changes to data
+Added: protection and privacy laws, for instance, could impact how we process personal information, and therefore limit the effectiveness of
+Added: its products or services or its ability to operate or expand its business, including limiting strategic partnerships that may involve
+Added: the sharing of personal information.
+Added: Both the scope of the laws and regulations and
+Added: the intensity of the supervision to which we are subject have increased over time, in response to financial crises as well as other factors
+Added: such as technological and market changes.
+Added: Regulatory enforcement and fines have also increased across the financial services sector in
+Added: Hong Kong and the other markets where we operate.
+Added: Our management expects that its business will remain subject to extensive regulation
+Added: and supervision.
+Added: These regulatory changes could result in an increase in our regulatory compliance burden and associated costs and place
+Added: restrictions on its operations.
+Added: Our failure to comply with applicable licensing requirements and relevant laws and regulations could
+Added: lead to, among other things:
+Added: ● loss of its licenses
+Added: and approvals to engage in its businesses;
+Added: ● damage to its
+Added: reputation in the industry;
+Added: ● governmental investigations
+Added: and enforcement actions;
+Added: ● administrative
+Added: fines and penalties and litigation;
+Added: ● civil and criminal
+Added: liability, including class action lawsuits;
+Added: ● increased costs
+Added: of doing business;
+Added: ● diminished ability
+Added: to sell financial products;
+Added: ● inability to raise
+Added: ● inability to execute
+Added: on its business strategy, including its growth plans.
+Added: As applicable licensing requirements and laws
+Added: evolve, it may be more difficult for our management to identify these developments comprehensively, to interpret changes accurately, and
+Added: to train our employees effectively with respect to these laws and regulations.
+Added: These difficulties potentially increase our exposure to
+Added: the risks of noncompliance with these licensing requirements, laws, and regulations, which could be detrimental to its business.
+Added: a failure to adequately vet and supervise our clients, service providers and vendors, to the extent they are covered by such licensing
+Added: requirements, laws, and regulations, may also have these negative results.
+Added: To resolve issues raised in examinations or other
+Added: governmental actions, we or certain of our subsidiaries may be required to take various corrective actions, including changing certain
+Added: business practices, making refunds or taking other actions that could be financially or competitively detrimental to it.
+Added: Our management
+Added: expects to continue to incur costs to comply with governmental regulations.
+Added: In addition, certain legislative actions and judicial decisions
+Added: can give rise to the initiation of lawsuits against us for activities that it has conducted in the past.
+Added: We have been, and its management
+Added: expects it to continue to be, subject to regulatory enforcement actions and private causes of action from time to time with respect to
+Added: its compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
+Added: Although we have systems and procedures directed
+Added: to comply with these legal and regulatory requirements, there can be no assurance that more restrictive laws and regulations will not
+Added: be adopted in the future, or that governmental bodies or courts will not interpret existing laws or regulations in a more restrictive
+Added: manner, which could render its current business practices non-compliant or which could make compliance more difficult or expensive.
+Added: of these, or other, changes in laws or regulations could have a detrimental effect on us and its results of operations.
+Added: We are subject to evolving regulatory requirements,
+Added: and failure to comply with these regulations or to adapt to regulatory changes could materially and adversely affect its operations,
+Added: business, and prospects.
+Added: of our aspects, including brokerage and technology services to individual investors, banks, and insurance companies, insurance loss adjustment
+Added: services, online publication services relating to financial product information, facilitating consumer lending products for banks and
+Added: online small loan companies, managing and distributing various asset management products, and electronic certification services are subject
+Added: to supervision and regulation by various governmental authorities in Hong Kong or in other jurisdictions where we operate.
+Added: As we continue
+Added: to expand its solutions and product offerings, the group may be subject to new and more complex regulatory requirements.
+Added: We are also required to comply with
+Added: applicable laws and regulations in relevant jurisdictions to protect the privacy and security of its customers’ information.
+Added: and regulatory restrictions may delay, or possibly prevent, some of our solutions or services from being offered, which may have a material
+Added: adverse effect on its business, financial condition, and results of operations.
+Added: Violation of laws and regulations may also result in
+Added: severe penalties, confiscation of illegal income, revocation of licenses and, under certain circumstances, criminal prosecution.
