Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) have been publicly traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “BGNE” from February 3, 2016 to January 1, 2025, and under the symbol “ONC” since January 2, 2025. Our ordinary shares have been publicly traded on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code “06160” since August 8, 2018. Our ordinary shares traded in Renminbi (the “RMB Shares”) have been publicly traded on the Science and Technology Innovation Board of the Shanghai Stock Exchange in China under the stock code “688235” since December 15, 2021.
Shareholders
As of January 31, 2026, we had approximately 31,846 holders of record of our ordinary shares, 31,697 of which are holders of record of our RMB Shares, and 8 holders of record of our ADSs. These numbers do not include beneficial owners whose ordinary shares or ADSs are held by nominees in street name. Because many ordinary shares and ADSs are held by broker nominees, we are unable to estimate the total number of beneficial holders represented by these record holders.
Dividend Policy
We have never declared or paid any dividends on our ordinary shares or any other securities. We currently intend to retain all available funds and earnings, if any, to fund the development and expansion of our business, and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. If we pay dividends in the future, in order for us to distribute dividends to our shareholders and holders of ADSs, we may rely to some extent on dividends distributed by our PRC subsidiaries. PRC regulations may restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us, and such distributions will be subject to PRC withholding tax. In addition, PRC regulations currently permit payment of dividends of a PRC company only out of accumulated distributable after-tax profits, as determined in accordance with our PRC subsidiaries’ formation and organizational documents and the accounting standards and regulations in the PRC. Subject to applicable law and our articles of association, any future determination to pay dividends must be approved in advance by our shareholders. Our board of directors may propose a dividend to shareholders but cannot itself authorize the dividends. Such recommendation by our board of directors may be based on a number of factors, including our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.
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Performance Comparison Graph
This graph is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed “filed” with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference into any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing.
The following graph shows the total shareholder return of an investment of $100 in cash at market close on December 31, 2020 through December 31, 2025 for our ADSs, the Nasdaq Composite Index (U.S.), and the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index.
Pursuant to applicable SEC rules, all values assume reinvestment of the full amount of any dividends, although no dividends have been declared or paid to date. The shareholder return shown on the graph below is not necessarily indicative of future performance, and we do not make or endorse any predictions as to future shareholder returns.
($ in dollars) 12/31/20 12/31/21 12/31/22 12/31/23 12/31/24 12/31/25
BeOne Medicines Ltd. 100.00 104.85 85.12 69.80 71.48 117.58
Nasdaq Composite 100.00 122.18 82.43 119.22 154.48 187.14
Nasdaq Biotechnology 100.00 100.02 89.90 94.03 93.49 124.75
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Our equity compensation plan information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the information in “Part III—Item 12—Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” of this Annual Report.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
Except as previously reported by us on our current report on Form 8-K, we did not sell any securities during the year covered by this Annual Report that were not registered under the Securities Act.
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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
None.
Taxation
Swiss Taxation
The tax consequences discussed below are not a complete analysis or description of all the possible tax consequences that may be relevant to you. You should consult your own tax advisor in respect of the tax consequences related to receipt, ownership, purchase or sale or other disposition of registered shares and the procedures for claiming a refund of withholding tax.
Swiss Income Tax on Dividends and Similar Distributions
A non-Swiss holder will not be subject to Swiss income taxes on dividend income and similar distributions in respect of registered shares, unless the shares are attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed place of business maintained in Switzerland by such non-Swiss holder. However, dividends and similar distributions are subject to Swiss withholding tax. See “—Swiss Withholding Tax—Distributions to Shareholders” below.
Swiss Wealth Tax
A non-Swiss holder will not be subject to Swiss wealth taxes unless the holder’s registered shares are attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed place of business maintained in Switzerland by such non-Swiss holder.
Swiss Capital Gains Tax upon Disposal of Registered Shares
A non-Swiss holder will not be subject to Swiss income taxes for capital gains unless the holder’s shares are attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed place of business maintained in Switzerland by such non-Swiss holder. In such case, the non-Swiss holder is required to recognize capital gains or losses on the sale of such shares, which will be subject to cantonal, communal and federal income tax.
