−Removed: know of no material, active, pending or threatened proceeding against us or our subsidiaries, nor are we, or any subsidiary, involved
−Removed: as a plaintiff or defendant in any material proceeding or pending litigation.
−Removed: time to time, we are parties to various legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business.
−Removed: For more information, see Note 13 to the Financial Statements in Item
−Removed: equity dispute case with Yunqing Su with a disputed amount of RMB1,318,604 (equivalent to $185,721)
−Removed: June 22, 2017, Yunqing Su, a former shareholder, entered an Equity Investment Agreement with Sichuan Wetouch and Guangde Cai, agreed
−Removed: that Yunqing Su would invest RMB1 million (equivalent to $140,847) to purchase 370,370.37 original listed shares of the target company,
−Removed: Sichuan Wetouch, and provided for the exit mechanism in the agreement.
−Removed: However, the target company failed to be listed prior to December
−Removed: 31, 2017 as agreed.
−Removed: On June 22, 2017, Guangde Cai and Yunqing Su entered into a supplementary agreement, pursuant to which Guangde Cai
−Removed: shall repurchase all of Yunqing Su’s equity interest and pay the interest.
−Removed: Sichuan Wetouch repaid Yunqing Su the interest of RMB220,000
−Removed: (equivalent to $30,986) and the principal of RMB128,000 (equivalent to $18,028) in November 2018.
−Removed: The repayment period set forth in the
−Removed: supplementary agreement expired, but Sichuan Wetouch and Guangde Cai failed to pay the principal and interest owed to Yunqing Su.
−Removed: Su sued Sichuan Wetouch and Guangde Cai in the Renshou County People’s Court of Sichuan Province, and the case was filed on February
−Removed: May 9, 2022, pursuant to a civil mediation statement issued by the Renshou County People’s Court of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Wetouch
−Removed: and Guangde Cai agreed to repay Yunqing Su the principal and interest in the total amount of RMB 1,318,604 (equivalent to $185,721).
−Removed: Sichuan Wetouch fully paid the aforesaid amount on March 15, 2023.
−Removed: case with Chengdu SME Credit Guarantee Co., Ltd.
−Removed: on a court acceptance fee of RMB338,418 (equivalent to $47,665)
−Removed: July 5, 2013, Sichuan Wetouch obtained a one-year loan of RMB60.0 million (equivalent to $8.5 million) from Bank of Chengdu, at an annual
−Removed: interest rate of 8.61%.
−Removed: Chengdu SME Credit Guarantee Co., Ltd (“Chengdu SME”), a third party, provided a 70% guarantee and
−Removed: Bank of Chengdu retained 30% of the risk, while Chengdu Wetouch, a related party company, owned by Mr.
−Removed: Guangde Cai and Mr.
−Removed: provided joint and several liability guarantee for 100% of the loan.
−Removed: July 31, 2014, Sichuan Wetouch repaid RMB5.0 million (equivalent to $0.7 million).
−Removed: The remaining loan of RMB55.0 million (equivalent
−Removed: to $7.7 million) was twice extended to be due on August 22, 2018.
−Removed: Upon the loan becoming due, but unpaid by the Company, Chengdu SME
−Removed: paid the outstanding balance of RMB55 million (equivalent to $7.7 million) to Bank of Chengdu.
−Removed: The Company subsequently repaid RMB55
−Removed: million (equivalent to $7.7 million) to Chengdu SME;
−Removed: however, Chengdu SME filed two separate lawsuits against the Company to recover
−Removed: loan default penalties from the Company.
−Removed: The loan default penalties were (a) RMB5.8 million (equivalent to $0.8 million) related to the
−Removed: 30% of the remaining loan balance repaid by Chengdu SME and (b) RMB6.0 million (equivalent to $0.8 million) related to the 70% of the
−Removed: remaining loan balance repaid by Chengdu SME.
−Removed: During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded loan default penalties, and
−Removed: related liabilities, of $1.7 million.
−Removed: SME applied to the Chengdu High-tech Court for enforcement of the above-mentioned loan default penalties of RMB5.8 million (equivalent
−Removed: to $0.8 million) and RMB6.0 million (equivalent to $0.8 million) on December 30, 2018.
−Removed: On March 12, 2020, the Enforcement Settlement
−Removed: Agreement issued by the Chengdu High-tech Court confirmed that Sichuan Wetouch still owed RMB5.8 million (equivalent to $0.8 million)
−Removed: and RMB6.0 million (equivalent to $0.8 million) of loan default penalties.
−Removed: The agreement did not specify which party shall pay the court
−Removed: September 16, 2020, Sichuan Wetouch made a full repayment of RMB11.8 million (equivalent to $1.7 million) of the above loan default penalties
−Removed: to Chengdu SME.
