UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
(AMENDMENT NO. 1)
OR
For the fiscal year ended
OR
OR
Date of event requiring this shell company report
For the transition period from to
Commission file number:
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
N/A
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Jin’an District
Fujian Province, People’s Republic of
+86-
(Address of principal executive offices)
Telephone:
Email:
At the address of the Company set forth above
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| The |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.
None
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.
None
(Title of Class)
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
An aggregate of
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes ☐
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |
| ☒ | Emerging growth company |
If an emerging growth company that prepares its
financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition
period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange
Act.
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has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial
reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared
or issued its audit report.
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12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction
of an error to previously issued financial statements.
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
| International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ☐ | Other ☐ |
| * | If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. Item 17 ☐ Item 18 ☐ |
If this is an annual report, indicate by check
mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No
Explanatory Note
Shengfeng Development Limited (the “Company”) is filing this Amendment (this “Amendment”) to the annual report on Form 20-F filed on March 29, 2024 (the “Original Form 20-F”) to amend the date of the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of Marcum Asia CPAs LLP, the Company’s auditor, included in the Original Form 20-F from “March 31, 2024” to “March 29, 2024.” Other than as expressly set forth above and herein, this Amendment does not, and does not purport to, amend, update or restate any other items or disclosures included in the Original Form 20-F or reflect any events occurring after March 29, 2024. The consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements remain the same as those contained in the Original Form 20-F.
In accordance with Rule 12b-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Amendment also contains new certifications required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, dated as of the filing date of this Amendment.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
INTRODUCTION
In this annual report on Form 20-F, unless the context otherwise requires, references to:
| ● | “Affiliated Entities” are to our subsidiaries and Shengfeng Logistics (defined below) and the VIE’s subsidiaries (defined below); | |
| ● | “China” or the “PRC” are to the People’s Republic of China, and “mainland China”, unless otherwise specified herein, are to the People’s Republic of China excluding, for the purpose of this annual report only, Taiwan, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the Macau Administrative Region; | |
| ● | “Class A Ordinary Shares” are to Class A ordinary shares of Shengfeng Cayman (defined below), par value $0.0001 per share; | |
| ● | “Class B Ordinary Shares” are to Class B ordinary shares of Shengfeng Cayman, par value $0.0001 per share; | |
| ● | “Our subsidiaries” are to Shengfeng HK (defined below) and Tianyu (defined below), each a subsidiary of Shengfeng Cayman; | |
| ● | “RMB” are to the legal currency of China; | |
| ● | “Shengfeng HK” are to our wholly owned subsidiary, Shengfeng Holding Limited, a Hong Kong corporation; | |
| ● | “Shengfeng Logistics” or “the VIE” are to Shengfeng Logistics Group Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the PRC, which we control via a series of contractual arrangements among Tianyu (defined below), Shengfeng Logistics, and shareholders of Shengfeng Logistics; | |
| ● | “Shengfeng WFOE,” “Tianyu,” or “our PRC subsidiary” are to Tianyu Shengfeng Logistics Group Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the PRC, which is wholly owned by Shengfeng HK; | |
| ● | “U.S. dollars,” “$,” and “dollars” are to the legal currency of the United States; | |
| ● | “VIE’s subsidiaries” are to the 31 subsidiaries of Shengfeng Logistics as listed in “Item 3. Key Information—Our Corporate Structure;” |
| ● | “we,” “us,” “our,” “Shengfeng Cayman,” “our Company,” or the “Company” are to Shengfeng Development Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands on 16 July 2020 with registered company number 364401; and | |
| ● | “WFOE” are to wholly foreign-owned enterprise. |
The functional currency of Shengfeng Logistics, the VIE in the PRC, and the VIE’s subsidiaries and branch offices, is Renminbi (“RMB”), the currency of China. Our consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars. In this annual report, we refer to assets, obligations, commitments, and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements in U.S. dollars. These dollar references are based on the exchange rate of RMB to U.S. dollars, determined as of a specific date or for a specific period. Changes in the exchange rate will affect the amount of our obligations and the value of our assets in terms of U.S. dollars which may result in an increase or decrease in the amount of our obligations (expressed in dollars) and the value of our assets, including accounts receivable (expressed in dollars).
ii
Part I
Item 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not Applicable.
Item 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not Applicable.
Item 3. KEY INFORMATION
Our Corporate History
We began our operations in 2001 through Shengfeng Logistics, a limited liability company established pursuant to PRC laws. Shengfeng Logistics formed or controlled 31 majority owned/wholly owned subsidiaries pursuant to PRC laws.
In connection with our initial public offering (“IPO”), which was completed on April 4, 2023, we undertook a reorganization of our corporate structure (the “Reorganization”) in the following steps:
| ● | on July 16, 2020, we incorporated Shengfeng Cayman under the laws of the Cayman Islands; | |
| ● | on August 18, 2020, we incorporated Shengfeng HK in Hong Kong as a wholly owned subsidiary of Shengfeng Cayman; | |
| ● | on December 16, 2020, we incorporated Tianyu pursuant to PRC laws as a WFOE and a wholly owned subsidiary of Shengfeng HK; | |
| ● | on December 18, 2020, our Company and our shareholders undertook a series of corporate actions, including an amendment and a subdivision of our share capital, among others. See “—History of Share Issuances” below; and | |
| ● | On January 7, 2021, Tianyu entered into a series of contractual arrangements with Shengfeng Logistics and its shareholders, through which Tianyu has gained full control over the management and receives the economic benefits of Shengfeng Logistics. For more details, see “—Our VIE Agreements.” |
Our shares and per share data as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 have been presented on a retroactive basis to reflect the Reorganization.
1
History of Share Issuances
The following is a summary of our share issuances since incorporation.
On July 16, 2020, Quality Corporate Services Ltd., the subscriber to our memorandum of association, had initially taken up 1 ordinary share, par value $1.00 per share, which it subsequently transferred to Shengfeng International Limited on the same date. Also on July 16, 2020, we issued 49,999 ordinary shares, par value $1.00 per share, to Shengfeng International Limited, of which 6,000 ordinary shares were transferred to Everbright International Development Limited on September 29, 2020.
On December 18, 2020 we undertook the following corporate actions:
| (i) | a repurchase of 43,999 ordinary shares held by Shengfeng International Limited and 6,000 ordinary shares held by Everbright International Development Limited; | |
| (ii) | an amendment of our share capital from $50,000 divided into 50,000 ordinary shares of $1.00 par value per share to $50,000 divided into 40,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of $1.00 par value per share and 10,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of $1.00 par value per share; | |
| (iii) | a re-designation of one issued ordinary share held by Shengfeng International Limited into one Class B Ordinary Share; and | |
| (iv) | a subdivision of our share capital from $50,000 divided into 40,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of $1.00 par value per share and 10,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of $1.00 par value per share to US$50,000 divided into 400,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of $0.0001 par value per share and 100,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of $0.0001 par value per share. |
On December 18, 2020, we issued an aggregate of 38,120,000 Class A Ordinary Shares to 12 investors for an aggregate consideration of $3,812.
On December 18, 2020, we issued 41,870,000 Class B Ordinary Shares to Shengfeng International Limited for a consideration of $4,187. After such issuance and as of the date of this annual report, Shengfeng International Limited holds an aggregate of 41,880,000 of our Class B Ordinary Shares.
On April 4, 2023, we completed our IPO of 2,400,000 Class A Ordinary Shares at a public offering price of $4.00 per share. The net proceeds raised from the IPO were approximately $8.5 million after deducting underwriting discounts and the offering expenses payable by us. In connection with the IPO, we issued to Univest Securities, LLC, as the representative of the underwriters, a warrant that is exercisable for a period of one year after the effective date of the registration statement, entitling the holder of the warrant to purchase an aggregate of up to 144,000 Class A Ordinary Shares at a per share price of $4.46.
On October 25, 2023, we issued 97,513 Class A Ordinary Shares to Univest Securities, LLC, as it fully and cashlessly exercised its warrant with a cost basis of $13.815 per share on October 19, 2023.
Our Corporate Structure
Shengfeng Development Limited is a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and it is not a Chinese operating company. As a holding company with no material operations of its own, its operations have been conducted in China by its subsidiaries and through certain contractual arrangements (“the VIE Agreements”) with a VIE, Shengfeng Logistics and the VIE’s subsidiaries. For accounting purposes, we control and receive the economic benefits of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries’ business operations through the VIE Agreements, which enables us to consolidate the financial results of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statement under U.S. GAAP. Neither we nor our subsidiaries own any equity interests in the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries.
2
The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure, including our subsidiaries and the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, as of the date of this annual report.
| (1) | As of the date of this annual report, Shengfeng Logistics is held by Fujian Yunlian Shengfeng Industry Co., Ltd., which is 90% owned by Yongxu Liu, who is our chief executive officer, chairman of the board and president, as to 54.58%, Yongxu Liu directly as to 30.99%, Zhoushan Zhongxin Equity Investment Partnership (Limited Partnership) as to 1.5%, Zhoushan Guancheng Equity Investment Partnership (Limited Partnership) as to 2%, Daqiu Tang as to 0.85%, Yelie Song as to 0.97%, Zhiping Yang as to 1.58%, Chaoxin Yang as to 0.96%, Guangsheng Lin as to 0.85%, Zhuangyuan Lin as to 2.59%, Zhongdeng Pan as to 2.13% and Yufan Chen as to 1%, who collectively hold 100% of the shares of Shengfeng Logistics. We refer to the above shareholders of Shengfeng Logistics as the “Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders.” |
For details of our principal shareholders’ ownership, please refer to the beneficial ownership table in the section captioned “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—E. Share Ownership.”
3
Significant subsidiaries of Shengfeng Cayman and significant subsidiaries of Shengfeng Logistics, as that term is defined under Section 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, consist of the following entities:
| No. | Name of subsidiaries | Place of incorporation | Date of incorporation or acquisition | Percentage of direct or indirect | Principal activities | |||||||||
| 1 | Shengfeng Holding Limited (“Shengfeng HK”) | Hong Kong | August 18, 2020 | 100 | % | Investment holding of Tianyu | ||||||||
| 2 | Tianyu Shengfeng Logistics Group Co., Ltd. (“Tianyu”, formerly known as “Fujian Tianyu Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd “) | Fujian, the PRC | December 16, 2020 | 100 | % | Investment holding of Shengfeng VIE | ||||||||
| VIE and VIE’s subsidiaries: | ||||||||||||||
| 3 | Shengfeng Logistics Group Co., Ltd. (“Shengfeng VIE” or “Shengfeng Logistics”) | Fujian, the PRC | December 7, 2001 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 4 | Fuqing Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | Fujian, the PRC | April 15, 2011 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 5 | Xiamen Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | Fujian, the PRC | December 22, 2011 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 6 | Guangdong Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | Guangdong, the PRC | December 30, 2011 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 7 | Hainan Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | Hainan, the PRC | August 18, 2020 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 8 | Beijing Tianyushengfeng E-commerce Technology Co., Ltd. | Beijing, the PRC | January 9, 2004 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 9 | Beijing Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | Beijing, the PRC | April 13, 2016 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 10 | Shengfeng Logistics (Guizhou) Co., Ltd. | Guizhou, the PRC | August 15, 2017 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 11 | Shengfeng Logistics (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. | Tianjin, the PRC | March 8, 2016 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 12 | Shengfeng Logistics (Shandong) Co., Ltd. | Shandong, the PRC | March 15, 2016 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 13 | Shengfeng Logistics Hebei Co., Ltd. | Hebei, the PRC | February 17, 2016 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 14 | Shengfeng Logistics (Henan) Co., Ltd. | Henan, the PRC | March 28, 2016 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 15 | Shengfeng Logistics (Liaoning) Co., Ltd. | Liaoning, the PRC | March 2, 2016 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 16 | Shengfeng Logistics (Yunnan) Co., Ltd. | Yunnan, the PRC | January 25, 2016 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 17 | Shengfeng Logistics (Guangxi) Co., Ltd. | Guangxi, the PRC | February 1, 2016 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 18 | Hubei Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | Hubei, the PRC | December 15, 2010 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
4
| No. | Name of subsidiaries | Place of incorporation | Date of incorporation or acquisition | Percentage of direct or indirect | Principal activities | |||||||||
| 19 | Shengfeng Logistics Group (Shanghai) Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | Shanghai, the PRC | August 26, 2015 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 20 | Shanghai Shengxu Logistics Co., Ltd. | Shanghai, the PRC | June 4, 2003 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 21 | Hangzhou Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | Zhejiang, the PRC | June 10, 2010 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 22 | Nanjing Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | Jiangsu, the PRC | August 30, 2011 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 23 | Suzhou Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | Jiangsu, the PRC | January 14, 2005 | 90 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 24 | Suzhou Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | Jiangsu, the PRC | August 9, 2019 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 25 | Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | Fujian, the PRC | June 19, 2014 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 26 | Fuzhou Shengfeng Transportation Co., Ltd. | Fujian, the PRC | April 18, 2019 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 27 | Sichuan Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | Sichuan, the PRC | June 27, 2019 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 28 | Fujian Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | Fujian, the PRC | April 2, 2020 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 29 | Fujian Dafengche Information Technology Co. Ltd. | Fujian, the PRC | August 26, 2020 | 100 | % | Software engineering | ||||||||
| 30 | Ningde Shengfeng Logistics Co. Ltd.(a) | Fujian, the PRC | November 12, 2018 | 51 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 31 | Fujian Fengche Logistics Co., Ltd. (b) | Fujian, the PRC | October 28, 2020 | 0 | % | Transportation service | ||||||||
| 32 | Shengfeng Logistics (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd. | Zhejiang, the PRC | February 1, 2021 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 33 | Chengdu Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | Chengdu, the PRC | October 12, 2021 | 100 | % | Supply chain management service | ||||||||
| 34 | Shengfeng Logistics Group (Ningde) Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | Fujian, the PRC | September 23, 2022 | 100 | % | Supply chain management service | ||||||||
| 35 | Anhui Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | Anhui, the PRC | November 29, 2023 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| Significant subsidiaries of Tianyu: | ||||||||||||||
| 36 | Yichun Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. (c) | Jiangxi, the PRC | December 1, 2022 | 100 | % | Transportation and warehouse storage management service | ||||||||
| 37 | Fujian Shengfeng Smart Technology Co., Ltd. (“SF Smart”)(d) | Fujian, the PRC | April 20, 2023 | 100 | % | Property management service | ||||||||
| 38 | Shenzhen Tianyu Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. (e) | Shenzhen, the PRC | May 19, 2023 | 100 | % | Supply chain management service | ||||||||
| 39 | Fujian Pingtan Tianyu Shengfeng Technology Co., Ltd. (“Pingtan SF”) (f) | Fujian, the PRC | September 27, 2023 | 100 | % | Supply chain management service | ||||||||
| 40 | Hubei Tianyu Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd | Hubei, the PRC | November 14, 2023 | 100 | % | Transportation and supply chain management service | ||||||||
| 41 | Wanzai Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd | Jiangxi, the PRC | January 4, 2024 | 100 | % | Transportation and supply chain management service | ||||||||
| (a) |
On January 5, 2022, Shengfeng Logistics entered into a share transfer agreement with Fuzhou Puhui Technology Co., Ltd. (“Fuzhou Puhui”), an unrelated third party, to transfer its 49% equity interest in Ningde Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. (“Ningde Shengfeng”) to Fuzhou Puhui. After the transaction, the Company owned a 51% equity interest in Ningde Shengfeng.
|
| (b) |
On June 5, 2023, 100% equity interest in Fujian Fengche Logistics Co., Ltd. was transferred to third parties. |
5
| (c) | On May 29, 2023, Yichun Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. became a wholly owned subsidiary of Tianyu. |
| (d) |
On April 20, 2023, SF Smart was set up in Fujian, China, with 55% of the equity interests owned by Tianyu, and 45% of the equity interests owned by Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. For the year ended December 31, 2023, Tianyu, entered into an equity purchase agreement to sell its 51% equity interest in Pingtan SF and Pingtan SF’s subsidiary (SF Smart) to a third party. The transaction was completed on March 13, 2024. |
| (e) | On May 19, 2023, Shenzhen Tianyu Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. was set up in Shenzhen, China. This entity is fully owned by Tianyu and will provide supply chain management service in the future. |
| (f) | On September 27, 2023, Fujian Pingtan Tianyu Shengfeng Technology Co., Ltd was set up in Fujian, China. 51% of the equity interest is owned by Tianyu, and 49% of the equity interest is owned by Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. Tianyu further entered into an agreement to sell its 51% equity interest in Pingtan SF and Pingtan SF’s subsidiary (SF Smart) to a third party. Tianyu received $2.8 million (RMB20.0 million) as of December 31, 2023 and received the remaining balance subsequently. The transaction was completed on March 13, 2024. |
Our VIE Agreements
Neither we nor our subsidiaries own any share in Shengfeng Logistics or the VIE’s subsidiaries. Instead, for accounting purposes, we control and receive the economic benefits of Shengfeng Logistics’ business operation through the VIE Agreements entered into by and among WFOE, Shengfeng Logistics and its shareholders on January 7, 2021, which enables us to consolidate the financial results of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statement under U.S. GAAP. The VIE Agreements are designed to provide Tianyu with the power, rights, and obligations to Shengfeng Logistics, including control rights and the rights to the assets, property, and revenue of Shengfeng Logistics, as set forth under the VIE Agreements. The VIE Agreements have not been tested in a court of law in China as of the date of this annual report and may not be effective in providing control over the VIE. We are, therefore, subject to risks due to the uncertainty of the interpretation and application of the laws and regulations of the PRC, regarding the VIE and the VIE structure, including, but not limited to, regulatory review of overseas listing of PRC companies through a special purpose vehicle, and the validity and enforcement of the contractual arrangements with the VIE.
We have evaluated the guidance in FASB ASC 810 and determined that we are regarded as the primary beneficiary of the VIE, for accounting purposes, as a result of our direct ownership in Tianyu and the provisions of the VIE Agreements. Accordingly, we treat the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries as our consolidated entities under U.S. GAAP. We have consolidated the financial results of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Although we took every precaution available to effectively enforce the contractual and corporate relationship, the VIE structure has its inherent risks that may affect your investment, including less effectiveness and certainties than direct ownership and potential substantial costs to enforce the terms of the VIE Agreements. For example, Shengfeng Logistics and the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders could breach their contractual arrangements with us by, among other things, failing to conduct their operations in an acceptable manner or taking other actions that are detrimental to our interests. If we had direct ownership of Shengfeng Logistics, we would be able to exercise our rights as a shareholder to effect changes in the board of directors of Shengfeng Logistics, which in turn could implement changes, subject to any applicable fiduciary obligations, at the management and operational level. However, under the current VIE Agreements, we rely on the performance by Shengfeng Logistics and the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders of their respective obligations under the contracts to exercise control over Shengfeng Logistics. The Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders may not act in the best interests of our Company or may not perform their obligations under these contracts. Such risks exist throughout the period in which we intend to operate certain portions of our business through the VIE Agreements with Shengfeng Logistics. Furthermore, failure of the VIE shareholders to perform certain obligations could compel the Company to rely on legal remedies available under PRC laws, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, and claiming damages, which may not be effective. Additionally, if any disputes relating to these contracts remain unresolved, we will have to enforce our rights under these contracts through the operations of PRC law and arbitration, litigation, and other legal proceedings and therefore will be subject to uncertainties in the PRC legal system and the Company may incur substantial costs to enforce the terms of the VIE Agreements. We, as a Cayman Islands holding company, may have difficulty in enforcing any rights we may have under the VIE Agreements with the VIE, its founders and owners, in PRC because all of our VIE Agreements are governed by the PRC laws and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in the PRC, where legal environment in the PRC is not as developed as in the United States. Also, these VIE Agreements may not be enforceable in China if PRC government authorities or courts take a view that such VIE Agreements contravene PRC laws and regulations or are otherwise not enforceable for public policy reasons. In the event we are unable to enforce these VIE Agreements, we may not be able to exert effective control over Shengfeng Logistics, and our ability to conduct our business may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands or the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure” and “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC” for more information. In particular, see “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—Our VIE Agreements with Shengfeng Logistics and the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders may not be effective in providing control over Shengfeng Logistics,” “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—The Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders have potential conflicts of interest with our Company which may adversely affect our business and financial condition,” “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—Our VIE Agreements are governed by the laws of the PRC and we may have difficulty in enforcing any rights we may have under these contractual arrangements” and “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—We may be required to obtain permission from Chinese authorities (i) to issue our Class A Ordinary Shares to foreign investors and/or (ii) for the VIE’s operations, and if either or both are required and we are not able to obtain such permission in a timely manner, the securities currently being offered may substantially decline in value and become worthless.”
6
Each of the VIE Agreements is described in detail below:
Exclusive Technical Consultation and Service Agreement
Pursuant to the Technical Consultation and Service Agreement between Shengfeng Logistics and Tianyu, Tianyu provides Shengfeng Logistics with consultation and services in the areas of funding, human, technology and intellectual properties, including, but not limited to, training and technical support, marketing consultation services, general advice and assistance relating to management and operation of Shengfeng Logistics’ business, and other consultation and services which are necessary for Shengfeng Logistics’ business, on an exclusive basis, utilizing its resources. For services rendered to Shengfeng Logistics by Tianyu under the Technical Consultation and Service Agreement, Tianyu is entitled to collect a service fee, or the “Service Fee.” The Service Fees are composed of the basic annual fee, which is equal to 50% of the after-tax income of Shengfeng Logistics, and a floating fee, which shall not exceed the after-tax income after deducting paid basic annual fees. The floating fees shall be determined by both parties based on several factors including the number and the qualifications of the employees used by Tianyu, the time Tianyu spent on providing the services, the costs being paid for providing the services and the content, the value of the services provided and the operation revenue of Shengfeng Logistics.
The Technical Consultation and Service Agreement became effective on January 7, 2021 and will remain effective for 20 years. Such agreement can be extended if Tianyu provides its notice of extension to Shengfeng Logistics unilaterally prior to the expiration date of this agreement. Shengfeng Logistics shall use its best efforts to renew its business license and extend its operation term until and unless otherwise instructed by Tianyu.
The Technical Consultation and Service Agreement does not prohibit related party transactions. The Company’s audit committee is required to review and approve in advance any related party transactions, including transactions involving Tianyu or Shengfeng Logistics.
Equity Pledge Agreement
Under the Equity Pledge Agreement by and among Tianyu, Shengfeng Logistics and the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders, together holding 100% of the shares in Shengfeng Logistics, the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders pledged their shares in Shengfeng Logistics to Tianyu to guarantee the performance of Shengfeng Logistics and/or Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders’ obligations under the Technical Consultation and Service Agreement. Under the terms of the Equity Pledge Agreement, in the event that Shengfeng Logistics or the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders breach their respective contractual obligations under the Technical Consultation and Service Agreement, Tianyu, as pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights, including, but not limited to, the right to collect dividends generated by the pledged shares. The Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders also agreed that upon occurrence of any event of default, as set forth in the Equity Pledge Agreement, Tianyu is entitled to dispose of the pledged shares in accordance with applicable PRC laws. The Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders further agreed not to assign the pledged shares prior to the full payment of the service fees.
The Equity Pledge Agreement is effective until the full payment of the service fees under the Technical Consultation and Service Agreement and upon termination of Shengfeng Logistics’ obligations under the Technical Consultation and Service Agreement, or upon the transfer of shares of the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders.
The purposes of the Equity Pledge Agreement are to (1) guarantee the performance of Shengfeng Logistics’ obligations under the Technical Consultation and Service Agreement, (2) make sure the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders do not transfer or assign the pledged shares, or create or allow any encumbrance that would prejudice Tianyu’s interests without Tianyu’s prior written consent, and (3) provide Tianyu control over Shengfeng Logistics under certain circumstances. In the event Shengfeng Logistics breaches its contractual obligations under the Technical Consultation and Service Agreement, Tianyu will be entitled to dispose of the pledged shares in accordance with relevant PRC laws.
As of the date of this annual report, the share pledges under the Equity Pledge Agreement have been registered with the competent PRC regulatory authority.
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Exclusive Call Option Agreement
Under the Call Option Agreement, the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders, together holding 100% of the shares in Shengfeng Logistics, irrevocably granted Tianyu (or its designee) an exclusive option to purchase, to the extent permitted under PRC law, once or at multiple times, at any time, part or all of their shares in Shengfeng Logistics in consideration of the payment of RMB1. The purchase price shall be the lowest price allowed by the laws of China.
Under the Call Option Agreement, Tianyu may at any time under any circumstances, purchase or have its designee purchase, at its discretion, to the extent permitted under PRC law, all or part of the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders’ shares in Shengfeng Logistics. The Call Option Agreement, together with the Equity Pledge Agreement, the Technical Consultation and Service Agreement, the Voting Rights Proxy Agreement, and the Shareholders’ Powers of Attorney, enable Tianyu to exercise effective control over Shengfeng Logistics.
The Call Option Agreement remains effective until all the equity of Shengfeng Logistics is legally transferred under the name of Tianyu and/or other entity or individual designated by it.
Shareholders’ Powers of Attorney
Under each of the Powers of Attorney, the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders authorized Tianyu to act on their behalf as their exclusive agent and attorney with respect to all rights as shareholders, including, but not limited to: (a) attending shareholders’ meetings; (b) exercising all the shareholder’s rights, including voting, that shareholders are entitled to under the laws of China and the Articles of Association, including, but not limited to, the sale or transfer or pledge or disposition of shares in part or in whole; and (c) designating and appointing on behalf of shareholders the legal representative, the executive director, supervisor, the chief executive officer, and other senior management members of Shengfeng Logistics.
The Powers of Attorney is irrevocable and continuously valid from the date of execution of the Powers of Attorney, so long as the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders are shareholders of Shengfeng Logistics.
Voting Rights Proxy Agreement
Pursuant to the Voting Rights Proxy Agreements, the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders unconditionally and irrevocably entrust Tianyu or Tianyu’s designee to exercise all their rights as shareholders of Shengfeng Logistics under the articles of association of Shengfeng Logistics, including without limitation to: (a) propose to hold a shareholders’ meeting in accordance with the articles of association of Shengfeng Logistics and attend shareholders’ meeting of Shengfeng Logistics as the agent and attorney of such shareholders; (b) exercise all shareholders’ voting rights with respect to all matters to be discussed and voted in the shareholders’ meeting of Shengfeng Logistics, including, but not limited to, the right to designate and appoint the director, the chief executive officer and other senior management members of Shengfeng Logistics; (c) exercise other voting rights the shareholders are entitled to under the laws of China promulgated from time to time; and (d) exercise other voting rights the shareholders are entitled to under the articles of associations of Shengfeng Logistics from time to time.
The Voting Rights Proxy Agreement became effective on January 7, 2021 and will remain effective for 20 years. Such agreement can be extended if Tianyu provides its notice of extension unilaterally prior to the expiration date of this agreement. All other parties shall agree with such extension without reserve.
Spousal Consent Letters
The spouses of certain of the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders agreed, via a spousal consent letter, to the execution of certain of the VIE Agreements, including: (a) the Equity Pledge Agreement entered into with Tianyu and Shengfeng Logistics; (b) the Call Option Agreement entered into with Tianyu and Shengfeng Logistics; and (c) the Voting Rights Proxy Agreement entered into with Tianyu and Shengfeng Logistics, and the disposal of the shares of Shengfeng Logistics held by the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders and registered in their names.
The spouses of certain of the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders have further undertaken to not to make any assertions in connection with the shares of Shengfeng Logistics which are held by the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders. The spouses of certain of the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders have confirmed in spousal consent letters that the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders can perform, amend, or terminate certain VIE Agreements without their authorization or consent and have agreed to execute all necessary documents and take all necessary actions to ensure appropriate performance of such VIE Agreements.
Risks Associated with our Corporate Structure and the VIE Agreements
Because we do not directly hold equity interests in the VIEs, we are subject to risks and uncertainties of the interpretations and applications of PRC laws and regulations, including but not limited to, regulatory review of overseas listing of PRC companies through special purpose vehicles and the validity and enforcement of the VIE Agreements. We are also subject to the risks and uncertainties about any future actions of the PRC government in this regard that could disallow the VIE structure, which would likely result in a material change in our operations, and the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares may depreciate significantly or become worthless. The VIE Agreements have not been tested in a court of law in China as of the date of this annual report. See “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure,” “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC,” and “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Class A Ordinary Shares and the Trading Market.”
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The VIE Agreements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control. For instance, the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries could breach their contractual arrangements with us by, among other things, failing to conduct their operations in an acceptable manner or taking other actions that are detrimental to our interests. The VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries may not act in the best interests of our Company or may not perform their obligations under these contracts. Such risks exist throughout the period in which we intend to operate certain portions of our business through the VIE Agreements. In the event that the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries fail to perform their respective obligations under the VIE Agreements, we may have to incur substantial costs and expend additional resources to enforce such arrangements. In addition, even if legal actions are taken to enforce such arrangements, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the U.S. or any state. See “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—Our VIE Agreements with Shengfeng Logistics and the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders may not be effective in providing control over Shengfeng Logistics,” “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—The Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders have potential conflicts of interest with our Company which may adversely affect our business and financial condition,” “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—Our VIE Agreements are governed by the laws of the PRC and we may have difficulty in enforcing any rights we may have under these contractual arrangements” and “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—We may be required to obtain permission from Chinese authorities (i) to issue our Class A Ordinary Shares to foreign investors and/or (ii) for the VIE’s operations, and if either or both are required and we are not able to obtain such permission in a timely manner, the securities currently being offered may substantially decline in value and become worthless.”
Risks Associated with being based in the PRC
We are subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with having the majority of our operations in China, which could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless. PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain, and as a result these risks may result in material changes in the operations of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, significant depreciation or a complete loss of the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares, or a complete hindrance of our ability to offer, or continue to offer, our securities to investors. Recently, the PRC government adopted a series of regulatory actions and issued statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. As of the date of this annual report, we, our PRC subsidiary, and VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries have not been involved in any investigations on cybersecurity review initiated by any PRC regulatory authority, nor has any of them received any inquiry, notice, or sanction. We believe that we are not subject to cybersecurity review with the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”) under the Cybersecurity Review Measures that became effective on February 15, 2022, given that: (i) we presently possesses personal information of less than one (1) million individual users in our business operations, as of the date of this annual report; and (ii) data processed in our business is less likely to have a bearing on national security, thus it may not be classified as core or important data by the authorities; we are also not subject to network data security review by the CAC if the Draft Regulations on the Network Data Security Administration (Draft for Comments) (the “Security Administration Draft”) is enacted as proposed, since we currently do not have over one million users’ personal information and do not collect data that affects or may affect national security and we do not anticipate that we will be collecting over one million users’ personal information or data that affects or may affect national security in the foreseeable future, which we understand might otherwise subject us to the Security Administration Draft. See “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—Our business generates and processes a large quantity of data, and improper handling of or unauthorized access to such data may adversely affect our business. In light of recent events indicating greater oversight by the Cyberspace Administration of China, or CAC, over data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreign exchange, we are subject to a variety of laws and other obligations regarding cybersecurity and data protection, and any failure to comply with applicable laws and obligations could have a material and adverse effect on our business, our continued listing on Nasdaq, our financial condition, results of operations, and the subsequent offering.”
Since 2021, the Chinese government has strengthened its anti-monopoly supervision, mainly in three aspects: (i) establishing the National Anti-Monopoly Bureau; (ii) revising and promulgating anti-monopoly laws and regulations, including: the Anti-Monopoly Law of the PRC (amended on June 24, 2022 and effective on August 1, 2022), the anti-monopoly guidelines for various industries, and the Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Fair Competition Review System; and (iii) expanding the anti-monopoly law enforcement targeting Internet companies and large enterprises. As of the date of this annual report, the Chinese government’s recent statements and regulatory actions related to anti-monopoly concerns have not impacted our or the PRC operating entities’ ability to conduct business or our ability to accept foreign investments or issue our securities to foreign investors because neither we and our subsidiaries, nor the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries engage in monopolistic behaviors that are subject to these statements or regulatory actions.
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On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Trial Measures”) and five supporting guidelines, which came into effect on March 31, 2023. See “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—We may be required to obtain permission from Chinese authorities (i) to issue our Class A Ordinary Shares to foreign investors and/or (ii) for the VIE’s operations, and if either or both are required and we are not able to obtain such permission in a timely manner, the securities currently being offered may substantially decline in value and become worthless..” Other than the foregoing, as of the date of this annual report, according to our PRC counsel, AllBright Law Offices, or “AllBright”, no relevant PRC laws or regulations in effect require that we obtain permission from any PRC authorities to issue securities to foreign investors, and we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or any regulatory objection to our offerings from the CSRC, the CAC, or any other PRC authorities that have jurisdiction over our operations. Since these statements and regulatory actions are newly published, however, official guidance and related implementation rules have not been issued. It is highly uncertain what the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on the daily business operations of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, our ability to accept foreign investments, and our listing on a U.S. exchange. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (the “SCNPC”) or PRC regulatory authorities may in the future promulgate additional laws, regulations, or implementing rules that require us, our subsidiaries, or the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries to obtain regulatory approval from Chinese authorities before listing in the U.S. If we do not receive or maintain such approval, or inadvertently conclude that such approval is not required, or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change such that we are required to obtain approval in the future, we may be subject to an investigation by competent regulators, fines or penalties, or an order prohibiting us from conducting an offering, and these risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless.
In addition, our Class A Ordinary Shares may be prohibited from trading on a national exchange or over-the-counter under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCA Act”) if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”) is unable to inspect our auditors for three consecutive years beginning in 2021. As of the date of the annual report, the Company’s auditor prior to November 11, 2022, Friedman LLP (“Friedman”), headquartered in New York, New York, has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis, with the last inspection in October 2020. Our current auditor, Marcum Asia CPAs LLP (“Marcum Asia”), has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis, with the last inspection in 2023. Neither Friedman nor Marcum Asia is subject to the determinations announced by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021. If trading in our Class A Ordinary Shares is prohibited under the HFCA Act in the future because the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor at such future time, Nasdaq may determine to delist our Class A Ordinary Shares and trading in our Class A Ordinary Shares could be prohibited. On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, and on December 29, 2022, legislation entitled “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023” (the “Consolidated Appropriations Act”) was signed into law by President Biden, which contained, among other things, an identical provision to the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and amended the HFCA Act by requiring the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three, thus reducing the time period for triggering the prohibition on trading. On August 26, 2022, the CSRC, the Ministry of Finance of the PRC (the “MOF”), and the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol (the “Protocol”) governing inspections and investigations of audit firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong, taking the first step toward opening access for the PCAOB to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. Pursuant to the fact sheet with respect to the Protocol disclosed by the SEC, the PCAOB shall have independent discretion to select any issuer audits for inspection or investigation and has the unfettered ability to transfer information to the SEC. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB Board determined that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate its previous determinations to the contrary. However, should PRC authorities obstruct or otherwise fail to facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB Board will consider the need to issue a new determination. See “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—Recent joint statement by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or the “PCAOB,” rule changes by Nasdaq, and an act passed by the U.S. Senate all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the PCAOB. These developments could add uncertainties to our offering.”
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Permissions Required from the PRC Authorities for The VIE’s Operations and the Company’s Issuance of Securities to Foreign Investors
We are currently not required to obtain permission from any of the PRC authorities to operate and issue our Class A Ordinary Shares to foreign investors. In addition, neither we, our subsidiaries, the VIE nor the VIE’s subsidiaries are required to obtain permission or approval from the PRC authorities including the CSRC and CAC for the VIE’s operation, nor have we, our subsidiaries, the VIE nor the VIE’s subsidiaries received any denial for the VIE’s operations. However, recently, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the “Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law,” or the “Opinions,” which was made available to the public on July 6, 2021. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems, will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-concept overseas listed companies, and cybersecurity and data privacy protection requirements and similar matters. On December 24, 2021, the CSRC promulgated the draft of State Council Administration Rules in respect of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing of Domestic Enterprise and the draft Recording Administrative Rules of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing of Domestic Enterprise, or the “New Overseas Listing Rules,” for public comments. The New Overseas Listing Rules require Chinese domestic enterprises to complete filings with relevant governmental authorities and report related information under certain circumstances, such as, a) an issuer making an application for initial public offering and listing in an overseas market; b) an issuer making an overseas securities offering after having been listed on an overseas market; c) an issuer offering securities on an overseas market to purchase assets after having been listed overseas; and d) a domestic company seeking an overseas direct or indirect listing of its assets through single or multiple acquisition(s), share swap, transfer of shares or other means. On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Measures, and five supporting guidelines, which came into effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures and its supporting guidelines, reiterate the basic principles of the New Overseas Listing Rules and impose substantially the same requirements for the overseas securities offering and listing by domestic enterprises. Pursuant to the Trial Measures, domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, shall complete filing procedures with the CSRC pursuant to the requirements of the Trial Measures within three working days following its submission of initial public offerings or listing application. If a domestic company fails to complete required filing procedures or conceals any material fact or falsifies any major content in its filing documents, such domestic company may be subject to administrative penalties, such as an order to rectify, warnings, fines, and its controlling shareholders, actual controllers, the person directly in charge and other directly liable persons may also be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings and fines.
According to the Notice on the Administrative Arrangements for the Filing of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies from the CSRC, or the CSRC Notice, the domestic companies that have already been listed overseas before the effective date of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures (i.e. March 31, 2023) shall be deemed as existing issuers (the “Existing Issuers”). Existing Issuers are not required to complete the filing procedures immediately, and they shall be required to file with the CSRC for any subsequent offerings. Further, according to the CSRC Notice, domestic company obtained approval from overseas regulatory authorities or securities exchanges (for example, the effectiveness of a registration statement for offering and listing in the U.S. has been obtained) for their indirect overseas offering and listing prior March 31, 2023 but have not yet completed their indirect overseas issuance and listing, are granted a six-month transition period from March 31, 2023 to September 30, 2023. Those that complete their indirect overseas offering and listing within such six-month period are deemed as Existing Issuers and are not required to file with the CSRC for their indirect overseas offerings and listings. Within such six-month transition period, however, if such domestic companies fail to complete their indirect overseas issuance and listing, they shall complete the filing procedures with the CSRC.
On February 24, 2023, the CSRC, together with Ministry of Finance of the PRC, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China, revised the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration for Overseas Securities Offering and Listing, which were issued by the CSRC, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China in 2009, or the Provisions. The revised Provisions were issued under the title the “Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies”, and came into effect on March 31, 2023 together with the Trial Measures. One of the major revisions to the revised Provisions is expanding their application to cover indirect overseas offering and listing, as is consistent with the Trial Measures. The revised Provisions require that, including, but not limited to, (a) a domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals or entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any documents and materials that contain state secrets or working secrets of government agencies, shall first obtain approval from competent authorities according to law, and file with the secrecy administrative department at the same level; and (b) domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals and entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any other documents and materials that, if leaked, will be detrimental to national security or public interest, shall strictly fulfill relevant procedures stipulated by applicable national regulations.
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As of the date of this annual report, the revised Provisions have come into effect, and any failure or perceived failure by the Company, its PRC Subsidiary or the VIE to comply with the above confidentiality and archives administration requirements under the revised Provisions and other PRC laws and regulations may result in the relevant entities being held legally liable by competent authorities, and referred to the judicial organ to be investigated for criminal liability if suspected of committing a crime. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—Regulations on Mergers & Acquisitions and Overseas Listings.” The Opinions, the Trial Measures, the revised Provisions and any related implementing rules to be enacted may subject us to compliance requirement in the future. Given the current regulatory environment in the PRC, we are still subject to the uncertainty of different interpretation and enforcement of the rules and regulations in the PRC adverse to us, which may take place quickly with little advance notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as of the date of this annual report, we are not aware of any PRC laws or regulations in effect requiring that we obtain permission from any PRC authorities to issue securities to foreign investors, and we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction or any regulatory objection from the CSRC, the CAC, or any other Chinese authorities that have jurisdiction over our operations. If we inadvertently conclude that we are not required to obtain any permission or approval from any of the PRC authorities for the VIE’s operations and/or our issuance of securities to foreign, or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and we are required to obtain such permission or approval in the future, we may be subject to investigations by competent regulators, fines, or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations and rectify any non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, or incur additional costs to procure such approval or permission, and there is no guarantee that we can successfully obtain such approval or permission. These risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless. See “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure” and “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC” for more information. In particular, see “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protection available to you and us. Any changes in such laws and regulations may impair our ability to operate profitably,” “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—The Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities. Any actions by the Chinese government, including any decision to intervene or influence our operations or to exert control over any offering of securities conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, may cause us to make material changes to our operation, may limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, and may cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless” and “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—We may be required to obtain permission from Chinese authorities (i) to issue our Class A Ordinary Shares to foreign investors and/or (ii) for the VIE’s operations, and if either or both are required and we are not able to obtain such permission in a timely manner, the securities currently being offered may substantially decline in value and become worthless.”
Dividend Distributions, Cash Transfer, and Tax Consequences
Shengfeng Cayman transfers cash to its wholly-owned Hong Kong subsidiary, Shengfeng HK, by making capital contributions or providing loans, and the Hong Kong subsidiary transfers cash to the subsidiary in China by making capital contributions or providing loans to it. Because Shengfeng Cayman consolidates the financial statements of the VIE under the U.S. GAAP in reliance upon contractual arrangements and is regarded as the primary beneficiary of the VIE for accounting purposes, Shengfeng Cayman’s subsidiaries are not able to make direct capital contributions to the VIE and their subsidiaries. However, Shengfeng Cayman’s subsidiaries may transfer cash to the VIEs by making loans or payments to the VIEs for inter-group transactions. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, Shengfeng Cayman transferred approximately $6.7 million to Shengfeng HK for working capital loans. Shengfeng HK paid approximately $6.7 million to WFOE as a capital contribution. Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. paid approximately $7.0 million to Pingtan SF as a capital contribution. No inter-company cash transfers or transfers of other assets have occurred among Shengfeng Cayman, Shengfeng HK, WFOE, the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
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We intend to keep any future earnings to finance the expansion of our business, and we do not anticipate that any cash dividends will be paid in the foreseeable future. Our board of directors has complete discretion on whether to distribute dividends, subject to applicable laws. See “—D. Risk Factors— Risks Relating to Our Class A Ordinary Shares and the Trading Market—We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future.” As of the date of this annual report, none of our subsidiaries, nor the consolidated VIE and VIE’s subsidiaries have made any dividends or distributions to our Company. Additionally, no dividends or distributions have been made to U.S. investors as of the date of this annual report.
Under Cayman Islands law, a Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend on its shares out of either profit or share premium amounts, provided that in no circumstance may a dividend be paid if such payment would result in the company being unable to pay its debts due in the ordinary course of business.
If we determine to pay dividends on any of our Class A Ordinary Shares or Class B Ordinary Shares in the future, in the absence of available profits or share premium, as a holding company, we will be dependent on receipt of funds from our Hong Kong subsidiary, Shengfeng HK.
Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to Shengfeng HK only out of its accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our Affiliated Entities in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. Each of such entities in China is also required to further set aside a portion of its after-tax profits to fund the employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at the discretion of its board of directors. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other things, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation.
The PRC government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of the PRC. For instance, the Circular on Promoting the Reform of Foreign Exchange Management and Improving Authenticity and Compliance Review, or “SAFE Circular 3,” issued on January 26, 2017, provides that banks shall, when dealing with dividend remittance transactions from a domestic enterprise to its offshore shareholders of more than $50,000, review the relevant board resolutions, original tax filing form, and audited financial statements of such domestic enterprise based on the principal of genuine transaction. Furthermore, if our Affiliated Entities in the PRC incur debt on their own in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments. If we or our PRC subsidiary is unable to receive all of the revenue from the operations of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, we may be unable to pay dividends on our Class A Ordinary Shares or Class B Ordinary Shares, should we desire to do so in the future. See “—D. Risk Factors—Risk Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment and our payment of dividends.”