+Added: For example, the regulatory framework governing
+Added: financial technology services is unclear and evolving.
+Added: New laws or regulations may be promulgated, which could impose new requirements
+Added: or prohibitions that render our current operations or technologies non-compliant.
+Added: In addition, due to uncertainties and complexities
+Added: of the regulatory environment, it cannot be assured that regulators will interpret laws and regulations the same way as we do, or that
+Added: we will always be in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
+Added: To remedy any violations, we may be required to modify its
+Added: business models, solutions, and technologies in ways that render its solutions less appealing to potential customers.
+Added: We may also become
+Added: subject to fines or other penalties, or, if we determine that the requirements to operate in compliance are overly burdensome, it may
+Added: elect to terminate potentially non-compliant operations.
+Added: In each such case, our business, financial condition and results of operations
+Added: may be materially and adversely affected.
+Added: We may be adversely affected by the complexity,
+Added: uncertainties, and changes in regulation of internet-related businesses and companies, and any lack of requisite approvals, licenses,
+Added: or permits applicable to our business may have a material adverse effect on its business and results of operations.
+Added: The Hong Kong government extensively regulates
+Added: the internet industry, including foreign ownership of, and the licensing and permit requirements pertaining to, companies in the industry.
+Added: These internet-related laws and regulations are relatively new and evolving, and their interpretation and enforcement involve significant
+Added: uncertainties.
+Added: As a result, in certain circumstances it may be difficult to determine what actions or omissions may be deemed to be in
+Added: violation of applicable laws and regulations.
+Added: The interpretation and application of existing
+Added: Hong Kong laws, regulations and policies, and possible new laws, regulations, or policies, including those relating to the internet
+Added: industry, have created substantial uncertainties regarding the legality of existing and future foreign investments in, and our businesses
+Added: and activities.
+Added: There can be no assurance that we have obtained all the permits or licenses required for conducting its business
+Added: or that it will be able to maintain or update its existing licenses or obtain new ones.
+Added: If a government authority considers that we were
+Added: operating without the proper approvals, licenses, or permits or promulgates new laws and regulations that require additional approvals
+Added: or licenses or imposes additional restrictions on the operation of any part of its business, it may levy fines, confiscate our income,
+Added: revoke its business licenses, and/or require us to discontinue its relevant business or impose restrictions on the affected portion of
+Added: its business.
+Added: Any of these actions may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
+Added: Uncertainties in the interpretation and
+Added: enforcement of Hong Kong laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to us and our investors.
+Added: Hong Kong laws and regulations concerning
+Added: the internet-related and financial services industries are developing and evolving.
+Added: Although we have taken measures to comply with
+Added: the laws and regulations applicable to its business operations and to avoid conducting any non-compliant activities under these
+Added: laws and regulations, governmental authorities may promulgate new laws and regulations regulating the internet-related and financial
+Added: services industries.
+Added: There can be no assurance that our operations would not be deemed to violate any such new laws or regulations.
+Added: developments in the internet-related industries and financial services industry may lead to changes in existing laws, regulations,
+Added: and policies in Hong Kong, or in the interpretation and application of existing laws, regulations, and policies, which in turn may
+Added: limit or restrict us and could materially and adversely affect its business and operations.
+Added: Fluctuations in exchange rates could have
+Added: a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the price of the Company’s shares.
+Added: The value of the Hong Kong dollar against
+Added: Dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions
+Added: in Hong Kong and China and by Hong Kong and China’s foreign exchange policies.
+Added: Presently, the value of the Hong Kong
+Added: dollar is pegged to the U.S.
+Added: However, on July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging
+Added: the value of the Renminbi to the U.S.
+Added: Dollar, and the Renminbi appreciated more than 20% against the U.S.
+Added: Dollar over the following
+Added: Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted and the exchange rate between the Renminbi and
+Added: Dollar remained within a narrow band.
+Added: Since June 2010, the Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S.
+Added: times significantly and unpredictably.
+Added: On November 30, 2015, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed
+Added: the regular five-year review of the basket of currencies that make up its Special Drawing Rights, or the SDR, and decided that with
+Added: effect from October 1, 2016, the Renminbi is considered to be a freely usable currency and will be included in the SDR basket as
+Added: a fifth currency, along with the U.S.