−Removed: March 16, 2023, pursuant to an Enforcement Settlement Agreement entered among Chengdu SME, Sichuan Wetouch and Chengdu Wetouch, Chengdu
−Removed: Wetouch agreed to pay the court acceptance fee of RMB338,418 (equivalent to $47,665).
−Removed: On March 17, 2023, Chengdu Wetouch made a full
−Removed: payment of the above court fee to Chengdu SME.
−Removed: case with Lifan Financial Leasing (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
−Removed: and Sichuan Wetouch, Chengdu Wetouch, Meishan Wetouch and Xinjiang Wetouch
−Removed: Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
−Removed: on a court acceptance fee of RMB250,470 (equivalent to $35,278)
−Removed: November 20, 2014, Lifan Financial Lease (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
−Removed: (“Lifan Financial”) and Chengdu Wetouch entered into a Financial
−Removed: Lease Contract (Sale and Leaseback), which stipulated that Lifan Financial shall lease the equipment to Chengdu Wetouch after the purchase
−Removed: of the production equipment owned by Chengdu Wetouch at a purchase price, the purchase price/lease principal shall be RMB20 million,
−Removed: the rental interest rate of the leased equipment shall be 8% per year, and the lease term shall be 24 months.
−Removed: Upon the expiration of
−Removed: the lease term, Lifan Financial shall transfer the leased property to Chengdu Wetouch or a third party designated by Chengdu Wetouch
−Removed: at the price of RMB0 after Chengdu Wetouch has fully fulfilled its obligations, including, without limitation, the payment of the rent,
−Removed: liquidated damages (if any) and other contractual obligations.
−Removed: Guangde Cai, Sichuan Wetouch, Meishan Wetouch, an affiliated company to
−Removed: Guangde Cai and Xinjiang Wetouch Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
−Removed: (“Xinjiang Wetouch”) provided Lifan Financial
−Removed: with joint and several liability guarantee.
−Removed: August 9, 2021, Lifan Financial filed a lawsuit against Chengdu Wetouch, Guangde Cai, Sichuan Wetouch, Meishan Wetouch and Xinjiang Wetouch
−Removed: in the Chengdu Intermediate People’s Court.
−Removed: The court ruled that:
−Removed: 1) the Financial Lease Contract (Sale and Leaseback) was terminated;
−Removed: 2) the leased property was owned by Lifan Financial;
−Removed: 3) Chengdu Wetouch shall pay Lifan Financial all outstanding rent and interest thereon
−Removed: in the total amount of RMB 22,905,807 (equivalent to $3.2 million) as well as the difference between the liquidated damages and the value
−Removed: of the leased property recovered;
−Removed: parties executed a settlement agreement on March 7, 2023, in which the parties confirmed that the outstanding payment of RMB 22,905,807
−Removed: (equivalent to $3.2 million) has been fully paid up on December 23, 2021 and the above cases have been settled.
−Removed: As for the court acceptance
−Removed: fees that were not previously agreed upon by the parties, Chengdu Wetouch agreed to pay the court acceptance fee of RMB 250,470
−Removed: (equivalent to $ 35,278 ).
−Removed: Chengdu Wetouch paid the aforesaid fees to Lifan Financial on March 10, 2023.
−Removed: case with Sichuan Renshou Shigao Tianfu Investment Co., Ltd and Renshou Tengyi Landscaping Co., Ltd.
−Removed: on a court acceptance fee of
−Removed: RMB103,232 (equivalent to $14,540)
−Removed: March 19, 2014, Chengdu Wetouch, a related party, obtained a two and half-year loan of RMB15.0 million (equivalent to $2.1 million) from
−Removed: Chengdu Bank Co., Ltd.
−Removed: Gaoxin Branch (“Chengdu Bank Gaoxin Branch”), with Chengdu Hi-tech Investment Group Co., Ltd.
−Removed: Investment”) acting as guarantor to pay off the loan principal and related interests, while Sichuan Wetouch and Hong Kong Wetouch
−Removed: as guarantors, were jointly and severally liable for such debts.
−Removed: the loan due in January 2017, Chengdu Wetouch defaulted the loan, thus, CDHT Investment filed a lawsuit against Chengdu Wetouch, Sichuan
−Removed: Wetouch, and Hong Kong Wetouch demanding a full repayment of such debts.
−Removed: support the local economic development as well as Chengdu Wetouch, two government-backed companies, Sichuan Renshou Shigao Tianfu Investment
−Removed: (“Sichuan Renshou”) and Renshou Tengyi Landscaping Co., Ltd.
−Removed: (“Renshou Tengyi”) provided their bank
−Removed: deposits of RMB 12.0 million (equivalent to $1.7 million) as pledge, while Mr.