Cash dividends, if any, on our Class A Ordinary Shares or Class B Ordinary Shares would be paid in U.S. dollars. Shengfeng HK may be considered a non-resident enterprise for tax purposes, so that any dividends Tianyu pays to Shengfeng HK may be regarded as China-sourced income and, as a result, may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%. See “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—People’s Republic of China Enterprise Taxation (for the purpose of this paragraph, PRC does not include Taiwan and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau).”
In order for us to pay dividends to our shareholders, we will rely on payments made from Shengfeng Logistics to Tianyu, pursuant to contractual arrangements between such parties, and the distribution of such payments to Shengfeng HK as dividends from Tianyu. Certain payments from Shengfeng Logistics to Tianyu are subject to PRC taxes, including Value-Added Tax. If Shengfeng Logistics or the VIE’s subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict any such party’s ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us.
13
Pursuant to the Arrangement between Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, or the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, the 10% withholding tax rate may be lowered to 5% if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns no less than 25% of a PRC entity. The 5% withholding tax rate, however, does not automatically apply and certain requirements must be satisfied, including, without limitation, the requirement that (a) the Hong Kong entity must be the beneficial owner of the relevant dividends; and (b) the Hong Kong entity must directly hold no less than 25% share ownership in the PRC entity during the 12 consecutive months preceding its receipt of the dividends. In current practice, a Hong Kong entity must obtain a tax resident certificate from the Hong Kong tax authority to apply for the 5% lower PRC withholding tax rate. As the Hong Kong tax authority will issue such a tax resident certificate on a case-by-case basis, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority and enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% under the Double Taxation Arrangement with respect to any dividends paid by our PRC subsidiary to its immediate holding company, Shengfeng HK. As of the date of this annual report, we have not applied for the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority. Shengfeng HK intends to apply for the tax resident certificate if and when Tianyu plans to declare and pay dividends to Shengfeng HK. See “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—There are significant uncertainties under the EIT Law relating to the withholding tax liabilities of our PRC subsidiary, and dividends payable by our PRC subsidiary to our offshore subsidiaries may not qualify to enjoy certain treaty benefits.” Subject to certain contractual, legal and regulatory restrictions, cash and capital contributions may be transferred among our Cayman Islands holding company and our subsidiaries. U.S. investors will not be subject to Cayman Islands, mainland China, or Hong Kong taxation on dividend distributions, and no withholding will be required on the payment of dividends or distributions to them, while they may be subject to U.S. federal income tax for receiving dividends, to the extent that the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. See “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation.”
We conduct substantially all of our business in China through the VIE, Shengfeng Logistics, and the VIE’s subsidiaries. Substantially all of Shengfeng Development Limited’s revenues, costs and net income in China are directly or indirectly generated through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries. We maintain our bank accounts and balances primarily in licensed banks in Mainland China. In addition, cash transfers from our Cayman Islands holding company are subject to applicable PRC laws and regulations on loans and direct investment. For details, see “—D. Risk Factors—Risk Relating to Doing Business in the PRC — PRC regulation of parent/subsidiary loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of future financial activities to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary and to make loans to Shengfeng Logistics, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.”
Cash transfers from our Cayman Islands holding company are subject to applicable PRC laws and regulations on loans and direct investment. For example, any loans from Shengfeng Cayman to our wholly owned subsidiary in the PRC, Tianyu, to finance its activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with the local counterpart of SAFE, or filed with SAFE in its information system. Pursuant to relevant PRC regulations, we may provide loans to Tianyu up to the larger amount of (i) the balance between the registered total investment amount and registered capital of Tianyu, or (ii) twice the amount of the net assets of Tianyu calculated in accordance with the Circular on Full-Coverage Macro-Prudent Management of Cross-Border Financing, or the “PBOC Circular 9.” Moreover, any medium or long-term loan to be provided by us to Tianyu or other domestic PRC entities must also be filed and registered with National Development and Reform Commission, or the “NDRC.” We may also decide to finance Tianyu by means of capital contributions. These capital contributions are subject to registration with the State Administration for Market Regulation or its local branch, reporting of foreign investment information with MOFCOM, or registration with other governmental authorities in China. Due to the restrictions imposed on loans in foreign currencies extended to PRC domestic companies, we are not likely to make such loans to Shengfeng Logistics, which is a PRC domestic company. Further, we are not likely to finance the activities of Shengfeng Logistics and the VIE’s subsidiaries by means of capital contributions, due to regulatory restrictions relating to foreign investment in PRC domestic enterprises, which may be engaged in certain businesses, such as the Foreign Investment Law, which provides that foreign investors shall not invest in any field with investment prohibited by the negative list for foreign investment access. Additionally, the PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders. For a more detailed description of the restrictions and limitations on our ability to transfer cash or distribute earnings to our Cayman Islands holding company and the investors, see “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—PRC regulation of parent/subsidiary loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of future financial activities to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary and to make loans to Shengfeng Logistics, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business,” “—D. Risk Factors— Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment and our payment of dividends,” and “Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds.” In addition, current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to its shareholders only out of its accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. For details, see “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—Our PRC subsidiary is subject to restrictions on paying dividends or making other payments to us, which may have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.”
14
If needed, cash can be transferred between our holding company and subsidiaries through intercompany fund advances, and there are currently no restrictions on transferring funds between our Cayman Islands holding company and subsidiaries in Hong Kong and mainland China, other than certain restrictions and limitations imposed by the PRC government. Currently, there are no restrictions or limitations imposed by the Hong Kong government on the transfer of capital within, into and out of Hong Kong (including funds from Hong Kong to the PRC), except for transfer of funds involving money laundering and criminal activities. Additionally, under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payment of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our PRC subsidiary is able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, subject to the condition that the remittance of such dividends outside of the PRC complies with certain procedures under PRC foreign exchange regulations, such as the overseas investment registrations by our shareholders or the ultimate shareholders of our corporate shareholders who are PRC residents. Approval from, or registration with, appropriate government authorities is, however, required where the RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to shareholders only out of its accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. See “—D. Risk Factors—Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment and our payment of dividends” and “—D. Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC — Our PRC subsidiary is subject to restrictions on paying dividends or making other payments to us, which may have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.” For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, Shengfeng Cayman transferred approximately $6.7 million to Shengfeng HK for working capital loans. Shengfeng HK paid approximately $6.7 million to WFOE as a capital contribution. Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. paid approximately $7.0 million to Pingtan SF for capital contribution. No cash transfers, dividends, or distributions have occurred among our Company, our subsidiaries, and the VIE for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. As of the date of this annual report, none of our subsidiaries or the VIE have made any dividends or distributions to our Company and our Company has not made any dividends or distributions to our shareholders.
Selected Condensed Consolidating Financial Schedule of Shengfeng Cayman and Its Subsidiaries and the VIEs
On December 18, 2020, the Company completed a reorganization of entities under common control of its then existing shareholders, who collectively owned all of the equity of the Company prior to the reorganization. The Company and Shengfeng HK were each established as the holding companies of Shengfeng WFOE. Through Shengfeng WFOE, the Company entered into the VIE agreements with the VIE. Pursuant to the VIE agreements, the Company was established as the primary beneficiary of the VIE and its subsidiaries to transfer the economic benefits from the VIE to the Company and to direct the activities of the VIE.
We conduct substantially all of our business in China through the VIE, and the VIE’s subsidiaries. Substantially all of the Company’s revenues, costs and net income in China are directly or indirectly generated through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries.
The following tables present selected condensed consolidating financial data of Shengfeng Cayman and its subsidiaries, the VIE, and the VIE’s subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, and balance sheet data as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, which have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for those years.
15
As of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023
| Shengfeng Development Limited (Shengfeng Cayman) | Shengfeng HK (100% owned by Shengfeng Cayman) | Tianyu Shengfeng Logistics Group Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries (WFOE) (100% owned by Shengfeng HK) | Shengfeng Logistics Group Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries (VIE) | Eliminations | Consolidated Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| $ in thousands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidating Schedule – Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current assets | $ | 635 | $ | 10 | $ | 14,434 | $ | 146,894 | $ | (12,868 | ) | $ | 149,105 | |||||||||||
| Receivable from VIE | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 93,425 | $ | - | $ | (93,425 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Investments in subsidiaries | $ | 107,312 | $ | 107,302 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (214,614 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Non-current assets | $ | 107,312 | $ | 113,952 | $ | 114,021 | $ | 103,055 | $ | (321,607 | ) | $ | 116,733 | |||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 107,947 | $ | 113,962 | $ | 128,455 | $ | 249,949 | $ | (334,475 | ) | $ | 265,838 | |||||||||||
| Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current liabilities | $ | - | $ | 6,660 | $ | 21,061 | $ | 127,603 | $ | (18,948 | ) | $ | 136,376 | |||||||||||
| Payable to WFOE | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 93,425 | $ | (93,425 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Non-current liabilities | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 92 | $ | 17,057 | $ | - | $ | 17,149 | ||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | $ | - | $ | 6,660 | $ | 21,153 | $ | 238,085 | $ | (112,373 | ) | $ | 153,525 | |||||||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | $ | 107,947 | $ | 107,302 | $ | 107,302 | $ | 11,864 | $ | (222,102 | ) | $ | 112,313 | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 107,947 | $ | 113,962 | $ | 128,455 | $ | 249,949 | $ | (334,475 | ) | $ | 265,838 | |||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidating Schedule – Statement of Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 14,098 | $ | 401,825 | $ | (11,802 | ) | $ | 404,121 | |||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (13,137 | ) | $ | (355,662 | ) | $ | 11,184 | $ | (357,615 | ) | |||||||||
| Gross profit | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 961 | $ | 46,163 | $ | (618 | ) | $ | 46,506 | |||||||||||
| Operating expenses | $ | (421 | ) | $ | - | $ | (472 | ) | $ | (31,743 | ) | $ | 36 | $ | (32,600 | ) | ||||||||
| Technical service income from VIE and its subsidiaries (1) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 10,828 | $ | - | $ | (10,828 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Technical Service expense in WFOE (1) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (10,828 | ) | $ | 10,828 | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Income for equity method investments | $ | 11,310 | $ | 11,310 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (22,620 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 10,889 | $ | 11,310 | $ | 11,310 | $ | 10,828 | $ | (34,029 | ) | $ | 10,308 | |||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidating Schedule – Statement of Cash Flows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | (514 | ) | $ | - | $ | 2,982 | $ | 9,645 | $ | - | $ | 12,113 | |||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | $ | (6,660 | ) | $ | (6,650 | ) | $ | (19,080 | ) | $ | (6,694 | ) | $ | 20,263 | $ | (18,821 | ) | |||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | $ | 7,669 | $ | 6,660 | $ | 20,842 | $ | (1,717 | ) | $ | (20,263 | ) | $ | 13,191 | ||||||||||
| Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and restricted cash | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (74 | ) | $ | (484 | ) | $ | - | $ | (558 | ) | |||||||||
| Net increase in cash and restricted cash | $ | 495 | $ | 10 | $ | 4,670 | $ | 750 | $ | - | $ | 5,925 | ||||||||||||
| Cash and restricted cash, beginning of year | $ | 47 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 23,321 | - | $ | 23,368 | |||||||||||||
| Cash and restricted cash, end of year | $ | 542 | $ | 10 | $ | 4,670 | $ | 24,071 | $ | - | $ | 29,293 | ||||||||||||
| Inter-company cash transfers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transfer from Shengfeng Cayman to Shengfeng HK | $ | (6,660 | ) | $ | 6,660 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Transfer from Shengfeng HK to WFOE | $ | - | $ | (6,650 | ) | $ | 6,650 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Transfer from VIE to WFOE | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 6,954 | $ | (6,954 | ) | $ | - | $ | - | |||||||||||
16
As of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022
| Shengfeng Development Limited (Shengfeng Cayman) | Shengfeng HK | Tianyu Shengfeng Logistics Group Co., Ltd. | Shengfeng Logistics Group Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries (VIE) | Eliminations | Consolidated Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| $ in thousands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidating Schedule – Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current assets | $ | 47 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 135,650 | $ | - | $ | 135,697 | ||||||||||||
| Receivable from VIE | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 91,695 | $ | - | $ | (91,695 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Investments in subsidiaries | $ | 91,695 | $ | 91,695 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (183,390 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Non-current assets | $ | 91,776 | $ | 91,695 | $ | 91,695 | $ | 109,481 | $ | (275,085 | ) | $ | 109,562 | |||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 91,823 | $ | 91,695 | $ | 91,695 | $ | 245,131 | $ | (275,085 | ) | $ | 245,259 | |||||||||||
| Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current liabilities | $ | 600 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 130,196 | $ | - | $ | 130,796 | ||||||||||||
| Payable to WFOE | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 91,695 | $ | (91,695 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Non-current liabilities | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 111,072 | $ | (91,695 | ) | $ | 19,377 | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities | $ | 600 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 241,268 | $ | (91,695 | ) | $ | 150,173 | |||||||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | $ | 91,223 | $ | 91,695 | $ | 91,695 | $ | 3,863 | $ | (183,390 | ) | $ | 95,086 | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 91,823 | $ | 91,695 | $ | 91,695 | $ | 245,131 | $ | (275,085 | ) | $ | 245,259 | |||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidating Schedule – Statement of Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 370,325 | $ | - | $ | 370,325 | ||||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (328,793 | ) | $ | - | $ | (328,793 | ) | ||||||||||
| Gross profit | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 41,532 | $ | - | $ | 41,532 | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | $ | (472 | ) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (31,214 | ) | $ | - | $ | (31,686 | ) | |||||||||
| Technical service income from VIE and its subsidiaries (1) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 8,298 | $ | - | $ | (8,298 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Technical Service expense in WFOE (1) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (8,298 | ) | $ | 8,298 | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Income for equity method investments | $ | 8,298 | $ | 8,298 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (16,596 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 7,826 | $ | 8,298 | $ | 8,298 | $ | - | $ | (16,596 | ) | $ | 7,826 | |||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidating Schedule – Statement of Cash Flows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | (472 | ) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 7,402 | $ | - | $ | 6,930 | |||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (6,715 | ) | $ | - | $ | (6,715 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | $ | 519 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 5,530 | $ | - | $ | 6,049 | ||||||||||||
| Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and restricted cash | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (1,814 | ) | $ | - | $ | (1,814 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net increase in cash and restricted cash | $ | 47 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 4,403 | $ | - | $ | 4,450 | ||||||||||||
| Cash and restricted cash, beginning of year | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 18,918 | - | $ | 18,918 | |||||||||||||
| Cash and restricted cash, end of year | $ | 47 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 23,321 | $ | - | $ | 23,368 | ||||||||||||
| Inter-company cash transfers (2) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||||||
17
As of and for the year ended December 31, 2021
| Shengfeng Development Limited (Shengfeng Cayman) | Shengfeng HK | Tianyu
Shengfeng Logistics Group Co., Ltd. | Shengfeng Logistics Group Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries (VIE) | Eliminations | Consolidated Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| $ in thousands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidating Schedule – Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current assets | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 121,698 | $ | - | $ | 121,698 | ||||||||||||
| Receivable from VIE | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 91,593 | $ | - | $ | (91,593 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Investments in subsidiaries | $ | 91,593 | $ | 91,593 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (183,186 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Non-current assets | $ | 91,593 | $ | 91,593 | $ | 91,593 | $ | 122,511 | $ | (274,779 | ) | $ | 122,511 | |||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 91,593 | $ | 91,593 | $ | 91,593 | $ | 244,209 | $ | (274,779 | ) | $ | 244,209 | |||||||||||
| Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current liabilities | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 125,352 | $ | - | $ | 125,352 | ||||||||||||
| Payable to WFOE | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 91,953 | $ | (91,953 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Non-current liabilities | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 114,552 | $ | (91,953 | ) | $ | 22,959 | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 239,904 | $ | (91,953 | ) | $ | 148,311 | |||||||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | $ | 91,593 | $ | 91,593 | $ | 91,593 | $ | 4,305 | $ | (183,186 | ) | $ | 95,898 | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 91,953 | $ | 91,593 | $ | 91,593 | $ | 244,209 | $ | (274,779 | ) | $ | 244,209 | |||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidating Schedule – Statement of Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 346,699 | $ | - | $ | 346,699 | ||||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (305,345 | ) | $ | - | $ | (305,345 | ) | ||||||||||
| Gross profit | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 41,345 | $ | - | $ | 41,345 | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (32,758 | ) | $ | - | $ | (32,758 | ) | ||||||||||
| Technical service income from VIE and its subsidiaries (1) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 6,644 | $ | - | $ | (6,644 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Technical Service expense in WFOE (1) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (6,644 | ) | $ | 6,644 | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Income for equity method investments | $ | 6,644 | $ | 6,644 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (13,288 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 6,644 | $ | 6,644 | $ | 6,644 | $ | - | $ | (13,288 | ) | $ | 6,644 | |||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidating Schedule – Statement of Cash Flows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 20,393 | $ | - | $ | 20,393 | ||||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (27,670 | ) | $ | - | $ | (27,670 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (2,127 | ) | $ | - | $ | (2,127 | ) | ||||||||||
| Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and restricted cash | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 538 | $ | - | $ | 538 | ||||||||||||
| Net decrease in cash and restricted cash | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (8,866 | ) | $ | - | $ | (8,866 | ) | ||||||||||
| Cash and restricted cash, beginning of year | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 27,784 | $ | - | $ | 27,784 | ||||||||||||
| Cash and restricted cash, end of year | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 18,918 | $ | - | $ | 18,918 | ||||||||||||
| Inter-company cash transfers (2) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||||||
| (1) | Represents technical service fee, including the basic annual fee and the floating fee, which equals to 100% of the VIE’s income net of tax, pursuant to the Exclusive Technical Consultation and Service Agreements. |
| (2) | There were no inter-company cash transfers among Shengfeng Cayman, Shengfeng HK, WFOE, the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. |
18
A. [Reserved]
B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not applicable.
C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.
D. Risk Factors
Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure
Our corporate structure, in particular our contractual arrangements (the “VIE Agreements”) with Shengfeng Logistics and the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders, together holding 100% of the shares in Shengfeng Logistics, are subject to significant risks, as set forth in the following risk factors.
If the PRC government deems that the contractual arrangements in relation to the VIE do not comply with applicable PRC law or PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations.
We currently operate our business through Shengfeng Logistics, a VIE, pursuant to the VIE Agreements, and the VIE’s subsidiaries. As a result of these contractual arrangements, under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or “U.S. GAAP,” the assets and liabilities of Shengfeng Logistics are treated as our assets and liabilities and the results of operations of Shengfeng Logistics are treated in all aspects as if they were the results of our operations. For a description of these contractual arrangements, see “Item 3. Key Information—Our VIE Agreements.”
In the opinion of AllBright, our PRC counsel, based on its understandings of the relevant PRC laws and regulations, (i) the ownership structures of Shengfeng Logistics in China and Tianyu, our wholly owned subsidiary in China currently are not in violation of applicable PRC laws and regulations currently in effect; and (ii) each of the contracts among Tianyu, Shengfeng Logistics, and the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders is legal, valid, binding, and enforceable in accordance with its terms and applicable PRC laws. However, our PRC counsel has also advised us that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current or future PRC laws and regulations. In addition, our VIE Agreements have not been tested in a court of law in China as of the date of this annual report. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may ultimately take a view contrary to the opinion of our PRC counsel in the future. It is uncertain whether any new PRC laws or regulations relating to VIE structures will be adopted or, if adopted, what they would provide. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether any future actions by the government of China will significantly affect the enforceability of the VIE Agreements.
If (i) the applicable PRC authorities invalidate the VIE Agreements for violation of PRC laws, rules and regulations, (ii) the VIE or its shareholders terminate the contractual arrangements (iii) the VIE or its shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under such VIE Agreements, or (iv) if these regulations change or are interpreted differently in the future, our business operations in China would be materially and adversely affected, and the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares would substantially decrease or even become worthless. Further, if we fail to renew such VIE Agreements upon their expiration, we would not be able to continue our business operations unless the then current PRC law allows us to directly operate businesses in China.
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In addition, if the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries or all or part of their respective assets become subject to liens or rights of third-party creditors, we may be unable to continue some or all of our business activities, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If any of the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries undergoes a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, its respective shareholders or unrelated third-party creditors may claim rights to some or all of these assets, thereby hindering our ability to operate our business, which could materially and adversely affect our business and our ability to generate revenue.
All of the VIE Agreements are governed by PRC law and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in the PRC. The legal environment in the PRC is not as developed as in some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce such VIE Agreements.
If our corporate structure and the VIE Agreements are determined to be illegal or invalid by a PRC court, arbitral tribunal, or regulatory authorities, we may lose control of the VIE and have to modify such structure to comply with regulatory requirements. However, there can be no assurance that we can achieve a structural modification without material disruption to our business. Further, if our corporate structure and contractual arrangements are found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, or we or Shengfeng Logistics fails to obtain or maintain any required permits or approvals, the relevant regulatory authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violations, including:
| ● | revoking the business or operating licenses or both of Tianyu or Shengfeng Logistics; | |
| ● | discontinuing or restricting the operations of Tianyu or Shengfeng Logistics; |
| ● | imposing conditions or requirements with which we, Tianyu, or Shengfeng Logistics may not be able to comply; | |
| ● | requiring us, Tianyu, or Shengfeng Logistics to change our corporate structure and contractual arrangements; | |
| ● | restricting or prohibiting our use of the proceeds from our initial public offering to finance our business and operations in China; and | |
| ● | imposing fines. |
The imposition of any of these penalties would result in a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business. In addition, it is unclear what impact the PRC government actions would have on us and on our ability to consolidate the financial results of Shengfeng Logistics in our consolidated financial statements, if the PRC government authorities were to find our legal structure and VIE Agreements to be in violation of PRC laws and regulations. If the imposition of any of these government actions causes us to lose our right to direct the activities of Shengfeng Logistics or our right to receive substantially all the economic benefits and residual returns from Shengfeng Logistics and we are not able to restructure our ownership structure and operations in a satisfactory manner, we would no longer be able to consolidate the financial results of Shengfeng Logistics in our consolidated financial statements. Either of these results, or any other significant penalties that might be imposed on us in this event, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Furthermore, if the PRC government determines that the contractual arrangements constituting part of our VIE structure do not comply with PRC regulations, or if these regulations change or are interpreted differently in the future, our Class A Ordinary Shares may decline in value or become worthless if we are unable to assert our contractual control rights over the assets of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries that conduct substantially all of our operations in China.
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Our VIE Agreements with Shengfeng Logistics and the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders may not be effective in providing control over Shengfeng Logistics.
Shengfeng Development Limited is a holding company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and it is not a Chinese operating company. As a holding company with no material operations of its own, its operations have been conducted in China by its subsidiaries and through contractual arrangements, or VIE Agreements, with a VIE, Shengfeng Logistics, and the VIE’s subsidiaries. For accounting purposes, we control and receive the economic benefits of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries’ business operations through the VIE Agreements, which enable us to consolidate the financial results of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statement under U.S. GAAP. Neither we nor our subsidiaries own any equity interests in the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries. As an investor of our Class A Ordinary Shares, you may be subject to unique risks due to our VIE structure. The VIE Agreements are designed to provide our wholly owned subsidiary, Tianyu, with the power, rights, and obligations to Shengfeng Logistics, including control rights and the rights to the assets, property, and revenue of the VIE, as set forth under the VIE Agreements. Our VIE Agreements have not been tested in a court of law in China as of the date of this annual report. We have evaluated the guidance in FASB ASC 810 and determined that we are regarded as the primary beneficiary of the VIE, for accounting purposes, as a result of our direct ownership in Tianyu and the provisions of the VIE Agreements. Accordingly, we treat the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries as our consolidated entities under U.S. GAAP. We have consolidated the financial results of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Our Class A Ordinary Shares are shares of our offshore holding company in the Cayman Islands instead of shares of the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries in China, therefore, you will not directly hold equity interests in the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries, and you may never directly hold equity interests in the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries through your investment in our Class A Ordinary Shares. For a description of the VIE Agreements, see “Item 3. Key Information—Our VIE Agreements.”
We primarily have relied, and expect to continue to rely on the VIE Agreements to control and operate the business of Shengfeng Logistics. However, the VIE Agreements may not be as effective in providing us with the necessary control over Shengfeng Logistics and its operations. For example, Shengfeng Logistics and the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders could breach their contractual arrangements with us by, among other things, failing to conduct their operations in an acceptable manner or taking other actions that are detrimental to our interests. If we had direct ownership of Shengfeng Logistics, we would be able to exercise our rights as a shareholder to effect changes in the board of directors of Shengfeng Logistics, which in turn could implement changes, subject to any applicable fiduciary obligations, at the management and operational level. However, under the current VIE Agreements, we rely on the performance by Shengfeng Logistics and the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders of their respective obligations under the contracts to exercise control over Shengfeng Logistics. As of the date of this annual report, Shengfeng Logistics is owned by Fujian Yunlian Shengfeng Industry Co., Ltd. as to 54.58%, Yongxu Liu, our chief executive officer, chairman of the board and president, as to 30.99%, and the other Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders who collectively own 14.43% of the VIE. Fujian Yunlian Shengfeng Industry Co., Ltd. is 90% owned by Yongxu Liu. As a result, Mr. Liu directly and indirectly owns 80.12% of Shengfeng Logistics. The Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders may not act in the best interests of our Company or may not perform their obligations under these contracts. Such risks exist throughout the period in which we intend to operate certain portions of our business through the VIE Agreements with Shengfeng Logistics. Furthermore, failure of the VIE shareholders to perform certain obligations could compel the Company to rely on legal remedies available under PRC laws, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, and claiming damages, which may not be effective. If any disputes relating to these contracts remain unresolved, we will have to enforce our rights under these contracts through the operations of PRC law and arbitration, litigation, and other legal proceedings and therefore will be subject to uncertainties in the PRC legal system and the Company may incur substantial costs to enforce the terms of such contracts. Therefore, our VIE Agreements with Shengfeng Logistics and the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders may not be as effective in ensuring our control over the relevant portion of our business operations as direct ownership would be. Additionally, our VIE Agreements have not been tested in a court of law in China, as of the date of this annual report, and may not be effective in providing control over the VIE. We are, therefore, subject to risks due to the uncertainty of the interpretation and application of the laws and regulations of the PRC, regarding the VIE and the VIE structure, including, but not limited to, regulatory review of overseas listing of PRC companies through a special purpose vehicle, and the validity and enforcement of the contractual arrangements with the VIE. The VIE Agreements may not be enforceable in China if the PRC government authorities or courts take a view that such VIE Agreements contravene PRC laws and regulations or are otherwise not enforceable for public policy reasons. In the event that we are unable to enforce the VIE Agreements, we may not be able to exert effective control over Shengfeng Logistics, and our ability to conduct our business may be materially and adversely affected.
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Our VIE Agreements are governed by the laws of the PRC and we may have difficulty in enforcing any rights we may have under these contractual arrangements.
As our VIE Agreements are governed by PRC laws and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in the PRC, they would be interpreted in accordance with PRC law and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. Disputes arising from the VIE Agreements will be resolved through arbitration in the PRC, although these disputes do not include claims arising under the United States federal securities law and thus do not prevent you from pursuing claims under the United States federal securities law. The legal environment in the PRC is not as developed as in the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could further limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements, through arbitration, litigation, and other legal proceedings remain in the PRC, which could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements and exert effective control over Shengfeng Logistics. Furthermore, these contracts may not be enforceable in the PRC if the PRC government authorities or courts take a view that such contracts contravene PRC laws and regulations or are otherwise not enforceable for public policy reasons. In the event we are unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, we may not be able to exert effective control over Shengfeng Logistics, and our ability to conduct our business may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands or the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state.
We may not be able to consolidate the financial results of Shengfeng Logistics or such consolidation could materially and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
Our business is conducted through Shengfeng Logistics, which currently is considered for accounting purposes as a VIE, and we are considered the primary beneficiary for accounting purposes, enabling us to consolidate the financial results of Shengfeng Logistics in our consolidated financial statements. In the event that in the future Shengfeng Logistics would no longer meet the definition of a VIE, or we are deemed not to be the primary beneficiary for accounting purposes, we would not be able to consolidate line by line its financial results in our consolidated financial statements for PRC purposes. Furthermore, if in the future an affiliate company becomes a VIE and we become the primary beneficiary for accounting purposes, we would be required to consolidate that entity’s financial results in our consolidated financial statements for PRC purposes. If such entity’s financial results were negative, this could have a corresponding negative impact on our operating results for PRC purposes. However, any material variations in the accounting principles, practices, and methods used in preparing financial statements for PRC purposes from the principles, practices, and methods generally accepted in the United States and in the SEC accounting regulations must be discussed, quantified, and reconciled in financial statements for the United States and SEC purposes.
The VIE Agreements may result in adverse tax consequences.
PRC laws and regulations emphasize the requirement of an arm’s length basis for transfer pricing arrangements between related parties. The laws and regulations also require enterprises with related party transactions to prepare transfer pricing documentation to demonstrate the basis for determining pricing, the computation methodology, and detailed explanations. Related party arrangements and transactions may be subject to challenge or tax inspection by the PRC tax authorizes.
Under a tax inspection, if our transfer pricing arrangements between Tianyu and Shengfeng Logistics are judged as tax avoidance, or related documentation does not meet the requirements, Tianyu and Shengfeng Logistics may be subject to material adverse tax consequences, such as transfer pricing adjustment. A transfer pricing adjustment could result in a reduction, for PRC tax purpose, of adjustments recorded by Tianyu, which could adversely affect us by (i) increasing Shengfeng Logistics’ tax liabilities without reducing Tianyu’s tax liabilities, which could further result in interest being levied to us for unpaid taxes; or (ii) imposing late payment fees and other penalties on Shengfeng Logistics for the adjusted but unpaid taxes according to the applicable regulations. In addition, if Tianyu requests the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders to transfer their equity interests in Shengfeng Logistics at nominal or no value pursuant to the VIE Agreements, such transfer may be viewed as a gift and subject Tianyu to PRC income tax. As a result, our financial position could be materially and adversely affected if Shengfeng Logistics’ tax liabilities increase or if it is required to pay late payment fees and other penalties.
The Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders have potential conflicts of interest with our Company which may adversely affect our business and financial condition.
The Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders may have potential conflicts of interest with us. These shareholders may not act in the best interest of our Company or may breach, or cause Shengfeng Logistics to breach the existing contractual arrangements we have with them and Shengfeng Logistics, which would have a material and adverse effect on our ability to effectively control Shengfeng Logistics and receive economic benefits from it. For example, the shareholders may be able to cause our agreements with Shengfeng Logistics to be performed in a manner adverse to us by, among other things, failing to remit payments due under the contractual arrangements to us on a timely basis. We cannot assure you that when conflicts of interest arise, any or all of these shareholders will act in the best interests of our Company or such conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
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Currently, we do not have any arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest between these shareholders and our Company, except that we could exercise our purchase option under the exclusive call option agreements with these shareholders to request them to transfer all of their equity interests in Shengfeng Logistics to a PRC entity or individual designated by us, to the extent permitted by PRC law. If we cannot resolve any conflicts of interest or disputes between us and those shareholders, we would have to rely on legal proceedings, which may materially disrupt our business. There is also substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceeding.
We rely on the approvals, certificates, and business licenses held by Shengfeng Logistics and any deterioration of the relationship between Tianyu and Shengfeng Logistics could materially and adversely affect our overall business operations.
Pursuant to the VIE Agreements, our business in the PRC will be undertaken on the basis of the approvals, certificates, business licenses, and other requisite licenses held by Shengfeng Logistics. There is no assurance that Shengfeng Logistics will be able to renew its licenses or certificates when their terms expire with substantially similar terms as the ones they currently hold.
Further, our relationship with Shengfeng Logistics is governed by the VIE Agreements, which are intended to provide us, through our indirect ownership of Tianyu, with effective control over the business operations of Shengfeng Logistics. However, the VIE Agreements may not be effective in providing control over the applications for and maintenance of the licenses required for our business operations. Shengfeng Logistics could violate the VIE Agreements, go bankrupt, suffer from difficulties in its business, or otherwise become unable to perform its obligations under the VIE Agreements and, as a result, our operations, reputation, business, and stock price could be severely harmed.
The exercise of our option to purchase part or all of the shares in Shengfeng Logistics under the exclusive call option agreement might be subject to certain limitations and substantial costs.
Our exclusive call option agreement with Shengfeng Logistics and the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders gives Tianyu the option to purchase up to 100% of the shares in Shengfeng Logistics. Such transfer of shares may be subject to approvals from, filings with, or reporting to competent PRC authorities, such as the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC, or “MOFCOM,” the State Administration for Market Regulation, and/or their local competent branches. In addition, the shares transfer price may be subject to review and tax adjustment by the relevant tax authorities. The shares transfer price to be received by Shengfeng Logistics under the VIE Agreements may also be subject to enterprise income tax, and these amounts could be substantial.
Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC
There are uncertainties under the Foreign Investment Law relating to the status of businesses in China controlled by foreign invested projects primarily through contractual arrangements, such as our business.
MOFCOM and the NDRC promulgated the Special Measures for Foreign Investment Access (2021 version), or the “2021 Negative List,” on December 27, 2021, which became effective on January 1, 2022.
On March 15, 2019, the National People’s Congress approved the Foreign Investment Law of the PRC, which came into effect on January 1, 2020, repealing simultaneously the Law of the PRC on Sino-foreign Equity Joint Ventures, the Law of the PRC on Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprises, and the Law of the PRC on Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Ventures, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. Pursuant to the Foreign Investment Law, foreign investment refers to any investment activity directly or indirectly carried out by foreign natural persons, enterprises, or other organizations, including investment in new construction project, establishment of foreign funded enterprise or increase of investment, merger and acquisition, and investment in any other way stipulated under laws, administrative regulations, or provisions of the State Council of the PRC, or the “State Council.” The Foreign Investment Law does not explicitly stipulate the contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment. On December 26, 2019, the State Council promulgated the Implementation Regulations on the Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2020. However, the Implementation Regulations on the Foreign Investment Law still remain silent on whether contractual arrangements should be deemed to be a form of foreign investment. Though these regulations do not explicitly classify contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment, there is still uncertainty regarding whether the VIE would be identified as a foreign-invested enterprise in the future. As a result, there is no assurance that foreign investment via contractual arrangements would not be interpreted as a type of indirect foreign investment activities under the definition in the future.
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If we are deemed to have a non-PRC entity as a controlling shareholder, the provisions regarding control through contractual arrangements could apply to our VIE Agreements, and as a result Shengfeng Logistics might become subject to restrictions on foreign investment, which may materially impact the viability of our current and future operations. Specifically, we may be required to modify our corporate structure, change our current scope of operations, obtain approvals, or face penalties or other additional requirements, compared to entities which do have PRC controlling shareholders. Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance, and business operations.
It is uncertain whether we would be considered as ultimately controlled by Chinese parties. As of the date of this annual report, Mr. Yongxu Liu, our chief executive officer and Chairman and a PRC citizen beneficially and indirectly owns 41,880,000 Class B Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 91.16% of the voting rights in our Company. It is uncertain, however, if these factors would be sufficient to give them control over us under the Foreign Investment Law. If future revisions or implementation rules of the Foreign Investment Law mandate further actions, such as the MOFCOM market entry clearance or certain restructuring of our corporate structure and operations, there may be substantial uncertainties as to whether we can complete these actions in a timely manner, if at all, and our business and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
China’s economic, political and social conditions, laws and regulations, as well as possible interventions and influences of any government policies and actions are uncertain and their changes may be quick with little advance notice. Therefore, such uncertainties and changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
Our assets and operations are currently located in China. Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects may be influenced to a significant degree by political, economic, and social conditions in China generally. The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the level of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange, and allocation of resources. Although the Chinese government has implemented measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, including the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the government. In addition, the Chinese government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The Chinese government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth by allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy, and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. In addition, although the PRC includes also Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macau Special Administrative Region, they are subject to different legal systems from mainland China. For example, according to Basic Law of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC (the “Basic Law”), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China. The National People’s Congress (the “NPC”) of the PRC authorizes the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to exercise a high degree of autonomy and to enjoy executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication, in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law. The laws previously in force in Hong Kong, that is, the common law, rules of equity, ordinances, subordinate legislation and customary law shall be maintained, except for any that contravene the Basic Law and subject to any amendment by the legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. PRC national laws shall not be applied in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region except for those listed in the Basic Law. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress may add to or delete from the list of laws in Annex III of Basic Law after consulting its Committee for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Laws listed in Annex III to this Law shall be confined to those relating to national defense and foreign affairs as well as other matters outside the limits of the autonomy of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as specified by the Basic Law. In the event that the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress decides to declare a state of war or, by reason of turmoil within the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region which endangers national unity or security and is beyond the control of the government of the Region, decides that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is in a state of emergency, the Central People’s Government may issue an order applying the relevant national laws in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. As of the date of this annual report, the PRC national laws applicable to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region include the following: Resolution on the Capital, Calendar, National Anthem and National Flag of the People’s Republic of China, Resolution on the National Day of the People’s Republic of China, Declaration of the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the Territorial Sea, Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China, Regulations of the People’s Republic of China Concerning Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities, Law of the People’s Republic of China on the National Flag, Regulations of the People’s Republic of China concerning Consular Privileges and Immunities, Law of the People’s Republic of China on the National Emblem, Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Garrisoning of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf, Law of the People’s Republic of China on the National Anthem, and Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. However, due to the uncertainty of the PRC legal system and changes in laws, regulations or policies, including how those laws, regulations or policies would be interpreted or implemented, and the national laws applicable in Hong Kong, the Basic Law might be revised in the future, and as a consequence, we may face certain legal and operational risks associated with operating in the PRC, which may also apply to our operations in Hong Kong, including those of Shengfeng HK. However, as of the date of this annual report, we, believe that since the list of laws in Annex III of Basic Law is currently limited to national defense and foreign affairs, PRC national laws listed in the Basic Law does not apply to our operations in Hong Kong. Moreover, our HK subsidiary, Shengfeng HK, does not have any business operations in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, Shengfeng HK, as an entity incorporated under law of Hong Kong, shall be subject to Hong Kong law in general.
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While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. Any adverse changes in economic conditions in China, in the policies of the Chinese government, or in the laws and regulations in China could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China. Such developments could adversely affect our business and operating results, reduce demand for our products, and weaken our competitive position. The Chinese government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy, but may have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations. In addition, in the past the Chinese government has implemented certain measures, including interest rate adjustments, to control the pace of economic growth. These measures may cause decreased economic activities in China, which may adversely affect our business and operating results.
China’s economic, political and social conditions, laws and regulations, as well as possible interventions and influences of any government policies and actions are uncertain and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares. Furthermore, the PRC government authorities may strengthen oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers like us. Such actions taken by the PRC government authorities may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which are beyond our control. Any such action may adversely affect our operations and significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Class A Ordinary Shares to investors and reduce the value of such securities.
Furthermore, our Company, the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, and our investors may face uncertainty about future actions by the government of China that could significantly affect the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries’ financial performance and operations, including the enforceability of the contractual arrangements. As of the date of this annual report, neither our Company nor the VIE has received or was denied permission from Chinese authorities to list on U.S. exchanges. However, there is no guarantee that our Company or VIE will receive or not be denied permission from Chinese authorities to list on U.S. exchanges in the future.
Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protection available to you and us. Any changes in such laws and regulations may impair our ability to operate profitably.
The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Unlike common law systems, it is a system in which legal cases have limited value as precedents. In the late 1970s, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general. The legislation over the past three decades has significantly increased the protection afforded to various forms of foreign or private-sector investment in China. Our PRC Affiliated Entities are subject to various PRC laws and regulations generally applicable to companies in China. Since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, however, the interpretations of many laws, regulations, and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations, and rules involve uncertainties.
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From time to time, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, however, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy in the PRC legal system than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published in a timely manner or at all) that may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such uncertainties, including uncertainties over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights, and any failure to respond to changes in the regulatory environment in China could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.
For example, recently, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the “Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law,” or the Opinions, which was made available to the public on July 6, 2021. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems, will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-concept overseas listed companies, and cybersecurity and data privacy protection requirements and similar matters. On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Measures, and five supporting guidelines, which came into effect on March 31, 2023. According to the Trial Measures, (1) domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, should fulfill the filing procedure to the CSRC; (2) if the issuer meets both of the following conditions, the overseas offering and listing shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing by a domestic company: (i) any of the total assets, net assets, revenues or profits of the domestic operating entities of the issuer in the most recent accounting year accounts for more than 50% of the corresponding figure in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statements for the same period; (ii) its major operational activities are carried out in China or its main places of business are located in China, or the senior managers in charge of operation and management of the issuer are mostly Chinese citizens or are domiciled in China; and (3) where a domestic company seeks to indirectly offer and list securities in an overseas market, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity responsible for all filing procedures with the CSRC, and where an issuer makes an application for initial public offering and listing in an overseas market, the issuer shall submit filings with the CSRC within three business days after such application is submitted. The New Overseas Listing Rules further require Chinese domestic enterprises to complete filings with relevant governmental authorities and report related information under certain circumstances, such as: a) an issuer making an application for initial public offering and listing in an overseas market; b) an issuer making an overseas securities offering after having been listed on an overseas market; and c) a domestic company seeking an overseas direct or indirect listing of its assets through single or multiple acquisition(s), share swap, transfer of shares or other means. The required filing scope is not limited to the initial public offering, but also includes subsequent overseas securities offering, single or multiple acquisition(s), share swap, transfer of shares or other means to seek an overseas direct or indirect listing and a secondary listing or dual major listing of issuers already listed overseas. If a domestic company fails to complete the required filing procedures or conceals any material fact or falsifies any major content in its filing documents, such domestic company may be subject to administrative penalties, such as orders to rectify, warnings, fines, and its controlling shareholders, actual controllers, the person directly in charge and other directly liable persons may also be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings and fines.
According to the Notice on the Administrative Arrangements for the Filing of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies from the CSRC, or the CSRC Notice, the domestic companies that have already been listed overseas before the effective date of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures (i.e. March 31, 2023) shall be deemed as the Existing Issuers. Existing Issuers are not required to complete the filing procedures immediately, and they shall be required to file with the CSRC for any subsequent offerings. Further, according to the CSRC Notice, domestic company obtained approval from overseas regulatory authorities or securities exchanges (for example, the effectiveness of a registration statement for offering and listing in the U.S. has been obtained) for their indirect overseas offering and listing prior to March 31, 2023 but have not yet completed their indirect overseas issuance and listing, are granted a six-month transition period from March 31, 2023 to September 30, 2023. Those that complete their indirect overseas offering and listing within such six-month period are deemed as Existing Issuers and are not required to file with the CSRC for their indirect overseas offerings and listings. Within such six-month transition period, however, if such domestic companies fail to complete their indirect overseas issuance and listing, they shall complete the filing procedures with the CSRC. Based on the foregoing, according to our PRC counsel, since our registration statement on Form F-1 was declared effective on March 30, 2023, and we completed our IPO and listing before September 30, 2023, we were not required to complete the filing procedures pursuant to the Trial Measures for our IPO.