+Added: Dollar, the Euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound.
+Added: With the development of the foreign
+Added: exchange market and progress towards interest rate liberalization and Renminbi internationalization, the PRC government may announce
+Added: further changes to its exchange rate system.
+Added: Given the political uncertainty surrounding Hong Kong, there can be no assurance that
+Added: the Hong Kong dollar will remain pegged to the U.S.
+Added: Dollar and that it will not appreciate or depreciate significantly in value
+Added: against the U.S.
+Added: Dollar in the future.
+Added: It is difficult to predict how market forces or Hong Kong, PRC, or U.S.
+Added: policies may affect the exchange rate between the Hong Kong dollar and the U.S.
+Added: Dollar in the future.
+Added: Substantially all of our revenue and costs are
+Added: denominated in Hong Kong dollars.
+Added: Any significant revaluation of the Hong Kong dollar may have a material and adverse effect
+Added: on an investment in the Company.
+Added: For example, to the extent that the Company needed to convert U.S.
+Added: Dollars received from the Business
+Added: Combination or other capital markets transactions or borrowings outside Hong Kong into Hong Kong dollars for operations, appreciation
+Added: of the Hong Kong dollar against the U.S.
+Added: Dollar would have an adverse effect on the amount the Company would receive from the
+Added: Conversely, if the Company decided to convert its Hong Kong dollars into U.S.
+Added: Dollars for the purpose of making
+Added: payments for dividends on its ordinary shares or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S.
+Added: Dollar against the Hong Kong
+Added: dollar would have a negative effect on the U.S.
+Added: Dollar amount available to the company.
+Added: We face risks related to natural disasters,
+Added: health epidemics, civil and social disruption and other outbreaks, which could significantly disrupt its operations.
+Added: We are vulnerable to natural disasters and other
+Added: Fire, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, power losses, telecommunications failures, break-ins, wars, riots, terrorist attacks,
+Added: strikes, civil or social disruption (including protests in Hong Kong in June 2019) or similar events may give rise to server
+Added: or service interruptions, breakdowns, system failures, technology platform failures, employee issues, or internet failures, which could
+Added: cause the loss or corruption of data or malfunctions of software or hardware, as well as adversely affect our ability to maintain its
+Added: financial platform and provide its solutions to customers.
+Added: Our business could also be adversely affected by the effects of COVID-19,
+Added: Ebola virus disease, Zika virus disease, various forms of influenza, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS, or other epidemics.
+Added: Our business, results of operations, financial
+Added: conditions, and prospects could also be adversely affected to the extent that any natural disasters, health epidemics, civil and social
+Added: disruption and other outbreaks harm the Hong Kong, Chinese, or global economy in general.
+Added: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may present
+Added: risks to our operations and investments.
+Added: Russia’s recent military interventions in
+Added: Ukraine have led to, and may lead to, additional sanctions being levied by the United States, European Union and other countries
+Added: against Russia.
+Added: Russia’s military incursion and the resulting sanctions could adversely affect global energy and financial markets
+Added: and thus could affect the value of our investments, even though we do not have any direct exposure to Russia or the adjoining geographic
+Added: The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions, and resulting market disruptions are impossible to predict, but could
+Added: be substantial.
+Added: Any such disruptions caused by Russian military action or resulting sanctions may magnify the impact of other risks described
+Added: in this section.
+Added: We cannot predict the progress or outcome of the situation in Ukraine, as the conflict and governmental reactions are
+Added: rapidly developing and beyond their control.
+Added: Prolonged unrest, intensified military activities, or more extensive sanctions impacting
+Added: the region could have a material adverse effect on the global economy, and such effect could in turn have a material adverse effect on
+Added: our operations, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and business outlook.
+Added: Risks Related to Our Shares
+Added: Our share price has been, and could continue
+Added: to be, volatile.
+Added: There has been significant volatility in the
+Added: market price and trading volume of equity securities, which may be unrelated to the financial performance of the companies issuing the
+Added: These broad market fluctuations could negatively affect the market price of our stock.