−Removed: Guangde Cai and Sichuan Wetouch also provided counter-guarantee.
−Removed: the expiration of the guarantee, Chengdu Wetouch still defaulted on repayment of the above pledge.
−Removed: As a result, CDHT Investment levied
−Removed: this collateral of RMB12.0 million.
−Removed: On November 21, 2019.
−Removed: Subsequently, Sichuan Renshou and Renshou Tengyi filed with Chengdu Intermediate
−Removed: People’s Court a lawsuit demanding an asset recovery of RMB12.0 million (equivalent to $1.7 million) pursuant to the counter guarantee
−Removed: December 2, 2019, pursuant to the reconciling agreement issued by Chengdu Intermediate People’s Court, the parties agreed to cancel
−Removed: the demand to seize property of Sichuan Wetouch rather than the property of Chengdu Wetouch, and to waive freezing Guangde Cai’s
−Removed: 60% shareholding equity in Xinjiang Wetouch Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
−Removed: October 9, 2020, pursuant to a settlement and release agreement, Sichuan Wetouch, Hong Kong Wetouch and Guangde Cai are fully discharged
−Removed: and released from any and all obligations under the outstanding debts, and from all liabilities under guarantee with Chengdu Wetouch
−Removed: being responsible for the outstanding debts by December 31, 2020.
−Removed: October 27, 2020, Chengdu Wetouch made a full payment of the above debts.
−Removed: settlement and release agreement did not specify which party shall pay the court acceptance fee.
−Removed: On March 10, 2023, pursuant to an enforcement
−Removed: settlement agreement entered among Sichuan Renshou, Renshou Tengyi, Sichuan Wetouch, Chengdu Wetouch, and other relevant parties, Sichuan
−Removed: Wetouch agreed to pay the court acceptance fee of RMB103,232 (equivalent to $14,540).
−Removed: On March 17, 2023, Chengdu Wetouch made a full
−Removed: payment of the above court fee to Sichuan Renshou.
−Removed: case with Chengdu High Investment Financing Guarantee Co.
−Removed: on a court acceptance fee of RMB250,000 (equivalent to $35,211)
−Removed: March 22, 2019, Chengdu High Investment Financing Guarantee Co., Ltd, (“Chengdu High Investment”) filed a lawsuit against
−Removed: Hong Kong Wetouch in the Chengdu Intermediate People’s Court, claiming that Hong Kong Wetouch should assume the guarantee liability
−Removed: for the debt payable by Chengdu Wetouch.
−Removed: On May 21, 2020, the court rendered a judgment ordering Hong Kong Wetouch to pay compensation
−Removed: of RMB17,467,042 (equivalent to $2,460,181), interest, liquidated damages, liquidated damages for late performance, etc.
−Removed: March 16, 2023, Chengdu Wetouch, Sichuan Wetouch and Chengdu High Investment entered into a settlement enforcement agreement, confirming
−Removed: that Chengdu High Investment had received RMB17,547,197 (equivalent to $2,471,471) on October 27, 2020 paid by Chengdu Wetouch,
−Removed: and the above case has been settled.
−Removed: As for the court acceptance fees that were not previously agreed upon by the parties, Chengdu Wetouch
−Removed: agreed to pay the court acceptance fee of RMB 250,000 (equivalent to $35,211).
−Removed: Chengdu Wetouch paid the aforesaid fees to Chengdu High
−Removed: Investment on March 20, 2023.
−Removed: case with Hubei Lai’en Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
−Removed: on a product payment of RMB157,714 (equivalent to $22,213)
−Removed: Wetouch purchased products from Hubei Lai’en Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
−Removed: (“Hubei Lai’en) multiple times from
−Removed: March to June 2019, but failed to pay the corresponding amount of RMB137,142.7 for the purchased products.
−Removed: On April 6, 2022, Hubei Lai’en
−Removed: filed a lawsuit against Sichuan Wetouch in the Renshou County People’s Court of Sichuan Province, requesting payment of overdue
−Removed: payment for the products and liquidated damages.
−Removed: On May 31, 2022, the Renshou County People’s Court rendered a judgment that Sichuan
−Removed: Wetouch shall pay Hubei Lai’en the price of goods of RMB137,143 and liquidated damages of RMB 20,571.
−Removed: Sichuan Wetouch paid the
−Removed: above amount to Hubei Lai’en on March 15, 2023.
−Removed: vi) Legal case with
−Removed: Chengdu Hongxin Shunda Trading Co., Ltd.
−Removed: on settlement of accounts payable and related fund interests totalling RMB3,021,294 ($425,540)
−Removed: March 2022, Sichuan Vtouch purchase steel products from Chengdu Hongxin Shunda Trading Co., Ltd.