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On February 24, 2023, the CSRC, together with Ministry of Finance of the PRC, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China, revised the Provisions, which were issued by the CSRC, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China in 2009. The revised Provisions were issued under the title the “Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies”, and came into effect on March 31, 2023 together with the Trial Measures. One of the major revisions to the revised Provisions is expanding their application to cover indirect overseas offering and listing, as is consistent with the Trial Measures. The revised Provisions require that, including, but not limited to, (a) a domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals or entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any documents and materials that contain state secrets or working secrets of government agencies, shall first obtain approval from competent authorities according to law, and file with the secrecy administrative department at the same level; and (b) domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals and entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any other documents and materials that, if leaked, will be detrimental to national security or public interest, shall strictly fulfill relevant procedures stipulated by applicable national regulations. As of the date of this annual report, the revised Provisions came into effect and we are not aware of any PRC laws or regulations in effect requiring that we obtain permission from any PRC authorities to issue securities to foreign investors, nor have we received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction or any regulatory objection from the CSRC, the CAC, or any other Chinese authorities that have jurisdiction over our operations. However, any failure or perceived failure by the Company, its PRC Subsidiary or the VIE to comply with the above confidentiality and archives administration requirements under the revised Provisions and other PRC laws and regulations may result in the relevant entities being held legally liable by competent authorities, and referred to the judicial organ to be investigated for criminal liability if suspected of committing a crime. The Opinions, the Trial Measures, the revised Provisions and any related implementing rules to be enacted may subject us to compliance requirement in the future. Therefore, we cannot assure you that we will remain fully compliant with all new regulatory requirements of the Opinions, the Trial Measures or any future implementation rules on a timely basis, or at all.
Uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws and the fact that rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice, along with the risk that the Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time, or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers could result in a material change in our operations, financial performance and/or the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares or impair our ability to raise money.
You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments, or bringing actions in China against us or our management named in the annual report based on foreign laws. It may also be difficult for you or overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China.
We are an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and we conduct our operations in China and our assets are located in China. In addition, all our senior executive officers reside within China for a significant portion of the time and are PRC nationals. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect service of process upon us or those persons inside mainland China. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands or the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the U.S. or any state.
We have been advised by our Cayman Islands legal counsel, Ogier (Cayman) LLP, that the courts of the Cayman Islands are unlikely (i) to recognize or enforce against us, judgments of courts of the United States obtained against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States; and (ii) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, to impose liabilities against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature. In those circumstances, although there is currently no statutory enforcement or treaty between the United States and the Cayman Islands providing for enforcement of judgments obtained in the United States. The courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive, given by a court of competent jurisdiction (the courts of the Cayman Islands will apply the rules of Cayman Islands private international law to determine whether the foreign court is a court of competent jurisdiction), and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, impeachable on the grounds of fraud or obtained in a manner, and or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands. Furthermore, it is uncertain that Cayman Islands courts would enforce: (1) judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions against us or other persons that are predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws; or (2) original actions brought against us or other persons predicated upon the Securities Act. Ogier (Cayman) LLP has informed us that there is uncertainty with regard to Cayman Islands law relating to whether a judgment obtained from the U.S. courts under civil liability provisions of the securities laws will be determined by the courts of the Cayman Islands as penal and punitive in nature. A Cayman Islands Court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.
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The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of written arrangement with the U.S. that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security, or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the U.S.
It may also be difficult for you or overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect to foreign entities. Although the authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with its counterparts of another country or region to monitor and oversee cross-border securities activities, such regulatory cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the United States may not be efficient in the absence of a practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law, or “Article 177,” which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigations or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. Article 177 further provides that Chinese entities and individuals are not allowed to provide documents or materials related to securities business activities to foreign agencies without prior consent from the securities regulatory authority of the State Council and the competent departments of the State Council. While detailed interpretation of or implementing rules under Article 177 have yet to be promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within China may further increase difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests.
Recent joint statement by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or the “PCAOB,” rule changes by Nasdaq, and an act passed by the U.S. Senate all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the PCAOB. These developments could add uncertainties to our offering.
On April 21, 2020, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton and PCAOB Chairman William D. Duhnke III, along with other senior SEC staff, released a joint statement highlighting the risks associated with investing in companies based in or have substantial operations in emerging markets including China. The joint statement emphasized the risks associated with lack of access for the PCAOB to inspect auditors and audit work papers in China and higher risks of fraud in emerging markets.
On May 18, 2020, Nasdaq filed three proposals with the SEC to (i) apply a minimum offering size requirement for companies primarily operating in a “Restrictive Market,” (ii) adopt a new requirement relating to the qualification of management or the board of directors for Restrictive Market companies, and (iii) apply additional and more stringent criteria to an applicant or listed company based on the qualifications of the company’s auditor. On October 4, 2021, the SEC approved Nasdaq’s revised proposal for the rule changes.
On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed the HFCA Act, requiring a foreign company to certify it is not owned or manipulated by a foreign government if the PCAOB is unable to audit specified reports because the company uses a foreign auditor not subject to PCAOB inspection. If the PCAOB is unable to inspect the company’s auditor for three consecutive years, the issuer’s securities are prohibited to trade on a national exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States. On December 2, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the HFCA Act. On December 18, 2020, the HFCA Act was signed into law.
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On June 4, 2020, the U.S. President issued a memorandum ordering the President’s working group on financial markets, or the “PWG,” to submit a report to the President within 60 days of the date of the memorandum that should include recommendations for actions that can be taken by the executive branch and by the SEC or PCAOB to enforce U.S. regulatory requirements on Chinese companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges and their audit firms.
On August 6, 2020, the PWG released a report recommending that the SEC take steps to implement the five recommendations outlined in the report. In particular, to address companies from jurisdictions that do not provide the PCAOB with sufficient access to fulfill its statutory mandate, or “NCJs”, the PWG recommends enhanced listing standards on U.S. stock exchanges. This would require, as a condition to initial and continued exchange listing, PCAOB access to work papers of the principal audit firm for the audit of the listed company. Companies unable to satisfy this standard as a result of governmental restrictions on access to audit work papers and practices in NCJs may satisfy this standard by providing a co-audit from an audit firm with comparable resources and experience where the PCAOB determines it has sufficient access to audit work papers and practices to conduct an appropriate inspection of the co-audit firm. The report permits the new listing standards to provide for a transition period until January 1, 2022 for listed companies, but would apply immediately to new listings once the necessary rulemakings and/or standard-setting are effective.
On August 10, 2020, the SEC announced that SEC Chairman had directed the SEC staff to prepare proposals in response to the PWG Report, and that the SEC was soliciting public comments and information with respect to these proposals. If we are listed on Nasdaq and fail to meet the new listing standards before the deadline specified thereunder due to factors beyond our control, we could face possible de-listing from the Nasdaq Capital Market, deregistration from the SEC, and/or other risks, which may materially and adversely affect, or effectively terminate, the trading of our Ordinary Shares in the United States.
The HFCA Act requires certain issuers of securities to establish that they are not owned or controlled by a foreign government. Specifically, an issuer must make this certification if the PCAOB is unable to audit specified reports because the issuer has retained a foreign public accounting firm not subject to inspection by the PCAOB. Furthermore, if the PCAOB is unable to inspect the issuer’s public accounting firm for three consecutive years, the issuer’s securities are banned from trade on a national exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States or through other methods.
On March 24, 2021, the SEC announced that it had adopted interim final amendments to implement congressionally mandated submission and disclosure requirements of the HFCA Act. The interim final amendments will apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report on Forms 10-K, 20-F, 40-F or N-CSR with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that the PCAOB has determined it is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in that jurisdiction. The SEC will implement a process for identifying such a registrant and any such identified registrant will be required to submit documentation to the SEC establishing that it is not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in that foreign jurisdiction, and will also require disclosure in the registrant’s annual report regarding the audit arrangements of, and governmental influence on, such a registrant.
On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating HFCA Act, which, if passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law, would decrease the number of non-inspection years for foreign companies to comply with PCAOB audits from three to two, thus reducing the time period before their securities may be prohibited from trading or delisted.
On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a final rule implementing the HFCA Act, which provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCA Act, whether the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction.
On November 5, 2021, the SEC approved the PCAOB’s Rule 6100, Board Determinations Under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. Rule 6100 provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCA Act, whether it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction.
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On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCA Act, which became effective on January 10, 2022. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions.
On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report on its determinations that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and in Hong Kong because of positions taken by mainland China and Hong Kong authorities in those jurisdictions. The PCAOB has made such designations as mandated under the HFCA Act. Pursuant to each annual determination by the PCAOB, the SEC will, on an annual basis, identify issuers that have used non-inspected audit firms and thus are at risk of such suspensions in the future. As of the date of this annual report, our auditor is not subject to the determinations announced by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021. On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed the Statement of Protocol (SOP) Agreements with the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) and China’s Ministry of Finance. The SOP, together with two protocol agreements governing inspections and investigations (together, the “SOP Agreements”), establish a specific, accountable framework to make possible complete inspections and investigations by the PCAOB of audit firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong, as required under U.S. law. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB Board determined that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate its previous determinations to the contrary. However, should PRC authorities obstruct or otherwise fail to facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB Board will consider the need to issue a new determination.
On December 23, 2022, the Accelerating HFCA Act was signed into law, which amended the HFCA Act by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three. On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law by President Biden. The Consolidated Appropriations Act contained, among other things, an identical provision to Accelerating HFCA Act, which reduces the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the HFCA Act from three years to two.
The SEC may propose additional rules or guidance that could impact us if our auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspection in the future.
Our auditor prior to November 11, 2022, Friedman LLP, or Friedman, and current auditor, Marcum Asia CPAs LLP (“Marcum Asia”), the independent registered public accounting firms that issue the audit reports included elsewhere in this annual report, as auditors of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and firms registered with the PCAOB, have been subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Friedman, has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis, with the last inspection in October 2020. Our current auditor, Marcum Asia, has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis, with the last inspection in 2023. Neither Friedman nor Marcum Asia is subject to the determinations announced by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021. The PCAOB is expected to continue to demand complete access to inspections and investigations against accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong in the future and states that it has already made plans to resume regular inspections in early 2023 and beyond. Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. Furthermore, the Accelerating HFCA Act, which requires that the PCAOB be permitted to inspect the issuer’s public accounting firm within two years, may result in the delisting of our Company in the future if the PCAOB is unable to inspect our accounting firm at such future time. Our securities may be prohibited from trading if our auditor cannot be fully inspected. While the Company’s auditor is based in the U.S. and is registered with PCAOB and subject to PCAOB inspection, in the event it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely the Company’s auditor because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction, then such inability could cause trading in the Company’s securities to be prohibited under the Accelerating HFCA Act, and ultimately result in a determination by a securities exchange to delist the Company’s securities. If trading in our Class A Ordinary Shares is prohibited under the Accelerating HFCA Act in the future because the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor at such future time, Nasdaq may determine to delist our Class A Ordinary Shares. A termination in the trading of our securities or any restriction on the trading in our securities would be expected to have a negative impact on the Company as well as on the value of our securities.
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It remains unclear what the SEC’s implementation process related to the above rules will entail or what further actions the SEC, the PCAOB or Nasdaq will take to address these issues and what impact those actions will have on the companies that have significant operations in the PRC and have securities listed on a U.S. stock exchange (including a national securities exchange or over-the-counter stock market). In addition, the above amendments and any additional actions, proceedings, or new rules resulting from these efforts to increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information could create some uncertainty for investors, the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares could be adversely affected, and we could be delisted if we and our auditor are unable to meet the PCAOB inspection requirement or being required to engage a new audit firm, which would require significant expense and management time.
Furthermore, new laws and regulations or changes in laws and regulations in both the United States and China could affect our ability to list our securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market, which could materially impair the market for and the market price of our securities.
The custodians or authorized users of our controlling non-tangible assets, including chops and seals, may fail to fulfill their responsibilities, or misappropriate or misuse these assets.
Under the PRC law, legal documents for corporate transactions, including agreements and contracts are usually executed using the chop or seal of the signing entity or with the signature of a legal representative whose designation is registered and filed with relevant PRC market regulation administrative authorities.
In order to secure the use of our chops and seals, we have established internal control procedures and rules for using these chops and seals. In any event that the chops and seals are intended to be used, the responsible personnel will submit the application through our office automation system and the application will be verified and approved by authorized employees in accordance with our internal control procedures and rules. In addition, in order to maintain the physical security of our chops, we generally have them stored in secured locations accessible only to authorized employees. Although we monitor such authorized employees, the procedures may not be sufficient to prevent all instances of abuse or negligence. There is a risk that our employees could abuse their authority, for example, by entering into a contract not approved by us or seeking to gain control of one of our subsidiaries or the VIE. If any employee obtains, misuses or misappropriates our chops and seals or other controlling non-tangible assets for whatever reason, we could experience disruption to our normal business operations. We may have to take corporate or legal action, which could involve significant time and resources to resolve and divert management from our operations.
Increases in labor costs in the PRC may adversely affect our business and our profitability.
China’s economy has experienced increases in labor costs in recent years. China’s overall economy and the average wage in China are expected to continue to grow. The average wage level for our employees has also increased in recent years. We expect that our labor costs, including wages and employee benefits, will continue to increase. Unless we are able to pass on these increased labor costs to our clients by increasing prices for our services, our profitability and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
In addition, we have been subject to stricter regulatory requirements in terms of entering into labor contracts with our employees and paying various statutory employee benefits, including pensions, housing fund, medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance, and maternity insurance to designated government agencies for the benefit of our employees. Pursuant to the PRC Labor Contract Law, or the “Labor Contract Law,” that became effective in January 2008 and its amendments that became effective in July 2013 and its implementing rules that became effective in September 2008, employers are subject to stricter requirements in terms of signing labor contracts, minimum wages, paying remuneration, determining the term of employees’ probation, and unilaterally terminating labor contracts. In the event that we decide to terminate some of our employees or otherwise change our employment or labor practices, the Labor Contract Law and its implementation rules may limit our ability to effect those changes in a desirable or cost-effective manner, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
We are currently not in full compliance with all PRC labor-related laws and regulations in certain respects. As of the date of this annual report, we have not made adequate social insurance and housing fund contributions for all employees as required by PRC regulations. We believe that the estimated unpaid contribution amounts the Company was required to reserve in respect of the social insurance and housing fund contribution is not material. The Company has taken measures to comply with related laws and regulations. Such measures include, but are not limited to, outsourcing our labor-related matters and making payments for unpaid social insurance and housing fund contributions, which may increase the costs of our business and operations. We are endeavoring to have sufficient funds to address our social insurance and housing fund contribution requirements by the end of next year. However, our estimate of unpaid contributions may not be accurate or sufficient and may not be accumulated by such time.
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Additionally, the Labor Contract Law provides that enterprises accepting labor dispatch services shall strictly control the number of dispatched workers and the proportion of dispatched workers shall not exceed the percentage prescribed by competent labor administrative departments. The Interim Provisions on Labor Dispatching, issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China on January 24, 2014, which came into effect on March 1, 2014, require the number of dispatched workers not to exceed 10% of the total number of 1) the employees that are employed directly by an enterprise and 2) the dispatched workers. For more details, please see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—The Labor Law and the Labor Contract Law” and “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—The Interim Provisions on Labor Dispatching.” The term “labor dispatch” refers to an atypical employment relationship pursuant to which the dispatch work agencies enter into employment agreements with the workers, and then send such dispatched workers to the enterprises which have entered into labor dispatch service agreements with the dispatch work agencies to provide services. In such circumstances, dispatched workers are under the supervision and management of the enterprises they work in. According to the Labor Contract Law, any labor dispatching unit or employer who violates the provisions of such law in respect of labor dispatching will be ordered by the labor administrative authorities to take corrective action within a stipulated period. If such correction is not made within the stipulated period, a fine ranging from RMB5,000 (approximate USD720) to RMB10,000 (approximate USD1,400) per person will be imposed on such labor dispatching unit or employer, and the labor dispatching business permit of such labor dispatching unit will be revoked. Our number of dispatched workers exceeded the 10% limitation required by the Interim Provisions on Labor Dispatching in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. The Company had taken measures to try to comply with related laws and regulations in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Such measures include, but are not limited to, decreasing the number of dispatched workers and increasing the number of employees and outsourced workers, which is expected to increase the costs of our business and operations. As of the date of this annual report, the number of our dispatched workers is lower than 10% of the total number of the employees directly employed by the Company and the dispatched workers. While we are endeavoring to stay compliant with the Interim Provisions on Labor Dispatching and relevant regulations, we can not assure you that we will be able to continue to keep the rate of dispatched workers among our total employees and dispatched workers lower than 10%, as required by the Interim Provisions on Labor Dispatching. If we fail to keep the rate of dispatched workers among our total employees and dispatched workers lower than 10%, we may be required by the competent authorities to decrease our number of dispatched workers within a stipulated period. If we fail to correct such shortfall within the prescribed time limit, the relevant administrative authorities may impose a fine ranging from RMB5,000 (approximate USD720) to RMB10,000 (approximate USD1,400) per person upon us. Accordingly, if the relevant PRC authorities determine that we are subject to fines in relation to our failure to decrease the number of our dispatched workers within the prescribed time limit, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be adversely affected. We believe that the estimated amount of costs in respect of taking the measures to keep the rate of dispatched workers among our total employees and dispatched workers lower than 10% is not material. However, our estimate of costs may not be accurate or sufficient and may not be accumulated by such time.
Other than the social insurance and housing fund contributions and the estimate of costs to maintain or reduce the number of dispatched workers, we are currently not able to quantify the contribution amounts that we will need to make for us to be in full compliance with all PRC labor-related laws and regulations. To the best of our knowledge, as of the date of this annual report, based on all the information available to us, we do not believe that the estimated amount of contributions that we will need to make in order to be in full compliance with all PRC labor-related laws and regulations is material for our business operations. We will continue investigating and monitoring our compliance status in connection with PRC labor-related laws and regulations in order to promptly address any shortfall going forward.
The interpretation and implementation of labor-related laws and regulations are still constantly evolving which may be further amended from time to time. Due to the constant evolution of the labor-related laws, we cannot assure you that our current employment practices will not violate any future labor-related laws and regulations in China, which may subject us to labor disputes or government investigations. If we are deemed to have violated relevant labor laws and regulations, we could be required to provide additional compensation to our employees, and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Our PRC Affiliated Entities have not made adequate social insurance and housing fund contributions for all employees as required by PRC regulations, which may subject us to penalties.
According to the PRC Social Insurance Law and the Administrative Regulations on the Housing Funds, companies operating in China are required to participate in pension insurance, work-related injury insurance, medical insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance (collectively known as “social insurance”), and housing funds plans, and the employers must pay all or a portion of the social insurance premiums and housing funds for their employees. For more details, please see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—Regulations Related to Employment and Social Welfare—Social Insurance and Housing Fund.” The requirement of social insurance and housing fund has not been implemented consistently by the local governments in China given the different levels of economic development in different locations.
Our PRC Affiliated Entities have not made adequate social insurance and housing fund contributions for all employees. We may be required to make up the social insurance contributions as well as to pay late fees at the rate of 0.05% per day of the outstanding amount from the due date. If we fail to make up for the shortfalls within the prescribed time limit, the relevant administrative authorities will impose a fine of one (1) to three (3) times the outstanding amount upon us. With respect to housing fund plans, we may be required to pay and deposit housing funds in full and on time within the prescribed time limit. If we fail to do so, relevant authorities could file applications to competent courts for compulsory enforcement of payment and deposit. Accordingly, if the relevant PRC authorities determine that we shall make supplemental social insurance and housing fund contributions or that we are subject to fines and legal sanctions in relation to our failure to make social insurance and housing fund contributions in full for our employees, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be adversely affected. However, as of the date of this annual report, the relevant local authorities confirmed in writing that no records of violation were found on our PRC Entities for social insurance and/or housing fund contribution obligations. Further, these PRC Entities have never received any demand or order from the competent authorities.
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PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiary to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiary, limit our PRC subsidiary’s ability to increase its registered capital or distribute profits to us, or may otherwise adversely affect us.
On July 4, 2014, SAFE issued the Circular on Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control over the Overseas Investment and Financing and Round-trip Investment by Domestic Residents via Special Purpose Vehicles, or “SAFE Circular 37.” According to SAFE Circular 37, prior registration with the local SAFE branch is required for PRC residents, (including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities as well as foreign individuals that are deemed to be PRC residents for foreign exchange administration purpose), in connection with their direct or indirect contribution of domestic assets or interests to offshore special purpose vehicles, or “SPVs.” SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendments to the SAFE registrations in the event of any changes with respect to the basic information of the offshore SPV, such as change of a PRC individual shareholder, name and operation term, or any significant changes with respect to the offshore SPV, such as an increase or decrease of capital contribution, share transfer or exchange, or mergers or divisions. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we make in the future. In February 2015, SAFE promulgated a Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or “SAFE Notice 13,” effective in June 2015. Under SAFE Notice 13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investments and outbound overseas direct investments, including those required under SAFE Circular 37, will be filed with qualified banks instead of SAFE. The qualified banks will directly examine the applications and accept registrations under the supervision of SAFE.
In addition to SAFE Circular 37 and SAFE Notice 13, our ability to conduct foreign exchange activities in China may be subject to the interpretation and enforcement of the Implementation Rules of the Administrative Measures for Individual Foreign Exchange promulgated by SAFE in January 2007 (as amended and supplemented, the “Individual Foreign Exchange Rules”). Under the Individual Foreign Exchange Rules, any PRC individual seeking to make a direct investment overseas or engage in the issuance or trading of negotiable securities or derivatives overseas must make the appropriate registrations in accordance with SAFE provisions, the failure of which may subject such PRC individual to warnings, fines, or other liabilities.
As of the date of this annual report, Mr. Yongxu Liu has completed the initial registrations with the qualified banks, as required by the regulations. We may not be informed of the identities of all the PRC residents holding direct or indirect interest in our Company, however, and we have no control over any of our future beneficial owners. Thus, we cannot provide any assurance that our current or future PRC resident beneficial owners will comply with our request to make or obtain any applicable registrations or continuously comply with all registration procedures set forth in these SAFE regulations. Such failure or inability of our PRC residents beneficial owners to comply with these SAFE regulations may subject us or our PRC resident beneficial owners to fines and legal sanctions, restrict our cross-border investment activities, or limit our PRC subsidiary’s ability to distribute dividends to or obtain foreign-exchange-dominated loans from us, or prevent us from being able to make distributions or pay dividends, as a result of which our business operations and our ability to distribute profits to you could be materially and adversely affected.
PRC regulation of parent/subsidiary loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of future financial activities to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary and to make loans to Shengfeng Logistics, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
We are an offshore holding company conducting our operations in China through our PRC subsidiary Tianyu, Shengfeng Logistics, and the subsidiaries of Shengfeng Logistics. We may make loans to these entities, or we may make additional capital contributions to Tianyu, or we may establish new PRC subsidiaries and make capital contributions to these new PRC subsidiaries.
Most of these ways are subject to PRC regulations and approvals or registration. For example, any loans to Tianyu, which is treated as a foreign-invested enterprise under PRC law, are subject to PRC regulations and foreign exchange loan registrations. For example, loans by us to Tianyu to finance its activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with the local counterpart of SAFE, or filed with SAFE in its information system. Pursuant to relevant PRC regulations, we may provide loans to Tianyu up to the larger amount of (i) the balance between the registered total investment amount and registered capital of Tianyu, or (ii) twice the amount of the net assets of Tianyu calculated in accordance with the Circular on Full-Coverage Macro-Prudent Management of Cross-Border Financing, or the “PBOC Circular 9.” Moreover, any medium or long-term loan to be provided by us to Tianyu or other domestic PRC entities must also be filed and registered with the NDRC. We may also decide to finance Tianyu by means of capital contributions. These capital contributions are subject to registration with the State Administration for Market Regulation or its local branch, reporting of foreign investment information with MOFCOM, or registration with other governmental authorities in China. Due to the restrictions imposed on loans in foreign currencies extended to PRC domestic companies, we are not likely to make such loans to Shengfeng Logistics, which is a PRC domestic company. Further, we are not likely to finance the activities of Shengfeng Logistics and the VIE’s subsidiaries by means of capital contributions due to regulatory restrictions relating to foreign investment in PRC domestic enterprises, which may be engaged in certain business, such as the Foreign Investment Law, which provides that foreign investors shall not invest in any field with investment prohibited by the negative list for foreign investment access.
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On March 30, 2015, SAFE issued the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administrative Approach Regarding the Settlement of the Foreign Exchange Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or “SAFE Circular 19,” which took effect and replaced previous regulations effective on June 1, 2015. Pursuant to SAFE Circular 19, up to 100% of foreign currency capital of a foreign-invested enterprise may be converted into RMB capital according to the actual operation, and within the business scope, of the enterprise at its will. Although SAFE Circular 19 allows for the use of RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital for equity investments in the PRC, the restrictions continue to apply as to foreign-invested enterprises’ use of the converted RMB for purposes beyond their business scope, for entrusted loans or for inter-company RMB loans. On June 9, 2016, SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account, or “SAFE Circular 16,” effective on June 9, 2016, which reiterates some rules set forth in Circular 19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to issue loans to non-affiliated enterprises. SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to transfer any foreign currency we hold, including the net proceeds from future financial activities, to Tianyu, which may adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business in China. On October 23, 2019, the SAFE issued the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Facilitating Cross-border Trade and Investment, or “SAFE Circular 28,” which, among other things, expanded the use of foreign exchange capital to domestic equity investment area. Non-investment foreign-funded enterprises are allowed to lawfully make domestic equity investments by using their capital on the premise without violation to prevailing special administrative measures for access of foreign investments (negative list) and the authenticity and compliance with the regulations of domestic investment projects. However, since SAFE Circular 28 is newly promulgated, it is unclear how SAFE and competent banks will carry it out in practice.
In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations on loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies, including SAFE Circular 19, SAFE Circular 16, and other relevant rules and regulations, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans to Tianyu, Shengfeng Logistics, and subsidiaries of Shengfeng Logistics, or future capital contributions by us to Tianyu. As a result, uncertainties exist as to our ability to provide prompt financial support to Tianyu, Shengfeng Logistics, or subsidiaries of Shengfeng Logistics when needed. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds we received or expect to receive from our offshore offerings and to capitalize or otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our business, including our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
Fluctuations in exchange rates could have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.
The value of RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions in China and by China’s foreign exchange policies. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging the value of RMB to the U.S. dollar, and RMB appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over the following three years. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted and the exchange rate between RMB and the U.S. dollar remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, RMB has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between RMB and the U.S. dollar in the future.
Our business is conducted in the PRC, and our books and records are maintained in RMB, which is the currency of the PRC. The financial statements that we file with the SEC and provide to our shareholders are presented in U.S. dollars. Changes in the exchange rates between RMB and U.S. dollar affect the value of our assets and the results of our operations, when presented in U.S. dollars. The value of RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in the PRC’s political and economic conditions and perceived changes in the economy of the PRC and the United States. Any significant revaluation of RMB may materially and adversely affect our cash flows, revenue, and financial condition. Further, since our Class A Ordinary Shares are offered in U.S. dollars, we will need to convert the net proceeds we receive into RMB in order to use the funds for our business. Changes in the conversion rate among the U.S. dollar and RMB will affect the amount of proceeds we will have available for our business.
Very limited hedging options are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. As of the date of this annual report, we have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may decide to enter into more hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these hedges may be limited and we may not be able to adequately hedge our exposure or at all. In addition, our currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to convert RMB into foreign currency. As a result, fluctuations in exchange rates may have a material adverse effect on your investment.
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Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, we may be classified as a PRC “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes. Such classification would likely result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the “EIT Law,” that became effective in January 2008, an enterprise established outside the PRC with “de facto management bodies” within the PRC is considered a “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes and is generally subject to a uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate on its worldwide income. Under the implementation rules to the EIT Law, a “de facto management body” is defined as a body that has material and overall management and control over the manufacturing and business operations, personnel and human resources, finances, and properties of an enterprise. In addition, a circular, known as “SAT Circular 82,” issued in April 2009 by the State Administration of Taxation, or the “SAT,” specifies that certain offshore incorporated enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups will be classified as PRC resident enterprises if the following are located or resident in the PRC: senior management personnel and departments that are responsible for daily production, operation and management; financial and personnel decision making bodies; key properties, accounting books, company seal, and minutes of board meetings and shareholders’ meetings; and half or more of the senior management or directors having voting rights. Further to SAT Circular 82, the SAT issued a bulletin, known as SAT Bulletin 45, which took effect in September 2011, to provide more guidance on the implementation of SAT Circular 82 and clarify the reporting and filing obligations of such “Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated resident enterprises.” SAT Bulletin 45 provides procedures and administrative details for the determination of resident status and administration on post-determination matters. Although both SAT Circular 82 and SAT Bulletin 45 only apply to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreign individuals, the determining criteria set forth in SAT Circular 82 and SAT Bulletin 45 may reflect the SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of offshore enterprises, regardless of whether they are controlled by PRC enterprises, PRC enterprise groups, or by PRC or foreign individuals.
If the PRC tax authorities determine that the actual management organ of Shengfeng Cayman is within the territory of China, Shengfeng Cayman may be deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes and a number of unfavorable PRC tax consequences could follow. First, we will be subject to the uniform 25% enterprise income tax on our world-wide income, which could materially reduce our net income. In addition, we will also be subject to PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations. Finally, dividends payable by us to our investors and gains on the sale of our shares may become subject to PRC withholding tax, at a rate of 10% in the case of non-PRC enterprises or 20% in the case of non-PRC individuals (in each case, subject to the provisions of any applicable tax treaty), if such gains are deemed to be from PRC sources. It is unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of our Company would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise. Any such tax may reduce the returns on your investment in our shares. Although up to the date of this annual report, Shengfeng Cayman has not been notified or informed by the PRC tax authorities that it has been deemed to be a resident enterprise for the purpose of the EIT Law, we cannot assure you that it will not be deemed to be a resident enterprise in the future.
We face uncertainty with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.
In February 2015, SAT issued a Public Notice Regarding Certain Corporate Income Tax Matters on Indirect Transfer of Properties by Non-Tax Resident Enterprises, or “SAT Circular 7.” SAT Circular 7 provides comprehensive guidelines relating to indirect transfers of PRC taxable assets (including equity interests and real properties of a PRC resident enterprise) by a non-resident enterprise. In addition, in October 2017, SAT issued an Announcement on Issues Relating to Withholding at Source of Income Tax of Non-resident Enterprises, or “SAT Circular 37,” effective in December 2017, which, among others, amended certain provisions in SAT Circular 7 and further clarify the tax payable declaration obligation by non-resident enterprise. Indirect transfer of equity interest and/or real properties in a PRC resident enterprise by their non-PRC holding companies are subject to SAT Circular 7 and SAT Circular 37.
SAT Circular 7 provides clear criteria for an assessment of reasonable commercial purposes and has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. As stipulated in SAT Circular 7, indirect transfers of PRC taxable assets are considered as reasonable commercial purposes if the shareholding structure of both transaction parties falls within the following situations: i) the transferor directly or indirectly owns 80% or above equity interest of the transferee, or vice versa; ii) the transferor and the transferee are both 80% or above directly or indirectly owned by the same party; iii) the percentages in bullet points i) and ii) shall be 100% if over 50% the share value of a foreign enterprise is directly or indirectly derived from PRC real properties. Furthermore, SAT Circular 7 also brings challenges to both foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of taxable assets. Where a non-resident enterprise transfers PRC taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, which is an indirect transfer, the non-resident enterprise as either transferor or transferee, or the PRC entity that directly owns the taxable assets, may report such indirect transfer to the relevant tax authority and the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding, or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. Both the transferor and the transferee may be subject to penalties under PRC tax laws if the transferee fails to withhold the taxes and the transferor fails to pay the taxes.
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According to SAT Circular 37, where the non-resident enterprise fails to declare the tax payable pursuant to Article 39 of the EIT Law, the tax authority may order it to pay the tax due within required time limits, and the non-resident enterprise shall declare and pay the tax payable within such time limits specified by the tax authority. If the non-resident enterprise, however, voluntarily declares and pays the tax payable before the tax authority orders it to do so within required time limits, it shall be deemed that such enterprise has paid the tax in time.
We face uncertainties as to the reporting and assessment of reasonable commercial purposes and future transactions where PRC taxable assets are involved, such as offshore restructuring, sale of the shares in our offshore subsidiaries, and investments. In the event of being assessed as having no reasonable commercial purposes in an indirect transfer transaction, we may be subject to filing obligations or taxed if we are a transferor in such transactions, and may be subject to withholding obligations (to be specific, a 10% withholding tax for the transfer of equity interests) if we are a transferee in such transactions, under SAT Circular 7 and SAT Circular 37. For transfer of shares by investors who are non-PRC resident enterprises, our PRC subsidiary may be requested to assist in the filing under the SAT circulars. As a result, we may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with the SAT circulars or to request the relevant transferors from whom we purchase taxable assets to comply with these circulars, or to establish that we should not be taxed under these circulars, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our PRC subsidiary is subject to restrictions on paying dividends or making other payments to us, which may have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. We may need dividends and other distributions on equity from our PRC subsidiary to satisfy our liquidity requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders and service any debt we may incur. If our PRC subsidiary incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us. In addition, the PRC tax authorities may require our PRC subsidiary to adjust its taxable income under the contractual agreements Tianyu currently has in place with Shengfeng Logistics in a manner that would materially and adversely affect its ability to pay dividends and other distribution to us. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—The VIE Agreements may result in adverse tax consequences.”
Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to us only out of its accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our PRC subsidiary is required to set aside at least 10% of its respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds until the total amount set aside reaches 50% of their respective registered capital. Our PRC subsidiary may also allocate a portion of its respective after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to employee welfare and bonus funds at its discretion. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. These limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends or make other distributions to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments, or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.
Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment and our payment of dividends.
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. We receive substantially all of our revenue in RMB. Under our current corporate structure, Shengfeng Cayman may rely on dividend payments from our PRC subsidiary, Tianyu, to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our PRC subsidiary is able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, subject to the condition that the remittance of such dividends outside of the PRC complies with certain procedures under PRC foreign exchange regulation, such as the overseas investment registrations by our shareholders or the ultimate shareholders of our corporate shareholders who are PRC residents. Approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is, however, required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demand, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders.
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There are significant uncertainties under the EIT Law relating to the withholding tax liabilities of our PRC subsidiary, and dividends payable by our PRC subsidiary to our offshore subsidiaries may not qualify to enjoy certain treaty benefits.
Under the EIT Law and its implementation rules, the profits of a foreign-invested enterprise generated through operations, which are distributed to its immediate holding company outside the PRC, will be subject to a withholding tax rate of 10%. Pursuant to the Arrangement between the Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, or the “Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement,” a withholding tax rate of 10% may be lowered to 5% if the PRC enterprise is at least 25% held by a Hong Kong enterprise for at least 12 consecutive months prior to distribution of the dividends and is determined by the relevant PRC tax authority to have satisfied other conditions and requirements under the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement and other applicable PRC laws.
However, based on the Circular on Certain Issues with Respect to the Enforcement of Dividend Provisions in Tax Treaties, or the “SAT Circular 81,” which became effective on February 20, 2009, if the relevant PRC tax authorities determine, in their discretion, that a company benefits from such reduced income tax rate due to a structure or arrangement that is primarily tax-driven, such PRC tax authorities may adjust the preferential tax treatment. According to Circular on Several Issues regarding the “Beneficial Owner” in Tax Treaties, which became effective as of April 1, 2018, when determining an applicant’s status as the “beneficial owner” regarding tax treatments in connection with dividends, interests, or royalties in the tax treaties, several factors will be taken into account. Such factors include whether the business operated by the applicant constitutes actual business activities, and whether the counterparty country or region to the tax treaties does not levy any tax, grant tax exemption on relevant incomes, or levy tax at an extremely low rate. This circular further requires any applicant who intends to be proved of being the “beneficial owner” to file relevant documents with the relevant tax authorities. Our PRC subsidiary is wholly owned by our Hong Kong subsidiary. However, we cannot assure you that our determination regarding our qualification to enjoy the preferential tax treatment will not be challenged by the relevant PRC tax authority or we will be able to complete the necessary filings with the relevant PRC tax authority and enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% under the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement with respect to dividends to be paid by our PRC subsidiary to our Hong Kong subsidiary, in which case, we would be subject to the higher withdrawing tax rate of 10% on dividends received.
If we become directly subject to the scrutiny, criticism, and negative publicity involving U.S.-listed Chinese companies, we may have to expend significant resources to investigate and resolve the matter which could harm our business operations, stock price, and reputation.
U.S. public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China have been the subject of intense scrutiny, criticism, and negative publicity by investors, financial commentators, and regulatory agencies, such as the SEC. Much of the scrutiny, criticism, and negative publicity has centered on financial and accounting irregularities and mistakes, a lack of effective internal controls over financial accounting, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud. As a result of the scrutiny, criticism, and negative publicity, the publicly traded stock of many U.S. listed Chinese companies sharply decreased in value and, in some cases, has become virtually worthless. Many of these companies are now subject to shareholder lawsuits and SEC enforcement actions and are conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations. It is not clear what effect this sector-wide scrutiny, criticism, and negative publicity will have on us, our business, and the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares. If we become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we will have to expend significant resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend our Company. This situation will be costly and time consuming and distract our management from developing our business. If such allegations are not proven to be groundless, we and our business operations will be severely affected and you could sustain a significant decline in the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
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The disclosures in our reports and other filings with the SEC and our other public pronouncements are not subject to the scrutiny of any regulatory bodies in the PRC.
We are regulated by the SEC, and our reports and other filings with the SEC are subject to SEC review in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. Our SEC reports and other disclosure and public pronouncements are not subject to the review or scrutiny of any PRC regulatory authority. For example, the disclosure in our SEC reports and other filings are not subject to the review by the CSRC, a PRC regulator that is responsible for oversight of the capital markets in China. Accordingly, you should review our SEC reports, filings, and our other public pronouncements with the understanding that no local regulator has done any review of us, our SEC reports, other filings, or any of our other public pronouncements.
The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the “CSRC,” may be required in connection with future financial activities under a regulation adopted in August 2006, and, if required, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such approval, in which case we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies for failure to seek the CSRC approval for future financial activities.
The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors, or the “M&A Rules,” adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, requires an overseas SPV formed for listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC companies or individuals to obtain the approval of the CSRC, prior to the listing and trading of such SPV’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. In September 2006, the CSRC published a notice on its official website specifying documents and materials required to be submitted to it by an SPV seeking the CSRC approval of its overseas listings. The application of the M&A Rules remains unclear.
Our PRC legal counsel has advised us, based on their understanding of the current PRC law, rules, and regulations that the CSRC’s approval is not required for the listing and trading of our shares on Nasdaq, given that:
| ● | we established our PRC subsidiary by means of direct investment rather than by merger with or acquisition of PRC domestic companies as defined in the M&A Rules; | |
| ● | the CSRC already promulgated the Trial Measures and its supporting guidelines, which came into effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures and its supporting guidelines shall apply to overseas securities offerings and/or listings conducted by companies incorporated overseas which normally have been treated as overseas special purpose vehicles with operations primarily in the PRC and valued on the basis of interests in PRC domestic companies; and | |
| ● | no explicit provision in the M&A Rules or the Trial Measures classifies the VIE Agreements as a type of acquisition transaction subject to the M&A Rules. |
Our PRC legal counsel, however, has further advised us that there remains some uncertainty as to how the M&A Rules will be interpreted or implemented in the context of an overseas offering and its opinions summarized above are subject to any new laws, rules and regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations in any form relating to the M&A Rules. We cannot assure you that relevant PRC governmental agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as we do. If it is determined that the CSRC approval is required for future financial activities, we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies if we fail to seek the CSRC approval for future financial activities. These sanctions may include fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC, limitations on our operating privileges in the PRC, delays in or restrictions on the repatriation of the proceeds from future financial activities into the PRC, restrictions on or prohibition of the payments or remittance of dividends by our PRC subsidiary, or other actions that could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation, and prospects, as well as the trading price of our Class A Ordinary Shares. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies may also take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt the financial activities before the settlement and delivery of the Class A Ordinary Shares that we are offering. Consequently, if you engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to the settlement and delivery of the Class A Ordinary Shares we are offering, you would be doing so at the risk that the settlement and delivery may not occur.
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We may be required to obtain permission from Chinese authorities (i) to issue our Class A Ordinary Shares to foreign investors and/or (ii) for the VIE’s operations, and if either or both are required and we are not able to obtain such permission in a timely manner, the securities currently being offered may substantially decline in value and become worthless.
On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law, or the “Opinions.” The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Furthermore, they proposed to take measures, including promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems to control the risks and handle the incidents from China-based overseas-listed companies. On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Measures, and five supporting guidelines, which came into effect on March 31, 2023. According to the Trial Measures, (1) domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, should fulfill the filing procedure to the CSRC; (2) if the issuer meets both of the following conditions, the overseas offering and listing shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing by a domestic company: (i) any of the total assets, net assets, revenues or profits of the domestic operating entities of the issuer in the most recent accounting year accounts for more than 50% of the corresponding figure in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statements for the same period; (ii) its major operational activities are carried out in China or its main places of business are located in China, or the senior managers in charge of operation and management of the issuer are mostly Chinese citizens or are domiciled in China; and (3) where a domestic company seeks to indirectly offer and list securities in an overseas market, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity responsible for all filing procedures with the CSRC, and where an issuer makes an application for initial public offering and listing in an overseas market, the issuer shall submit filings with the CSRC within three business days after such application is submitted. The New Overseas Listing Rules further require Chinese domestic enterprises to complete filings with relevant governmental authorities and report related information under certain circumstances, such as: a) an issuer making an application for initial public offering and listing in an overseas market; b) an issuer making an overseas securities offering after having been listed on an overseas market; and c) a domestic company seeking an overseas direct or indirect listing of its assets through single or multiple acquisition(s), share swap, transfer of shares or other means. The required filing scope is not limited to the initial public offering, but also includes subsequent overseas securities offering, single or multiple acquisition(s), share swap, transfer of shares or other means to seek an overseas direct or indirect listing and a secondary listing or dual major listing of issuers already listed overseas. If a domestic company fails to complete the required filing procedures or conceals any material fact or falsifies any major content in its filing documents, such domestic company may be subject to administrative penalties, such as orders to rectify, warnings, fines, and its controlling shareholders, actual controllers, the person directly in charge and other directly liable persons may also be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings and fines.
On February 24, 2023, the CSRC, together with Ministry of Finance of the PRC, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China, revised the Provisions, which were issued by the CSRC, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China in 2009. The revised Provisions were issued under the title the “Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies”, and came into effect on March 31, 2023 together with the Trial Measures. One of the major revisions to the revised Provisions is expanding their application to cover indirect overseas offering and listing, as is consistent with the Trial Measures. The revised Provisions require that, including, but not limited, to (a) a domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals or entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any documents and materials that contain state secrets or working secrets of government agencies, shall first obtain approval from competent authorities according to law, and file with the secrecy administrative department at the same level; and (b) domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals and entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any other documents and materials that, if leaked, will be detrimental to national security or public interest, shall strictly fulfill relevant procedures stipulated by applicable national regulations. As of the date of this annual report, the revised Provisions have come into effect and we are not aware of any PRC laws or regulations in effect requiring that we obtain permission from any PRC authorities to issue securities to foreign investors, nor have we received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction or any regulatory objection from the CSRC, the CAC, or any other Chinese authorities that have jurisdiction over our operations. However, any failure or perceived failure by the Company, its PRC Subsidiary or the VIE to comply with the above confidentiality and archives administration requirements under the revised Provisions and other PRC laws and regulations may result in the relevant entities being held legally liable by competent authorities, and referred to the judicial organ to be investigated for criminal liability if suspected of committing a crime The Opinions, the Trial Measures, the revised Provisions and any related implementing rules to be enacted may subject us to compliance requirement in the future. We are currently not required to obtain any permission or approval from Chinese authorities to list on U.S. exchanges nor to execute the VIE Agreements. However, if we inadvertently conclude that such permission or approval is not required, or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and the VIE or the holding company are required to obtain such permission or approval in the future and are denied such permission or approval from the Chinese authorities to list on U.S. exchanges, we will not be able to continue listing on U.S. exchanges or continue to offer securities to investors, which could cause significant depreciation of the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares and materially affect the interest of the investors.