Swiss Withholding Tax—Distributions to Shareholders
A Swiss withholding tax of 35% is due on dividends and similar distributions to our shareholders from BeOne out of available earnings or other non-qualifying reserves for withholding tax purposes, regardless of the place of residency of the shareholder (subject to the exceptions discussed under “—Exemption from Swiss Withholding Tax—Distributions to Shareholders” below). We will be required to withhold at such rate and remit on a net basis any payments made to a holder of registered shares and pay such withheld amounts to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration. See “—Refund of Swiss Withholding Tax on Dividends and Other Distributions” below.
Exemption from Swiss Withholding Tax—Distributions to Shareholders
Distributions to shareholders in relation to a reduction of par value and distributions to shareholders out of qualifying capital contribution reserves recognized by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration are exempt from the Swiss withholding tax. We expect to pay any distributions out of qualifying capital contribution reserves recognized by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration for the foreseeable future, and as a result, any such distributions to shareholders will be exempt from the Swiss withholding tax.
Repurchases of Shares
Repurchases of shares for the purposes of capital reduction are treated as a partial liquidation subject to the 35% Swiss withholding tax. However, for shares repurchased for capital reduction, the portion of the repurchase price attributable to the par value and to the qualifying contribution reserves recognized by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration of the shares repurchased will not be subject to the Swiss withholding tax. We would be required to withhold at such rate the tax from the difference between the repurchase price and the related amount of par value and qualifying contribution reserves. We would be required to remit on a net basis the purchase price with the Swiss withholding tax deducted to a holder of registered shares and pay the withholding tax to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration.
With respect to the refund of Swiss withholding tax from the repurchase of shares, see “—Refund of Swiss Withholding Tax on Dividends and Other Distributions” below.
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In many instances, Swiss companies listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange carry out share repurchase programs through a “second trading line” on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Swiss institutional investors (such as Swiss arbitrage banks) typically purchase shares from shareholders on the open market and then sell the shares on the second trading line back to the company. The Swiss institutional investors are generally able to receive a full refund of the withholding tax. Due to, among other things, the time delay between the sale to the company and the institutional investors’ receipt of the refund, the price companies pay to repurchase their shares has historically been slightly higher (but less than 1.0%) than the price of such companies’ shares in ordinary trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange first trading line.
We do not expect to use the SIX Swiss Exchange second trading line process to repurchase our shares because we do not intend to list our shares on the SIX Swiss Exchange. We may, however, follow an alternative process whereby we expect to be able to repurchase our shares in a manner that should allow Swiss institutional market participants selling the shares to us to receive a refund of the Swiss withholding tax and, therefore, accomplish the same purpose as share repurchases on the second trading line at substantially the same cost to us and such market participants as share repurchases on a second trading line.
The repurchase of shares for purposes other than capital reduction, such as to retain as treasury shares for use in connection with long-term incentive plans, convertible debt or other instruments within certain periods, will generally not be subject to Swiss withholding tax.
Refund of Swiss Withholding Tax on Dividends and Other Distributions
The Swiss-U.S. tax treaty provides that U.S. residents eligible for benefits under the treaty can seek a refund of the Swiss withholding tax on dividends for the portion exceeding 15% (leading to a refund of 20%) or a full refund in the case of qualified pension funds.
As a general rule, the refund will be granted under the treaty if the U.S. resident can show evidence of:
• beneficial ownership;
• U.S. residency; and
• meeting the U.S.-Swiss tax treaty’s limitation on benefits requirements.
The claim for refund must be filed with the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (Eigerstrasse 65, 3003 Berne, Switzerland), not later than December 31 of the third year following upon the calendar year in which the dividend payments became due. The relevant Swiss tax form is Form 82C for companies, 82E for other entities and 82I for individuals. These forms can be obtained from any Swiss Consulate General in the United States or from the Swiss Federal Tax Administration at the address mentioned above or online. Each form needs to be filled out in triplicate, with each copy duly completed and signed before a notary public in the United States. You must also include evidence that the withholding tax was withheld at the source.