−Removed: (“Chengdu Hongxin”) for
−Removed: facility construction, but failed to settle the accounts payable on time.
−Removed: In July 2023, Chengdu Hongxin filed a lawsuit to a local district
−Removed: court against the Company and its new facility constructors (“the three defendants”) requesting the settlement of the remaining
−Removed: accounts payable and the corresponding fund interests, penalties and legal fees, totalling of RMB3,021,294 ($425,540).
−Removed: The court judged
−Removed: Sichuan Vtouch to pay and ordered the freezing of bank accounts of these three defendants.
−Removed: On September 25, 2023, the Company appealed
−Removed: to Chengdu Municipal Intermediate People’s Court, arguing the calculation of fund interests and penalties ordered by the lower
−Removed: court unfair and not in line with the law regulations.
−Removed: As of the Report date of this 10K, the management assessed that possibility and
−Removed: amount of contingency cannot be estimated given the current status.
−Removed: vii) Legal case with
−Removed: Guangchuang Liu on a refund of equity transfer price and related interests totalling RMB324,501 ($45,705)
−Removed: July 2022 Mr.
−Removed: Liu entered into an equity transfer agreement with Mr.
−Removed: Guangde Cai and Sichuan Vtouch with the intention to subscribe the
−Removed: Company’s shares of 20,000 for RMB315,245 ($44,104).
−Removed: In April, 2023, Mr.
−Removed: Liu filed a lawsuit to Shenzhen Nanshan District People’s
−Removed: Court against Mr.
−Removed: Guangde Cai and Sichuan Vtouch requesting the refund of this equity transfer price and related fund interests totalling
−Removed: RMB324,501 ($45,705).
−Removed: Per the court decision of December 13, 2023, the defendants were ordered to make the payments by the end of 2023.
−Removed: As of December 31, 2023, the Company recorded the liabilities of RMB324,501 ($45,705) and subsequently, the Company has made the payment
−Removed: in full in January, 2024.
−Removed: viii) Legal case with
−Removed: Sichuan Yali Cement Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
−Removed: and Sichuan Chunqiu Development & Construction Group Co.
−Removed: on a debt payable of RMB
−Removed: RMB1,656,480 (equivalent to $233,310) and related interest, legal fees and penalties.
−Removed: August 10, 2022, Sichuan Yali Cement Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
−Removed: (“Yali Co.”) and Sichuan Chunqiu Development & Construction
−Removed: (“ Chunqiu Co.”) entered into construction materials contract for Sichuan Vtouch’s new facility.
−Removed: this contract, Sichuan Vtouch was listed as the joint responsibility party for the payment settlement between Yali Company and Chunqiu
−Removed: February 15, 2023, Yali Co.
−Removed: filed a lawsuit against Chunqiu Co.
−Removed: to the Chengdu Wenjiang District People’s Court, claiming that
−Removed: should pay the remaining debt of RMB RMB1,656,480 (equivalent to $233,310) and related interest, legal fees and penalties,
−Removed: and that Sichuan Vtouch should assume the guaranteed liability for the debt payable by Chunqiu Co.
−Removed: On August 12, 2023, the court rendered
−Removed: a judgment ordering Chunqiu Co.
−Removed: to pay to Yali Co.
−Removed: for above mentioned amount.
−Removed: Sichuan Vtouch was ordered joint liability of such aforesaid
−Removed: August 22, 2023, Chunqiu Co.
−Removed: appealed to Chengdu Municipal Intermediate People’s Court against Yali Co.
−Removed: and Sichuan Vtouch requesting
−Removed: Sichuan Vtouch to be responsible for this debt payable.
−Removed: On October 30, 2023, the court ordered Chunqiu Co.
−Removed: to pay pack all the debts,
−Removed: and Sichuan Vtouch to bear the joint and several liability for the above debts of Chunqiu Co.
−Removed: including a court fee of RMB10,627 ($1,497)
−Removed: with Chunqiu liability.
−Removed: As of December 31, 2023, Sichuan Vtouch accrued this court fee of RMB10,627 ($1,497).
−Removed: and Safety Disclosure
+Added: LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
+Added: We may from time to time be
+Added: subject to various legal or administrative claims and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business.
+Added: Litigation or any other
+Added: legal or administrative proceeding, regardless of the outcome, can result in substantial cost and the diversion of our resources, including
+Added: our management’s time and attention.
+Added: As of the date of this Report,
+Added: we are not aware of any material, active, pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or to which
+Added: any of their property is subject.
+Added: MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
+Added: Not applicable.
Compared sentence by sentence after normalising whitespace, quotation marks, case and digits, so re-formatting and restated figures do not read as changed language. Wording changes appear as one removal and one addition. The current filing and the prior one are authoritative.