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According to the Notice on the Administrative Arrangements for the Filing of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies from the CSRC, or the CSRC Notice, the domestic companies that have already been listed overseas before the effective date of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures (i.e. March 31, 2023) shall be deemed as the Existing Issuers. Existing Issuers are not required to complete the filing procedures immediately, and they shall be required to file with the CSRC for any subsequent offerings. Further, according to the CSRC Notice, domestic company obtained approval from overseas regulatory authorities or securities exchanges (for example, the effectiveness of a registration statement for offering and listing in the U.S. has been obtained) for their indirect overseas offering and listing prior to March 31, 2023 but have not yet completed their indirect overseas issuance and listing, are granted a six-month transition period from March 31, 2023 to September 30, 2023. Those that complete their indirect overseas offering and listing within such six-month period are deemed as Existing Issuers and are not required to file with the CSRC for their indirect overseas offerings and listings. Within such six-month transition period, however, if such domestic companies fail to complete their indirect overseas issuance and listing, they shall complete the filing procedures with the CSRC. Based on the foregoing, according to our PRC counsel, since our registration statement on Form F-1 was declared effective on March 30, 2023, and we completed our IPO and listing before September 30, 2023, we were not required to complete filing procedures pursuant to the Trial Measures for our IPO.
On February 24, 2023, the CSRC, together with Ministry of Finance of the PRC, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China, revised the Provisions, which was issued by the CSRC, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China in 2009. The revised Provisions is issued under the title the “Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies”, and came into effect on March 31, 2023 together with the Trial Measures. One of the major revisions to the revised Provisions is expanding their application to cover indirect overseas offering and listing, as is consistent with the Trial Measures. The revised Provisions require that, including, but not limited to, (a) a domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals or entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any documents and materials that contain state secrets or working secrets of government agencies, shall first obtain approval from competent authorities according to law, and file with the secrecy administrative department at the same level; and (b) domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals and entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any other documents and materials that, if leaked, will be detrimental to national security or public interest, shall strictly fulfill relevant procedures stipulated by applicable national regulations. Any new rules or regulations promulgated in the future in that regard may impose additional requirements or restrictions on us. If we fail to comply with these regulatory requirements, relevant regulatory authorities may impose fines and penalties on our operations in China, limit our ability to pay dividends outside of China, limit our operating privileges in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds into China, or even take other actions that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects and the trading price of our shares.
The Chinese government has exercised and continued to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulations and state ownership. Our ability to operate in the PRC may be significantly harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environment, land use rights, property, cybersecurity and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new and stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations with little or no advance notice that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future, including regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on the economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could result in our divesting ourselves of any interest we then hold in our operations in China.
Furthermore, it is uncertain when and whether we will be required to obtain permission or approval from the PRC government to list on U.S. exchanges or to execute the VIE Agreements in the future, when such permission will be obtained, if at all, or whether it will be denied or rescinded. Although we are currently not required to obtain permission or approval from any of the PRC central or local governments for the VIE’s operations and/or the Company’s issuance of securities to foreign investors, nor have we received any denial to list on the U.S. exchange or to execute the VIE Agreements, our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to our business or industry. As indicated by the recent statements from the PRC government, the PRC government may take actions to exert more oversight and control over the offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in PRC-based issuers, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
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The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for certain acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.
The M&A Rules and recently adopted PRC regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time consuming and complex. For example, the M&A Rules require that MOFCOM be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise, if (i) any important industry is concerned, (ii) such transaction involves factors that have or may have impact on the national economic security, or (iii) such transaction will lead to a change in control of a domestic enterprise which holds a famous trademark or PRC time-honored brand. Mergers or acquisitions that allow one market player to take control of or to exert decisive impact on another market player must also be notified in advance to MOFCOM when the threshold under the Provisions on Thresholds for Prior Notification of Concentrations of Undertakings, or the “Prior Notification Rules,” issued by the State Council in August 2008 is triggered.
In addition, the security review rules issued by MOFCOM that became effective in September 2011 specify that mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise “national defense and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise “national security” concerns are subject to strict review by MOFCOM, and the rules prohibit any activities attempting to bypass a security review, including by structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement. In the future, we may grow our business by acquiring complementary businesses. Complying with the requirements of the above-mentioned regulations and other relevant rules to complete such transactions could be time consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from MOFCOM or its local counterparts may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions. It is clear that our business would not be deemed to be in an industry that raises “national defense and security” or “national security” concerns. MOFCOM or other government agencies, however, may publish explanations in the future determining that our business is in an industry subject to the security review, in which case our future acquisitions in the PRC, including those by way of entering into contractual control arrangements with target entities, may be closely scrutinized or prohibited. Our ability to expand our business or maintain or expand our market share through future acquisitions would as such be materially and adversely affected.
The Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities. Any actions by the Chinese government, including any decision to intervene or influence our operations or to exert control over any offering of securities conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, may cause us to make material changes to our operation, may limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, and may cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
The Chinese government has exercised and may continue to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future, including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms and to return to a more centrally planned economy or regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of any interest we then hold in Chinese properties.
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As such, the Company’s business segments may be subject to various government and regulatory interference in the provinces in which they operate. The Company could be subject to regulation by various political and regulatory entities, including various local and municipal agencies and government sub-divisions. The Company may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply.
Furthermore, it is uncertain when and whether the Company will be required to obtain permission from the PRC government to list on U.S. exchanges or enter into VIE Agreements in the future, and even when such permission is obtained, whether it will be denied or rescinded. Although the Company is currently not required to obtain permission from any of the PRC federal or local government to obtain such permission and has not received any denial to list on the U.S. exchange and or enter into VIE Agreements, our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to our business or industry.
Risks Relating to Our Business and Our Industry
Any service disruption experienced by our regional sorting centers, cloud-based order fulfillment centers (“Cloud OFCs”), or service outlets may adversely affect our business operations.
Our daily operations heavily rely on the orderly performance of our regional sorting centers, Cloud OFCs, service outlets, freight sorting facilities, and storages. Any service disruption due to: automated facilities failures, under-capacity during peak freight volume periods, force majeure events, third-party sabotage and disputes, employee delinquencies, worker strikes, governmental inspections, orders, or mandates, or shutdowns (temporary or permanent) will adversely impact our business operations by causing delays, suspensions, interruptions, or halts. In the event of a service disruption, freights will be redirected to other nearby regional sorting centers, Cloud OFCs, or service outlets, but the rerouting process will likely increase the risks in delay and delivery errors. At the same time, rerouting freights will increase pressures such as capacity and operation in freight sorting, storage, or pickup and delivery to local sorting centers, Cloud OFCs, or service outlets and spread further across the rest of our network. Any of the foregoing events may result in significant operational interruptions and slowdowns, client complaints, and reputational damage.
We face risks associated with the freight handled through our network.
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, handle a large volume of freights across our network daily, and we face challenges with respect to the protection and examination of freights. Freights within our network may be stolen, damaged, or lost for various reasons, and we or third-party transportation providers or both may be perceived or found liable for such incidents. In addition, we may fail to screen freight and detect unsafe, prohibited, or restricted items. Unsafe items, such as flammables, explosives, toxic, radioactive, or corrosive items and materials, may damage other freights within our network, injure recipients, and harm the personnel and assets of us and/or third-party transportation providers. Furthermore, if we fail to prevent prohibited or restricted items from entering into our network and if we participate in the transportation and delivery of such items, we may be subject to administrative or even criminal penalties, and if any personal injury or property damage is concurrently caused, we may be further liable for civil compensation.
The transportation of freight also involves inherent risks. We constantly have a large number of vehicles and personnel in transportation, and are therefore subject to risks associated with transportation safety, and the insurance maintained by us may not fully cover the damages caused by transportation related injuries or loss. From time to time, our vehicles and personnel may be involved in transportation accidents, and the freight carried by them may be lost or damaged. In addition, frictions or disputes may occasionally arise from the direct interactions between our pickup and delivery personnel with freight senders and recipients. Personal injuries or property damages may arise if such incidents escalate.
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Any of the foregoing could disrupt our services, cause us to incur substantial expenses, and divert the time and attention of our management. We and third-party transportation providers may face claims and incur significant liabilities if found liable or partially liable for any of injuries, damages, or losses. Claims against us may exceed the amount of our insurance coverage, or may not be covered by insurance at all. Governmental authorities may also impose significant fines on us or require us to adopt costly preventive measures. Furthermore, if our services are perceived to be insecure or unsafe by our clients, our business volume may be significantly reduced, and our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Our technology systems are critical to our business operations and growth prospects.
The satisfactory performance, reliability, and availability of our technology system is critical to our ability to provide high-quality client services. We rely on our proprietary Shengfeng Transportation Management System, or “Shengfeng TMS,” to efficiently operate our network, and our warehouse management system, or “WMS,” to optimize our warehouse storage and management services. These integrated systems support the smooth performance of certain key functions of our business, such as shipment transportation and tracking management, payment calculation, client services, storage management and order management. In addition, the maintenance and processing of various operating and financial data is essential to the daily operations of our business and formulation of our development strategies. Therefore, our business operations and growth prospects depend, in part, on our ability to maintain and make timely and cost-effective enhancements and upgrades to our technology systems and to introduce innovative additions which can meet changing operational needs. Failure to invest enough in information technology and equipment could cause economic losses and put us at a disadvantage to our competitors. We can provide no assurance that we will be able to keep up with technological improvements or that the technology developed by others will not render our services less competitive or attractive.
Any interruptions caused by telecommunications failures, computer viruses, hacking, or other attempts to harm our systems that result in the unavailability or slowdown of our systems could quickly impact the workflow in a large portion of, if not the entire, network. We can provide no assurance that our current security mechanisms will be sufficient to protect our technology systems from any third-party intrusions, viruses or hacker attacks, information or data theft, or other similar activities. Any such occurrences could disrupt our services, damage our reputation, and harm our results of operations.
Failure to renew our current leases or locate desirable alternatives for our facilities could materially and adversely affect our business.
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, lease properties for a majority of our offices, regional sorting centers, Cloud OFCs and service outlets. We may not be able to successfully extend or renew such leases upon expiration of the current term on commercially reasonable terms or at all, and may therefore be forced to relocate the affected operations. This could disrupt our operations and result in significant relocation expenses, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, we compete with other businesses for premises at certain locations or of desirable sizes. As a result, even though we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, could extend or renew our leases, rental payments may significantly increase as a result of the high demand for the leased properties. In addition, we may not be able to locate desirable alternative sites for our facilities as our business continues to grow and failure in relocating our affected operations could adversely affect our business and operations.
Moreover, certain lessors have not provided us with valid ownership certificates. Under the relevant PRC laws and regulations, if the lessors are unable to obtain certificates of title because such properties were built illegally or failed to pass the inspection or other reasons, such lease agreements may be recognized as void and as a result, we may be required to vacate the relevant properties. In addition, if our lessors are not the owners of the properties and they have not obtained consents from the owners or their lessors or permits from the relevant government authorities, our leases could be invalidated. As a result, we may be subject to challenges, lawsuits or other actions taken against us with respect to the properties leased to us that are without valid title certificates from the relevant lessors.
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Under PRC laws, all lease agreements are required to be registered with the local housing authorities. Some of our lease agreements have not been registered with the relevant government authorities. Failure to complete these required registrations may expose our landlords, lessors and the Company to potential monetary fines.
Our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected if we or third-party transportation providers are unable to provide high-quality services to our clients.
The success of our business largely depends on our ability to maintain and further enhance our service quality. About 30% of our freight transportation services are provided, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, by our self-owned fleet and the balance is provided by third-party transportation providers. Together with third-party transportation providers, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, provide B2B freight transportation services, cloud storage, and value-added services to our clients. If we or third-party transportation providers are unable to provide services in a timely, reliable, safe, and secure manner, our reputation and client loyalty could be negatively affected. If our client service personnel fail to satisfy client needs and respond effectively to client complaints, we may lose potential or existing clients and experience a decrease in client orders, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We face intense competition which could adversely affect our results of operations and market share.
We operate in a highly competitive and fragmented industry. We compete with many local, regional, and national logistics providers including Sinotrans Logistics Ltd., Beijing Changjiu Logistics Co., Ltd., and Kerry Logistics (EAS) Limited. We compete with them based on a number of factors, including service pricing, transportation speed, service offerings, and service quality. In particular, we may face downward pricing pressure from our competitors. If we cannot effectively control our costs to remain competitive, our market share and revenue may decline.
Furthermore, as we diversify service offerings and further expand our client base, we may face competition from existing or new players in those new sectors. In particular, we may face competition from existing or new express delivery service providers which may expand their service offerings to freight transportation and logistics services or adopt a business model disruptive to our business and compete with us for hiring of delivery personnel. Similarly, existing players in an adjacent or sub-market may choose to leverage their existing infrastructure and expand their services to serve our clients. If these players succeed in doing so, our business could be encroached by their entrance and adversely affected.
Certain of our current and potential competitors, as well as international logistics operators with presence in China, may have significantly greater resources, longer operating histories, larger client bases, and greater brand recognition than us. They may be acquired by, receive investment from, or enter into strategic relationships with, established and well-financed companies or investors which would help enhance their competitiveness. In view of this, some of our competitors may adopt more aggressive pricing policies or devote greater resources to marketing and promotional campaigns than us. We may not be able to compete successfully against current or future competitors, and competitive pressures may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We may be subject to catastrophic events.
A disruption or failure of our systems or operations in the event of a major earthquake, weather event, cyber-attack, heightened security measures, actual or threatened terrorist attack, strike, civil unrest, pandemic, or other catastrophic event could cause delays in providing services or performing other critical functions. A catastrophic event that results in the destruction or disruption of any of our critical business or information systems could harm our ability to conduct normal business operations and adversely impact our operating results.
Our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows have been adversely affected by COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a series of governmental orders and mandates, including lockdowns, closures, quarantines, and travel bans in order to contain and control the spread of the virus.
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Consequently, the COVID-19 pandemic has materially and adversely affected our business operations and conditions and operating results for 2020, including material negative impact on our total revenue and net income. As a result of the government-imposed restrictions, the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries’ facilities and operations were mostly closed from February 2020 to late March 2020. The VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries gradually resumed operation during February and March 2020, but it was not until April 2020 that we resumed full operation, which has caused a decrease in our net revenue and also adversely affected our marketing activities during the closure. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, took a series of measures in response to the pandemic, including, among others, the establishment of a special team for epidemic prevention and control, the remote working arrangements for some of our employees, and the requirement for our employees on site to take extra measures and procedures to lower the risks of COVID-19 exposure. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, also donated some epidemic prevention materials to areas and entities in need. These measures reduced the capacity and efficiency of our operations and increased our expenditures.
The spread of COVID-19 has caused us to incur incremental costs. However, by leveraging our advantages in the logistics fields and our networks, we were able to resume a larger portion of our operations in late March 2020 and have seen an increase in demand for our services since April 2020. Furthermore, to mitigate any negative impacts that COVID-19 may have on our operations, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, implemented a variety of measures, including disinfection of offices, free mask distribution, temperature monitoring to ensure the safety of our employees returning to work, setting up quarantine rooms for employees and separate rest areas for drivers to avoid unnecessary contact, and disinfection of all the vehicles in and out of our locations. After the initial outbreak of COVID-19, from time to time, some instances of COVID-19 infections have emerged in various regions of China, including the infections caused by the Omicron variants in early 2022. For example, a wave of infections caused by the Omicron variants emerged in Shanghai in early 2022 and a series of restrictions and quarantines were implemented to contain the spread. From April to May, 2022, our Shanghai office was shut down and all the businesses in Shanghai were closed, which negatively affected our operational and financial results. Our shanghai office resumed full operation in June 2022. Since December 2022, many of the restrictive measures previously adopted by the PRC governments at various levels to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus have been revoked or replaced with more flexible measures.
The COVID-19 pandemic has broadly affected China’s logistic market and the macroeconomy. Our results of operations and financial performance may be adversely affected, to the extent that COVID-19 exerts long-term negative impact on the Chinese economy. The pandemic caused temporary disruptions in the supply chains for companies in China and elsewhere, including us and our customers and suppliers. As a result, we have experienced lower efficiency, increased aging of our trade receivable, longer collection period and more bad debts. which could adversely affect our business operation. However, by leveraging our advantages in the logistics fields and our networks, our results of operation for the year ended December 31, 2023 have not been materially negatively affected by the COVID-19.
Changes in industry regulations and industrial policies may affect our future performance.
Providing logistics services requires business licensing and is subject to various laws, administrative rules and industry standards. In order to support the development of the logistics industry, governments at various levels have successively introduced a number of industrial support and encouragement policies.
Pursuant to the Administrative Provisions Concerning the Running of Cargo Vehicles with Out-of-Gauge Goods promulgated by the PRC Ministry of Transport, which became effective on September 21, 2016, cargo vehicles running on public roads shall not carry cargo weighing more than, and their dimensions shall not exceed, the limits set forth by such provisions. The operation of our vehicle fleet is subject to these provisions. If our trucks are not in compliance with such provisions, we may be required to reduce the length of our trucks or purchase new ones to replace them. Otherwise, we may be subject to penalties if we continue to operate those trucks that exceed the limits set forth in the provisions.
New laws and regulations may be promulgated from time to time and substantial uncertainties exist regarding the interpretation and implementation of current and future PRC laws and regulations applicable to our businesses. If the PRC government promulgates new laws and regulations that require additional approvals or licenses or imposes additional restrictions on our daily operations, it has the authority, among other things, to levy fines, confiscate income, revoke business licenses, and require us to discontinue our relevant business or impose restrictions on the affected portion of our business. Any of these actions by the PRC government may have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations.
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Relevant state policies on environmental protection may affect our future performance.
Logistics service companies and provides rely on various types and models of transportation vehicles to perform its daily operations, but due to heavy regulations in environmental protection, energy conservation, and emission reductions, an increase in expenses is expected to incurred; which may directly or indirectly affect our future performances.
If our clients are able to reduce their logistics and supply chain costs or increase utilization of their internal solutions, our business and operating results may be materially and adversely affected.
One of the main reasons that clients use contract logistics companies is because traditional logistics is comprised of high cost, high degree of difficulties in association with developing in-house logistics and supply chain expertise, and operational deficiencies. If, however, our clients are able to develop their own logistics and supply chain solutions, increase utilization of their in-house supply chain, reduce their logistics spending, or otherwise choose to terminate our services, our business and operating results may be materially and adversely affected.
We may not be able to maintain and enhance our ecosystem, which could negatively affect our business and prospects.
Our ability to maintain our ecosystem that creates strong network effects among our participants is critical to our success. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Our Ecosystem.” While our ecosystem provides synergies and economies of scale across services and among our ecosystem participants, the extent to which we are able to maintain and strengthen the attractiveness of our ecosystem depends on our ability to offer a mutually beneficial platform for all participants, maintain the quality of our services and solutions, develop attractive services and solutions that meet the evolving needs of our ecosystem participants, reinforce the scope and scale of our ecosystem, and retain our participants. We must also provide sufficient geographic coverage to cement the effectiveness of our transportation network, continue to utilize data to improve service quality and operational efficiency of all ecosystem participants, and maintain and improve our technology infrastructure as part of our single interoperable system to ensure seamless operations.
In addition, our ecosystem participants may compete with one another, which may complicate the management of our ecosystem. Further, changes made to enhance our ecosystem or balance the interests of participants may be viewed positively by one participant but may have negative effects upon another. If we fail to balance the interests of all participants in our ecosystem, we may fail to further attract and retain additional ecosystem participants, which could adversely impact our business and financial condition.
We face risks from fuel price fluctuation.
Transportation cost is one of the major costs of companies in the contract logistics industry, and fuel cost is a component of transportation cost. Fluctuation of fuel prices will have a certain impact on the profitability of contract logistics service providers. Fuel costs accounted for approximately 2.45% of our total cost of revenue for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Considering the number of vehicles we own, it is estimated that if the fuel price fluctuates by +/- 5%, the cost of revenue may increase or decrease by $0.44 million for the current year, which will either increase or decrease our net profit by a maximum of $0.33 million. Fuel costs accounted for approximately 4.13% of our total cost of revenue for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. Considering the number of vehicles we own, it was estimated that if the fuel price fluctuated by +/- 5%, the cost of revenue may increase or decrease by $0.68 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, which would either increase or decrease our net profit by a maximum of $0.51 million. Fuel costs accounted for approximately 3.8% of our total operational expenses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Considering the number of vehicles we own, it was estimated that if the fuel price fluctuated by +/- 5%, the cost of revenue may increase or decrease by $0.58 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, which would either increase or decrease our net profit by a maximum of $0.43 million. If fuel prices rise significantly in the future, we will experience the pressure of increased costs.
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Our past growth rates may not be indicative of our future growth, and if we are not able to manage our growth effectively, our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
Our business has grown substantially in recent years, but our past growth rates may not be indicative of our future growth. Our expansion has placed, and will continue to place, substantial demands on our managerial, operational, technological, and other resources. To manage and support our continued growth, we must continue to improve our operational, administrative, financial, and technological systems, procedures, and controls, and expand, train, and manage our growing employee and agent base. Even if we are able to expand our network as planned, we may not be able to continue to integrate and optimize a larger network. We cannot assure you that our current and planned personnel, systems, procedures, and controls will be adequate to support our future operations. Any failure to effectively and efficiently manage our expansion could materially and adversely affect our ability to capitalize on new business opportunities, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Client demand is difficult to forecast accurately, and as a result we may be unable to make planning and spending decisions to match such demand.
We make planning and spending decisions, including capacity expansion, procurement commitments, personnel needs, and other resource requirements based on our estimates of client demand. The freight volume we generate from clients can vary significantly and unexpectedly, reducing our ability to accurately estimate future client demand. In particular, we may potentially experience capacity and resource shortages in fulfilling client orders during peak season of e-commerce consumption or following special promotional campaigns on any e-commerce platforms. Failure to meet client demand in a timely fashion or at all adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our future success depends on the continuing efforts of our senior management team and other key personnel, and our business may be harmed if we lose their services.
Our future success depends heavily upon the continuing services of the members of our senior management team and other key personnel, in particular Mr. Yongxu Liu, our chairman of the board, or “Chairman,” and chief executive officer. In addition, because of the importance of training to our business, our team of dedicated training professionals plays a key role in our operations. If one or more of our senior executives or other key personnel, including key training personnel, are unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, we may not be able to replace them easily or at all, and our business may be disrupted and our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. Competition for senior management and key personnel is intense, the pool of qualified candidates is very limited, and we may not be able to retain the services of our senior executives or key personnel, or attract and retain high-quality senior executives or key personnel in the future. As is customary in the PRC, we do not have insurance coverage for the loss of our senior management team or other key personnel.
In addition, if any member of our senior management team or any of our other key personnel joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may lose clients, sensitive trade information, and key professionals and staff members. Each of our executive officers and key employees has entered into an employment agreement with us which contains confidentiality and non-competition provisions. These agreements generally have an initial term of three years, and are automatically extended for successive one-year terms unless terminated earlier pursuant to the terms of the agreement. If any disputes arise between any of our senior executives or key personnel and us, we cannot assure you of the extent to which any of these agreements may be enforced.
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We use third-party services in connection with our business, and any disruption to these services could result in a disruption to our business, negative publicity, and a slowdown in the growth of our customer base, materially and adversely affecting our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our business depends on the services provided by, and relationships with, various third parties, including third-party transportation providers, among others. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, about 77%, 71% and 70% of our freight transportation services were provided by third-party transportation providers, respectively, which included owner-operators of a single truck, private fleets, and large trucking companies. Several third-party transportation providers contributed a significant part of the total cost of revenue of the Company. In particular, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, Fujian Jinwang Yuntong Logistics Technology Co., Ltd. contributed approximately 32.7% of the total cost of revenue of the Company. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, Fujian Jinwang Yuntong Logistics Technology Co., Ltd. contributed approximately 23.5% of the total cost of revenue of the Company. For the year ended December 31, 2021, Anhui Luge Transportation Co., Ltd. contributed approximately 27.8% of the total cost of revenue of the Company. The failure of these and other third parties to perform in compliance with our agreements may negatively impact our business.
Damages to brand image and corporate reputation could materially and adversely impact our business.
We believe our brand image and corporate reputation play an increasingly important role in enhancing our competitiveness and maintaining our business growth. Many factors, some of which are beyond our control, may negatively impact our brand image and corporate reputation if not properly managed. These factors include our ability to provide superior services to our clients, successfully conduct marketing and promotional activities, manage complaints and events of negative publicity, and maintain positive perception of our Company, our peers, and the contract logistics industry in general. Any actual or perceived deterioration of our service quality, which is based on an array of factors including client satisfaction, rate of complaint, and rate of accident, could subject us to damages such as loss of important clients. Any negative publicity against us or our peers could cause damages to our corporate reputation and changes to the government policies and regulatory environment. If we are unable to promote our brand image and protect our corporate reputation, we may not be able to maintain and grow our client base, and our business and growth prospects may be adversely affected.
We may not be able to prevent others from unauthorized use of our intellectual property, which could harm our business and competitive position.
We regard our trademarks, domain names, trade secrets, proprietary technologies, and other intellectual property as critical to our business. We rely on a combination of intellectual property laws and contractual arrangements to protect our proprietary rights. It is often difficult to register, maintain, and enforce intellectual property rights in China. Statutory laws and regulations are subject to judicial interpretation and enforcement and may not be applied consistently due to the lack of clear guidance on statutory interpretation. Confidentiality agreements and license agreements may be breached by counterparties, and there may not be adequate remedies available to us for any such breach. Accordingly, we may not be able to effectively protect our intellectual property rights or to enforce our contractual rights in China. Policing any unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and costly and the steps we have taken may be inadequate to prevent the misappropriation of our intellectual property. In the event that we resort to litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, such litigation could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our managerial and financial resources. We can provide no assurance that we will prevail in such litigation. In addition, our trade secrets may be leaked or otherwise become available to, or be independently discovered by, our competitors. Any failure in protecting or enforcing our intellectual property rights could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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Our business generates and processes a large quantity of data, and improper handling of or unauthorized access to such data may adversely affect our business. In light of recent events indicating greater oversight by the Cyberspace Administration of China, or CAC, over data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreign exchange, we are subject to a variety of laws and other obligations regarding cybersecurity and data protection, and any failure to comply with applicable laws and obligations could have a material and adverse effect on our business, our continued listing on Nasdaq, our financial condition, results of operations, and the subsequent offering.
Our business involves collecting and retaining certain internal and end customer personal data. For example, our PRC Subsidiaries collect end customer’s personal information in the ordinary course of business. We and our PRC Subsidiaries also maintain information about various aspects of our operations as well as regarding our employees. The integrity and protection of our customers, employees and company data is critical to our business. Our customers and employees expect that we and our PRC Subsidiaries will adequately protect their personal information. We and our PRC Subsidiaries are required by applicable laws to keep strictly confidential the personal information that we and our and our PRC Subsidiaries collect, and to take adequate security measures to safeguard such information. However, we face risks related to complying with applicable laws, rules, and regulations relating to the collection, use, disclosure, and security of personal information, as well as any requests from regulatory and government authorities relating to such data. We could be subject to cybersecurity review in the future.
The PRC regulatory and enforcement regime with regard to data security and data protection has continued to evolve. There are uncertainties on how certain laws and regulations will be implemented in practice. PRC regulators have been increasingly focused on regulating data security and data protection. We expect that these areas will receive greater attention from regulators, as well as attract public scrutiny and attention going forward. This greater attention, scrutiny, and enforcement, including more frequent inspections, could increase our compliance costs and subject us to heightened risks and challenges associated with data security and protection. If we are unable to manage these risks, our reputation and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations Relating to Internet Security.”
The Cybersecurity Law, which was adopted by the National People’s Congress on November 7, 2016 and came into force on June 1, 2017 provide that network operators must not, without users’ consent, collect their personal information, and may only collect users’ personal information necessary to provide their services. Providers are also obliged to provide security maintenance for their products and services and shall comply with provisions regarding the protection of personal information as stipulated under the relevant laws and regulations. The Cybersecurity Law also provides that personal information and important data collected and generated by a critical information infrastructure operator (“CIIO”) in the course of its operations in China must be stored in China. Due to the lack of further interpretations, the exact scope of what constitute a “CIIO” remains unclear.
On June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress promulgated the Data Security Law which took effect in September 2021. The Data Security Law requires that data shall not be collected by theft or other illegal means, and it also provides that a data classification and hierarchical protection system. The data classification and hierarchical protection system protects data according to its importance in economic and social development, and the damages it may cause to national security, public interests, or the legitimate rights and interests of individuals and organizations if the data is falsified, damaged, disclosed, illegally obtained or illegally used, which protection system is expected to be built by the state for data security in the near future. In addition, on November 14, 2021, CAC published the Administration Measures for Cyber Data Security (Draft for Public Comments), or the “Cyber Data Security Measure (Draft)” and accepted public comments until December 13, 2021. The Cyber Data Security Measure (Draft) provides that data processors shall apply for cybersecurity review under certain circumstances, such as mergers, restructurings, divisions of internet platform operators that hold large amount of data relating to national security, economic development or public interest which affects or may affect the national security, overseas listings of data processors that process personal data for more than one million individuals, Hong Kong listings of data processors that affect or may affect national security, and other data processing activities that affect or may affect the national security. In addition, data processors that process important data or are listed overseas shall carry out an annual data security assessment on their own or by engaging a data security services institution, and the data security assessment report for the prior year should be submitted to the local cyberspace affairs administration department before January 31 of each year. On December 28, 2021, the CAC, the NDRC, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or “MIIT,” the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State Security, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce, People’s Bank of China, or “PBOC,” the State Administration for Market Regulation, or “SAMR,” the State Administration of Radio and Television, CSRC, the State Secrecy Administration and the State Cryptography Administration jointly promulgated the Cybersecurity Review Measures, or the “Cybersecurity Review Measures,” which became effective on February 15, 2022. Pursuant to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, if critical information infrastructure operators purchase network products and services, or network platform operators conduct data processing activities that affect or may affect national security, they will be subject to cybersecurity review. A network platform operator holding more than one million users/users’ individual information also shall be subject to cybersecurity review before listing abroad. The cybersecurity review will evaluate, among others, the risk of critical information infrastructure, core data, important data, or a large amount of personal information being influenced, controlled or maliciously used by foreign governments and risk of network data security after going public overseas. The Cybersecurity Review Measures also provide the following key points: (i) companies who are engaged in data processing are also subject to the regulatory scope; (ii) the CSRC is included as one of the regulatory authorities for purposes of jointly establishing the state cybersecurity review working mechanism; and (iii) the risks of core data, material data or large amounts of personal information being stolen, leaked, destroyed, damaged, illegally used or transmitted to overseas parties and the risks of critical information infrastructure, core data, material data or large amounts of personal information being influenced, controlled or used maliciously shall be collectively taken into consideration during the cybersecurity review process.
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On July 7, 2022, the CAC published the Outbound Data Transfer Security Assessment Measures (the “Outbound Data Transfer Security Assessment Measures”), which became effective on September 1, 2022, specifies the circumstances in which data processors providing data outbound shall apply for outbound data transfer security assessment coordinated by the CAC, and applies to: (i) any data processor that transfers important data overseas; (ii) any critical information infrastructure operator or data processor that processes personal information of over 1 million people and provides such personal information overseas; (iii) any data processor that provides personal information overseas and has already provided personal information of more than 100,000 people or sensitive personal information of more than 10,000 people overseas since January 1st of the previous year and; and (iv) other circumstances under which the data cross-border transfer security assessment is required as prescribed by the CAC. However, the Outbound Data Transfer Security Assessment Measures do not clarify the other circumstances under which the CAC would require the outbound data transfer security assessment, which leaves additional uncertainty in its application and enforcement. If we are deemed to be a data handler providing important data outbound, we could be subject to the outbound data security assessment with the national Cyberspace Administration as mentioned above. As of the date of this annual report, we believe we do not meet the circumstances mentioned above that would require an application for a security assessment for outbound data transfer to the CAC.
As of the date of this annual report, we have not received any notice from any authorities identifying us as a CIIO or requiring us to undertake a cybersecurity review by the CAC. We also believe we are not subject to the cybersecurity review by the CAC, given that: (i) we presently possesses personal information of less than one (1) million individual users in our business operations as of the date of this annual report; and (ii) each of our PRC Subsidiaries is not a CIIO, as neither of them has been notified by the competent PRC government authorities for such purposes; and (iii) data processed in our business is less likely to have a bearing on national security, thus it may not be classified as core or important data by the authorities. However, there remains uncertainty as to how the Cybersecurity Review Measures will be interpreted or implemented and whether the PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, may adopt new laws, regulations, rules, or detailed implementation and interpretation related to the Cybersecurity Review Measures. If any such new laws, regulations, rules, or implementation and interpretation come into effect, we expect to take all reasonable measures and actions to comply. We cannot assure you that PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, would take the same view as we do, and there is no assurance that we can fully or timely comply with such laws should they be deemed applicable to our operations. We may be required to suspend new user registration in China or experience other disruptions to our operations should we be required to have a cybersecurity review by the CAC. Any cybersecurity review could also result in negative publicity with respect to our Company, diversion of our managerial and financial resources, and decrease in value of our Class A Ordinary Shares. There is no certainty as to how such review or prescribed actions would impact our operations and we cannot guarantee that any clearance can be obtained or any actions that may be required can be taken in a timely manner, or at all. For instance, if we or any of our PRC Subsidiaries are deemed to be a critical information infrastructure operator or if the number of individual end customers in our business operations increases to or even exceeds one (1) million, we and/or our PRC Subsidiaries may be still required to undertake a cybersecurity review by the CAC, and if so, we or our PRC Subsidiaries may not be able to pass such review in a timely manner or at all. Any failure or delay in the completion of the cybersecurity review procedures or any other non-compliance with the related laws and regulations may result in fines or other penalties, including suspension of business, website closure, and revocation of prerequisite licenses, as well as reputational damage or legal proceedings or actions against us, which could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, currently offer our mobile and desktop applications in China, and use authorization systems which granted different users with different access authority based on their positions and roles, to protect personal information in our system for data security protection. Although we have taken measures to protect personal information and privacy in our systems and platforms, we can provide no assurance that the measures we have taken are effective and that our systems and platforms are not subject to data breach. The regulatory requirements with respect to cybersecurity and data privacy are constantly evolving and can be subject to varying interpretations, and significant changes, resulting in uncertainties about the scope of our responsibilities in that regard. Failure to comply with the cybersecurity and data privacy requirements in a timely manner, or at all, may subject us to government enforcement actions and investigations, fines, penalties, suspension or disruption of our operations, among other things.
We also grant limited access to specified data on our technology platform to certain other ecosystem participants. These third parties face the same challenges and risks inherent in handling and protecting large volumes of data. Any system failure or security breach or lapse on our part or on the part of any of such third parties that results in the release of user data could harm our reputation and brand and, consequently, our business, in addition to exposing us to potential legal liability.
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—Regulations relating to Internet Information Security and Privacy Protection.”
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We have limited insurance coverage which could expose us to significant costs and business disruption.
We maintain various insurance policies to safeguard against risks and unexpected events. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have purchased compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance and commercial insurance such as automobile third-party liability insurance, property insurance, and cargo insurance. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have purchased employer liability insurance. We also provide work-related injury insurance to our employees. We are not legally required to maintain insurance for freight transportation of non-hazardous items. We do not maintain business interruption insurance, nor do we maintain key-man life insurance. We cannot assure you that our insurance coverage is sufficient to prevent us from any loss or that we will be able to successfully claim our losses under our current insurance policies on a timely basis, or at all. If we incur any loss that is not covered by our insurance policies, or the compensated amount is significantly less than our actual loss, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
If we fail to comply with regulations on commercial franchising may result in penalties to us.
Pursuant to the Regulations on Commercial Franchising promulgated by the State Council in February 2007 and Provisions on Administration of the Record Filing of Commercial Franchises issued by Ministry of Commerce in December 2011, collectively the Regulations and Provisions on Commercial Franchising, commercial franchising refers to the business activities where an enterprise that possesses the registered trademarks, enterprise logos, patents, proprietary technology, or any other business resources allows such business resources to be used by another business operator through contract and the franchisee follows the uniform business model to conduct business operation and pay franchising fees according to the contract. We and certain of our network partners may therefore be subject to regulations on commercial franchising. Under the relevant regulations, we may be required to file our cooperation arrangements with the network partners with the Ministry of Commerce or its local counterparts, but we have not made such filings. As of the date of this annual report, we have not received any order from any governmental authorities to make such filing. If relevant authorities determine that we have failed to report franchising activities in accordance with the regulations, we may be subject to fines ranging from RMB10,000 (approximately USD1,400) to RMB50,000 (approximately USD7,200) and if we fail to comply within the rectification period determined by the competent governmental authority, we may be subject to an additional fine ranging from RMB50,000 (approximately USD7,200) to RMB100,000 (approximately USD14,000) and the relevant authority may issue a public reprimand.
We face challenges associated with diversifying our service offerings.
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have in the past launched new service lines such as cloud storage services and other initiatives, and intend to continue to diversify our service offerings in the future. New services or new types of clients may involve risks and challenges we do not currently face. Such new initiatives may require us to devote significant financial and managerial resources and may not perform as expected.
In addition, we may not be able to successfully anticipate and address client demand and preferences in connection with new service offerings and our existing network and facilities may not be adaptable to the new services or clients. For example, different service offerings may impose different requirements and service standards. We may also be inexperienced with the operating models and cost structures associated with a new type of client or service offerings. If we take ineffective measures and cannot promptly adopt new and more effective measures, we may suffer losses. Further, we may not be able to ensure adequate service quality, and therefore may receive complaints or incur costly liability claims, which would harm our overall reputation and financial performance. We may not be able to achieve profitability or recoup our investments with respect to any new services or new types of clients in time or at all.
Risks Relating to Our Class A Ordinary Shares and the Trading Market
If we fail to establish and maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, our ability to accurately and timely report our financial results or prevent fraud may be adversely affected, and investor confidence and the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares may be adversely impacted.
We are subject to reporting obligations under U.S. securities laws. The SEC adopted rules pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requiring every public company to include a management report on such company’s internal control over financial reporting in its annual report, which contains management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting.
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Our independent registered public accounting firm has not conducted an audit of our internal control over financial reporting. However, in preparing our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, we have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in the standards established by the PCAOB, and other control deficiencies. The material weaknesses identified are (i) lack of accounting staff and resources with appropriate knowledge of U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting and compliance requirements and (ii) lack of proper controls designed and implemented in IT environment and IT general control activities, which mainly associated with areas of change management, access / logical Security, IT operations and cyber security. See “Item 15. Controls and Procedures—Disclosure Controls and Procedures”.
Our management is currently in the process of evaluating the steps necessary to remediate the ineffectiveness, such as (i) hiring more qualified accounting personnel with relevant U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting experience and qualifications to strengthen the financial reporting functions and to set up a financial and system control framework; (ii) implementing regular and continuous U.S. GAAP accounting and financial reporting training programs for our accounting and financial reporting personnel; and (iii) strengthening the supervision and controls on the IT functions, including the enhancement of logical security and work management. Measures that we expect to implement may not fully address the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting and we may not be able to conclude that the material weakness has been fully remedied.
Failure to correct the material weakness and other control deficiencies or failure to discover and address any other control deficiencies could result in inaccuracies in our consolidated financial statements and could also impair our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements and make related regulatory filings on a timely basis. As a result, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects, as well as the trading price of our Class A Ordinary Shares, may be materially and adversely affected. Due to the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as described above, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2023. This could adversely affect the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares due to a loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our reporting processes.
The dual class structure of our ordinary shares has the effect of concentrating voting control with our Chairman, and his interest may not be aligned with the interests of our other shareholders.
We have a dual-class voting structure consisting of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares. Under this structure, holders of Class A Ordinary Shares are entitled to one vote per one Class A Ordinary Share, and holders of Class B Ordinary Shares are entitled to 10 votes per one Class B Ordinary Share, which may cause the holders of Class B Ordinary Shares to have an unbalanced, higher concentration of voting power. As of the date of this annual report, Mr. Yongxu Liu, our chief executive officer and Chairman, beneficially owns 41,880,000, or 100%, of our issued Class B Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 91.16% of the voting rights in our Company. As a result, until such time as Mr. Yongxu Liu’s voting power is below 50%, Mr. Yongxu Liu as the controlling shareholder has substantial influence over our business, including decisions regarding mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, election of directors, and other significant corporate actions. He may take actions that are not in the best interests of us or our other shareholders. These corporate actions may be taken even if they are opposed by our other shareholders. Further, such concentration of voting power may discourage, prevent, or delay the consummation of change of control transactions that shareholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which shareholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares. Future issuances of Class B Ordinary Shares may also be dilutive to the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares. As a result, the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares could be adversely affected.
The dual-class structure of our ordinary shares may adversely affect the trading market for our Class A Ordinary Shares.
Several shareholder advisory firms have announced their opposition to the use of multiple class structures. As a result, the dual class structure of our ordinary shares may cause shareholder advisory firms to publish negative commentary about our corporate governance practices or otherwise seek to cause us to change our capital structure. Any actions or publications by shareholder advisory firms critical of our corporate governance practices or capital structure could also adversely affect the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
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Since we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing rules, we may follow certain exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that could adversely affect our public shareholders.
Our largest shareholder, Mr. Yongxu Liu, owns more than a majority of the voting power of our outstanding ordinary shares. Under the Nasdaq listing rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group, or another company is a “controlled company” and is permitted to phase in its compliance with the independent committee requirements. Although we do not intend to rely on the “controlled company” exemptions under the Nasdaq listing rules even if we are a “controlled company,” we could elect to rely on these exemptions in the future. If we were to elect to rely on the “controlled company” exemptions, a majority of the members of our board of directors might not be independent directors and our nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees might not consist entirely of independent directors. Accordingly, if we rely on the exemptions, during the period we remain a controlled company and during any transition period following a time when we are no longer a controlled company, you would not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq.
Substantial future sales of our Class A Ordinary Shares or the anticipation of future sales of our Class A Ordinary Shares in the public market could cause the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares to decline.
Sales of substantial amounts of our Class A Ordinary Shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares to decline. An aggregate of 40,617,513 Class A Ordinary Shares are outstanding as of the date of this annual report. Sales of these shares into the market could cause the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares to decline.
We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future.
We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the operation and expansion of our business, and we do not expect to declare or pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. As a result, you may only receive a return on your investment in our Class A Ordinary Shares if the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares increases.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if the publish a negative report regarding our Class A Ordinary Shares, the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares and trading volume could decline.
Any trading market for our Class A Ordinary Shares may depend in part on the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. We do not have any control over these analysts. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade us, the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares and the trading volume to decline.
The market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares may be volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance, and you may not be able to resell your shares at or above the public offering price.
From the closing of our initial public offering on April 4, 2023 to February 29, 2024, the closing price of our Class A Ordinary Shares has ranged from $1.50 per share to $16.79 per share. The trading price of our Class A Ordinary Shares is likely to continue to be volatile and could fluctuate widely due to factors beyond our control. This may happen because of broad market and industry factors, including the performance and fluctuation of the market prices of other companies with business operations located mainly in China that have listed their securities in the United States. The securities of some of these companies have experienced significant volatility since their initial public offerings, including, in some cases, substantial price declines in their trading prices. The trading performances of other Chinese companies’ securities after their offerings may affect the attitudes of investors toward Chinese companies listed in the United States in general and consequently may impact the trading performance of our Class A Ordinary Shares, regardless of our actual operating performance.