Swiss Transfer Stamp Tax in Relation to the Transfer of Registered Shares
The purchase or sale of registered shares may be subject to Swiss Transfer Stamp Tax which is due on the transfer of taxable securities (as defined in the Swiss Federal Stamp Tax Act) irrespective of the place of residency of the purchaser or seller if a Swiss or Liechtenstein bank or other Swiss or Liechtenstein securities dealers (as defined in the Swiss Federal Stamp Tax Act of 1973 ) participate to the transaction as contracting parties or as intermediaries. The applicable stamp tax rate is 0.075% for each of the two parties to a transaction (i.e., 0.15% in total) and is calculated based on the purchase price or sale proceeds. If the transaction does not involve cash consideration, the transfer stamp duty is computed on the basis of the market value of the consideration. No Swiss Transfer Stamp Tax will be due if no Swiss or Liechtenstein bank or other Swiss or Liechtenstein securities dealers (as defined in the Swiss Federal Stamp Tax Act) is involved in a purchase or sale.
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PRC Taxation
Under the Enterprise Income Tax Law (“EIT Law”), an enterprise established outside the PRC with a “de facto management body” within the PRC is considered a “resident enterprise,” which means that it is treated in a manner similar to a Chinese enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes. The implementation rules of the EIT Law define “de facto management body” as a managing body that exercises substantial and overall management and control over the production and operations, personnel, accounting and properties of an enterprise. In addition, the Notice Regarding the Determination of Chinese‑Controlled Offshore Incorporated Enterprise as PRC Tax Resident Enterprises on the Basis of De Facto Management Bodies (“Circular 82)”, issued by the State Taxation Administration, which provides guidance on the determination of the tax residence status of a Chinese‑controlled offshore incorporated enterprise, defines Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise as an enterprise that is incorporated under the laws of a foreign country or territory and that has a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as its primary controlling shareholder. Although BeOne Medicines Ltd. does not have a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as our primary controlling shareholder and is therefore not a Chinese‑controlled offshore incorporated enterprise within the meaning of Circular 82, in the absence of guidance specifically applicable to us, we have applied the guidance set forth in Circular 82 to evaluate the tax residence status of BeOne Medicines Ltd. and its subsidiaries organized outside the PRC.
According to Circular 82, a Chinese‑controlled offshore incorporated enterprise will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having a “de facto management body” in China and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its worldwide income only if all of the following criteria are met:
• the primary location of the enterprise’s senior executives of the day‑to‑day operational management and senior management departments performing their duties is in the PRC;
• decisions relating to the enterprise’s financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC;
• the enterprise’s primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder meeting minutes are located or maintained in the PRC; and
• 50% or more of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.
Currently, some of the members of our management team are located in China. However, we do not believe that we meet all of the conditions outlined in the immediately preceding paragraph. BeOne Medicines Ltd. and its offshore subsidiaries are incorporated outside the PRC. As a holding company, our key assets and records, including the resolutions and meeting minutes of our board of directors and the resolutions and meeting minutes of our shareholders, are located and maintained outside the PRC. We are not aware of any offshore holding companies with a corporate structure similar to ours that has been deemed a PRC “resident enterprise” by the PRC tax authorities. Accordingly, we believe that BeOne Medicines Ltd. and its offshore subsidiaries should not be treated as a “resident enterprise” for PRC tax purposes if the criteria for “de facto management body” as set forth in Circular 82 were deemed applicable to us. However, as the tax residency status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body” as applicable to our offshore entities, we will continue to monitor our tax status.
The implementation rules of the EIT Law provide that, (1) if the enterprise that distributes dividends is domiciled in the PRC or (2) if gains are realized from transferring equity interests of enterprises domiciled in the PRC, then such dividends or capital gains are treated as China‑sourced income. It is not clear how “domicile” may be interpreted under the EIT Law, and it may be interpreted as the jurisdiction where the enterprise is a tax resident. Therefore, if we are considered as a PRC tax resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes, any dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders or ADS holders as well as gains realized by such shareholders or ADS holders from the transfer of our shares or ADSs may be regarded as China‑sourced income. As a result, dividends paid to non‑PRC resident enterprise ADS holders or shareholders may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10% (or 20% in the case of non‑PRC individual ADS holders or shareholders) and gains realized by non‑PRC resident enterprise ADS holders or shareholders from the transfer of our ordinary shares or ADSs may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 10% (or 20% in the case of non‑PRC individual ADS holders or shareholders). It is also unclear whether, if we are considered a PRC resident enterprise, holders of our shares or ADSs would be able to claim the benefit of income tax treaties or agreements entered into between China and other countries or areas.
Item 6. Reserved
Not applicable.
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