+Added: The market price and volume of our
+Added: ordinary shares could fluctuate, and in the past has fluctuated, more dramatically than the stock market in general.
+Added: During the 12 months
+Added: ended December 31, 2022, the market price of our ordinary shares has ranged from a high of $11.65 per share (on November 3, 2022)
+Added: to a low of $1.54 per share (on December 30, 2022).
+Added: Shareholders may not be able to resell their shares at or above the price they paid
+Added: for them due to fluctuations in the market price of our stock caused by changes in our operating performance or prospects or other factors.
+Added: Some factors, in addition to the other risk factors identified above, that could have a significant effect on our stock market price
+Added: include, but are not limited to, the following:
+Added: ● actual or anticipated
+Added: fluctuations in our operating results or future prospects;
+Added: ● our announcements
+Added: or our competitors’ announcements of new services;
+Added: ● the public’s
+Added: reaction to our press releases, our other public announcements and our filings with the SEC;
+Added: ● strategic actions
+Added: by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions or restructurings;
+Added: ● new laws or regulations
+Added: or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations applicable to our business;
+Added: ● changes in accounting
+Added: standards, policies, guidance, interpretations, or principles;
+Added: ● changes in our
+Added: growth rates or our competitors’ growth rates;
+Added: ● developments regarding
+Added: our patents or proprietary rights or those of our competitors;
+Added: ● our inability
+Added: to raise additional capital as needed;
+Added: ● concerns or allegations
+Added: as to the safety or efficacy of our products;
+Added: ● changes in financial
+Added: markets or general economic conditions;
+Added: ● sales of shares
+Added: by us or members of our management team, our significant shareholders, or certain institutional
+Added: shareholders;
+Added: ● changes in stock
+Added: market analyst recommendations or earnings estimates regarding our stock, other comparable
+Added: companies or our industry generally.
+Added: Shareholders could experience substantial
+Added: dilution of their investment as a result of future sales of our equity, subsequent exercises of our outstanding warrants and options,
+Added: or the future grant of equity by us.
+Added: We may choose to raise additional capital from
+Added: time to time, even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans.
+Added: To the extent that we raise additional
+Added: funds through the future sale of equity or convertible securities, the issuance of such securities will result in dilution to our stockholders.
+Added: The price per share at which we sell additional ordinary shares, or securities convertible or exchangeable into ordinary shares, in future
+Added: transactions may be higher or lower than the price per ordinary share paid by investors in the offering.
+Added: Investors purchasing shares
+Added: or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders.
+Added: In addition, shareholders could experience substantial
+Added: dilution of their investment as a result of subsequent exercises of outstanding warrants, or the grant of future equity-based awards.
+Added: As of December 31, 2022, an aggregate of 5,946,100 ordinary shares were reserved for issuance under our equity incentive plans,
+Added: and 4,825,000 ordinary shares were subject to warrants at an exercise $11.50 per share.
+Added: To the extent that outstanding warrants are exercised,
+Added: our existing shareholders could experience dilution.
+Added: We rely on equity awards to motivate current
+Added: employees and to attract new employees.
+Added: The grant of future equity awards by us to our employees and other service providers could further
+Added: dilute our shareholders’ interests in the Company.
+Added: Because we do not intend to pay cash dividends,
+Added: our stockholders will benefit from an investment in our ordinary shares only if it appreciates in value.
+Added: We intend to retain our future earnings, if any,
+Added: to finance the expansion of our business and do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
+Added: As a result, the success
+Added: of an investment in our ordinary shares will depend entirely upon any future appreciation.
+Added: There is no guarantee that our ordinary shares
+Added: will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which our shareholders purchased their shares.
+Added: If securities or industry analysts do not
+Added: publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our share price and trading volume could decline.
+Added: The trading market for our ordinary shares will
+Added: depend on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business.
+Added: We do not have any control
+Added: over these analysts.
+Added: There can be no assurance that analysts will cover us or provide favorable coverage.
+Added: If one or more of the analysts
+Added: who cover us downgrade our stock or change their opinion of our stock, our share price would likely decline.
+Added: If one or more of these
+Added: analysts cease coverage of the Company or fail to regularly publish reports on the Company, we could lose visibility in the financial
+Added: markets, which could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
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