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The market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:
| ● | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our revenue and other operating results; |
| ● | the financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in these projections or our failure to meet these projections; |
| ● | actions of securities analysts who initiate or maintain coverage of us, changes in financial estimates by any securities analysts who follow our company, or our failure to meet these estimates or the expectations of investors; |
| ● | announcements by us or our competitors of significant products or features, technical innovations, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, or capital commitments; |
| ● | price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market, including as a result of trends in the economy as a whole; |
| ● | lawsuits threatened or filed against us; and |
| ● | other events or factors, including those resulting from war or incidents of terrorism, or responses to these events. |
In addition, the stock markets have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many companies. Stock prices of many companies have fluctuated in a manner unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. In the past, shareholders have filed securities class action litigation following periods of market volatility. If we were to become involved in securities litigation, it could subject us to substantial costs, divert resources and the attention of management from our business, and adversely affect our business.
The price of our Class A Ordinary Shares could be subject to rapid and substantial volatility. Such volatility, including any stock run-ups, may be unrelated to our actual or expected operating performance and financial condition or prospects, making it difficult for prospective investors to assess the rapidly changing value of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
There have been instances of extreme stock price run-ups followed by rapid price declines and strong stock price volatility with recent initial public offerings, especially among those with relatively smaller public floats. As a relatively small-capitalization company with a relatively small public float, we may experience greater share price volatility, extreme price run-ups, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than large-capitalization companies. In particular, our Class A Ordinary Shares may be subject to rapid and substantial price volatility, low volumes of trades, and large spreads in bid and ask prices. Such volatility, including any stock run-ups, may be unrelated to our actual or expected operating performance and financial condition or prospects, making it difficult for prospective investors to assess the rapidly changing value of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
In addition, if the trading volumes of our Class A Ordinary Shares are low, persons buying or selling in relatively small quantities may easily influence the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares. This low volume of trades could also cause the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares to fluctuate greatly, with large percentage changes in price occurring in any trading day session. Holders of our Class A Ordinary Shares may also not be able to readily liquidate their investment or may be forced to sell at depressed prices due to low volume trading. Broad market fluctuations and general economic and political conditions may also adversely affect the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares. As a result of this volatility, investors may experience losses on their investment in our Class A Ordinary Shares. A decline in the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares also could adversely affect our ability to issue additional Class A Ordinary Shares or other securities and our ability to obtain additional financing in the future. No assurance can be given that an active market in our Class A Ordinary Shares will develop or be sustained. If an active market does not develop, holders of our Class A Ordinary Shares may be unable to readily sell the shares they hold or may not be able to sell their shares at all.
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If we cease to qualify as a foreign private issuer, we would be required to comply fully with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, and we would incur significant additional legal, accounting, and other expenses that we would not incur as a foreign private issuer.
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our officers, directors, and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as United States domestic issuers, and we are not required to disclose in our periodic reports all of the information that United States domestic issuers are required to disclose. While we currently are deemed to be a foreign private issuer, we may cease to qualify as a foreign private issuer in the future, in which case we would incur significant additional expenses that could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Because we are a foreign private issuer and are exempt from certain Nasdaq corporate governance standards applicable to U.S. issuers, you will have less protection than you would have if we were a domestic issuer.
As a Cayman Islands company listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we are subject to the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. Nasdaq rules, however, permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, may differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.
Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635 generally provides that shareholder approval is required of U.S. domestic companies listed on Nasdaq prior to issuance (or potential issuance) of securities (i) equaling 20% or more of the company’s ordinary share or voting power for less than the greater of market or book value (ii) resulting in a change of control of the company; and (iii) which is being issued pursuant to a stock option or purchase plan to be established or materially amended or other equity compensation arrangement made or materially amended. Notwithstanding this general requirement, Nasdaq Listing Rule 5615(a)(3)(A) permits foreign private issuers to follow their home country practice rather than these shareholder approval requirements. The Cayman Islands do not require shareholder approval prior to any of the foregoing types of issuances. We, therefore, are not required to obtain such shareholder approval prior to entering into a transaction with the potential to issue securities as described above. We intend to comply with the requirements of Nasdaq listing rules in determining whether shareholder approval is required on such matters. We may, however, consider following home country practice in lieu of the requirements under Nasdaq listing rules with respect to certain corporate governance standards which may afford less protection to investors.
Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(b)(1) requires listed companies to have, among other things, a majority of its board members be independent. As a foreign private issuer, however, we are permitted to, and we may follow home country practice in lieu of the above requirement. The corporate governance practice in our home country, the Cayman Islands, does not require a majority of our board to consist of independent directors. Currently, a majority of our board members are independent. However, if we change our board composition such that independent directors do not constitute a majority of our board of directors, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they would otherwise enjoy under Nasdaq’s corporate governance requirements applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.
If we cannot satisfy, or continue to satisfy, the continued listing requirements and other rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market, our securities may not be listed or may be delisted, which could negatively impact the price of our securities and your ability to sell them.
Our Class A Ordinary Shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. In order to maintain our listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we are required to comply with certain rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market, including those regarding minimum shareholders’ equity, minimum share price, minimum market value of publicly held shares, and various additional requirements. Even if we currently meet the listing requirements and other applicable rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market, we may not be able to continue to satisfy these requirements and applicable rules. If we are unable to satisfy the Nasdaq Capital Market criteria for maintaining our listing, our securities could be subject to delisting.
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If the Nasdaq Capital Market subsequently delists our securities from trading, we could face significant consequences, including:
| ● | a limited availability for market quotations for our securities; |
| ● | reduced liquidity with respect to our securities; |
| ● | a determination that our Class A Ordinary Share is a “penny stock,” which will require brokers trading in our Class A Ordinary Share to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our Class A Ordinary Share; |
| ● | limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and |
| ● | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
Because we are an “emerging growth company,” we may not be subject to requirements that other public companies are subject to, which could affect investor confidence in us and our Class A Ordinary Shares.
For as long as we remain an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, we will elect to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. Because of these lessened regulatory requirements, our shareholders would be left without information or rights available to shareholders of more mature companies. If some investors find our Class A Ordinary Shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A Ordinary Shares and our share price may be more volatile.
The laws of the Cayman Islands may not provide our shareholders with benefits comparable to those provided to shareholders of corporations incorporated in the United States.
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands with limited liability. Our corporate affairs are governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, by the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands and by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against our directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law in the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands and from English common law. Appeals from the Cayman Islands Courts to the Privy Council (which is the final Court of Appeal for British overseas territories such as the Cayman Islands) are binding on the courts in the Cayman Islands. Decisions of the English courts, and particularly the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal are generally of persuasive authority but are not binding in the courts of the Cayman Islands. Decisions of courts in other Commonwealth jurisdictions are similarly of persuasive but not binding authority. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedents in the U.S. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws relative to the U.S. Therefore, our public shareholders may have more difficulty protecting their interests in the face of actions by our management, directors or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the U.S.
Cayman Islands law provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. These rights, however, may be provided in a company’s amended and restated articles of association. Our amended and restated articles of association allow our shareholders holding shares representing in aggregate not less than 10% of our voting share capital in issue, to requisition a general meeting of our shareholders, in which case our directors are obliged to call such meeting. Advance notice of at least 21 Clear Days’ is required for the convening of our annual general shareholders’ meeting and at least 14 Clear Days’ notice must be given for any other general meeting of our shareholders. A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of at least one shareholder present or by proxy, representing not less than one-third of the total outstanding ordinary shares carrying the right to vote at such general meeting of the Company.
Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like us have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect or to obtain copies of our corporate records or our register of members. Unless authorized by an ordinary resolution of our directors have discretion under our amended and restated articles of association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by our management, members of the board of directors, or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a company incorporated in the U.S.
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You may be unable to present proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by shareholders.
Cayman Islands law provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. These rights, however, may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our articles of association allow our shareholders holding shares representing in aggregate not less than 10% of our voting share capital in issue, to requisition a general meeting of our shareholders, in which case our directors are obliged to call such meeting. Advance notice of at least 21 clear days is required for the convening of our annual general shareholders’ meeting and at least 14 clear days’ notice any other general meeting of our shareholders. A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of at least one or more shareholders present or by proxy, representing not less than one-third of the total issued shares carrying the right to vote at a general meeting of the Company. For these purposes, “clear days” means that period excluding (a) the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given and (b) the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect.
If we are classified as a PFIC, United States taxpayers who own our Class A Ordinary Shares may have adverse United States federal income tax consequences.
A non-U.S. corporation such as ourselves will be classified as a PFIC, for any taxable year if, for such year, either:
| ● | At least 75% of our gross income for the year is passive income; or |
| ● | The average percentage of our assets (determined at the end of each quarter) during the taxable year which produce passive income or which are held for the production of passive income is at least 50%. |
Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business), and gains from the disposition of passive assets.
If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. taxpayer who holds our Class A Ordinary Shares, the U.S. taxpayer may be subject to increased U.S. federal income tax liability and may be subject to additional reporting requirements.
Depending on the amount of cash we have and any other assets held for the production of passive income, it is possible that, for our current taxable year or for any subsequent year, more than 50% of our assets may be assets which produce passive income, in which case we would be deemed a PFIC, which could have adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences for U.S. taxpayers who are shareholders. We will make this determination following the end of any particular tax year.
Although the law in this regard is unclear, we treat the PRC operating entities as being owned by us for United States federal income tax purposes, not only because we exercise effective control over the operations of such entities but also because we are entitled to substantially all of their economic benefits, and, as a result, we consolidate their operating results in our consolidated financial statements. For purposes of the PFIC analysis, in general, a non-U.S. corporation is deemed to own its pro rata share of the gross income and assets of any entity in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the equity by value.
For a more detailed discussion of the application of the PFIC rules to us and the consequences to U.S. taxpayers if we were or are determined to be a PFIC, see “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—United States Federal Income Taxation—PFIC.”
Anti-takeover provisions in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay, or prevent a change in control.
Some provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay, or prevent a change in control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including, among other things, the following:
| ● | provisions that authorize our board of directors to issue shares with preferred, deferred, or other special rights or restrictions without any further vote or action by our shareholders; and |
| ● | provisions that restrict the ability of our shareholders to call meetings and to propose special matters for consideration at shareholder meetings. |
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Item 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
A. History and Development of the Company
For the history and development of the Company, please refer to “Item 3. Key Information—Our Corporate History.”
On March 31, 2023, our Class A Ordinary Shares commenced trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SFWL.” On April 4, 2023, we closed our initial public offering. We raised $9.60 million in gross proceeds from our initial public offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and other related expenses.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive office is located at Shengfeng Building, No. 478 Fuxin East Road, Jin’an District, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China, and our phone number is +86-591-83619860. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at Suite 102, Cannon Place, P.O. Box 712, North Sound Rd., George Town Grand Cayman, KY1-9006 Cayman Islands, and the phone number of our registered office is +1-(345) 947-7275. We maintain corporate websites at sfwl.com.cn. The information contained in, or accessible from, our websites or any other website does not constitute a part of this annual report. Our agent for service of process in the U.S. is Cogency Global Inc., located at 122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10168.
The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy, and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC using its EDGAR system.
For information regarding our principal capital expenditures, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Capital Expenditures.”
B. Business Overview
Our Mission
The VIE is one of the leading contract logistics service providers in China. Since the establishment of the VIE in 2001, our mission has been to provide logistics solutions to companies in need of storage and delivery assistance in China. Through our experienced management team, we apply our well-established management system and operation procedures to assist companies in China to increase efficiency and improve their own management systems with respect to transportation, warehousing and time management. We aim to provide our clients with superior and customized services. Our business slogan is “When you entrust us with your goods, we cherish them as our own.”
Overview
Contract logistics is a comprehensive process that merges traditional logistics with supply chain management. Contract logistics companies outsource resource management tasks to third-party companies and handle activities such as planning and designing supply chains, designing facilities, processing orders, collecting payments, managing inventories, and providing client services.
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We are a contract logistics company with consolidated revenue of approximately $404.1 million, $370.3 million and $346.7 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Our integrated logistics solutions are comprised of three business streams: (1) B2B freight transportation services; (2) cloud storage services; and (3) value-added services. Since the VIE’s inception, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have developed extensive and reliable transportation networks in China, covering 341 cities across 31 provinces, as of December 31, 2023. Furthermore, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, serve more than 4,000 manufacturers and trading companies (medium-scale to large-scale) throughout China, including brand names such as CATL Battery, Bright Dairy, SF Express, Schneider Electric, Tesla and Xiaomi.
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, operate on a scalable integrated network model, which we believe is best suited to support our business and maintain the quality of our comprehensive logistics services. As a contract logistics company, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, directly own and operate all of our regional sorting centers, Cloud OFCs and service outlets. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, also directly own and operate our fleets. In order to establish a broader network and provide more efficient services, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, cooperate with third-party transportation providers in providing freight transportation services and with some network partners to promote our business. The integrated network model aims to satisfy the need for reliability, visuality, and timeliness; while we concentrate on the establishment of our network, continuous improvement in our comprehensive logistics services, and construction of our logistics ecosystem. We believe this network model allows us to achieve strong operating results while maintaining and minimizing fixed costs and capital requirements, which results in higher return on earnings and equities.
Operational efficiency, cost management, and competitive pricing are critical to the success of a contract logistics company. As of December 31, 2023, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have achieved strong operational efficiency through centralized control and management of 35 regional sorting centers, 49 Cloud OFCs, 33 service outlets, approximately 450 self-owned trucks and vehicles, and over 60,000 transportation providers, route planning and optimization, and transportation and management system.
Our goal is to provide high-quality professional services to our clients. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have established proven systems and procedures that are critical in achieving standardization and control over the quality of services rendered by us and third-party transportation providers. We constantly monitor and attempt to improve on our series of key metrics in service-quality control and management such as late delivery rate, complaint rate, and damaged or lost freight rate, as we strive to become the best in the industry by improving each of the stated key metrics. We intend to improve the stated key metrics in the following ways: (i) formulating relevant service standards and training our operators and partners; (ii) monitoring the operation of key indicators through the system and making timely improvements when problems occur; and (iii) reviewing the actual and target values of key indicators every month to find an optimal solution. Our superior service quality was demonstrated when the VIE was ranked 32nd among the 50 listed privately owned logistics companies by CFLP, the first association in the logistics and procurement industry in China and an association approved by the State Council of China, on August 24, 2022. In September 2020, the VIE was recognized by CFLP as one of the leading freight companies for our high-quality and professional services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our total transportation volume increased from approximately 7,800,000 tons for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately 10,170,000 tons for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, representing an increase of approximately 30.4%. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, net revenue generated from providing our services were approximately $404.1 million and $370.3 million, respectively. Our total net revenue increased by approximately 9.1% during 2023 compared to 2022. We generated operating profit of approximately $13.9 million and $9.8 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Our operating profit margin was approximately 3.4% and 2.7% for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We recorded net profit of approximately $10.3 million and $7.8 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Shengfeng Development Limited is a holding company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and it is not a Chinese operating company. As a holding company with no material operations of its own, its operations have been conducted in China by its subsidiaries and through contractual arrangements, or the VIE Agreements, with a VIE, Shengfeng Logistics, and the VIE’s subsidiaries. For accounting purposes, we control and receive the economic benefits of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries’ business operations through the VIE Agreements, which enables us to consolidate the financial results of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statement under U.S. GAAP. Neither we nor our subsidiaries own any equity interests in the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries. As an investor, you may be subject to unique risks due to our VIE structure. The VIE Agreements are designed to provide our wholly owned subsidiary, Tianyu, with the power, rights, and obligations to Shengfeng Logistics, including control rights and the rights to the assets, property, and revenue of the VIE, as set forth under the VIE Agreements. Our VIE Agreements have not been tested in a court of law in China, as of the date of this annual report, and may not be effective in providing control over the VIE. We are, therefore, subject to risks due to the uncertainty of the interpretation and application of the laws and regulations of the PRC, regarding the VIE and the VIE structure, including, but not limited to, regulatory review of overseas listing of PRC companies through a special purpose vehicle, and the validity and enforcement of the contractual arrangements with the VIE. We have evaluated the guidance in FASB ASC 810 and determined that we are regarded as the primary beneficiary of the VIE, for accounting purposes, as a result of our direct ownership in Tianyu and the provisions of the VIE Agreements. Accordingly, we treat the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries as our consolidated entities under U.S. GAAP. We have consolidated the financial results of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
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Our Class A Ordinary Shares are shares of our offshore holding company in the Cayman Islands instead of shares of the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries in China, therefore, you will not directly hold equity interests in the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries, and you may never directly hold equity interests in the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries through your investment in our Class A Ordinary Shares. For a description of the VIE Agreements, see “Item 3. Key Information—Our VIE Agreements.”
Our Competitive Strengths
We believe we have the following competitive strengths:
Contract Logistics Service Provider with Established Operating History in China
Since 2001, and as of the date of this annual report, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have operated as a contract logistics service provider for 22 years. Our main business operates as a less than truckload, or “LTL,” freight carriers in China, and we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, also provide full truckload, “FTL,” freight transportation services.
Through years of operation, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have developed extensive and reliable transportation networks in China, covering 341 cities across 31 provinces, as of December 31, 2023. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have also established a broad clientele base across more than 4,000 manufacturers and trading companies (medium-scale to large-scale) throughout China, including brand names such as CATL Battery, Bright Dairy, SF Express, Schneider Electric, and Xiaomi.
We have achieved significant growth while maintaining profitability. We had an annual net profit growth of approximately 10.0% in 2021, approximately 17.8% in 2022, and approximately 31.7% in 2023. Our net profit amounted to approximately $10.3 million, $7.8 million and $6.6 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively; our net profit margins for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were approximately 2.6%, 2.1% and 1.9%, respectively.
Operational Efficiency Driven by Detailed Operational Guidelines
We, through the VIE, have designed and implemented a series of systematic guidelines as part of our daily business operations to ensure efficiency.
Systematic Clients Management – Every client’s order is tracked on a real-time basis. Furthermore, we generate a summary report, periodically, for each client with respect to its orders. Our client management systematically allows us to analyze current conditions, which in turn will help us to improve our efficiency and increase our margin. For orders with a gross margin below 5%, we will conduct cost analyzations and adjust unit prices, frights units, frights types, and/or transportation routes accordingly in order to conserve resources and mitigate cost.
Through Shengfeng TMS and our Customer Relationship Management System (the “CRM”), we maintain a profile for each client, which includes the client’s information and corresponding contract details, in order to closely and efficiently monitor our performance for each order. We will also follow up with clients on a regular basis to collect feedbacks in order to improve our efficiency. See “—Our Technology Infrastructure.”
Streamline Purchase Orders Management – Our real-time tracking is available throughout the entire process. Moreover, revenue will be recognized and costs will be incurred at every stage of our operations, i.e. receipt, trunk, and distribution, and split between each cooperative branch. By tracking the whole process, we are able to further meticulously analyze revenue and cost for each order.
Prioritize Capacity Arrangement – On a daily basis, every station and routing center will, based on our system’s support and their industry experience, adjust, arrange, and prioritize each and every order based on clients, weights, and routes in order to fulfill every order and maximize cost efficiency.
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Finance and Accounting Management – We, through the VIE, have retained Marcum Asia to perform annual auditing of our financial positions. Part of our management in finance and accounting management process is to utilize our Shengfeng TMS, which allows us to monitor cash inflows and outflows and costs incurred on a real time basis. This process also allows us to analyze and evaluate the profitability of our line-haul and short-haul routes and execute decisions strategically so that we can improve efficiency.
Interdepartmental Management Meeting – In order to connect all departments, from headquarters to our 35 operating branches, we hold monthly business meetings during which we summarize our monthly operations, provide feedbacks to market changes, track business progress, boost employee morals, and ensure meeting objectives.
Scalable Integrated Network Model
We believe our scalable integrated network model is best suited to support our growth. We believe that we have the capability to utilize our integrated network model to influence, support, and serve these ongoing, high market demands. Our model is well-suited to serve fragmented market clientele base and cope with seasonal demand. Furthermore, our national network’s fast growth allows us to provide clients with greater geographic reach at a lower cost.
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, directly own and operate our own regional sorting centers, Cloud OFCs and service outlets. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, also directly own and operate our fleets. In order to establish broader network and provide more efficient services, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, cooperate with third-party transportation providers in providing freight transportation services and with some network partners to promote our business. As of December 31, 2023, the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries’ transportation and sorting network is comprised of 35 regional sorting centers, 49 Cloud OFCs and 33 service outlets. Our network in China covered 341 cities in over 31 provinces as of December 31, 2023.
Extensive and Growing Ecosystem
Our ecosystem is comprised of the Company, clients, and transportation providers. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have established business relationships with over 4,000 medium to large-scale corporate clients, and over 60,000 transportation providers, as of December 31, 2023. Moreover, our reach extends to individual consumers, small and medium corporate clients, and large-cap companies through our network. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, serve various industries and have developed a strong presence in the manufacturing, fast moving consumer goods and publishing industry.
Superior Service Quality
We endeavor to consistently provide superior services to our clients. We believe we have successfully designed, established and streamlined policies and processes to achieve standardization and control over service quality delivered across our networks. We constantly monitor a variety of key service quality metrics, such as delivery date rate, complaint rate, and damaged or lost freight rate, and we continuously strive to improve each of these rates. In addition, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, operate a call center system to provide real-time assistance to our clients 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. We believe that our clients choose our services due to our superior service quality.
Experienced Management Team with a Proven Track Record
Our management has extensive experience, knowledge, and proven track records within the logistics industry, which brings us to a deeper understanding of business operations as well as deep industry connections. The majority of our senior management team has been with the Company for many years, and some of them have been with us since our inception in 2001. Mr. Yongxu Liu, our Chairman, chief executive officer and President, has over 20 years of experience in the logistics industry. Mr. Yongxu Liu founded our Company with a vision to provide accessible, reliable, and high-quality logistics solutions to Chinese businesses and to become a leading player in the industry. Under his leadership, our Company started off in 2001 from being a small-sized logistics service provider with only 60 employees, to becoming one of the largest logistics service providers in China with total transportation volume of approximately 10,170,000 tons for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and we have 1,341 employees as of December 31, 2023. For further details on our directors and senior management, see “Management.”
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Our Growth Strategies
We aspire to be a leading company in the contract logistics market in China, and we intend to pursue the following strategies in furtherance of our growth:
Expand Market Share
We currently intend to build our business upon our current position and presence with the goal to become more influential in the contract logistics market in China. We will continue working on enhancing our brand recognition and image, improving value propositions, and achieving greater economies of scale. This will also help us to attract new clients and increase our share of existing clients’ logistics budgets through more frequent use of our services.
Broaden Our Service Offerings
We intend to broaden our service offerings. Through our existing transportation network, we aim to provide express delivery services and supplement our current cloud storage services with supply chain management solutions. In addition, we plan to continue enhancing the quality of our services in order to meet the individual needs of our clients and enhance client retention.
Further Strengthen Our Nationwide Transportation Networks
We plan to further strengthen our nationwide transportation networks to cover more geographic areas in China and boost future growth. Specifically, we intend to enhance our network density by penetrating into the greater Beijing area, Yangtze River Delta, western China, and northeastern China by setting up additional regional sorting centers, Cloud OFCs, and service outlets as well as expanding our existing ones.
Enhance Our Technology Platform and Infrastructure
We intend to continue investing in information technology and equipment in order to enhance our operational efficiency, reliability, and scalability, improve client experience, and reduce costs. Our initiatives include route planning optimization, sorting automation, and supply chain automation. To this end, we plan to hire, train, and retain the best talents in the industry and invest in research and development, including automated, smart, and high-tech warehouse equipment and systems. Our ultimate goal is to be able to fulfill various demands and requests from our clients by providing them with an integrated and one-stop warehousing and distribution services and experience.
Transition to Focus on B2B Freight Transportation Services and Outsourcing of Transportation Service.
We have implemented a new policy to focus on developing B2B freight transportation services in anticipation of using our current resources in a more concentrated and efficient manner, as we pursue lower operating costs and higher profits. We aim to focus mainly on contract logistics, primarily catering to and targeting major corporate clients. Therefore, under the new policy, we plan to gradually reduce the number of our service outlets, as their main function is to provide receipt, collection, and small-scale freight shipment orders for individual clients. As of the date of this annual report, we have closed 3 service outlets and reduced the number of relevant employees by removing some positions held by the relevant employees after they resigned voluntarily and have been recruiting fewer workers since May 2023.
In addition, as our integration of internal, self-owned, and external, third-party transportation providers’ vehicle resources have become increasingly mature, we have decided to rely more heavily on third-party transportation providers to perform the transportation service and have reduced our fleet of self-owned trucks and vehicles to lower the operating costs. In addition, we intend to gradually phase out a certain proportion of our gasoline-powered trucks and vehicles while simultaneously endeavoring to seek replacement by new energy vehicles to promote the development of green logistics. Consequently, we have disposed of more than 450 self-owned gasoline-powered trucks and vehicles and purchased 16 electric heavy-duty trucks as of the date of this annual report. We have also reduced the number of relevant employees by removing some positions, including drivers, held by the relevant employees after they resigned voluntarily and we have been recruiting fewer workers to fill in the residual vacancies.
Pursue Strategic Alliances and Acquisition Opportunities
From time to time, we may selectively form strategic alliances with other logistics companies or other business partners that bring synergies with our business. We may also selectively pursue acquisitions that will complement our business and operations. As of the date of this annual report, we have not identified any specific strategic alliances or acquisition opportunities.
Our Service Offerings
Through our integrated network model, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, provide B2B freight transportation services and cloud storage services to our clients. As an integral part of our freight transportation services and cloud storage services, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, also provide a wide range of value-added logistics services, such as collection on delivery services, customs declaration services, packaging services, and shipment protection services. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, execute these service commitments by investing in and retaining talented employees, developing innovative proprietary systems and processes, and utilizing a network of transportation provided by us and third-party transportation providers. While industry definitions vary, given our extensive contracting to create a flexible network of solutions, we are generally referred to in the industry as a contract logistics company.
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The following chart sets out the services provided by us through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries.
Freight Transportation Services (Transportation Services)
Freight transportation service is currently the largest segment in our business and source of income. The revenue from freight transportation service increased from approximately $346.0 million, or 93.4% of the total revenue for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $383.2 million, or 94.8% of the total revenue for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, mainly offer FTL freight transportation and LTL freight transportation to enterprises for goods weighing over 500 kilograms as follows:
| ● | FTL: We provide professional transportation solutions with accurate FTL and special-truck delivery services. FTL freight transportation services are specially designed for heavy shipments which typically weigh over 3,000 kilograms. We have access to dry vans, flatbeds, hazardous parcel vans, and bulk capacity. We may connect our clients with our transportation network and third-party transportation providers that specialize in their transportation lanes and product types, and optimize the usage of our equipment. |
| ● | LTL: LTL freight transportation involves the shipment of single or multiple pallets of freight. LTL shipments typically weigh between 15 kilograms and 3,000 kilograms. We mainly provide transportation services for B2B LTL shipments weighing between 500 kilograms and 3,000 kilograms. |
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, offer FTL freight transportation services when (i) the freight is large enough to require its own truck, (ii) the freight is fragile and it requires special handling, or (iii) the shipment has time critical or time-definite restrictions on the transit time of the freight; otherwise, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, offer LTL freight transportation services, and our vehicles carry as many different orders of freight as they can manage and deliver them in whichever order best suits the journey. About 30% of our freight transportation services are provided by our self-owned fleet and the rest are provided by third-party transportation providers. For further details on these transportation providers, see “—Our Transportation Providers.”
To meet our clients’ different needs, we typically provide individualized transportation services on a contractual basis. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, usually enter into freight transportation agreements directly with our clients for a series of freight transportation orders over a year. The service pricing, freight routes, settlement terms and other terms will be set forth in the agreements. Other than the clients who enter into service agreements with us for LTL or FTL freight transportation services, we also provide LTL freight transportation services to some retail clients based on the shipment orders generated from time to time.
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, provided freight transportation services for 2,160, 2,291 and 2,226 clients, respectively, in the industries of, among others, manufacturing, energy, new energy (vehicle), telecommunications, internet, fashion, fast moving consumer goods, publishing, agriculture and e-commerce.
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Shipment Flow
The following diagram illustrates the process for the completion of a typical freight transportation order.
Step 1: Freight Pickup
Our regional sorting center arranges for vans to collect the freight from the senders once it receives shipment orders. These vans are provided either by us or by third-party transportation providers. Through each waybill, we assign a unique tracking number and corresponding barcode to each parcel. The waybills, coupled with our automated systems, enable us to track the status of each individual parcel throughout the entire pickup, sorting, transportation, and delivery process. Our service outlets also receive small shipment orders and collect and send freight to our regional sorting centers from time to time.
Step 2: Freight Sorting and Line-Haul Transportation
Upon receiving freight, the regional sorting center will sort, pack, and dispatch the freights to the destination regional sorting center (line-haul transportation services between our regional sorting centers are provided). Barcodes attached to the freight are scanned as they pass each sorting and transportation gateway so that we and our clients can keep track of real-time delivery progress.
Step 3: Freight Delivery
Our destination regional sorting center unloads and sorts the freight, which is then delivered directly to the recipients’ sites using vans operated by us or third-party transportation providers. Recipients may also elect to pick up their freight at our delivery outlets. Once the recipient confirms receipt through signature, our whole service cycle is completed and the settlement of delivery service fee promptly appears on our payment settlement system.
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For FTL shipments, we generally pick up the freight directly from the clients’ sites and transport them to the recipients’ destination using our line-haul transportation, without combining orders from different clients for an FTL shipment. For LTL shipments, we combine orders from different clients into an FTL shipment at our sorting centers and transport them to the designated location. Through our line-haul and short-haul transportation lines, regional sorting centers, and information system, we have consolidated freight and freight information to best provide valuable and concise information to our clients.
Freight Transportation Services Pricing
Our pricing, for each order of freight transportation, depends on the weight, route, type, and value-added services.
We determine our pricing based on various factors, including, but not limited to, operating costs, general market conditions, competitions, and service quality. Our service pricing may also be influenced by market conditions and competitions. From time to time, we may evaluate and adjust our service pricing based on, among other factors, market conditions and operating costs.
Cloud Storage Services (Warehouse Storage and Management Services)
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, offer warehouse management, order fulfillment, delivery process management, in-warehouse processing, and inventory optimization management services to our clients to optimize their inventory and delivery process management. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, also provide and arrange transportation services and coordinate shipments from merchants to our Cloud OFCs and from there to other locations designated by our clients as part of our order fulfillment services.
Inventory Management
Cloud OFCs differ from traditional warehouses in that they can support direct order fulfillment and dispatch operations in addition to storage functions. They are “cloud-based” because we take full responsibility for the optimal allocation of our clients’ inventory into different Cloud OFCs and save our clients from the hassle of day-to-day operations, therefore, from our clients’ point of view, these Cloud OFCs are “in the cloud.”
As of December 31, 2023, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, directly operated 49 Cloud OFCs across China with a total area of approximately 3,618,164 square feet, among which 5 Cloud OFCs were multistory facilities. All the Cloud OFCs use our technology infrastructure and are connected to various information systems across our platform. Therefore, we can allocate inventory of our clients effectively within our Cloud OFCs and coordinate our services, including subsequent transportation and delivery, accordingly. We constantly monitor the service quality of our Cloud OFCs to ensure we uphold the standard of our services. The following map illustrates our Cloud OFCs network as of December 31, 2023.
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By utilizing our Cloud OFCs, we provide the following services to our clients through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries:
| ● | Storage. We offer reliable and convenient storage solutions for a variety of commercial needs through the warehouses owned or leased by us. Our warehouse facilities are temperature-controlled, secured, and fire-preventive to protect the integrity of our client’s products. |
| ● | Pick and Pack. After receiving pick tickets from our clients, our team of trained professionals retrieve clients’ orders according to the instructions on the corresponding pick tickets and pack the items in preparation for shipping. |
| ● | Kitting and Assembly. Based on the instructions of our clients, we arrange individual items and assemble the separate pieces into a single ready-to-ship set according to specified combinations. |
| ● | Fulfillment. We receive orders from clients via our WMS or e-mail. We then generate pick-up tickets, and send these tickets to the warehouse for packing, before the goods are picked up by the clients’ designated transportation carriers. Ownership and responsibility of the goods are then transferred to such carriers. |
| ● | Delivery Process Management. We conduct the handover of the shipments of our clients to their transportation and distribution carriers pursuant to the standard operating procedures set forth in our agreements with the clients. |
| ● | Other Value-added Services. We also offer some value-added services such as inbound qualify testing, repackaging, labeling, and inventory shelf life management. |
| ● | Inventory Optimization Management. We regularly provide to our clients different reports reflecting the status of their storage and inventory so that they can make business decisions accordingly to optimize their inventory structure. |
With our WMS, we are able to effectively monitor the capacity of our warehouses on a real-time basis and track each and every movement of a good from its entry into our warehouse to its delivery at its destination, including receiving, storing, packing, and shipping. For details of our WMS, see “—Our technology infrastructure.”
We normally enter into 1-year to 5-year service contracts with our cloud storage service clients. Our contracts specify the details of our services based on the client’s expected sale volumes and the floor areas to be used. Our contracts typically state the unit price of each service we provide. The amount of revenue we generate depends on the unit price and volume.
Logistics
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have integrated our transportation network and Shengfeng TMS with our client’s respective logistics network and systems. By leveraging our technologies and professional expertise, we are capable of creating and designing solutions for optimizing, transforming, and upgrading our clients’ supply chains as well as reducing their costs. Our national footprint allows us to provide these services to our clients and their manufacturing partners across many regions of China.
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The following diagram illustrates the product flow in a typical supply chain. Each client, based on its individual needs and recommendations from our solution design, may elect to use any combination of the various services we provide at each step of the product flow.
| ● | Inbound Logistics. We craft and optimize inbound logistics networks for our clients to ensure that the flow of goods and materials into their business meets their operational objectives. We use different delivery methods specific to the various goods we handle. For instance, a milk run is a delivery method used to transport mixed loads of raw materials from various suppliers to one client. Instead of having each of our client’s suppliers transport raw materials individually, we will visit the client’s suppliers on a prearranged date, pick up raw materials, and deliver them to the client. |
| ● | Line-haul and Short-haul Distribution. We assist clients in the transportation of intermediate goods and products between their factories and warehouses and between warehouses in different regions. Our line-haul and short-haul transportation network makes the process efficient and keeps the costs low for our clients. |
| ● | Outbound Logistics. We assist clients in the transportation of products to ender users or distribution centers through line-haul and short-haul transportation, regional distribution, or last mile delivery, depending on the destinations and the amount of freight. |
| ● | Reverse Logistics. In reverse logistics, the goods move from the end user back to the seller or manufacturer, our clients. We help clients manage activities after the initial sales, including returns, refurbishing, packaging, and unsold goods. Through the process, we aim to reduce storage and distribution costs, improve clients’ reputation among its end users, satisfy client’s needs, and create a more sustainable supply chain for our clients. |
Value-added Services
In addition to our B2B freight transportation and cloud storage services, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, provide a wide range of value-added services to our clients to meet their diversified needs.
Collection on delivery services. Under circumstances where a seller ships goods to a buyer, we provide the seller with the option to authorize us to collect payments from the recipient on its behalf. We charge collection fees equal to 4% of the collected payment for a transaction, and we wire the collected payment back to the seller on the same day of collection.
Customs declaration services. Some of our clients require international shipping services, in response, we provide customs declaration on an as-needed basis to assist them in meeting the legal requirements such as import and export, and trade. We engage third-party service providers that maintain the licenses required under applicable PRC laws and regulations for providing customs declaration services.
Delivery upstairs services. We offer door-to-door delivery services. In China, it is customary for logistics companies to charge additional fees based on the floor level. The higher the floor, the higher the fees. Fees are calculated based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, weight of the goods, destination floor, and elevator availability.
Packaging services. We provide shipment packaging services to our clients. In addition to regular packaging materials, we provide a few other options. For instance, we have introduced temperature control materials for packing fruits and vegetables or otherwise perishable goods, shock absorbing materials for packing fragile goods in order to reduce damages that may occur during transportation, and wooden materials for carrying heavier goods.
Other than the regular and necessary packaging protection on shipments we provide at no additional costs to the clients, we also provide additional packaging protection services in two options: active protection and protection upon request. Active protection will be provided free of charge based on our own judgment and experience without requests from our clients. It mostly involves shipments of special products or under certain extreme natural conditions, such as high precision instruments which need special fixing protection, or liquids being sent to cold areas in the winter which need cold resistant protection. Additional packaging protection upon request from our clients will incur additional fees based on the shipment and the requests.
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Pay-at-arrival services. We typically require senders to pay for shipment fees as we collect freight from them. Alternatively, senders may select the pay-at-arrival option, which authorizes us to collect shipment fees from recipients upon freight arrival. In this case, the Company will deliver the shipment upon the receipt of shipment fees from the recipients.
Return proof of delivery. For this service, we issue receipts with either the recipients’ signatures or other credible documentations back to the senders, which allows senders to obtain proof of receipt from recipients. We also offer senders the option to receive and view such receipts electronically on their desktop or phones.
Shipment protection. We provide shipment protection services to our clients. For the clients who enter into service agreements with us, terms and conditions of shipment insurance are generally set forth under the service agreements, and they are usually responsible for the insurance premium in the amounts as set forth under the agreements on a case-by-case basis. For the retail clients, they can decide on whether to purchase shipment protection insurance policy or not at their sole discretion. If they choose to purchase such insurance policy, they will usually be charged an insurance premium of approximately 0.3% of the declared value of the shipments. If a client has purchased shipment protection services, in case of lost, stolen, or damaged shipment during transit, he/she should first provide us with a claim letter and proof of value. Once we verify those materials, we will reimburse the client’s loss accordingly based on the terms and conditions set forth under the service agreements. Afterwards, we will claim for reimbursement from the insurance company based on the insurance policies. The insurance company will then claim for reimbursement from the parties at fault, if the Company is not at fault. If a client has not purchased shipment protection services, then in case of lost, stolen, or damaged shipment during transit, we will reimburse for the client’s loss in the amount equal to 1 to 3 times of the shipping fees.
Our Network and Infrastructure
Our network consists of regional sorting centers, Cloud OFCs, service outlets, the line-haul and short-haul transportation network operated by us, and our network partners across China.
Regional Sorting Centers
Our regional sorting centers are connected by a line-haul transportation network that we operate. They collect freight directly from clients or from service outlets within their coverage area, sort it according to destinations, and dispatch the freight to the designated regional sorting centers. As of December 31, 2023, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, operated 35 regional sorting hubs in Fujian, Guangdong, Shanghai, Beijing, Zhejiang, Hubei, and 15 other provinces in China. Under our operational guidelines, our regional sorting centers did not experience any significant service interruption during the COVID-19 pandemic or peak seasons.
The following map shows our nationwide sorting center network as of December 31, 2023.
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Our centralized planning team coordinates the development and expansion of new and existing regional sorting centers, including site selection, facility layout design, and equipment purchase. As we strive to provide seamless and efficient logistic solutions to our clients, we regularly contemplate our opportunities to improve our services. We will consider adding new regional sorting centers if they help optimize our route or increase our capacity in the surrounding areas. We select the locations based on certain factors, including, but not limited to: (i) client density, (ii) ease of access, (iii) rent pricing, (iv) payment method, (v) regulatory compliance, (vi) safety, and (vii) surrounding infrastructure and environment.
We design our regional sorting centers in a uniform manner to deliver a consistent brand image and build in extra capacity for volume growth in the foreseeable future. We hire 20 to 400 employees in each of our regional sorting center, depending on the local freight volume, and we provide each center with sorting and loading equipment.
When planning routes, we prioritize the efficiency of the entire network. We dispatch freight to the regional sorting center closest to its destination even if the regional sorting center and the destination are located in different administrative regions. This reduces transportation time and lowers our and our clients’ transportation costs. Our route planning and management benefit from our years of experiences and information technology infrastructures, and they enable us to track freight movement on a real-time basis.
Among our regional sorting centers, 2 are located on lands that we own and the remaining 33 are located on leased lands.
Cloud OFCs
See “—Service Offerings by Us—Cloud Storage Services” above.
Line-haul and Short-haul Transportation Network
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, operate over 600 line-haul and short-haul routes. We utilize our self-owned fleet in addition to the vehicles owned and operated by third-party transportation providers to form both our line-haul transportation network for long-distance, high-capacity transportation, and our short-haul transportation network for short-distance, low-capacity pickup and delivery. Because we control route planning and vehicle dispatch of our entire line-haul and short-haul transportation system, we plan our routes with the goal to lower transportation costs and transit times.
As of December 31, 2023, our own line-haul fleet is comprised of 290 truck headstocks and over 900 cabinets for ordinary shipments and 5 truck headstocks and 15 cabinets for hazardous shipments. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, invest in our fleet with our own funds so we are able to adjust the ratio of different vehicle models swiftly to react to changes based on operational needs. We mostly use 16-meter-long trucks, which have nearly twice the loading capacity of 9.6-meter-long trucks (commonly used in the industry), to minimize marginal costs and lower unit line-haul transportation costs. The uniform design of our regional sorting centers with extra parking space also allows us to lower transportation cost of freight. To increase our transportation efficiency, we utilize the drop and pull transportation method.
As of December 31, 2023, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, also owned 160 vehicles for our short-haul transportation.
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, approximately 23% and 30% of our freight transportation services were provided by our self-owned fleet and the balance was outsourced and provided by independent third-party transportation providers. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had 82,051 and 56,370 outsourced vehicles for over 7.88 million and 5.54 million shipments, respectively. The price we pay to third-party transportation providers is based on our market insights on cost factors, including (i) toll cost based on route, (ii) fuel cost based on route, type of truck used, and fuel price, and (iii) other costs such as drivers’ compensation, depreciation, and maintenance cost. For details on third-party transportation providers, see “—Our Transportation Providers.”
Service Outlets
As of December 31, 2023, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, operated 33 service outlets across China. Our service outlets, in their assigned geographical areas, will (1) create shipment orders and accept goods for shipment from our LTL clients; (2) deliver goods for shipment to our regional sorting centers for freight transportation; and (3) accept shipments from regional sorting centers for the clients to pick up. Each service outlet typically has 3 to 5 employees.
We will consider adding new service outlets if they help optimize our route or increase our capacity in the surrounding areas. We select the locations based on certain factors, including, but not limited to: (i) client density, (ii) ease of access, (iii) rent pricing, (iv) internal layout, (v) regulatory compliance, and (vi) surrounding infrastructure and environment.
Network Partners
To increase our client base and network coverage, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have also entered into some network partner agreements. Our network partners will create shipment orders and accept goods for shipment from their clients. Afterwards, they will deliver the goods to our regional sorting centers for our freight transportation. The network partners are solely responsible for the rights and obligations under the service agreements entered into by and between them and their clients. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, our network partners contributed approximately 0.14% of our income from operations. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, our network partners contributed approximately 0.31% of our income from operations.
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Our Ecosystem
We have built a growing ecosystem with various types of participants, including the Company, clients, and transportation providers. As our Company continues to expand, we expect that more participants will join our ecosystem, which in turn, we believe, will bring us more business. The current ecosystem has enhanced our user experience and brand value. We expect this will drive our growth.
The following graphic illustrates the participants and the network effect of our ecosystem.
Our Clients
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, mainly serve clients in connection with the delivery of their products to consumers and other businesses. We have clients in various industries, including manufacturing, energy, new energy (vehicle), telecommunications, internet, fashion, fast moving consumer goods, publishing, agriculture and e-commerce. Our largest clients include CATL Battery, Bright Dairy, SF Express, Schneider Electric, Tesla and Xiaomi. We served 2,503 and 2,634 clients during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and no client accounted for more than 6% of our total revenue during those years. The following table sets forth the top three industries our clients are in by percentage as of December 31, 2023:
| Industry | Percentage | |||
| Fast moving customer goods | 13.53 | % | ||
| Manufacturing | 11.87 | % | ||
| New energy (vehicle) | 9.43 | % | ||
| Total | 34.83 | % | ||
Client Service
We believe that our client service enhances our client loyalty and brand image. Therefore, we provide ongoing trainings to our employees and transportation providers, and we conduct regular performance reviews to ensure the quality of our services.
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, operate a call center system to provide real-time assistance to our clients by our approximately 292 client service representatives 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our automated system continues to respond to inquiries outside of the normal business hours and forwards complicated inquiries to our client service representatives for further handling. Our call centers are localized with branch offices in over 20 provinces in China with mostly local hires to leverage their local knowledge. All branches can be reached via a unified number and use the same call system and database. Our call system automatically forwards incoming calls to the local branch near the caller’s location. Our client service representatives adhere to the same client service standards nationwide and their local knowledge contributes to enhanced client service effectiveness. At the end of each call, we ask the caller to grade the quality of our client service and a designated call-back team will follow up on all incidences of dissatisfaction. In addition, we hold regular training sessions for our client service representatives and conduct regular performance reviews to ensure that they provide high quality client service.
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Our Transportation Providers
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, cooperated with approximately 64,090 and 45,558 transportation providers, respectively. These transportation providers are of all sizes, including owner-operators of a single truck, private fleets, and large trucking companies. All these transportation providers provide vehicles to carry out transportation tasks within our line-haul and short-haul transportation network. The table below sets out the number of each category of transportation providers.
| Fiscal Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Owner-operators of a single truck (#) | 62,263 | 43,932 | ||||||
| Private fleets (#) | - | 25 | ||||||
| Large trucking companies (#) | 1,827 | 1,601 | ||||||
| Total transportation providers | 64,090 | 45,558 | ||||||
To strengthen and maintain our relationships with transportation providers, our employees regularly communicate with them and try to assist them by increasing their equipment utilization, reducing their empty miles, and repositioning their equipment.
To ensure that we only cooperate and work with qualified transportation providers, our management formed an evaluation standard to control the quality of their services:
| ● | Selection. We carefully examine transportation providers’ operating permits, vehicle condition, vehicle model, and whether the vehicles are connected with the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, a Chinese satellite navigation system, and select qualified and reliable providers.
Regarding the cooperation with owner-operators of a single truck and private fleets, we also participate in the process to select drivers. We will verify and examine the drivers’ licenses and take into consideration the history of cooperation between the Company and the drivers. |
| ● | Inspection. After a transportation provider begins cooperating with us, we regularly inspect its performance during different stages of the cooperation according to detailed specifications and timeline for services in our agreement. |
| ● | Review. We review the performance of each provider and rate them according to quality of services, timeliness, prices, and client services. Depending on the performance, we can increase, decrease, or terminate the cooperation with a provider. |
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, typically enter into transportation contracts with providers (i) for a specific period of time, typically one year, or (ii) for a specific order. Our contracts will specify the rights and obligations of the Company and the service providers, including, but not limited to, quantities, specification, unit price, delivery timeline, payment date, liabilities and remedies. Service providers shall be responsible for accidents, including economic loss caused to the Company, if they are at fault.
We, through Shengfeng Logistics, entered into a Road Freight Transportation Cooperation Agreement with Hubei Luge on June 30, 2019. This agreement provided that Hubei Luge, as an Internet logistics platform, should provide road freight transportation services in China to Shengfeng Logistics, and its designated subsidiaries, through its platform, on the goods agreed upon and confirmed by both parties from time to time. The term of the agreement was from July 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020. Shengfeng Logistics should pay Hubei Luge a shipping fee per shipment equal to the amount of shipping fee paid by Hubei Luge to the actual operator divided by 95.1%.
Additionally, we, through Shengfeng Logistics, entered into a Road Freight Transportation Platform Cooperation Agreement with Hefei Weitian Yuntong Information Technology Co., Ltd., or “Hefei Weitian,” on September 1, 2020. This agreement provides that Hefei Weitian, including Hubei Luge and Anhui Luge as its designated subsidiaries, as an Internet logistics platform, shall provide road freight transportation services in China to Shengfeng Logistics, and its designated subsidiaries, through its platform, on the goods agreed upon and confirmed by both parties from time to time. The term of the agreement was from September 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021. On September 1, 2021, we, through Shengfeng Logistics, renewed the agreement in which the term was from September 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023. On January 1, 2024, we, through Shengfeng Logistics, renewed the agreement in which the new term is from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025. Shengfeng Logistics shall pay Hefei Weitian a shipping fee per shipment equal to the amount of shipping fee paid by Hefei Weitian to the actual operator divided by 95.1%. Anhui Luge and Hubei Luge are affiliates under the control of Hefei Weitian.
Security and Safety
We have designed and integrated safety policies and procedures across the full scope of our business. Our key safety measures include:
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Operational Security and Safety
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have established security screening protocols to inspect freights before acceptance. We have listed prohibited items for ground transportation such as flammables, explosives, gunpowder, and gasoline. We also implement X-ray screenings to find hazardous or prohibited items. Our safety screening system will continue to evolve in order to meet ever changing technologies.
Workplace safety and transportation safety are important to our business. We have implemented protocols for safety of ground transportation for the operations of our regional sorting centers, Cloud OFCs, and service outlets to minimize risks of accidents. We provide periodic trainings to our employees and transportation providers to recognize hazards, mitigate risks and avoid injuries of themselves and others at work.
Data Privacy and Safety
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have designed and implemented comprehensive procedures and guidelines to regulate our employees and transportation providers’ actions in relation to confidential data and information to ensure data security. We employ a variety of technical solutions to prevent and detect risks and vulnerabilities in our data privacy and safety, such as encryption and a firewall. We store and transmit all confidential data and information in encrypted format on separate servers and back up our data and information on a regular basis. We do not share our data or allow third parties to access our data stored on our servers without prior authorization, and we periodically test our systems and procedures to detect and eliminate information security risks and privacy risks.
Our Technology Infrastructure
In order to build our core technology systems and software to meet our needs, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, maintain an in-house team for our technology research and development. For details of our research and development, see “—Research and Development.” We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have also contracted with some third-party software design companies for licenses to use some of the systems they designed and developed, such as some financial reporting and accounting systems. Our goal is to utilize these technologies to increase efficiency in operations, enhance client experience, and contribute to our success.
Shengfeng TMS is the main system for our transportation services, which is a comprehensive management system that allows us to effectively monitor and manage the various stages of transportation, payment, and client service. Shengfeng TMS has the following key functions:
Shipment transportation and tracking management. Our shipments are sorted and dispatched based on the automatic routing calculation function provided by Shengfeng TMS. Our GPS trackers, attached to every vehicle, is synchronized with Shengfeng TMS, which will allow us to track the status and location of each shipment on a real time basis. We also integrate our GPS tracking with BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, WeChat mini programs, and manual recording, also available on our website and official WeChat account. This integration will allow our clients to track shipments and search our service outlet locations and sorting center locations.
Payment calculation. Shengfeng TMS tracks each client’s order and allows us to view and issue bills to our clients and track client payments.
Client portal and service support. We maintain an online client portal, where our clients may register their own accounts. Through our online client portal, our clients may view all of their order histories, track shipment status in real time, and make direct service requests. Our client service representatives have access to Shengfeng TMS’s database through which they can provide a better and more effective service to our clients on a real time basis. In particular, our employees will load and unload the shipments according to the preferences of the clients, stored in the TMS system and sent through the portal, and our drivers will provide delivery services based on the instructions and requirements sent from the portal to cater for the needs of the clients.
Portals for third-party transportation providers. Our management relies on Shengfeng TMS to effectively manage transport providers. We create an individual profile for each of our service providers and store all corporate records or other material information into the system. Service providers are required to register for accounts on the system prior to their cooperation with us, which allows them to monitor the real-time status and location of each shipment they have been assigned. This also allows us to keep track of those shipments in the hands of third-party transportation providers, as service providers are required to report location and shipments status of transport to Shengfeng TMS on a regular basis. In addition, Shengfeng TMS is also capable of handling payment settlements.
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, own and operate a data center to support our core operational systems such as Shengfeng TMS and WMS. Our data center provides the network infrastructure for our managerial, network safety, authority authentication, data backup, and other non-core functions.
In order to optimize our warehouse storage and management services, we utilize our WMS. It has six core functions: a) storage location management; b) order management; c) “First-In, First-Out” management; d) order and operation review; e) bar code management and tracking; and f) storage management. With WMS, we are able to increase the accuracy of goods dispatching, to enhance the efficiency of the operation, to improve the quality management and to control and realize the warehouse management process visualization.
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Our WMS operates according to certain rules of warehouse management including rules of pick-up, quality inspection, warehouse and storage separation and arrangement. Rules of the WMS can be set based on the characteristics of different projects on site. Depending on the features of the goods, we perform certain procedures accordingly after their receipt, such as counting, quality inspection, box combination, storage location designation, and storage on the shelves. After the goods are stored in our warehouse, we keep track of their storage locations and we may move them from time to time in preparation of upcoming shipments or for better utilization of storage space. Once we receive any order for shipment, we make plans, create good pick-up orders, pick up the goods and verify the process again to control our accuracy and our service quality. Goods will also be tracked until delivery and such result will be reflected in our system. With our WMS, we are able to effectively monitor the capacity of our warehouses on a real-time basis and track each and every movement of a good from its entry into our warehouse to its delivery at its destination, including receiving, storing, packing, and shipping.
Intellectual Property
We rely on a combination of trademark, patents, copyrights, trade secret, and contractual agreements to protect our proprietary rights.
Trademark
As of the date of this annual report, we had registered, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, 38 trademarks, including 35 trademarks with the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce in China, such as our Company’s Chinese name, “Shengfeng (盛丰),” 1 trademark with the Economic Affairs Bureau of Macao Special Administrative Region, 1 trademark with Trade Marks Registry Intellectual Property Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and 1 trademark with the Intellectual Property Office of Taiwan.
Copyright
As of the date of this annual report, we had registered, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, 117 computer software copyrights, including those that relate to Shengfeng TMS, with the PRC National Copyright Administration.
Patent
As of the date of this annual report, we had registered, through Guangdong Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd., one of the VIE’s subsidiaries, 3 invention patents and 15 utility model patents with the National Intellectual Property Administration.
Domain Name
As of the date of this annual report, we had registered, through the VIE, 12 domain names, including our main website. The following table summarizes our domain name registration:
| Domain Name | Territory | |
| sfwl.com.cn | China | |
| sfwl.ink | International | |
| sfwl.net | International | |
| sfwl.online | International | |
| sfwl.vip | International | |
| tysfwl.com.cn | China | |
| tysfwl.com | International | |
| tysfwl.cn | China | |
| tysfwl.net | International | |
| 4008556688.cn | China | |
| 4008556688.com.cn | China | |
| 4008556688.net | International |
Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to infringe upon our intellectual property rights. In addition, third parties may initiate litigation against us alleging infringement of their proprietary rights. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—We may not be able to prevent others from unauthorized use of our intellectual property, which could harm our business and competitive position.”
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As of the date of this annual report, we have not been subject to any material dispute or claims for infringement upon third-party trademarks, licenses, and other intellectual property rights in China.
Competition
The contract logistics industry in China is highly fragmented, and we compete with many local, regional, and national logistics companies with more resources including Sinotrans Logistics Ltd., Beijing Changjiu Logistics Co., Ltd., and Kerry Logistics (EAS) Limited. The competitions among contract logistics companies are primarily based off of service pricing, transportation speeds, service offerings, and other factors. We believe our relatively long operating history, superior operational capabilities, well-established national transportation networks, and high-quality services give us the competitive advantages over others.
Entry into the contract logistics industry requires significant initial investment in network construction, equipment and vehicle purchases, and formulation and attraction of new business partners. However, other express delivery service providers or e-commerce companies which may be more established, may utilize or further improve their existing proprietary delivery and transportation infrastructure to compete with us. Furthermore, as we look to expand our service offerings and client base, we may face competition from players in those new sectors.
Branding and Marketing
We strive to enhance our brand awareness through high service quality and various marketing initiatives. Shengfeng Logistics was recognized as one of China’s outstanding logistics companies by the China Communications and Transportation Association (the “CCTA”). Furthermore, Shengfeng Logistics was classified as an AAAAA class logistics company and among the top 10 companies with logistics informatization capacity by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing in 2018. Shengfeng Logistics was also recognized as a top 100 logistics companies in China by the CCTA in 2016 and 2018, respectively.
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, launched various programs and marketing activities to promote our brand and services. We rely on various social network mobile applications such as WeChat to distribute business updates and corporate news. Additionally, we offer convenient features such as shipment tracking, service outlet locator, shipment booking through our WeChat official account.
We participate in conferences and exhibitions in different industries to expand our pool of potential clients. We also design and develop different service packages to cater for the demands of clients in different industries so that we could extend our reach of potential clients in similar industries and upstream and downstream suppliers. We pay close attention to the development of innovative industries such as new energy vehicles, shared bikes and Internet TV, and have formed cooperation relationships with companies in such industries.
We bring in new clients through promotion activities by our sales employees, market bidding activities, research on upstream and downstream entities of our current clients, participation in conferences and exhibitions, meetings, calls, referrals, and other activities. In addition, we require our own fleet to apply our logos onto transportation vehicles and personnel uniforms in a consistent and unified manner in order to further enhance our brand recognition during interactions with the clients.
We plan to develop and improve our marketing strategies by focusing on the following: a) maintaining existing client relationships; b) establishing new client relationships; c) enhancing our service quality and efficiency; and d) managing our marketing system and expertise. We will make specific marketing plans and take different approaches based on the various industries, sizes, contract amounts and needs of our clients.
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Employees
As of December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, had a total of 1,341, 1,550 and 1,543 full-time employees located in China, respectively. The following table sets forth the breakdown of our employees by function as of December 31, 2023:
| Function | Number | % of Total | ||||||
| Stevedore | 39 | 2.91 | % | |||||
| Transportation | 173 | 12.90 | % | |||||
| Management Administration | 313 | 23.34 | % | |||||
| Client Service | 220 | 16.41 | % | |||||
| Operation Support | 517 | 38.55 | % | |||||
| Sales and Marketing | 58 | 4.32 | % | |||||
| Technology and Engineering | 21 | 1.57 | % | |||||
| Total | 1,341 | 100 | % | |||||
In addition to our own full-time employees, our workforce also includes 3 dispatched workers and 988 contractors, as of December 31, 2023. In addition, third-party transportation providers retain their own employees according to their individual operational needs.
We believe our employees’ compensation packages are competitive and we have created a merit-based work environment that encourages initiative. As a result, we have generally been able to attract and retain qualified personnel and maintain a stable core management team.
We are required by applicable PRC laws and regulations to participate in various statutory employee benefit plans, including social insurance, medical insurance, maternity insurance, workplace injury insurance, unemployment insurance, and pension benefits through a PRC government-mandated multi-employer defined contribution plan. Pursuant to PRC regulations, we are required to contribute specific percentage of salaries, bonuses, and allowances (up to a maximum amount, specified by local governmental regulations) to the employee benefit plan. As of the date of this annual report, we have not made adequate social insurance and housing fund contributions for all employees as required by PRC regulations, but we have taken measures to comply with related laws and regulations. Such measures include, but are not limited to, outsourcing our labor-related matters and making payments for unpaid social insurance and housing fund contributions, which may increase the costs of our business and operation.
We enter into standard labor agreements with our full-time employees with standard confidentiality and non-compete provisions.
We believe that we maintain a good working relationship with our employees, and we have not experienced any major labor disputes.
Research and Development
As information technology plays an essential role in our business and services, we endeavor to develop and adopt advanced information technology to increase efficiency and accuracy in operations, enhance client experience and satisfaction, and ultimately contribute to our growth and success.
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, maintain an in-house R&D team which consists of four departments in Shengfeng Logistics: Product Department (3 employees and 1 manager), Operation and Maintenance Department (2 employees), TMS Research and Development Department (8 employees and 2 managers) and WMS Research and Development Department (4 employees and 1 manager). All of the said departments are under the supervision of the Director of the Information Section of Shengfeng Logistics. Product Department is mainly responsible for the gathering of product development requests and opinions, coordinating the communication among different parties on product development and providing necessary trainings to support new products. Operation and Maintenance Department is mainly responsible for maintaining the computer network, operating systems, software and hardware, and other equipment to ensure they function properly and are secured. TMS Research and Development Department and WMS Research and Development Department are mainly responsible for the research and development of TMS and WMS. At least once or twice per year, the Director of the Information Section will call for a meeting with certain managers and qualified employees from the R&D departments to discuss the necessity and possibility of new information technology developments and technology upgrades. Any proposal discussed and approved during the meeting will be presented to the management for further discussion and decision.
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From time to time, we contract with some third-party software design companies for licenses to use some of the systems they designed and developed, such as some financial reporting and accounting systems. They will also maintain the systems and provide necessary supports to us.
Our passion and dedication for improvement and innovation have been translated into our ability to develop and introduce new and diversified services with a fast pace, converting our advantage in research and development into our commercial competitive advantage in the logistic industry. Through years of effort, as of December 31, 2023, we have registered 43 computer software copyrights with the PRC National Copyright Administration and 1 invention patent with the National Intellectual Property Administration. Since 2012, Shengfeng TMS has been our main system, which is a comprehensive management system that allows us to effectively monitor and manage the various stages of transportation, payment, and client service. It is the Company’s plan to continue its dedication to the research and development on information technology to enhance efficiency and client experience.
For more details on our technology infrastructure and intellectual property, please refer to “—Our Technology Infrastructure” and “—Intellectual Property.”
Properties and Facilities
Our principal executive office is located at Shengfeng Building, No. 478 Fuxin East Road, Jin’an District, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China, 350001, where we, through Shengfeng Logistics, lease such property from a related party, Fuzhou Tianyu Shengfeng Industrial Co., Ltd., a company controlled by Yongxu Liu, our CEO and Chairman, with an area of approximately 24,886.16 square feet, with a lease term from November 1, 2020 to October 31, 2022 and was renewed to October 31, 2024 with a monthly rent of RMB115,648 (approximately US$16,412). We also need to pay a monthly property management fee of RMB15,564 (approximately US$2,209). We have priority to renew the lease as long as we use the property for the same purpose, but we are required to notify the landlord at least two months in advance if we would like to renew the lease. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded related rent of $227,552, $305,120 and $357,613 in general and administrative expenses, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded related property management fee of $17,029, $35,420 and $68,503 in general and administrative expenses, respectively.
As of December 31, 2023, we, through two of the VIE’s subsidiaries, owned 2 office buildings in China with aggregate gross floor areas of approximately 58,348.58 square feet are on the land we own, and we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, leased 34 office buildings in China with aggregate gross floor areas of approximately 255,868.48 square feet. The terms of such leases range from 1 to 5 years.
As of December 31, 2023, we, through one of the VIE’s subsidiaries, owned 4 land use rights with aggregate gross areas of approximately 340,388.43 square feet in Tong Zhou District, Beijing, China. The use terms of such land is 50 years. While we have not commenced construction on the land as of the date of this annual report, we plan to use this land for warehouse storage and management services and regional sorting centers.
In addition, as of December 31, 2023, 2 of the regional sorting centers operated by the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries with an aggregate gross floor area of approximate 64,838.16 square feet are on the land we own, and 33 of the regional sorting centers operated by the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries with an aggregate gross floor area of approximately 1,703,642.31 square feet are on leased land. The terms of such leases range from 1 to 5 years.
As of the date of this annual report, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, directly operate 49 Cloud OFCs across China to provide warehouse storage and management services. As of December 31, 2023, 2 of the Cloud OFCs operated by the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries with an aggregate gross floor area of approximate 819,989.20 square feet are on the land we own, and 47 of the Cloud OFCs operated by the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries with an aggregate gross floor area of approximately 2,798,174.31 square feet are on the land we leased. The terms of such leases range from 1 to 3 years.
As of the date of this annual report, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, directly operate 33 service outlets across China. As of December 31, 2023, all of the service outlets operated by us with an aggregate gross floor area of approximately 123,270.36 square feet are on the land we leased. The terms of such leases range from 1 to 5 years.
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As of the date of this annual report, we, through one of the VIE’s subsidiaries, hold land use rights with respect to one property with an aggregate gross area of approximately 484,700 square feet in Ningde City, Fujian Province, China. The land is subject to a 50-year use term. Construction is currently underway on the land for the purpose of developing warehouse storage and management services and establishing a regional sorting center.
The areas of self-owned properties and leased premises are based on the figures specified in the certificates of land use or the corresponding lease agreements.
The following table shows pertinent information of the properties we, through three of the VIE’s subsidiaries, own as of December 31, 2023:
| Location | Area (Square Feet) |
Term of Use | Current Use | |||||
| Tong Zhou District, Beijing, China |
159,901.66 | October 31, 1994 to October 30, 2044 | Construction has not been commenced as of the date of this annual report. | |||||
| Tong Zhou District, Beijing, China |
155,027.65 | October 31, 1994 to October 30, 2044 | Construction has not been commenced as of the date of this annual report. | |||||
| Tong Zhou District, Beijing, China |
12,531.02 | January 23, 1995 to January 22, 2045 | Construction has not been commenced as of the date of this annual report. | |||||
| Tong Zhou District, Beijing, China |
12,928.10 | January 23, 1995 to January 22, 2045 | Construction has not been commenced as of the date of this annual report. | |||||
| Fuqing City, Fuzhou Province, China |
349,132.7 | Until April 10, 2063 | 318,390.98 for Warehouse Storage and Management Services, 28,588.95 for Regional Sorting Center and 2,152.78 for offices | |||||
| Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China |
187,515.50 | Until December 30, 2056 | 131,319.7 for Warehouse Storage and Management Services and 56,195.8 for offices | |||||
| Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China |
406,527.71 | Until January 29, 2058 | 370,278.5 for Warehouse Storage and Management Services and 36,249.21 for Regional Sorting Center | |||||
| Ningde City, Fujian Province, China |
484,698.87 | Until April 12, 2073 | Construction is currently underway as of the date of this annual report. | |||||
We believe that the facilities that we currently own and lease are generally adequate to meet our current needs, but we expect to seek additional space as needed to accommodate our future growth.
As of December 31, 2023, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, operated 35 regional sorting hubs in Fujian, Guangdong, Shanghai, Beijing, Zhejiang, Hubei, and 16 other provinces in China. Among our regional sorting centers, two are located on lands that we own and the remaining 33 are located on leased lands. We provide each center with sorting and loading equipment.
As of December 31, 2023, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, own line-haul fleet is comprised of 290 truck headstocks and over 900 cabinets for ordinary shipments and 5 truck headstocks and 15 cabinets for hazardous shipments. We also owned 160 vehicles for our short-haul transportation as of the same date.
Tangible properties of our regional sorting centers, Cloud OFCs, service outlets, and line-haul and short-haul transportation network operated by the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries across China include transportation and electronic equipment.
Seasonality
Our operating results have been subject to seasonal trends as a result of, or influenced by, numerous factors, including national holidays, weather patterns, consumer demands, economic conditions, and others. Although seasonal changes have not significantly impacted on our cash flow or affected our operations, we cannot guarantee that it will not adversely impact us in the future.
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Insurance
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, maintain various insurance policies to safeguard against risks and unexpected events. We have purchased compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance and commercial insurance such as automobile third-party liability insurance, property insurance, and cargo insurance. We have purchased employer liability insurance. We also provide work-related injury insurance to our employees.
We do not purchase insurance for items delivered by us. Instead, our clients may purchase shipment protection services for valuable items, and we will compensate those clients based on the declared value in the event of loss or damage that was caused by us. For more details, please see “—Value-added Services—Shipment Protection.” Our clients are responsible for purchasing insurance for hazardous items delivered in the shipments, subject to the provisions set forth under the respective shipping agreements. We do not maintain business interruption insurance nor key-man insurance. Our management will evaluate the adequacy of our insurance coverages from time to time and purchase additional insurance policies as needed.
Unless otherwise set forth in their respective agreements, third-party transportation providers will be responsible solely for the shipment insurance. When an accident occurs, a transportation provider will reimburse and compensate our loss pursuant to our agreements and any third parties’ loss. If the transportation provider is not able to compensate the full amount of the loss to us or any other third parties, our insurance company will pay for the compensation under our insurance policies. Afterwards, the transportation provider shall reimburse our insurance company.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we are subject to legal proceedings, investigations, and claims incidental to the conduct of our business. We are not a party to, nor are we aware of, any legal proceeding, investigation, or claim which, in the opinion of our management, is likely to have an adverse material effect on our business, financial condition, or operation result. We may periodically be subject to legal proceedings, investigations, and claims relating to our business. We may also initiate legal proceedings to protect our rights and interests.
Regulations
This section sets forth a summary of the principal laws and regulations relevant to our business and operations in the PRC and the U.S.
PRC Regulations
This section sets forth a summary of the most significant rules and regulations that affect our business activities in China.
Regulations Relating to Foreign Investment
The Foreign Investment Law, promulgated by the National People’s Congress on March 15, 2019, has come into effect on January 1, 2020 and has replaced the major existing laws and regulations governing foreign investment in the PRC, including the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Ventures Enterprises Law, the Sino-foreign Co-operative Enterprises Law, the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law, and their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. Pursuant to Foreign Investment Law, the existing foreign invested enterprises established prior to the effective date of the Foreign Investment Law may keep their corporate organization forms within five years after the effective date of the Foreign Investment Law before such existing foreign invested enterprise change their organization forms, organization structures, and their activities of foreign-invested enterprises in accordance with the Company Law, the Partnership Enterprise Law and other laws. According to the Foreign Investment Law, “foreign-invested enterprises” thereof refers to enterprises that are wholly or partly invested by foreign investors and registered within China under the PRC laws, “foreign investment” thereof refers to any foreign investor’s direct or indirect investment in China, including: (1) establishing foreign-invested enterprises in China either individually or jointly with other investors; (2) obtaining stock shares, stock equity, property shares, other similar interests in Chinese domestic enterprises; (3) investing in new projects in China either individually or jointly with other investors; and (4) making investment through other means provided by laws, administrative regulations, or State Council provisions.
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Investments conducted by foreign investors in the PRC are subject to the Catalogue of Industries for Encouraging Foreign Investment, or the Catalogue, and the Negative List, which were jointly issued by the NDRC and the MOFCOM. The version of the Catalogue currently in force was amended in 2022 and became effective on January 1, 2023, and the version of the Negative List currently in force was amended in 2021 and became effective on January 1, 2022, both of which further reduce restrictions on foreign investment.
On December 26, 2019 the State Council issued the Implementation Regulations for the Foreign Investment Law, or the Implementation Regulations which came into effect on January 1, 2020. According to the Implementation Regulations, in the event of any discrepancies between the Foreign Investment Law, the Implementation Regulations and relevant provisions on foreign investment promulgated prior to January 1, 2020, the Foreign Investment Law and the Implementation Regulations shall prevail. The Implementation Regulations also indicated that foreign investors that invest in sectors on the Negative List in which foreign investment is restricted shall comply with special management measures with respect to shareholding, senior management personnel and other matters in the Negative List.
Regulations Relating to Road Transportation
Pursuant to the PRC Regulations on Road Transportation promulgated by the State Council in April 2004 and most recently amended in July 2023, and the Provisions on Administration of Road Freight Transportation and Stations (Sites) issued by the Ministry of Transportation in June 2005 and most recently amended in November 2023, or the Road Freight Provisions, the business operations of road freight transportation refer to commercial road freight transportation activities that provide public services. The road freight transportation includes general road freight transportation, special road freight transportation, road transportation of large articles, and road transportation of dangerous cargos. Special road freight transportation refers to freight transportation using special vehicles such as vehicles with containers, refrigeration equipment, or tank containers. The Road Freight Provisions set forth detailed requirements with respect to vehicles and drivers.
Under the Road Freight Provisions, anyone engaging in the business of operating road freight transportation or stations (sites) must obtain a road transportation operation permit from the local county-level road transportation administrative bureau, and each vehicle used for road freight transportation must have a road transportation certificate from the same authority. The incorporation of a subsidiary of a road freight transportation operator that intends to engage in road transportation business is subject to the same approval procedure. If a road freight transportation operator intends to establish a branch, it should file with the local road transportation administrative bureau where the branch is to be established.
Although the road transportation operation permits have no limitation with respect to geographical scope, several provincial governments in China, including Shanghai and Beijing, promulgated local rules on administration of road transportation, stipulating that permitted operators of road freight transportation registered in other provinces should also make filings with the local road transportation administrative bureau where it carries out its business.
The VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries have obtained road transportation operation permits to operate general road freight transportation or station (sites).
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Pursuant to the Measures for the Administration of Road Transportation Safety of Hazardous Goods, or the “Measures,” jointly promulgated by the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry & Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Emergency Management and the State Administration for Market Regulation in China, which took effect on January 1, 2020, the transportation of hazardous goods with road transportation vehicles and relevant activities shall be governed by the Measures. Under the Measures, carriers of hazardous goods shall carry hazardous goods within the business scope permitted by the competent transport departments. Carriers of hazardous goods shall maintain carrier’s liability insurance for the hazardous goods they carry. The Measures set forth detailed requirements with respect to consignors, carriers, loaders and drivers.
Regulations Relating to Cargo Vehicles
Pursuant to the Administrative Provisions concerning the Running of Cargo Vehicles with Out-of-Gauge Goods promulgated by the Ministry of Transportation, or the “Cargo Provisions,” took effect in August 2016 and most recently amended in August 2021, cargo vehicles running on public roads shall not carry cargo weighing more than the limits prescribed by this regulation and their dimensions shall not exceed those as set forth in the same regulation. Vehicle operators who violate this regulation may be subject to a fine of up to RMB30,000 (approximately $4,300) for each violation. In the event of repeated violations, the regulatory authority may suspend the operating license of the vehicle operator and/or revoke the business operation registration of the relevant vehicle. Under the Cargo Provisions and the Regulations on Protecting Highway Safety promulgated by the State Council in China, or the “Highway Regulations,” which took effect on July 1, 2011, in the event of repeated violations, the regulatory authority may suspend the operating license of the vehicle operator and/or revoke the business operation registration of the relevant vehicle. In the event that more than 10% of the total vehicles of any road transportation enterprise are not in compliance with the Highway Regulations in any year, such road transportation enterprise’s business shall be suspended for rectification and its road transportation license may be revoked.
We rely on trucks and other vehicles owned and operated by third-party trucking companies, and the operation of our fleet is subject to this new regulation. We have an obligation to educate and manage vehicle operators as well as to urge them to comply with this regulation. We weigh and measure each cargo truck as they enter and leave our hubs and sortation centers to ensure their compliance with this regulation in terms of cargo weight. If any truck is not in compliance with this regulation, we will replace it with another vehicle that complies with this regulation. Otherwise, we may be subject to penalties under this regulation if we operate those trucks that exceed the limits set forth in the regulation.
Regulations Relating to Product Quality
Pursuant to the Product Quality Law of the PRC, or the Product Quality Law, which was promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on February 22, 1993, became effective on September 1, 1993, and was recently amended on December 29, 2018, business operators, including manufacturers and sellers, are required to assume certain obligations in respect of product quality. Violations of the Product Quality Law may result in the imposition of fines. In addition, a company in violation of the Product Quality Law may be ordered to suspend its operations and its business license may be revoked. Criminal liability may be incurred under severe circumstances. A consumer or other victim who suffers injury or property losses due to product defects may demand compensation from the manufacturer as well as from the seller. Where the responsibility lies with the manufacturer, the seller shall, after settling compensation with the consumer, have the right to recover such compensation from the manufacturer, and vice versa.
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Regulations Relating to Pricing
In China, the prices of a small number of products and services are guided or fixed by the government. According to the Pricing Law of the PRC, or the Pricing Law promulgated by the SCNPC on December 29, 1997 and became effective on May 1, 1998, business operators must, as required by the government departments in charge of pricing, mark the prices explicitly and indicate the name, origin of production, specifications and other related particulars clearly. Business operators may not sell products at a premium or charge any fees that are not explicitly indicated. Business operators must not commit the specified unlawful pricing activities, such as colluding with others to manipulate the market price, using false or misleading prices to deceive consumers to transact, or conducting price discrimination against other business operators. Any business operator who fails to comply with the Pricing Law may be subject to administrative sanctions such as warning, ceasing unlawful activities, compensation, confiscating illegal gains and fines. The business operators may be ordered to suspend business for rectification or have their business licenses revoked under severe circumstances.
We are subject to the Pricing Law as a service provider and believe that our pricing activities are currently in compliance with the law in all material aspects.
Regulations Relating to Leasing
Pursuant to the Law on Administration of Urban Real Estate of the PRC promulgated by the SCNPC on July 5, 1994, amended on August 30, 2007, August 27, 2009, August 26, 2019 and took effect on January 1, 2020, when leasing premises, the lessor and lessee are required to enter into a written lease contract, containing provisions such as the leasing term, use of the premises, rental and repair liabilities, and other rights and obligations of both parties. Pursuant to the Administrative Measures for Commodity House Leasing promulgated by the Ministry of Housing & Urban-Rural Development in China promulgated on December 2010 and took effect in February 1, 2011, both lessor and lessee are also required to register the lease with the real estate administration department. If the lessor and lessee fail to complete the registration procedures, both lessor and lessee may be subject to fines ranging from RMB1,000 (approximately $140) to RMB10,000 (approximately $1,400). In addition, although the unregistered lease agreements are considered binding agreements, in practice, some of the remedies generally available to the registered lease agreements may not be fully applicable to the unregistered lease agreements, such as specific performance of lease agreement against new purchasers of the property. Some of our leases have not completed the registration.
According to the Civil Code of the PRC, the lessee may sublease the leased and occupies premises to a third party, subject to the consent of the lessor. Where the lessee subleases the premises, the lease contract between the lessee and the lessor remains valid. The lessor is entitled to terminate the lease contract if the lessee subleases the premises without the consent of the lessor. In addition, if the lessor transfers the premises, the lease contract between the lessee and the lessor will still remain valid.
Pursuant to the Civil Code of the PRC, if a mortgagor leases the mortgaged property before the mortgage contract is executed, the previously established leasehold interest will not be affected by the subsequent mortgage. The Supreme People’s Court has revised a judicial interpretation regarding disputes over lease contracts on urban buildings, which took effect in January 2021, providing that if the ownership of the leased premises changes during the term of lessee’s occupation in accordance with the lease contract, and the lessee requests the assignee of such premises to continue to perform the original lease contract, the PRC court shall support such request unless the mortgage right has been established before the leasing and the ownership changes due to the mortgagee’s realization of the mortgage right.
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Regulations relating to Internet Information Security and Privacy Protection
On December 28, 2000, the SCNPC enacted the Decision on the Protection of Internet Security, as amended on August 27, 2009, which provides that the following activities conducted through the internet are subject to criminal liabilities: (1) gaining improper entry into any of the computer information networks relating to state affairs, national defensive affairs, or cutting-edge science and technology; (2) violation of relevant provisions of the State in the form of unauthorized interruption of any computer network or communication service resulting in the computer network or communication system’s malfunction ; (3) spreading rumors, slanders or other harmful information via the internet for the purpose of inciting subversion of the state political power; (4) stealing or divulging state secrets, intelligence or military secrets via internet; (5) spreading false or inappropriate commercial information; or (6) infringing on the intellectual property.
On December 13, 2005, the Ministry of Public Security issued the Provisions on the Technical Measures for Internet Security Protection, which took effect on March 1, 2006. These regulations require internet service providers to take proper measures including anti-virus, data back-up, keeping records of certain information such as the login-in and exit time of users, and other related measures, and to keep records of certain information about their users for at least 60 days. On June 22, 2007, the Ministry of Public Security, State Secrecy Bureau, State Cryptography Administration and the Information Office of the State Council jointly promulgated the Administrative Measures for the Multi-level Protection of Information Security, under which the security protection grade of an information system may be classified into five grades which are (a) Level I, the destruction of such information system will cause damage to the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, legal persons and other organizations, but will cause no damage to national security, social order or public interest; (b) Level II, the destruction of such information system will cause material damage to the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, legal persons and other organizations or cause damage to social order and public interests, but will not damage national security; (c) Level III, the destruction of such information system will cause material damage to social order and public interests or will cause damage to national security; (d) Level IV, the destruction of such information system will cause particularly material damage to social order and public interests or will cause material damage to national security; (e) Level V, the destruction of such information system will cause particularly material damage to national security. Companies operating and using information systems shall protect the information systems and any system equal to or above level II as determined in accordance with these measures, and a record-filing with the competent authority is required.
The Cybersecurity Law of the PRC, as adopted by the National People’s Congress on November 7, 2016, has come into force on June 1, 2017. Considered as the fundamental law in the area of cybersecurity in China, the Cybersecurity Law regulates network operators and others from the following perspectives: the principle of Cyberspace sovereignty, security obligations of network operators and providers of network products and services, protection of personal information, protection of critical information infrastructure, data use and cross-border transfer, network interoperability and standardization. Network operators shall, according to the requirements of the rules for graded protection of cybersecurity, fulfill security protection obligations to ensure that the network is free from interference, damage or unauthorized access, and prevent network data from being divulged, stolen or falsified. In addition, any network operators collecting personal information shall follow the principles of legitimacy, rationality and necessity and shall not collect or use any personal information without due authorization of the person whose personal information is collected. Each individual is entitled to request a network operator to delete his or her personal information if he or she finds that the collection and use of such information by such operator violate the laws, administrative regulations or the agreement by and between such network operator and such individual; and is entitled to request any network operator to make corrections if he or she finds errors in such information collected and stored by such network operator. Such network operator shall take measures to delete the information or correct the errors. Pursuant to this law, the violators may be subject to: (i) warning; (ii) confiscation of illegal gains and fines equal to one to ten times of the illegal gains; or if without illegal gains, fines up to RMB1,000,000; or (iii) an order to shut down the website, suspend the business operation for rectification, or revocation of the business license. Besides, responsible persons may be subject to fines between RMB10,000 and RMB100,000.
According to the Regulations for Security Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure, or the CIIO Regulation Promulgated by State Council in July 2021, effective on September 1, 2021, critical information infrastructure refers to any important network facilities or information systems of an important industry or field, such as public communication and information services, energy, transport, water conservation, finance, public services, e-government affairs, science, and technology industry for national defense, among other industries and sectors that may pose a serious threat to national security, people’s livelihood, and public interests in the event of damage, loss of function, or data leakage. In addition, relevant administrative departments of each critical industry and sector are responsible for formulating eligibility criteria and determining the critical information infrastructure in the respective industry or sector. The operators will be informed about the final determination as to whether they are categorized as critical information infrastructure operators, or CIIOs. We have purchased certain server or network facilities for our mobile and desktop application which we believe are less likely to severely jeopardize national security, people’s livelihood and public interests. As of the date of this annual report, we have not received any notice from any authorities identifying us as a CIIO. Due to the unclear scope of what may constitute a CIIO, we cannot assure you that the PRC regulatory agencies would agree with our conclusion. If we are identified as a CIIO, we may be required to, among others: (i) ensure that our data centers to be constructed have the function of supporting the stable and continuous operation of business; (ii) perform security protection obligations to protect critical information infrastructure from being disturbed, damaged or unauthorized accessed, and to prevent network data from leakage, theft or tampering; (iii) have a dedicated cybersecurity management body and person in charge of cybersecurity, conduct background reviews on the person-in-charge and other persons holding key positions, conduct cybersecurity education, technology trainings and skill assessments for relevant staff on a regular basis, implement disaster recovery backup for important systems and databases, adopt remedial measures to promptly address security risks such as system vulnerabilities, and make emergency plans for cybersecurity incidents and conduct regular rehearsals of these plans; and (iv) establish and improve a security inspection and evaluation system. In addition, if our purchase of a network product or service may affect national security, we have to pass a cybersecurity review conducted by the cybersecurity review authority in advance, and enter into a security and confidentiality agreement with the provider.
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On July 10, 2021, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and the Office of Cybersecurity Review under the CAC promulgated the Review Measures Draft to solicit public opinion and comments. The Review Measures Draft provides that data processors who engage in data processing activities that affect or may affect national security, are included in the scope of cybersecurity review. The deadline for public comments to the Review Measures Draft was July 25, 2021. The Review Measures Draft further requires that critical information infrastructure operators and services and data processing operators that possess personal data of at least one (1) million users must apply for a review by the Cybersecurity Review Office of PRC, if they plan to conduct listings in foreign countries.
In August 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress officially promulgated the Personal Information Protection Law, effective on November 1, 2021, which provides detailed rules on handling personal information and legal responsibilities, including, but not limited to the scope of personal information and the ways of processing personal information, the establishment of rules for processing personal information, and the individual’s rights and the processor’s obligations in the processing of personal information. The Personal Information Protection Law also strengthens the punishment for those who illegally process personal information.
On November 14, 2021, CAC published the Administration Measures for Cyber Data Security (Draft for Public Comments), or the “Cyber Data Security Measure (Draft).” The Cyber Data Security Measure (Draft) provides that data processors shall apply for cybersecurity review under certain circumstances, such as mergers, restructurings, divisions of internet platform operators that hold large amount of data relating to national security, economic development or public interest which affects or may affect the national security, overseas listings of data processors that process personal data for more than one million individuals, Hong Kong listings of data processors that affect or may affect national security, and other data processing activities that affect or may affect the national security.
On December 28, 2021, the CAC, NDRC, MIIT, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State Security, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce, PBOC, SAMR, the State Administration of Radio and Television, CSRC, the State Secrecy Administration and the State Cryptography Administration jointly promulgated the Cybersecurity Review Measures, or the “Cybersecurity Review Measures,” which became effective on February 15, 2022. Pursuant to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, if critical information infrastructure operators purchase network products and services, or network platform operators conduct data processing activities that affect or may affect national security, they will be subject to cybersecurity review. A network platform operator holding more than one million users/users’ individual information also shall be subject to cybersecurity review before listing abroad. The cybersecurity review will evaluate, among others, the risk of critical information infrastructure, core data, important data, or a large amount of personal information being influenced, controlled or maliciously used by foreign governments and risk of network data security after going public overseas.
As of the date of this annual report, we have not received any notice from any authorities requiring us to undertake a cybersecurity review by the CAC. Pursuant to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, we believe we are not subject to the cybersecurity review by the CAC, given that: (i) we presently possesses personal information of less than one (1) million individual users in our business operations, as of the date of this annual report; and (ii) each of our PRC Subsidiaries is not a CIIO as neither of them has been notified by the competent PRC government authorities for such purposes; and (iii) data processed in our business is less likely to have a bearing on national security, thus it may not be classified as core or important data by the authorities. However, there remains uncertainty as to how the Cybersecurity Review Measures will be interpreted or implemented and whether the PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, may adopt new laws, regulations, rules, or detailed implementation and interpretation related to the Cybersecurity Review Measures. If any such new laws, regulations, rules, or implementation and interpretation come into effect, we will take all reasonable measures and actions to comply. We cannot assure you that PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, would take the same view as we do, and there is no assurance that we can fully or timely comply with such laws should they be deemed applicable to our operations. There is no certainty as to how such review or prescribed actions would impact our operations and we cannot guarantee that any clearance can be obtained or any actions that may be required can be taken in a timely manner, or at all. As there are no detailed rules or official interpretation being introduced yet, the definition of “online platform operators listing in a foreign country with more than one (1) million users’ personal information data” remains unclear as of the date of this annual report. It is possible that CAC may require us to file the cybersecurity review. The cybersecurity review procedure usually takes 45-70 business days, and sometimes even longer in special situations, to complete. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Our Industry—Our business generates and processes a large quantity of data, and improper handling of or unauthorized access to such data may adversely affect our business. In light of recent events indicating greater oversight by the Cyberspace Administration of China, or CAC, over data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreign exchange, we are subject to a variety of laws and other obligations regarding cybersecurity and data protection, and any failure to comply with applicable laws and obligations could have a material and adverse effect on our business, our continued listing on Nasdaq, our financial condition, results of operations, and the subsequent offering.”
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On December 29, 2011, the MIIT promulgated the Several Provisions on Regulating the Market Order of Internet Information Services, which became effective on March 15, 2012. On December 28, 2012, the SCNPC promulgated the Decision on Strengthening Network Information Protection to enhance the legal protection of information security and privacy on the internet. The Provisions on Protection of Personal Information of Telecommunications and Internet Users promulgated by the MIIT on July 16, 2013 contain detailed requirements on the use and collection of personal information as well as the security measures to be taken by internet service providers. Specifically, (1) the users’ personal information shall not be collected without prior consent; (2) the personal information shall not be collected or used other than those necessary for internet service providers to provide services; (3) the personal information shall be kept strictly confidential; and (4) a series of detailed measures shall be taken to prevent any divulge, damage, tamper or loss of personal information of users.
Pursuant to the Notice of the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security on Legally Punishing Criminal Activities Infringing upon the Personal Information of Citizens, issued in April 2013, and the Interpretation of the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate on Several Issues regarding Legal Application in Criminal Cases Infringing upon the Personal Information of Citizens, which was issued on May 8, 2017 and took effect on June 1, 2017, the following activities may constitute the crime of infringing upon a citizen’s personal information: (1) providing a citizen’s personal information to specified persons or releasing a citizen’s personal information online or through other methods in violation of relevant national provisions; (2) providing legitimately collected information relating to a citizen to others without such citizen’s consent (unless the information is processed, not traceable to a specific person and not recoverable); (3) collecting a citizen’s personal information in violation of applicable rules and regulations when performing a duty or providing services; or (4) collecting a citizen’s personal information by purchasing, accepting or exchanging such information in violation of applicable rules and regulations. In addition, on May 28, 2020, the National People’s Congress of the PRC approved the PRC Civil Code, which took effect on January 1, 2021. Pursuant to the PRC Civil Code, the collection, storage, use, process, transmission, provision and disclosure of personal information shall follow the principles of legitimacy, properness and necessity.
On March 12, 2021, the CAC, MIIT, the Ministry of Public Security and the SAMR, announced the Provisions on the Scope of Necessary Personal Information for Common Types of Mobile Internet Applications, which provide that the operators of mobile internet applications shall not deny the users who do not consent to the collection of unnecessary information from using basic functional services of such applications. Specifically, such provisions further provide that the basic functional service of mail and express delivery refers to “delivery service of items such as mails, packages and printed matters” and the necessary personal information for that category shall include identity information (i.e. name, type and number of ID cards) of the sender, the address and contact phone of the sender, the name and address and contact phone of the recipient as well as the name and nature and amount of the items for delivery. Violations could be reported to the proper authority and will be dealt with in accordance with PRC laws.
On July 7, 2022, CAC promulgated the Measures for the Security Assessment of Data Cross-border Transfer, effective on September 1, 2022, which requires the data processors to apply for data cross-border security assessment coordinated by the CAC under the following circumstances: (i) any data processor transfers important data to overseas; (ii) any critical information infrastructure operator or data processor who processes personal information of over 1 million people provides personal information to overseas; (iii) any data processor who provides personal information to overseas and has already provided personal information of more than 100,000 people or sensitive personal information of more than 10,000 people to overseas since January 1st of the previous year and; and (iv) other circumstances under which the data cross-border transfer security assessment is required as prescribed by the CAC.
Pursuant to the Notice of the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security on Legally Punishing Criminal Activities Infringing upon the Personal Information of Citizens, issued in April 2013, and the Interpretation of the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate on Several Issues regarding Legal Application in Criminal Cases Infringing upon the Personal Information of Citizens, which was issued on May 8, 2017 and took effect on June 1, 2017, the following activities may constitute the crime of infringing upon a citizen’s personal information: (1) providing a citizen’s personal information to specified persons or releasing a citizen’s personal information online or through other methods in violation of relevant national provisions; (2) providing legitimately collected information relating to a citizen to others without such citizen’s consent (unless the information is processed, not traceable to a specific person and not recoverable); (3) collecting a citizen’s personal information in violation of applicable rules and regulations when performing a duty or providing services; or (4) collecting a citizen’s personal information by purchasing, accepting or exchanging such information in violation of applicable rules and regulations. In addition, on May 28, 2020, the National People’s Congress of the PRC approved the PRC Civil Code, which took effect on January 1, 2021. Pursuant to the PRC Civil Code, the collection, storage, use, process, transmission, provision and disclosure of personal information shall follow the principles of legitimacy, properness and necessity.
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, adopted certain policies to protect the privacy of our clients, such as the policies in our software for our client. Our current software and systems are in compliance with PRC laws and regulations in material respects. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with any regulatory requirements or privacy protection related laws, rules and regulations could result in proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or other proper authorities. These proceedings or actions could subject us to significant penalties and negative publicity, require us to change our business practices, increase our costs and severely disrupt our business.
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Regulations relating to Intellectual Property Rights
Patent
Patents in the PRC are principally protected under the Patent Law of the PRC promulgated by the SCNPC in 1984 and then respectively amended in 1992, 2000, 2008, 2020, of which the amendment in 2020 has become effective on June 1, 2021, and its implementation rules. Novelty, inventiveness and practicality are three essential ingredients of patens in the PRC. The latest amendment provides that, in general, the protection period is 20 years for an invention patent, 10 years for a utility model patent and 15 years for a design patent, commencing from their respective application dates.
Copyright
The PRC Copyright Law, promulgated in 1990 and amended in 2001, 2010 and 2020, of which the amendment in 2020 has become effective on June 1, 2021, or the Copyright Law, and its related implementing regulations, promulgated in 2002 and amended in 2013, are the principal laws and regulations governing copyright related matters. The Copyright Law provides that Chinese citizens, legal persons, or other organizations shall, whether published or not, enjoy copyright of their works, which includes, among others, works of literature, art, natural science, social science, engineering technology and computer software. Under the Copyright Law, the term of protection for copyrighted software is 50 years. The Regulation on the Protection of the Right to Communicate Works to the Public over Information Networks, which was most recently amended on January 30, 2013, provides specific rules on fair use, statutory license, and a safe harbor for the use of copyrights and copyright management technology, and specifies the liabilities of various entities for violations, including copyright holders, libraries and internet service providers.
In accordance with the Regulations on the Protection of Computer Software promulgated by the State Council on December 20, 2001 and last amended on January 30, 2013, Chinese citizens, legal persons or other entities own the copyright, including the right of publication, right of authorship, right of modification, right of reproduction, distribution right, rental right, right of network communication, translation right and other rights software copyright owners shall have in software developed by them, regardless of whether it has been published.
In accordance with the Measures for the Registration of Computer Software Copyright promulgated by the National Copyright Administration on April 6, 1992 and last amended on February 20, 2002, software copyrights, exclusive licensing contracts for software copyrights and software copyright transfer contracts shall be registered, and the National Copyright Administration shall be the competent authority for the administration of software copyright registration and designates the Copyright Protection Center of China as a software registration authority. The Copyright Protection Center of China shall grant a registration certification to a computer software copyright applicant who complies with regulations. Under the Copyright Law, the term of protection for copyrighted software is 50 years.
Trademark
The PRC Trademark Law was adopted in 1982 and then amended in 1993, 2001, 2013 and 2019 respectively. The implementation rules of the PRC Trademark Law were adopted in 1983 and amended in 2014. Registered trademarks are protected under the Trademark Law of the PRC and related rules and regulations. The Trademark Office of National Intellectual Property Administration handles trademark registrations and grants a protection term of ten years to registered trademarks. Where registration is sought for a trademark that is identical or similar to another trademark which has already been registered or given preliminary examination and approval for use in the same or similar category of commodities or services, such application for registration of this trademark may be rejected. Trademark registrations are effective for a renewable ten-year period, unless otherwise revoked.
Domain name
The MIIT, promulgated the Administrative Measures on Internet Domain Name, or the Domain Name Measure on August 24, 2017 to protect domain names. According to the Domain Name Measures, domain name applicants are required to duly register their domain names with domain name registration service institutions. The applicants will become the holder of such domain names upon the completion of the registration procedures. The permits for registered domain names are effective for five years, which are subject to renewals, cancellations or revocations.
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Trade secrets
According to the PRC Anti-Unfair Competition Law, promulgated by the SCNPC in September 1993, as amended in November 4, 2017 and April 23, 2019 respectively, the term “trade secrets” refers to technical, operational or other commercial information that is unknown to the public, has utility, may create business interests or profits for its legal owners or holders, and is maintained as a secret by its legal owners or holders through corresponding confidentiality measures. Under the PRC Anti-Unfair Competition Law, business persons are prohibited from infringing others’ trade secrets by: (1) obtaining the trade secrets from the legal owners or holders by any unfair methods such as theft, bribery, fraud, coercion, electronic intrusion, or any other illicit means; (2) disclosing, using or permitting others to use the trade secrets obtained illegally under item (1) above; or (3) disclosing, using or permitting others to use the trade secrets, in violation of any contractual agreements or any requirements of the legal owners or holders to keep such trade secrets in confidence. Pursuant to the PRC Civil Code, if one intentionally infringes upon the intellectual property rights of others and the circumstance is severe, the infringed party is entitled to the corresponding punitive compensation; or (4) abetting a person, or tempting, or aiding a person into or in acquiring, disclosing, using, or allowing another person to use the trade secret of the rightful holder in violation of his or her non-disclosure obligations or the requirements of the rightful holder for keeping the trade secret confidential.
Regulations relating to Leasing
Pursuant to the Law on Administration of Urban Real Estate of the PRC promulgated by the SCNPC on July 5, 1994, amended on August 30, 2007, August 27, 2009, August 26, 2019 and took effect on January 1, 2020, when leasing premises, the lessor and lessee are required to enter into a written lease contract, containing provisions such as the leasing term, use of the premises, rental and repair liabilities, and other rights and obligations of both parties. Both lessor and lessee are also required to register the lease with the real estate administration department. If the lessor and lessee fail to complete the registration procedures, both lessor and lessee may be subject to fines ranging from RMB1,000 (approximately USD$155.3) to RMB10,000 (approximately USD$1,553). In addition, although the unregistered lease agreements are considered binding agreements, in practice, some of the remedies generally available under the registered lease agreements may not be fully applicable to the unregistered lease agreements, such as specific performance of lease agreements against new purchasers of the property. Some of our leases have not completed the registration.
According to the Civil Code of the PRC, the lessee may sublease the leased and occupied premises to a third party, subject to the consent of the lessor. Where the lessee subleases the premises, the lease contract between the lessee and the lessor remains valid. The lessor is entitled to terminate the lease contract if the lessee subleases the premises without the consent of the lessor. In addition, if the lessor transfers the premises, the lease contract between the lessee and the lessor will still remain valid.
Regulations relating to Employment
The Labor Law and the Labor Contract Law
According to the Labor Law of the PRC, or the Labor Law, which was promulgated on July 5, 1994 and last amended and came into effect on December 29, 2018, enterprises and institutions shall establish, provide and improve their system of workplace safety and sanitation, strictly follow state rules and standards on workplace safety and the relevant articles of occupational protection, and educate employees in occupational safety and sanitation in the PRC. Occupational safety and sanitation facilities shall comply with state-fixed standards.
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The Labor Contract Law of the PRC, or the Labor Contract Law, which was issued on June 29, 2007, amended on December 28, 2012 and became effective on July 1, 2013, and its implementation rules provide requirements concerning employment contracts between an employer and its employees. If an employer fails to enter into a written employment contract with an employee after the lapse of more than one month, but less than one year from the date on which the employment relationship is established, the employer must rectify the situation by entering into a written employment contract with the employee and pay the employee twice the employee’s salary for the period from the date following the lapse of one month from the date of establishment of the employment relationship to the day prior to the execution of the written employment contract. The Labor Contract Law and its implementation rules also require compensation to be paid upon certain terminations. In addition, if an employer intends to enforce a non-compete provision in an employment contract or non-competition agreement with an employee, it has to compensate the employee on a monthly basis during the term of the restriction period after the termination or expiration of the labor contract. Employers in most cases are also required to provide severance payments to their employees after their employment relationships are terminated. The Labor Contract Law also provides that enterprises accepting labor dispatch services shall strictly control the number of dispatched workers and the proportion of dispatched workers shall not exceed the percentage prescribed by competent labor administrative departments. As of the date of this annual report, other than that we have not made adequate social insurance and housing fund contributions for all employees as required by PRC regulations, we believe that we are currently compliant with the foregoing laws and regulation in all material respects.
The Interim Provisions on Labor Dispatching
The Interim Provisions on Labor Dispatching, issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China on January 24, 2014, which came into effect on March 1, 2014, require the number of dispatched workers not to exceed 10% of the total number of 1) the employees that are employed directly by an enterprise and 2) the dispatched workers. As of the date of this annual report, the number of our dispatched workers is lower than 10% of the total number of the employees and the dispatched workers of the Company. Therefore, the Company is currently in compliance with the Interim Provisions on Labor Dispatching. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—Increases in labor costs in the PRC may adversely affect our business and our profitability.”
Social Insurance and Housing Funds
Pursuant to the Interim Regulations on Levying Social Insurance Premiums, promulgated on January 22, 1999 and revised on March 24, 2019, Decisions of the State Council on Modifying the Basic Endowment Insurance System for Enterprise Employees, promulgated on December 3, 2005, Decision on Establishment of Basic Medical System for Urban Employee, issued by State Council and became effective on December 14, 1998, the Regulations on Unemployment Insurance, became effective on January 22, 1999, Regulations on Work-Related Injury Insurance, promulgated on April 27, 2003, amended on December 20, 2010 and became effective on January 1, 2011, and the Interim Measures concerning the Maternity Insurance for Enterprise Employees, promulgated on December 14, 1994 and became effective on January 1, 1995, employers are required to register with the competent social insurance authorities and provide their employees with welfare schemes covering pension insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance, work-related injury insurance and medical insurance.
Pursuant to Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Comprehensively Advancing Combined Implementation of Maternity Insurance and Basic Medical Insurance for Employees, promulgated by the General Office of State Council on March 6, 2019, maternity insurance funds shall merge into the basic medical care insurance funds for employees so as to unify payment and harmonize consolidation level. The new ratio of employers’ contribution to basic medical care insurance for employees is determined based on the aggregate of the ratios of employers’ contribution to maternity insurance and basic medical care insurance for employees, and an individual is not required to pay for maternity insurance. Therefore, after March 6, 2019, our Company has no record of maternity insurance funds in the payment details of social security, since it has been merged into the basic medical care insurance funds.
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Pursuant to the Social Insurance Law of the PRC, or the Social Insurance Law, which became effective on July 1, 2011 with last amendment on December 29, 2018, all employees are required to participate in basic pension insurance, basic medical insurance schemes and unemployment insurance, which must be contributed by both the employers and the employees. All employees are required to participate in work-related injury insurance and maternity insurance schemes, which must be contributed by the employers. Employers are required to complete registrations with local social insurance authorities. Moreover, the employers must timely make all social insurance contributions. Except for mandatory exceptions such as force majeure, social insurance premiums shall not be paid late, reduced or be exempted. Where an employer fails to make social insurance contributions in full and on time, the social insurance contribution collection agencies shall order it to make all or outstanding contributions within a specified period and impose a late payment fee at the rate of 0.05% per day from the date on which the contribution becomes due. If such employer fails to make the overdue contributions within such time limit, the relevant administrative department may impose a fine equivalent to 1—3 times the overdue amount. We are in compliance with laws and regulations related to social insurance and housing funds in China in material aspects.
Pursuant to the Emergency Notice on Practicing Principles of the State Council Executive Meeting and Stabilizing Work on Collecting Social Insurance Premiums, promulgated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on September 21, 2018, local authorities are prohibited from recovering the unpaid social insurance premiums from enterprises.
Pursuant to the Administrative Regulations on the Housing Provident Fund, which became effective on April 3, 1999 and was amended on March 24, 2002 and March 24, 2019, enterprises are required to register with the competent administrative centers of housing provident fund and open bank accounts for housing provident funds for their employees. Employers are also required to timely pay all housing fund contributions for their employees. Where an employer fails to submit and deposit registration of housing provident funds or fails to complete the formalities of opening housing provident fund accounts for its employees, the housing provident fund management center shall order it to complete the formalities within a prescribed time limit. Failing to comply by the expiration of the time limit will subject the employer to a fine ranging from RMB10,000 (approximately $1,400) to RMB50,000 (approximately $7,200). When an employer fails to pay housing provident funds due in full and on time, housing provident fund center is entitled to order it to rectify, and failing to comply could result in enforcement exerted by the court.
Regulations Relating to Taxes
Enterprise income tax
According to the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the PRC, or the EIT Law, which was promulgated on March 16, 2007, became effective from January 1, 2008 and was amended on February 24, 2017 and December 29, 2018, an enterprise established outside the PRC with de facto management bodies within the PRC is considered a resident enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes and is generally subject to a uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate on its worldwide income. The Implementing Rules of the Enterprise Income Law of the PRC, or the Implementing Rules of the EIT Law defines a “de facto management body” as a managing body that in practice exercises “substantial and overall management and control over the production and operations, personnel, accounting, and properties” of the enterprise. Non-PRC resident enterprises without any branches in the PRC pay an enterprise income tax in connection with their income originating from the PRC at the tax rate of 10%.
Enterprises that are recognized as high and new technology enterprises in accordance with the Administrative Measures for the Determination of High and New Tech Enterprises issued by the Ministry of Science, the MOF, and the State Administration of Taxation, or the SAT, are entitled to enjoy a preferential enterprise income tax rate of 15%. The validity period of the high and new technology enterprise qualification shall be three years from the date of issuance of the certificate. An enterprise can re-apply for such recognition before or after the previous certificate expires.
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On February 3, 2015, the SAT issued the Announcement on Several Issues Concerning the Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfer of Assets by Non-Resident Enterprises, or the SAT Circular 7. The SAT Circular 7 repeals certain provisions in the Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on Strengthening the Administration of Enterprise Income Tax on Income from Equity Transfer by Non-Resident Enterprises, or the SAT Circular 698, issued by SAT on December 10, 2009, and the Announcement on Several Issues Relating to the Administration of Income Tax on Non-resident Enterprises, issued by SAT on March 28, 2011, and clarifies certain provisions in the SAT Circular 698. The SAT Circular 7 provides comprehensive guidelines relating to, and heightens the Chinese tax authorities’ scrutiny on, indirect transfers of assets by a non-resident enterprise (including assets of organizations and premises in PRC, immovable property in the PRC, equity investments in PRC resident enterprises), or the PRC Taxable Assets. For instance, when a non-resident enterprise transfers equity interests in an overseas holding company that directly or indirectly holds certain PRC Taxable Assets and if the transfer is believed by the PRC tax authorities to have no reasonable commercial purpose other than to evade enterprise income tax, the SAT Circular 7 allows the PRC tax authorities to reclassify the indirect transfer of PRC Taxable Assets into a direct transfer and therefore impose a 10% rate of PRC enterprise income tax on the non-resident enterprise. The SAT Circular 7 lists several factors to be taken into consideration by tax authorities in determining if an indirect transfer has a reasonable commercial purpose. However, regardless of these factors, the overall arrangements in relation to an indirect transfer satisfying all the following criteria will be deemed lack of a reasonable commercial purpose: (i) 75% or more of the equity value of the intermediary enterprise being transferred is derived directly or indirectly from PRC Taxable Assets; (ii) at any time during the one-year period before the indirect transfer, 90% or more of the asset value of the intermediary enterprise (excluding cash) is comprised directly or indirectly of investments in the PRC, or during the one-year period before the indirect transfer, 90% or more of its income is derived directly or indirectly from the PRC; (iii) the functions performed and risks assumed by the intermediary enterprise and any of its subsidiaries and branches that directly or indirectly hold the PRC Taxable Assets are limited and are insufficient to prove their economic substance; and (iv) the foreign tax payable on the gain derived from the indirect transfer of the PRC Taxable Assets is lower than the potential PRC tax on the direct transfer of those assets. However, indirect transfers falling into the scope of the safe harbors under the SAT Circular 7 may not be subject to PRC tax under the SAT Circular 7. The safe harbors include qualified group restructurings, public market trades and exemptions under tax treaties or arrangements.
On October 17, 2017, SAT issued the Announcement on Issues Relating to Withholding at Source of Income Tax of Non-resident Enterprises, or the SAT Circular 37, which took effect on December 1, 2017. Certain provisions of the SAT Circular 37 were repealed by the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Revising Certain Taxation Normative Documents. According to the SAT Circular 37, the balance after deducting the equity net value from the equity transfer income shall be the taxable income amount for equity transfer income. Equity transfer income shall mean the consideration collected by the equity transferor from the equity transfer, including various income in monetary form and non-monetary form. Equity net value shall mean the tax computation basis for obtaining the said equity. The tax computation basis for equity shall be: (i) the capital contribution costs actually paid by the equity transferor to a Chinese resident enterprise at the time of investment and equity participation, or (ii) the equity transfer costs actually paid at the time of acquisition of such equity to the original transferor of the said equity. Where there is reduction or appreciation of value during the equity holding period, and the gains or losses may be confirmed pursuant to the rules of the finance and tax authorities of the State Council, the equity net value shall be adjusted accordingly. When an enterprise computes equity transfer income, it shall not deduct the amount in the shareholders’ retained earnings, such as undistributed profits, from the investee enterprise, which may be distributed in accordance with the said equity. In the event of partial transfer of equity under multiple investments or acquisitions, the enterprise shall determine the costs corresponding to the transferred equity in accordance with the transfer ratio, out of all costs of the equity.
Under the SAT Circular 7 and the Law of the PRC on the Administration of Tax Collection promulgated by the SCNPC on September 4, 1992 and newly amended on April 24, 2015, in the case of an indirect transfer, entities or individuals obligated to pay the transfer price to the transferor shall act as withholding agents. If they fail to make withholding or withhold the full amount of tax payable, the transferor of equity shall declare and pay taxes to the relevant tax authorities within seven days from the occurrence of the tax payment obligation. Where the withholding agent does not make the withholding, and the transferor of the equity does not pay the tax payable amount, the tax authority may impose late payment interest on the transferor. In addition, the tax authority may also hold the withholding agents liable and impose a penalty ranging from 50% to 300% of the unpaid tax on them.
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Value-added Tax
Pursuant to the Interim Regulations on Value-Added Tax of the PRC, which was promulgated by the State Council on December 13, 1993 and amended on November 5, 2008, February 6, 2016 and November 19, 2017, and the Implementation Rules for the Interim Regulations on Value-Added Tax of the PRC, which was promulgated by the MOF and SAT on December 15, 2008, became effective on January 1, 2009 and amended on October 28, 2011, entities or individuals engaging in sale of goods, provision of processing services, repairs and replacement services or importation of goods within the territory of the PRC shall pay value-added tax, or the VAT. Unless otherwise provided, the rate of VAT is 17% on sales and 6% on the services. On April 4, 2018, MOF and SAT jointly promulgated the Circular of the MOF and the SAT on Adjustment of Value-Added Tax Rates, or the Circular 32, according to which (i) for VAT taxable sales acts or import of goods originally subject to VAT rates of 17% and 11% respectively, such tax rates shall be adjusted to 16% and 10%, respectively; (ii) for purchase of agricultural products originally subject to tax rate of 11%, such tax rate shall be adjusted to 10%; (iii) for purchase of agricultural products for the purposes of production and sales or consigned processing of goods subject to tax rate of 16%, such tax shall be calculated at the tax rate of 12%; (iv) for exported goods originally subject to tax rate of 17% and export tax refund rate of 17%, the export tax refund rate shall be adjusted to 16%; and (v) for exported goods and cross-border taxable acts originally subject to tax rate of 11% and export tax refund rate of 11%, the export tax refund rate shall be adjusted to 10%. Circular 32 became effective on May 1, 2018 and shall supersede existing provisions which are inconsistent with Circular 32.
Since November 16, 2011, the MOF and the SAT have implemented the Pilot Plan for Imposition of Value- Added Tax to Replace Business Tax, or the VAT Pilot Plan, which imposes VAT in lieu of business tax for certain “modern service industries” in certain regions and eventually expanded to nation-wide application in 2013. According to the Implementation Rules for the Pilot Plan for Imposition of Value-Added Tax to Replace Business Tax released by the MOF and the SAT on the VAT Pilot Program, the “modern service industries” include research, development and technology services, information technology services, cultural innovation services, logistics support, lease of corporeal properties, attestation and consulting services. The Notice on Comprehensively promoting the Pilot Plan of the Conversion of Business Tax to Value-Added Tax, which was promulgated on March 23, 2016, became effective on May 1, 2016 and was amended on July 11, 2017, sets out that VAT in lieu of business tax be collected in all regions and industries.
On March 20, 2019, MOF, SAT and the General Administration of Customs jointly promulgated the Announcement on Relevant Policies for Deepening Value-Added Tax Reform, which became effective on April 1, 2019, and provides that (i) with respect to VAT taxable sales acts or import of goods originally subject to VAT rates of 16% and 10% respectively, such tax rates shall be adjusted to 13% and 9%, respectively; (ii) with respect to purchase of agricultural products originally subject to tax rate of 10%, such tax rate shall be adjusted to 9%; (iii) with respect to purchase of agricultural products for the purposes of production or consigned processing of goods subject to tax rate of 13%, such tax shall be calculated at the tax rate of 10%; (iv) with respect to export of goods and services originally subject to tax rate of 16% and export tax refund rate of 16%, the export tax refund rate shall be adjusted to 13%; and (v) with respect to export of goods and cross-border taxable acts originally subject to tax rate of 10% and export tax refund rate of 10%, the export tax refund rate shall be adjusted to 9%.
Dividend withholding tax
Under the Law of the PRC on Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises, which was promulgated by the National People’s Congress of the PRC in 1986, revised by the SCNPC on October 31, 2000 and September 3, 2016 and repealed on January 1, 2020, foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in the PRC are also required to allocate at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits after tax each year, if any, to certain reserve funds unless these accumulated reserves have reached 50% of the registered capital of such enterprises. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends.
According to the EIT Law and its implementing rules, dividends paid to investors of an eligible PRC resident enterprise can be exempted from EIT and dividends paid to foreign investors are subject to a withholding tax rate of 10%, unless relevant tax agreements entered into by the PRC government provide otherwise.
The PRC State Administration of Taxation, or the SAT, and the government of Hong Kong entered into the Arrangement between the Mainland of the PRC and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Incomes, or the Arrangement, on August 21, 2006. According to the Arrangement, 5% withholding tax rate shall apply to the dividends paid by a mainland China company to a Hong Kong resident, provided that such Hong Kong resident directly holds at least 25% of the equity interests in the mainland China company, and 10% of withholding tax rate shall apply if the Hong Kong resident holds less than 25% of the equity interests in the mainland China company.
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Pursuant to the Circular on Relevant Issues Relating to the Implementation of Dividend Clauses in Tax Treaties, which was promulgated by the SAT and became effective on February 20, 2009, all of the following requirements shall be satisfied when a fiscal resident as the other party of a tax agreement needs to be entitled to be taxed at a tax rate specified in the tax agreement for the dividends paid to it by a PRC resident company: (i) such a fiscal resident who obtains dividends shall be a company as provided in the tax agreement; (ii) owner’s equity interests and voting shares of the PRC resident company directly owned by such a fiscal resident reaches a specified percentage; and (iii) the equity interests of the PRC resident company directly owned by such a fiscal resident, at any time during the 12 months prior to obtaining the dividends, reach a percentage specified in the tax agreement.
According to the Tentative Administrative Measures on Tax Convention Treatment for Non-Residents which was promulgated by the SAT on August 24, 2009 and became effective on October 1, 2009, if a non-resident enterprise that receives dividends from a PRC resident enterprise wishes to enjoy the favorable tax benefits under the tax arrangements, it shall submit an application for approval to the competent tax authority. Without being approved, the non-resident enterprise may not enjoy the favorable tax treatment provided in the tax agreements.
The Tentative Administrative Measures on Tax Convention Treatment for Non-Residents was repealed by the Administrative Measures on Tax Convention Treatment for Non-Resident Taxpayers, which was promulgated by the SAT on August 27, 2015 and became effective on November 1, 2015 with last amendment on June 15, 2018, if a non-resident enterprise receives dividends from a PRC resident enterprise, it could directly enjoy the favorable tax benefits under the tax arrangements at tax returns, and be subject to the subsequent regulation of the competent tax authority. The Administrative Measures on Tax Convention Treatment for Non-Resident Taxpayers has subsequently been repealed by the Administrative Measures on Treaty Benefits Treatment for Non-Resident Taxpayers, promulgated by the SAT on October 14, 2019 and became effective on January 1, 2020, which still adopts the same provisions as the Tentative Administrative Measures on Tax Convention Treatment for Non-Residents.
Regulations relating to Foreign Exchange
Pursuant to the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations of the PRC, or the Foreign Exchange Administrative Regulation, as amended in August 2008, Renminbi is freely convertible for current account items, including the distribution of dividends, interest payments, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not for capital account items, such as direct investments, loans, repatriation of investments and investments in securities outside of China, unless the SAFE’s prior approval is obtained and prior registration with the SAFE is made. On May 10, 2013, the SAFE promulgated the Circular of the SAFE on Printing and Distributing the Administrative Provisions on Foreign Exchange in Domestic Direct Investment by Foreign Investors and Relevant Supporting Documents, or the SAFE Circular No. 21, which was last amended and became effective on December 30, 2019. It provided for and simplified the operational steps and regulations on foreign exchange matters related to direct investment by foreign investors, including foreign exchange registration, account opening and use, receipt and payment of funds, and settlement and sales of foreign exchange.
Pursuant to the Notice of the SAFE on Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies for Direct Investment, or the SAFE Circular No. 59, promulgated by the SAFE on November 19, 2012, became effective on December 17, 2012 and was further amended on May 4, 2015, October 10, 2018, and December 30, 2019, approval is not required for opening a foreign exchange account and depositing foreign exchange into the account relating to the direct investments. The SAFE Circular No. 59 also simplified the capital verification and confirmation formalities for foreign invested entities, the foreign capital and foreign exchange registration formalities required for the foreign investors to acquire equities from Chinese parties, and further improved the administration on exchange settlement of foreign exchange capital of foreign invested entities.
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SAFE Circular 37
In July 2014, SAFE promulgated SAFE Circular 37, which replaces the previous SAFE Circular 75. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents, including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities, to register with SAFE or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we may make in the future.
Under SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who make, or have prior to the implementation of SAFE Circular 37 made, direct or indirect investments in offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, are required to register such investments with SAFE or its local branches. In addition, any PRC resident who is a direct or indirect shareholder of an SPV, is required to update its registration with the local branch of SAFE with respect to that SPV, to reflect any change of basic information or material events. If any PRC resident shareholder of such SPV fails to make the required registration or to update the registration, the subsidiary of such SPV in China may be prohibited from distributing its profits or the proceeds from any capital reduction, share transfer or liquidation to the SPV, and the SPV may also be prohibited from making additional capital contributions into its subsidiaries in China. In February 2015, SAFE promulgated SAFE Notice 13. Under SAFE Notice 13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investments and outbound direct investments, including those required under SAFE Circular 37, must be filed with qualified banks instead of SAFE. Qualified banks should examine the applications and process registrations under the supervision of SAFE. As of the date of this annual report, Mr. Yongxu Liu has completed the initial registrations with the qualified banks as required by the regulations.
Regulations Relating to Employee Stock Incentive Plan
On February 15, 2012, the SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Issues concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration of Domestic Individuals’ Participation in Equity Incentive Plans of Overseas Listed Companies, or the “Notice”. In accordance with the Notice and relevant rules and regulations, PRC citizens or non-PRC citizens residing in China for a continuous period of not less than one year, who participate in any stock incentive plan of an overseas publicly listed company, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with the SAFE through a domestic qualified agent, which could be a PRC subsidiary of such overseas listed company, and complete certain procedures. We and our employees who are PRC citizens or who reside in China for a continuous period of not less than one year and who participate in our stock incentive plan will be subject to such regulation. In addition, the SAT has issued circulars concerning employee share options or restricted shares. Under these circulars, employees working in the PRC who exercise share options, or whose restricted shares vest, will be subject to PRC individual income tax, or the IIT. The PRC subsidiaries of an overseas listed company have obligations to file documents related to employee share options or restricted shares with relevant tax authorities and to withhold IIT of those employees related to their share options or restricted shares. If the employees fail to pay, or the PRC subsidiaries fail to withhold, their IIT according to relevant laws, rules and regulations, the PRC subsidiaries may face sanctions imposed by the tax authorities or other PRC government authorities.
Regulations relating to Dividend Distributions
The principal regulations governing distribution of dividends of foreign-invested enterprises include the newly enacted Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2020, and its implementation rules. Under these laws and regulations, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China may pay dividends only out of their accumulated after-tax profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China are required to allocate at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds until these reserves have reached 50% of the registered capital of the enterprises. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. Furthermore, under the EIT Law, which became effective in January 2008, the maximum tax rate for the withholding tax imposed on dividend payments from PRC foreign invested companies to their overseas investors that are not regarded as “resident” for tax purposes is 20%. The rate was reduced to 10% under the Implementing Regulations for the EIT Law issued by the State Council. However, a lower withholding tax rate might be applied if there is a tax treaty between China and the jurisdiction of the foreign holding companies, such as tax rate of 5% in the case of Hong Kong companies that holds at least 25% of the equity interests in the foreign-invested enterprise, and certain requirements specified by PRC tax authorities are satisfied.
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Regulations on Mergers & Acquisitions and Overseas Listings
On August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, including the CSRC, promulgated the Rules on the Merger and Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, which became effective on September 8, 2006 and were amended on June 22, 2009. The M&A Rules, among other things, require offshore special purpose vehicles formed for overseas listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC domestic enterprises or individuals to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. In September 2006, the CSRC published on its official website procedures regarding its approval of overseas listings by special purpose vehicles. The CSRC approval procedures require the filing of a number of documents with the CSRC. Although (i) The CSRC currently has not issued any definitive rule or interpretation concerning whether offerings like ours are subject to the M&A Rules; and (ii) no provision in the M&A Rules clearly classifies contractual arrangements as a type of transaction subject to the M&A Rules, the interpretation and application of the regulations remain unclear, future financial activities may ultimately require approval from the CSRC. If CSRC approval is required, it is uncertain whether it would be possible for us to obtain the approval and any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining CSRC approval for future financial activities would subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC and other PRC regulatory agencies.
The M&A Rules, and other regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex. For example, the M&A Rules require a foreign investor to obtain the approval from MOFCOM or its local counterpart upon (i) its acquisition of a domestic enterprise’s equity interest; (ii) its subscription of the increased capital of a domestic enterprise; or (iii) establishes and operates a foreign-invested enterprise with assets acquired from a domestic enterprise and such transactions raise “national defense and security” concerns or through such transactions foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise “national security” concerns. It is unclear whether our business would be deemed to be in an industry that raises “national defense and security” or “national security” concerns. However, MOFCOM or other government agencies may publish explanations in the future determining that our business is in an industry subject to the security review, in which case our future acquisitions in China, including those by way of entering into contractual control arrangements with target entities, may be closely scrutinized or prohibited.
In addition, according to the Notice on Establishing the Security Review System for Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors issued by the General Office of the State Council on February 3, 2011 and became effective on March 4, 2011, the Rules on Implementation of Security Review System for the Merger and Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors issued by MOFCOM on August 25, 2011 and became effective on September 1, 2011, mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise “national defense and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise “national security” concerns are subject to strict review by MOFCOM, and the regulations prohibit any activities attempting to bypass such security review, including by structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement.
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On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law, or the “Opinions.” The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Measures, including promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems, will be taken to control the risks and handle the incidents from China-concept overseas listed companies. On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Measures, and five supporting guidelines, which came into effect on March 31, 2023. According to the Trial Measures, (1) domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, should fulfill the filing procedure to the CSRC; (2) if the issuer meets both of the following conditions, the overseas offering and listing shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing by a domestic company: (i) any of the total assets, net assets, revenues or profits of the domestic operating entities of the issuer in the most recent accounting year accounts for more than 50% of the corresponding figure in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statements for the same period; (ii) its major operational activities are carried out in China or its main places of business are located in China, or the senior managers in charge of operation and management of the issuer are mostly Chinese citizens or are domiciled in China; and (3) where a domestic company seeks to indirectly offer and list securities in an overseas market, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity responsible for all filing procedures with the CSRC, and where an issuer makes an application for initial public offering and listing in an overseas market, the issuer shall submit filings with the CSRC within three business days after such application is submitted. The New Overseas Listing Rules further require Chinese domestic enterprises to complete filings with relevant governmental authorities and report related information under certain circumstances, such as: a) an issuer making an application for initial public offering and listing in an overseas market; b) an issuer making an overseas securities offering after having been listed on an overseas market; and c) a domestic company seeking an overseas direct or indirect listing of its assets through single or multiple acquisition(s), share swap, transfer of shares or other means. The required filing scope is not limited to the initial public offering, but also includes subsequent overseas securities offering, single or multiple acquisition(s), share swap, transfer of shares or other means to seek an overseas direct or indirect listing and a secondary listing or dual major listing of issuers already listed overseas. According to the Notice on the Administrative Arrangements for the Filing of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies from the CSRC, or the CSRC Notice, the domestic companies that have already been listed overseas before the effective date of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures (i.e. March 31, 2023) shall be deemed as the Existing Issuers. Existing Issuers are not required to complete the filing procedures immediately, and they shall be required to file with the CSRC for any subsequent offerings. Further, according to the CSRC Notice, domestic company obtained approval from overseas regulatory authorities or securities exchanges (for example, the effectiveness of a registration statement for offering and listing in the U.S. has been obtained) for their overseas offering and listing prior to March 31, 2023 but have not yet completed their overseas issuance and listing, are granted a six-month transition period from March 31, 2023 to September 30, 2023. Those that complete their overseas offering and listing within such six-month period are deemed as Existing Issuers and are not required to file with the CSRC for their overseas offerings and listings. Within such six-month transition period, however, if such domestic companies fail to complete their overseas issuance and listing, they shall complete the filing procedures with the CSRC. If a domestic company fails to complete the required filing procedures or conceals any material fact or falsifies any major content in its filing documents, such domestic company may be subject to administrative penalties, such as orders to rectify, warnings, fines, and its controlling shareholders, actual controllers, the person directly in charge and other directly liable persons may also be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings and fines.
On February 24, 2023, the CSRC, together with Ministry of Finance of the PRC, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China, revised the Provisions, which were issued by the CSRC, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China in 2009. The revised Provisions were issued under the title “Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies”, and came into effect on March 31, 2023 together with the Trial Measures. One of the major revisions to the revised Provisions is expanding their application to cover indirect overseas offering and listing, as is consistent with the Trial Measures. The revised Provisions require that, including, but not limited to, (a) a domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals or entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any documents and materials that contain state secrets or working secrets of government agencies, shall first obtain approval from competent authorities according to law, and file with the secrecy administrative department at the same level; and (b) domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals and entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any other documents and materials that, if leaked, will be detrimental to national security or public interest, shall strictly fulfill relevant procedures stipulated by applicable national regulations. As of the date of this annual report, the revised Provisions have come into effect and we are not aware of any PRC laws or regulations in effect requiring that we obtain permission from any PRC authorities to issue securities to foreign investors, nor have we received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction or any regulatory objection from the CSRC, the CAC, or any other Chinese authorities that have jurisdiction over our operations. However, any failure or perceived failure by the Company, its PRC Subsidiary or the VIE to comply with the above confidentiality and archives administration requirements under the revised Provisions and other PRC laws and regulations may result in the relevant entities being held legally liable by competent authorities, and referred to the judicial organ to be investigated for criminal liability if suspected of committing a crime. The Opinions, the Trial Measures and any related implementing rules to be enacted may subject us to additional compliance requirements in future financial activities. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for certain acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.”
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C. Organizational Structure
See “—A. History and Development of the Company.”
D. Property, Plants and Equipment
See “—B. Business Overview—Properties.”
Item 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
Item 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our combined financial statements and consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in this annual report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this annual report.
A. Operating Results
Overview
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and are not a Chinese operating company. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, our operations have been conducted in China by our subsidiaries and through the VIE Agreements, with the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries. For accounting purposes, we control and receive the economic benefits of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries’ business operations through such VIE Agreements, which enables us to consolidate the financial results of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statement under U.S. GAAP. Neither we nor our subsidiaries own any equity interests in the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries. We have evaluated the guidance in FASB ASC 810 and determined that we are regarded as the primary beneficiary of the VIE, for accounting purposes, as a result of our direct ownership in Tianyu and the provisions of the VIE Agreements. Accordingly, we treat the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries as our consolidated entities under U.S. GAAP. We have consolidated the financial results of the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Our Class A Ordinary Shares are shares of our offshore holding company in the Cayman Islands instead of shares of the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries in China, therefore, as an investor, you will not directly hold equity interests in the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries, and you may never directly hold equity interests in the VIE or the VIE’s subsidiaries through your investment in our Class A Ordinary Shares. For a description of the VIE Agreements, see “Item 3. Key Information—Our VIE Agreements.”
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The VIE is a contract logistics service provider in China. Contract logistics is a comprehensive process that merges traditional logistics with supply chain management. Contract logistics companies outsource resource management tasks to third-party companies and handle activities such as planning and designing supply chains, designing facilities, processing orders, collecting payments, managing inventories, and providing client services.
Our integrated logistics solution services are comprised of three business streams: (1) B2B freight transportation; (2) cloud storage; and (3) value-added services. Since 2001, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have developed extensive and reliable transportation networks in China, covering 341 cities in over 31 provinces as of December 31, 2023.
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, operate on a scalable integrated network model, which we believe is best suited to support our business and maintain the quality of our comprehensive logistics services. As a contract logistics company, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, directly own and operate all of our regional sorting centers, Cloud OFCs, and service outlets. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, also directly own and operate our fleets. In order to establish a broader network and provide more efficient services, we, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, cooperate with third-party transportation providers in providing freight transportation services. We believe this network model allows us to achieve strong operating results while maintaining and minimizing fixed costs and capital requirements, which results in higher return on earnings and equities.
Operational efficiency, cost management, and competitive pricing are critical to the success of a contract logistics company. We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, have achieved strong operational efficiency through centralized control and management of 35 regional sorting centers, 49 Cloud OFCs, 33 service outlets, approximately 450 self-owned trucks and vehicles, and over 60,000 transportation providers, route planning and optimization, and transportation and managements system.
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, our net revenue, mainly generated from providing transportation and warehouse storage management services, was approximately $404.1 million and $370.3 million, respectively. Our total net revenue increased by approximately 9.1% during 2023 compared to 2022, primarily driven by the higher net revenue from transportation services. We recorded net income of approximately $10.3 million and $7.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, our net revenue, mainly generated from providing transportation and warehouse storage management services, was approximately $370.3 million and $346.7 million, respectively. Our total net revenue increased by approximately 6.8% during 2022 compared to 2021, primarily driven by the higher net revenue from transportation services and warehouse storage management services. We recorded net income of approximately $7.8 million and $6.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
General Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
Our business and operating results are affected by a number of general factors in China’s transportation industry, including, but not limited to:
| ● | China’s overall economic growth, level of urbanization and level of consumption; |
| ● | the development of the manufacturing industry, fast moving consumer goods industry, telecommunication industry, and publishing industry; and |
| ● | market competition. |
Unfavorable changes in any of these general factors could materially and adversely affect our business and our results of operations.
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Key Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
Our ability to expand our customer base
We will continue to seek to expand our customer base to achieve sustainable growth. We aim to attract new customers and maintain our existing customers. We acquire customers for our transportation services through the referral of our existing customers and our own efforts including online and off-line advertising. We plan to strengthen our partnerships by improving the quality and variety of our services. Additionally, we plan to put on more efforts to acquire more warehouse storage management service customers through our existing transportation service customers.
Strategic Acquisitions and Investments
We may selectively pursue acquisitions, investments, joint ventures and partnerships that we believe are strategic and complementary to our operations and technology. The business or financial performance of the companies we have invested in as well as our ability to successfully integrate these investments with our existing business would impact our results of operations and financial conditions.
Results of Operations
The following consolidated results of operations include the results of operations of the Company, its wholly owned subsidiaries and consolidated VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries.
The following table summarizes our consolidated results of operations, both in absolute amounts and as percentages of our total net revenue for the periods presented. The operating results in any historical period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period.
For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
| Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount in thousand | % | Amount in thousand | % | (Amount in thousand) | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transportation | $ | 383,211 | 94.8 | % | $ | 346,039 | 93.4 | % | $ | 37,172 | 10.7 | % | ||||||||||||
| Warehouse storage management services | 18,160 | 4.5 | % | 20,322 | 5.5 | % | (2,162 | ) | (10.6 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Other revenue | 2,750 | 0.7 | % | 3,964 | 1.1 | % | (1,214 | ) | (30.6 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Net revenue | 404,121 | 100 | % | 370,325 | 100 | % | 33,796 | 9.1 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenue | (357,615 | ) | (88.5 | )% | (328,793 | ) | (88.8 | )% | (28,822 | ) | 8.8 | % | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 46,506 | 11.5 | % | $ | 41,532 | 11.2 | % | $ | 4,974 | 12.0 | % | ||||||||||||
Net revenues
Transportation services
We, primarily through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, provide transportation services to companies in mainland China. Our major customers are in the manufacturing industry, the fast-moving consumer goods industry, the new energy (vehicle) industry, the telecommunication industry, and the publishing industry. Revenue from transportation services is recognized upon customers’ receipt of the transported goods.
Warehouse storage management services
We, primarily through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, generate revenue of warehouse storage management services through the provision of warehouse storage management services to various customers. We help companies place the goods and maintain the daily input and output of the goods. We primarily charge our customers service fees for our storage services and the daily management services. Revenue from the warehouse storage management services is recognized over the service period.
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Our net revenues increased by approximately 9.1% from approximately $370.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $404.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily driven by a significant increase in revenue from our transportation services.
Net revenues generated from our transportation services increased by approximately 10.7% from approximately $346.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $383.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was mainly driven by increasing orders from some new customers, as well as the growth of other existing clients’ businesses.
Net revenue generated from our warehouse storage management services decreased by approximately 10.6% from approximately $20.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $18.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to shutting down redundant warehouses and shift focusing on transportation services for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Cost of revenues
Our cost of revenue consists of cost of transportation services and cost of warehouse storage management services. The cost of transportation services comprises cooperation cost (the payments made to third-party transportation providers), depreciation and amortization expenses, toll fees, employee wages and benefits and fuel cost. Cooperation cost is the direct cost of transportation paid by the Company to third-party transportation providers, who are independent contractors and third-party carriers. The cost of warehouse storage management services consists of rental fees, handling fees, employee wages and benefits in connection with our services to our clients.
Our cost of revenues increased by approximately 8.8%, from approximately $328.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $357.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was in line with the increase of revenue.
Gross profit
Our overall gross profit increased by approximately 12.0% from approximately $41.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $46.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, our overall gross margin was approximately 11.5% and 11.2%, respectively. The gross margin increased mainly due to our cost optimization structure by outsourcing transport service, reducing redundant departments, and incorporating workforce optimization practices for the year ended December 31, 2023. Accordingly, our total revenues had higher proportional increase than the increase in cost of revenues during the same period, led a higher overall gross profit margin.
| Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | ||||||||||||||
(Amount | (Amount | (Amount | % | |||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Selling and marketing | $ | (6,688 | ) | $ | (7,427 | ) | $ | 739 | (10.0 | )% | ||||||
| General and administrative | (25,912 | ) | (24,259 | ) | (1,653 | ) | 6.8 | % | ||||||||
| Total operating expenses | $ | (32,600 | ) | $ | (31,686 | ) | $ | (914 | ) | 2.9 | % | |||||
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Operating expenses
Our operating expenses increased by approximately 2.9% from approximately $31.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $32.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 for the following reasons:
Selling and marketing expenses
Our selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of employee wages, rental expenses, benefits for sales and marketing staff, depreciation expenses and other daily expenses which are related to the sales and marketing functions. Selling and marketing expenses decreased by approximately 10.0% from approximately $7.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $6.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was attributable to decreased related employee wages and benefits due to workforce optimization practices.
General and administrative expenses
Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee wages and benefits for corporate employees, rental expenses, depreciation and amortization expense and other expenses which are related to the general corporate functions.
Our general and administrative expenses increased by approximately 6.8% from approximately $24.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $25.9 million for year ended December 31, 2023, which was attributable to the increase in employee salaries and benefits, due to increased revenue and increased headcount of G&A department to support our expended business.
Income from operations
As a result of the foregoing, our profit from operations increased by approximately 41.2% from approximately $9.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $13.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | ||||||||||||||
| (Amount in thousand) | (Amount in thousand) | (Amount in thousand) | % | |||||||||||||
| Other income (expense) | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | $ | 126 | $ | 1,274 | $ | (1,148 | ) | (90.1 | )% | |||||||
| Interest expense | (1,775 | ) | (2,227 | ) | 452 | (20.3 | )% | |||||||||
| Other income, net | 371 | 532 | (161 | ) | (30.3 | )% | ||||||||||
| Total other expense, net | $ | (1,278 | ) | $ | (421 | ) | $ | (857 | ) | 203.6 | % | |||||
Our total net other expense increased by approximately 203.6% from approximately $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 for the following reasons.
Interest income
Our interest income decreased by approximately 90.1% from approximately $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was driven by a decreased interest income from deposit for investment.
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Interest expense
Our interest expense decreased by approximately 20.3% from approximately $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as a result of a decreased average balance and interest rate of bank loans for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared with the year ended December 31, 2022.
|
Years Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | ||||||||||||||
|
(Amount |
(Amount |
(Amount |
% | |||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | $ | 12,628 | $ | 9,425 | $ | 3,203 | 34.0 | % | ||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | (2,320) | (1,599) | (721) | 45.1 | % | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 10,308 | $ | 7,826 | $ | 2,482 | 31.7 | % | ||||||||
Income before income taxes
As a result of the foregoing, our income before income taxes increased by 34.0% from approximately $9.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $12.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Provision for income taxes
The effective income tax rate increased from approximately 17.0% for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately 18.4% for the year ended December 31, 2023, due to the higher profit made in subsidiaries and VIE’s subsidiaries, which didn’t have preferential tax treatment for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Net income
As a result of the foregoing, our net income increased by 31.7% from approximately $7.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to approximately $10.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
| Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount in thousand |
% | Amount in thousand |
% | (Amount in thousand) |
% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transportation | $ | 346,039 | 93.4 | % | $ | 327,848 | 94.6 | % | $ | 18,191 | 5.5 | % | ||||||||||||
| Warehouse storage management services | 20,322 | 5.5 | % | 16,885 | 4.9 | % | 3,437 | 20.4 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Other revenue | 3,964 | 1.1 | % | 1,966 | 0.5 | % | 1,998 | 101.6 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Net revenue | 370,325 | 100 | % | 346,699 | 100 | % | 23,626 | 6.8 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenue | (328,793 | ) | (88.8 | )% | (305,354 | ) | (88.1 | )% | (23,439 | ) | 7.7 | % | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 41,532 | 11.2 | % | $ | 41,345 | 11.9 | % | $ | 187 | 0.5 | % | ||||||||||||
Net revenues
Transportation services
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, provide transportation services to companies in mainland China. Our major customers are in the manufacturing industry, the fast-moving consumer goods industry, the telecommunication industry, and the publishing industry. Revenue from transportation services is recognized upon customers’ receipt of the transported goods.
Warehouse storage management services
We, through the VIE and the VIE’s subsidiaries, generate revenue of warehouse storage management services through the provision of warehouse storage management services to various customers. We help companies place the goods and maintain the daily input and output of the goods. We primarily charge our customers service fees for our storage services and the daily management services. Revenue from the warehouse storage management services is recognized over the service period.
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Our net revenues were approximately $370.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, increasing by approximately 6.8% from approximately $346.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase of our net revenues was primarily driven by fast growth of e-Commerce business in China since the pandemic. Approximately 5.5% increase in the net revenues generated from our transportation services from approximately $327.8 million (which accounted for approximately 94.6% of our total net revenue) for the year ended December 31, 2021 to approximately $346.0 million (which accounted for approximately 93.4% of our total net revenue) for the year ended December 31, 2022, as result of the transportation services orders from Tesla increased significantly for the year ended December 31, 2022 since it became our client in fiscal year 2021. In addition, we obtained a new customer Meihua Holding Group Co., Ltd. in fiscal year 2022 with significant revenue.
Net revenue generated from our warehouse storage management services increased by approximately 20.4% from approximately $16.9 million (which accounted for approximately 4.9% of our total net revenue) for the year ended December 31, 2021 to approximately $20.3 million (which accounted for approximately 5.5% of our total net revenue) for the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to the growth of our existing clients’ business.
Cost of revenues
Our cost of revenue consists of cost of transportation services and cost of warehouse storage management services. The cost of transportation services comprises cooperation cost (the payments made to third-party transportation providers), depreciation and amortization expenses, toll fees, employee wages and benefits and fuel cost. Cooperation cost is the direct cost of transportation paid by the Company to third-party transportation providers, who are independent contractors and third-party carriers. The cost of warehouse storage management services consists of rental fees, handling fees, employee wages and benefits in connection with our services to our clients.
Our cost of revenues was approximately $328.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to approximately $305.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, which was in line with the increase of revenue, and continuing increase of worldwide inflation has led to a sharp rise in fuel prices in 2022, which might significantly increase the Company’s operating costs in the future. The gross margin of the transportation service has decreased as result of the increased costs. The Company will be considering changing the service prices if the price of fuel continues to rise. The recent inflationary pressures have not materially impacted our operations. The management estimates that for every 1% change in fuel prices, the Company’s operating costs will increase by approximately 0.04% accordingly. As of the date of this annual report, we believe that the impact of the increased price of fuel on Company’s operating costs is not significant, and we have not identified any actions to mitigate inflationary pressures.
Gross profit
Our overall gross profit increased by approximately 0.5% from approximately $41.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to approximately $41.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The gross profit increased by approximately $0.2 million, mainly due to stable orders offset by the increase of fuel prices, as mentioned previously for the fiscal year 2022. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, our overall gross margin was approximately 11.2% and 11.9%, respectively. The gross margin slightly decreased due to the same reason.
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||||||||
(Amount in thousand) | (Amount in thousand) | (Amount in thousand) | % | |||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Selling and marketing | $ | (7,427 | ) | $ | (7,720 | ) | $ | 293 | (3.8 | )% | ||||||
| General and administrative | (24,259 | ) | (25,038 | ) | 779 | (3.1 | )% | |||||||||
| Total operating expenses | $ | (31,686 | ) | $ | (32,758 | ) | $ | 1,072 | (3.3 | )% | ||||||
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Operating expenses
Our operating expenses decreased by approximately 3.3% from approximately $32.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to approximately $31.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 for the following reasons:
Selling and marketing expenses
Our selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of employee wages, rental expenses and benefits for sales and marketing staff, rental expense, depreciation expenses and other daily expenses which are related to the sales and marketing functions. Selling and marketing expenses decrease by approximately $0.3 million from approximately $7.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to approximately $7.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, which was attributable to decreased employee wages and benefits.
General and administrative expenses
Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee wages and benefits for corporate employees, rental expenses, depreciation and amortization expense and other expenses which are related to the general corporate functions.
Our general and administrative expenses decreased by approximately 3.1% from approximately $25.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to approximately $24.3 million for year ended December 31, 2022, which was attributable to the decrease in employee wages and benefits as some employees worked from home or worked in alternating turns in the first half of fiscal year 2022, due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
Income from operations
As a result of the foregoing, our profit from operations increased by approximately 14.7% from approximately $8.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to approximately $9.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022
.
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||||||||
| (Amount in thousand) | (Amount in thousand) | (Amount in thousand) | % | |||||||||||||
| Other income (expense) | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | $ | 1,274 | $ | 1,330 | $ | (56 | ) | (4.2 | )% | |||||||
| Interest expense | (2,227 | ) | (2,315 | ) | 88 | (3.8 | )% | |||||||||
| Other income, net | 532 | 559 | (27 | ) | (4.8 | )% | ||||||||||
| Total other expense, net | $ | (421 | ) | $ | (426 | ) | $ | (5 | ) | (1.2 | )% | |||||
Our total net other expense both was approximately $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||||||||
(Amount | (Amount | (Amount | % | |||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | $ | 9,425 | $ | 8,161 | $ | 1,264 | 15.5 | % | ||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | (1,599 | ) | (1,517 | ) | (82 | ) | 5.4 | % | ||||||||
| Net income | $ | 7,826 | $ | 6,644 | $ | 1,182 | 17.8 | % | ||||||||
Income before income taxes
As a result of the foregoing, our income before income taxes increased by approximately $1.3 million or approximately 15.5% to approximately $9.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 from approximately $8.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
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Provision for income taxes
The effective income tax rate decreased from approximately 18.6% for the year ended December 31, 2021 to approximately 17.0% for the year ended December 31, 2022, which is mainly due to the different profit made in different VIE’s subsidiaries. As more profit made in those entities’ which has a preferential tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2022, the provision for income tax decreased slightly.
Net income
As a result of the foregoing, our net income increased by approximately $1.2 million or 17.8% to approximately $7.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 from approximately $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Impact of Foreign Currency Fluctuations
The reporting currency of the Company is USD. The Company in China conducts its businesses in the local currency, Renminbi (RMB), as its functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at the unified exchange rate as quoted by the People’s Bank of China at the end of the period. The statement of income accounts is translated at the average translation rates and the equity accounts are translated at historical rates. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations as incurred. The foreign currency translation from RMB to USD could materially affect our financial condition and results of operations due to the fluctuation of exchange rate. The exchange rates in effect are shown below:
| U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate | December
31, | December
31, | December
31, | |||||||||
| At the end of the period - USD: RMB | US$1=RMB 7.0827 | US$1=RMB 6.9646 | US$1=RMB 6.3757 | |||||||||
| Average rate for the period - USD: RMB | US$1=RMB7.0467 | US$1=RMB 6.7261 | US$1=RMB 6.4515 |
We did not have any foreign currency investments hedged by currency borrowings or other hedging instruments in years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, our PRC subsidiary is able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE. Approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is, however, required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. See “Risk Factors—Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment and our payment of dividends.”
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Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to us only out of its accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our PRC subsidiary is required to set aside at least 10% of its respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds until the total amount set aside reaches 50% of their respective registered capital. We had various outstanding bank loans of approximately $36.1 million as of December 31, 2023. We have also entered into non-cancellable operating lease agreements for several offices, operating facilities and warehouses. The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2023:
| Payments Due by Period (Amount in thousand) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Within 1 Year | 1-3 Years | 3-5 Years | More than 5 Years | ||||||||||||||||
| Short-term bank loans | $ | 36,130 | $ | 36,130 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||||
| Operating lease commitments | 19,836 | 6,524 | 6,709 | 3,213 | 3,390 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 55,966 | $ | 42,654 | $ | 6,709 | $ | 3,213 | $ | 3,390 | ||||||||||
Cash flows and working capital
The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:
| December 31, | December 31, | December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
(Amount in thousand) | (Amount in thousand) | (Amount in thousand) | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 12,113 | $ | 6,930 | $ | 20,393 | ||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (18,821 | ) | (6,715 | ) | (27,670 | ) | ||||||
| Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities | 13,191 | 6,049 | (2,127 | ) | ||||||||
| Effects of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalent and restricted cash | (558 | ) | (1,814 | ) | 538 | |||||||
| Cash, cash equivalent and restricted cash, beginning of year | 23,368 | 18,918 | 27,784 | |||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalent and restricted cash, end of year | $ | 29,293 | $ | 23,368 | $ | 18,918 | ||||||
As a holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct a substantial majority of our operations through our PRC subsidiary and the VIE in China. We are permitted under PRC laws and regulations to provide funding to our PRC subsidiary in China through capital contributions or loans, subject to the approval of government authorities and limits on the amount of capital contributions and loans. In addition, our subsidiaries in China may provide Renminbi funding to the VIE only through loans. Foreign currency capital of a foreign-invested enterprise may be converted into Renminbi capital at its will according to the actual operation of the enterprise, as long as it is within such enterprise’s business scope.
Cash flows in Operating Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $12.1 million, primarily comprised of net income of approximately $10.3 million and adjusted for non-cash items such as depreciation and amortization expense for property and equipment of approximately $6.4 million, approximately $9.3 million for amortization of right-of-use assets and interest of lease liabilities, deferred income taxes expenses of approximately $1.5 million, decreased of prepayments and other current assets approximately $3.5 million, increased of accounts payable approximately $4.5 million and increased of salary and welfare payable of approximately $1.5 million. Net cash generated from operating activities was partially offset by approximately $9.4 million decrease in operating lease liabilities, approximately $2.0 million decreased in notes payable, approximately $10.7 million increased in account receivable and approximately $3.7 million increase in other non-current assets.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $6.9 million, primarily comprised of net income of approximately $7.8 million and adjusted for non-cash items such as depreciation and amortization expense for property and equipment of approximately $7.0 million, approximately $10.8 million for amortization of right-of-use assets and interest of lease liabilities, deferred income taxes expenses of approximately $1.2 million, increased of notes payable approximately $2.1 million in operating activities, increased of accounts payable of approximately $7.9 million. Net cash generated from operating activities was partially offset by approximately $11.3 million decrease in operating lease liabilities, approximately $1.0 million decreased in salary and welfare payables, approximately $2.0 million increased in prepayments and other current assets, approximately $17.0 million increased in account receivable and approximately $1.0 million increase in notes receivable.
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For the year ended December 31, 2021, net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $20.4 million, primarily comprised of net income of approximately $6.6 million and adjusted for non-cash items such as depreciation and amortization expense for property and equipment of approximately $5.9 million, approximately $9.5 million for amortization of right-of-use assets and interest of lease liabilities, deferred income taxes expenses of approximately $1.5 million, the decrease of notes receivable of approximately $9.4 million in operating activities, decreased of inventories of approximately $0.8 million and increase of accounts payable of approximately $2.5 million. Net cash generated from operating activities was partially offset by approximately $9.4 million decrease in operating lease liabilities, approximately $3.2 million increase in accounts receivables, approximately $2.3 million increased in prepayments and other current assets and approximately $2.4 million decrease in note payable.
Cash flows in Investing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash used in investing activities was approximately $18.8 million, consisting primarily of cash used to acquire property and equipment of approximately $10.8 million and approximately $17.9 million cash used for purchasing intangible assets, mainly offset by cash proceeds received from disposal of property and equipment of approximately $1.2 million, investment deposit refund of approximately $5.7 million and consideration deposit received from a third party of approximately $2.8 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, net cash used in investing activities was approximately $6.7 million, consisted primarily of cash used to acquire property and equipment of approximately $6.9 million and approximately $0.3 million cash used for purchasing intangible assets, mainly offset by cash proceeds received from disposal of property and equipment of approximately $0.5 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, net cash used in investing activities was approximately $27.7 million, consisted primarily of cash used to acquire property and equipment of approximately $22.6 million and approximately $6.9 million cash used for purchasing intangible assets, mainly offset by cash proceeds received from disposal of property and equipment of approximately $1.3 million and disposal of subsidiaries of approximately $0.5 million.
Cash flows in Financing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $13.2 million, consisting primarily of cash proceeds from bank loans of approximately $46.4 million, proceeds from the initial public offering of approximately $8.5 million and an advance from a third party of approximately $7.2 million, offset by cash repaid for bank loans of approximately $48.7 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $6.0 million, consisted primarily of cash proceeds from bank loans of approximately $61.3 million, partially offset by cash repaid for bank loans of approximately $55.5 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, net cash used in financing activities was approximately $2.1 million, consisted primarily of cash repaid for bank loans of approximately $67.6 million, partially offset by capital contribution from non-controlling shareholders of approximately $3.4 million and cash proceeds from bank loans of approximately $62.6 million.
Capital Expenditures
Our capital expenditures are incurred primarily in connection with purchase of fixed assets, including electronic equipment, office equipment and vehicles, and intangible assets. Our capital expenditures were approximately $28.7 million, $7.2 million and $25.7 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Subsequent to December 31, 2023 and as of the date of this annual report, we made capital expenditures of approximately $10.0 million. We intend to fund our future capital expenditures with our existing cash balance, proceeds of bank loans and proceeds from the initial public offering.
Off-Balance Sheet Commitments and Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements including arrangements that would affect our liquidity, capital resources, market risk support and credit risk support or other benefits.
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C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Our Technology” and “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Intellectual Property.”
D. Trend Information
Other than as described elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our revenue, income from continuing operations, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause our reported financial information not necessarily to be indicative of future operating results or financial condition.
E. Critical Accounting Estimates
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates and actual results, our financial condition or results of operations would be affected. We base our estimates and assumptions on our own historical data and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable after taking account of our circumstances and expectations for the future based on available information. We evaluate these estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis.
Our expectations regarding the future are based on available information and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable and accurate, which together form our basis for making judgments about matters that are not readily apparent from other sources. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, our actual results could differ from those estimates. Some of our accounting policies require a higher degree of judgment than others in their application.
The critical accounting policies, judgments and estimates that we believe to have the most significant impact on our consolidated financial statements are described below, which should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and other disclosures included in this annual report. When reviewing our financial statements, you should consider.
| ● | our selection of critical accounting policies; |
| ● | the judgments and other uncertainties affecting the application of such policies; |
| ● | the sensitivity of reported results to changes in conditions and assumptions; |
Our critical accounting policies and practices include the following: (i) revenue recognition; (ii) accounts receivable, net; and (iii) income taxes. See Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements for the disclosure of these accounting policies. We believe the following accounting estimates involve the most significant judgments used in the preparation of our financial statements.
We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if: (i) the accounting estimate requires us to make assumptions about matters that were highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made, and (ii) changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period or use of different estimates that we reasonably could have used in the current period, would have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. We consider our critical accounting estimates include (i) allowance for credit losses for accounts receivable, (ii) allowance for credit losses for prepayments and other assets, (iii) discount rate used in operating lease right-of-use assets, and (iv) valuation allowance of deferred tax assets.
Allowance for credit losses for accounts receivable
Accounts receivables are recorded net of an allowance for credit losses. The Company’s estimation of allowance for credit losses considers factors such as historical credit loss experience, age of receivable balances, current market conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions, as well as an assessment of receivables due from specific identifiable counterparties to determine whether these receivables are considered at risk or uncollectible. The Company evaluates its accounts receivable for expected credit losses on a regular basis. The Company maintains an estimated allowance for credit losses to reduce its accounts receivable to the amount that it believes will be collected. The Company considers factors in assessing the collectability of its receivables, such as the age of the amounts due, the customer’s payment history, credit-worthiness and other specific circumstances related to the accounts. The Company adjusts the allowance percentage periodically when there are significant differences between estimated bad debts and actual bad debts. If there is strong evidence indicating that the accounts receivable is likely to be unrecoverable, the Company also makes specific allowance in the period in which a loss is determined to be probable. Accounts receivable balances are written off after all collection efforts have been exhausted. The allowance for credit losses was approximately $3.3 million and $3.1 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
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The allowance is based on our management’s best estimates of specific losses on individual exposures and a provision on historical trends of collections. The allowance rate will fluctuate based upon the changes of the historical allowance rate and our management’s estimate. If actual conditions are less favorable than those projected by the management, additional doubtful accounts may be required, which could negatively impact our operating results. If actual conditions are more favorable than those projected by the management, we may have a higher profit margin when account receivable balances that have been previously reserved are eventually collected. A 1% increase or decrease of allowance rate for each aged account receivable balances would result in a decrease or increase of approximately $0.16 million and $0.14 million in profit before tax for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Allowance for credit losses for prepayments and other assets
Prepayment and other assets primarily consist of VAT recoverable, advances to vendors for purchasing goods, long-lived assets or services that have not been received or provided, advances to employees, security deposits made to customers and advances to employees. Prepayment and other assets are classified as either current or non-current based on the terms of the respective agreements. These advances are unsecured and are reviewed periodically to determine whether their carrying value has become impaired. The Company considers the assets to be impaired if the collectability of the advance becomes doubtful. The Company uses the aging method to estimate the allowance for uncollectible balances. The allowance is also based on management’s best estimate of specific losses on individual exposures, as well as a provision on historical trends of collections and utilizations. Actual amounts received or utilized may differ from management’s estimate of credit worthiness and the economic environment. The allowance for credit losses were approximately $0.4 million and $0.5 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Discount rate used in operating lease right-of-use assets
Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease.
As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use the incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at lease commencement date to determine the present value of lease payments. Determining the incremental borrowing rate applied in calculating lease liabilities requires the use of certain methodologies and assumptions. When determining the rate, management assesses various factors including the lease term, nature of the asset and the level of security for the right-of-use asset. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the estimated weighted average discount rates used in determining the present value of lease payments was approximately 5.84% and 5.78%, respectively.
Valuation of deferred tax assets
Deferred income taxes are provided using assets and liabilities method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined on the basis of the differences between financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, the management consider all positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of projected future taxable income and results of recent operation. Deferred tax assets are then reduced by a valuation allowance through a charge to income tax expense when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that a portion of or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the cumulative earnings and projected future taxable income in making this assessment. Recovery of substantially all of the Company’s deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future income, exclusive of reversing taxable temporary differences. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are recoverable, valuation allowances of nil were provided for the Company’s certain subsidiaries with continuous losses as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were approximately $2.8 million and $9.5 million net operating losses carryforwards in certain subsidiaries, respectively. Most of the net operating tax loss carryforwards will expire from fiscal year 2024 to 2028.
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Item 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
A. Directors and Senior Management
The following table sets forth information regarding our directors and executive officers as of the date of this annual report. The business address of all of our directors and executive officers is Shengfeng Building, No. 478 Fuxin East Road, Jin’an District, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China, 350001.
| Name | Age | Position(s) | ||||
| Yongxu Liu | 53 | Chief Executive Officer, Director, President and Chairman | ||||
| Guoping Zheng | 38 | Chief Financial Officer and Vice President | ||||
| Zhiping Yang | 42 | Director | ||||
| Dan Liu | 57 | Independent Director | ||||
| Wen Li | 57 | Independent Director | ||||
| John F. Levy | 68 | Independent Director | ||||
The following is a brief biography of each of the executive officers and directors listed above:
Yongxu Liu has been our chief executive officer, president and chairman since May 20, 2021 and director since July 16, 2020. Mr. Liu is the founder of Shengfeng Logistics and has served as its chairman and chief executive officer since December 2001. Mr. Liu served as the vice chairman of Fujian Province Logistics Association in 2006 and the vice chairman of Fuzhou City Logistics Association in 2007. Mr. Liu also served as the deputy to Fuzhou Municipal People’s Congress in 2011. Prior to founding Shengfeng Logistics, Mr. Liu was the manager of Department of Vehicle Management of Shenghui Logistics Group Co., Ltd. from 1997 to 2001. Before the formal formation of Shenghui Logistics Group Co., Ltd., Mr. Liu worked for such entity from 1992 to 1997 as a self-employed individual of logistics transportation. Mr. Liu received his master’s degree in Executive Master of Business Administration from Tsinghua University in 2016.
Guoping Zheng has been our chief financial officer and vice president since May 20, 2021. Mr. Zheng has served as the vice president and chief financial officer of Shengfeng Logistics, principal of its Strategy Department and its Finance Department since 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Zheng served as the senior director of the Financial Management Department of East China and North China in Deppon Logistics Co., Ltd. from 2008 to 2016. Mr. Zheng received his bachelor’s degree in Financial Management from Xiamen University in 2008.
Zhiping Yang has been our director since April 7, 2021. Mr. Yang joined Shengfeng Logistics in 2001. He has served as the vice president of Shengfeng Logistics since 2020 and the general manager of the Operation Center in Shengfeng Logistics since 2014. Mr. Yang has served as the director of Shengfeng Logistics from December 2018 to April 2021. From 2001 to 2013, he served as the General Manager of Beijing Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd., a subsidiary wholly owned by Shengfeng Logistics. Mr. Yang received his bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology from Xi ‘an Institute of Political Science of the People’s Liberation Army in 2015. He also completed a Human Resources Advanced Training Class conducted by Tsinghua University in 2014.
Dan Liu is an independent director. Ms. Liu has been a professor in the School of Economics and Management of Fuzhou University since 2017. Prior to that, she served as an associate professor in the same school of Fuzhou University from 2006 to 2017. From 2001 to 2006, Ms. Liu served as an associate professor in Fuzhou Polytechnic. From 2000 to 2001, she was a senior lecturer of the Department of Vocational Education of Fujian Economics and Management Cadre Institute after being a lecturer in the same department from 1994 to 2000. From 1987 to 1994, she served as a teaching assistant under the same department. Ms. Liu received her bachelor’s degree in Material Management Engineering from Huazhong University of Science & Technology (formerly named Huazhong Institute of Technology) in 1987, her master’s degree in Business Management from Fuzhou University in 2005 and her Ph.D. in Logistics Management from Fuzhou University in 2012.
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Wen Li is an independent director. Ms. Li has served as a financial director of Fujian Qunsheng Property Limited Company in China since 2013 and an independent director of Shenzhen Coship Electronics Co., Ltd. since March 2021. From 2006 to 2012, she served as an independent director of Fufa Group Co., Ltd. in Fujian Province. She also served as the financial director of Fuzhou TV Station from 2008 to 2013 and the financial director of Fujian Zhongcheng Group from 2006 to 2008. Prior to that, she was the general manager of Department of Finance of Fujian Huafu Securities Company from 1997 to 2005 and the general manager of Department of Finance of Fujian Huafu Real Estate Company from 1989 to 1997. Ms. Li received her bachelor’s degree in Economics from Fuzhou University in 1989. She also completed a Master course in Finance conducted by Xiamen University in 1999. She has been certified as a Senior Accountant in China since 2001, obtained Securities Practitioner qualification in China since 2002 and Independent Director qualification in Shenzhen Stock Exchange since 2007.
John F. Levy is an independent director. Mr. Levy currently serves as the chief executive officer and principal consultant for Board Advisory. He has held this role since May 2005. He also served as the chief executive officer of Sticky Fingers Restaurants, LLC from 2019 to 2020. Mr. Levy is a recognized corporate governance and financial reporting expert with over 30 years of progressive financial, accounting and business experience; including nine years in public accounting with three national accounting firms and having served as chief financial officer of both public and private companies for over 13 years. Mr. Levy currently serves on the board of directors and audit committee chair of Paranovus Entertainment Technology Ltd. (formerly Happiness Development Group Limited). Since 2023, Mr. Levy has also served on the board of directors and as the audit committee chair of Cartica Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: CITE). Mr. Levy served on the board of directors of (i) Applied Minerals, Inc. from January 2008 to August 2022, (ii) Washington Prime Group, Inc. from June 2016 to October 2021 (Washington Prime Group filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code on June 13, 2021, and it emerged from bankruptcy protection on October 21, 2021), (iii) Singularity Future Technology Limited from November 2021 to February 2023, (iv) Takung Art Co., Ltd. from March 2016 to June 2019, (v) China Commercial Credit, Inc. from August 2013 to December 2016, (vi) Applied Energetics, Inc. from June 2009 to February 2016, and (vii) several other publicly held companies prior to 2016. Mr. Levy is a frequent lecturer and has written several articles and courses on accounting, finance business and governance. Mr. Levy is a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Levy is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and received his MBA from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Board Diversity
The table below provides certain information regarding the diversity of our board of directors as of the date of this annual report.
| Board Diversity Matrix | |||||||
| Country of Principal Executive Offices: | China | ||||||
| Foreign Private Issuer | Yes | ||||||
| Disclosure Prohibited under Home Country Law | No | ||||||
| Total Number of Directors | 5 | ||||||
| Female | Male |
Non- Binary |
Did Not Disclose Gender | ||||
| Part I: Gender Identity | |||||||
| Directors | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Part II: Demographic Background | |||||||
| Underrepresented Individual in Home Country Jurisdiction | 0 | ||||||
| LGBTQ+ | 0 | ||||||
| Did Not Disclose Demographic Background | 0 | ||||||
Family Relationships
None of our directors or executive officers has a family relationship as defined in Item 401 of Regulation S-K.
Controlled Company
Mr. Yongxu Liu, our chief executive officer, president and chairman of the board of directors, currently beneficially owns approximately 91.16% of the aggregate voting power of our outstanding ordinary shares. As a result, we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing rules. As a controlled company, we are permitted to elect to rely on certain exemptions from the obligations to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including:
| ● | the requirement that a majority of the board of directors consist of independent directors; |
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| ● | the requirement that our director nominees be selected or recommended solely by independent directors; and |
| ● | the requirement that we have a nominating and corporate governance committee and a compensation committee that are composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the purposes and responsibilities of the committees. |
Although we do not intend to rely on the controlled company exemptions under the Nasdaq listing rules even if we are a controlled company, we could elect to rely on these exemptions in the future, and if so, you would not have the same protection afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq.
Additionally, our biggest shareholder, Shengfeng International Limited, has the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted to the shareholders for approval, including the election of directors and any merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets.
B. Compensation
| Yongxu Liu | $ | 101,545.68 | ||||||
| Guoping Zheng | $ | 90,591.76 | ||||||
| Zhiping Yang | $ | 91,907.50 |
C. Board Practices
Board of Directors
Our board of directors consists of five (5) directors. Our board of directors has determined that our three independent director, Dan Liu, Wen Li, and John F. Levy, satisfy the “independence” requirements of the Nasdaq corporate governance rules.
Pursuant to our amended and restated articles of association, the minimum number of directors shall consist of not less than one person provided however that the Company may by ordinary resolution increase or reduce the limits in the numbers of directors. Unless fixed by ordinary resolution of the Company, the maximum number of directors is unlimited. Unless removed or re-appointed, each director shall be appointed for a term expiring at the next-following annual general meeting, if any is held. At any annual general meeting held, our directors will be elected by ordinary resolution. At each annual general meeting, each director so elected shall hold office for a one-year term and until the election of their respective successors in office or removed pursuant to our amended and restated articles of association.
A director shall not, as a director, vote in respect of any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal in which they have an interest which (together with any interest of any person connected with them) is a material interest (otherwise then by virtue of their interests, direct or indirect, in shares or debentures or other securities of, or otherwise in or through, the Company) and if they shall do so their vote shall not be counted, nor in relation thereto shall they be counted in the quorum present at the meeting, but (in the absence of some other material interest than is mentioned below) none of these prohibitions shall apply to: (a) the giving of any security, guarantee or indemnity in respect of: (i) money lent or obligations incurred by them or by any other person for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (ii) a debt or obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for which the director themself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part and whether alone or jointly with others under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security; (b) where the Company or any of its subsidiaries is offering securities in which offer the director is or may be entitled to participate as a holder of securities or in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of which the director is to or may participate; (c) any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal affecting any other body corporate in which he is interested, directly or indirectly and whether as an officer, shareholder, creditor or otherwise howsoever, provided that he (together with persons connected with them) does not to their knowledge hold an interest representing one per cent or more of any class of the equity share capital of such body corporate (or of any third body corporate through which his interest is derived) or of the voting rights available to members of the relevant body corporate; (d) any act or thing done or to be done in respect of any arrangement for the benefit of the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries under which they are not accorded as a director any privilege or advantage not generally accorded to the employees to whom such arrangement relates; (e) any matter connected with the purchase or maintenance for any director of insurance against any liability or (to the extent permitted by the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands) indemnities in favor of directors, the funding of expenditure by one or more directors in defending proceedings against him or them or the doing of any thing to enable such director or directors to avoid incurring such expenditure; or (f) any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal in which the director has an interest which is not a material interest. A director may vote with respect to any contract, proposed contract or arrangement in which he is materially interested, provided that (a) such director, if his or her interest in such contract or arrangement is material, has declared the nature of his or her interest at the earliest meeting of the board at which it is practicable for him or her to do so, either specifically or by way of a general notice and (b) if such contract or arrangement is a transaction with a related party, such transaction has been approved by the audit committee. The directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money, mortgage its undertaking, property and uncalled capital, and issue debentures or other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security for any obligation of the Company or of any third party.
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Duties of Directors
Under Cayman Islands law, all of our directors owe three types of duties to us: (i) statutory duties, (ii) fiduciary duties, and (iii) common law duties. The Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands imposes a number of statutory duties on a director. A Cayman Islands director’s fiduciary duties are not codified, however the courts of the Cayman Islands have held that a director owes the following fiduciary duties: (a) a duty to act in what the director bona fide considers to be in the best interests of the company, (b) a duty to exercise their powers for the purposes they were conferred, (c) a duty to avoid fettering his or her discretion in the future and (d) a duty to avoid conflicts of interest and of duty. The common law duties owed by a director are those to act with skill, care and diligence that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director in relation to the company and, also, to act with the skill, care and diligence in keeping with a standard of care commensurate with any particular skill they have which enables them to meet a higher standard than a director without those skills. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our amended and restated articles of association. We have the right to seek damages if a duty owed by any of our directors is breached.
Our board of directors have all powers necessary for managing, directing and supervising our business affairs. The functions and powers of our board of directors include, among others:
| ● | convening shareholders’ annual general meetings and reporting its work to shareholders at such meetings; |
| ● | declaring dividends and distributions; |
| ● | appointing officers and determining the terms of office of the officers; |
| ● | exercising the borrowing powers of the company and mortgaging the property of the company; |
| ● | approving the transfer of shares in the Company, including the registration of such Ordinary Shares in our share register; and |
| ● | maintaining or registering a register of mortgages, charges, or other encumbrances of the company. |
Terms of Directors and Executive Officers
Our directors may be elected by a resolution of our board of directors or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. Unless re-appointed or removed from office pursuant to the provisions of our amended and restated articles of association, each of our directors shall hold office until a successor has been duly elected and qualified unless the director was appointed by the board of directors, in which case such director holds office until the next following annual meeting of shareholders at which time such director is eligible for reelection. A director will cease to be a director if, among other things, the director (i) is prohibited under the law of the Cayman Islands from acting as a director; (ii) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; (iii) resigned his office by notice to the company; (iv) only held office as a director for a fixed term and such term expires; (v) in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom the director is being treated, the director becomes physically or mentally incapable of acting as a director; (vi) is given notice by the majority of the other directors (not being less than two in number) to vacate office, without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any agreement relating to the provision of the services of such director; (vii) is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise; or (viii) without the consent of the other directors, is absent from meetings of directors for a continuous period of six months. All of our executive officers are appointed by and serve at the discretion of our board of directors.
Qualification
There is currently no shareholding qualification for directors, although a shareholding qualification for directors may be fixed by our shareholders by ordinary resolution.
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into employment agreements with each of our executive officers. Pursuant to such employment agreements, we have agreed to employ each of our executive officers for a specified time period, which may be renewed upon both parties’ agreement 30 days before the end of the current employment term. We may terminate the employment for cause, at any time, without notice or remuneration, for certain acts of the executive officer, including, but not limited to, the commitments of any serious or persistent breach or non-observance of the terms and conditions of the employment, conviction of a criminal offense, willful disobedience of a lawful and reasonable order, fraud or dishonesty, receipt of bribery, or severe neglect of his or her duties. An executive officer may terminate his or her employment at any time with a one-month prior written notice. Each executive officer agrees to hold, both during and after the employment agreement expires, in strict confidence and not to use or disclose to any person, corporation or other entity without written consent, any confidential information.
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We have also entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. Under these agreements, we have agreed to indemnify our directors and executive officers against certain liabilities and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with claims made by reason of their being a director or officer of our Company.
Insider Participation Concerning Executive Compensation
Before the establishment of our Compensation Committee, our chief executive officer, president and chairman, Mr. Yongxu Liu, made all determinations regarding executive officer compensation from the inception of the Company. Since the establishment of our Compensation Committee, it has been making all determinations regarding executive officer compensation (please see below).
Committees of the Board of Directors
We have established three committees under the board of directors: an audit committee, a compensation committee, and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Our independent directors serve on each of the committees. We have adopted a charter for each of the three committees. Each committee’s members and functions are described below.
Audit Committee. Our audit committee consists of our three independent director appointees, Dan Liu, Wen Li, and John F. Levy. John F. Levy is the chairperson of our audit committee. We have determined that each of our independent directors also satisfy the “independence” requirements of Rule 5602(a)(2) of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market and Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act. Our board also has determined that John F. Levy qualifies as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of the SEC rules or possesses financial sophistication within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing rules. The audit committee oversees our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the financial statements of our Company. The audit committee is responsible for, among other things:
| ● | appointing the independent auditors and pre-approving all auditing and non-auditing services permitted to be performed by the independent auditors; |
| ● | reviewing with the independent auditors any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response; |
| ● | discussing the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditors; |
| ● | reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our accounting and internal control policies and procedures and any steps taken to monitor and control major financial risk exposures; |
| ● | reviewing and approving all proposed related party transactions; |
| ● | meeting separately and periodically with management and the independent auditors; and |
| ● | monitoring compliance with our code of business conduct and ethics, including reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our procedures to ensure proper compliance. |
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Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee consists of our three independent director appointees, Dan Liu, Wen Li, and John F. Levy. Dan Liu is the chairperson of our compensation committee. We have determined that each of our independent directors also satisfy the “independence” requirements of Rule 5602(a)(2) of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market and Rule 10C-1 under the Securities Exchange Act. The compensation committee assists the board in reviewing and approving the compensation structure, including all forms of compensation, relating to our directors and executive officers. Our chief executive officer may not be present at any committee meeting during which his compensation is deliberated. The compensation committee is responsible for, among other things:
| ● | reviewing and approving the total compensation package for our most senior executive officers; |
| ● | approving and overseeing the total compensation package for our executives other than the most senior executive officers; |
| ● | reviewing and recommending to the board with respect to the compensation of our directors; |
| ● | reviewing periodically and approving any long-term incentive compensation or equity plans; |
| ● | selecting compensation consultants, legal counsel or other advisors after taking into consideration all factors relevant to that person’s independence from management; and |
| ● | reviewing programs or similar arrangements, annual bonuses, employee pension and welfare benefit plans. |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our nominating and corporate governance committee consists of our three independent director appointees, Dan Liu, Wen Li, and John F. Levy. Wen Li is be the chairperson of our nominating and corporate governance committee. The nominating and corporate governance committee assists the board of directors in selecting individuals qualified to become our directors and in determining the composition of the board and its committees. The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for, among other things:
| ● | identifying and recommending nominees for election or re-election to our board of directors or for appointment to fill any vacancy; |
| ● | reviewing annually with our board of directors its current composition in light of the characteristics of independence, age, skills, experience and availability of service to us; |
| ● | identifying and recommending to our board the directors to serve as members of committees; |
| ● | advising the board periodically with respect to significant developments in the law and practice of corporate governance as well as our compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and making recommendations to our board of directors on all matters of corporate governance and on any corrective action to be taken; and |
| ● | monitoring compliance with our code of business conduct and ethics, including reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our procedures to ensure proper compliance. |
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Our board of directors has adopted a code of business conduct and ethics applicable to all of our directors, officers, and employees. We have made our code of business conduct and ethics publicly available on our website.
Compensation Recovery Policy
We have adopted a compensation recovery policy to provide for the recovery of erroneously-awarded incentive compensation, as required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, final SEC rules, and applicable listing standards.
D. Employees
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Employees.”
E. Share Ownership
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership, within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of our Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares as of the date of this annual report for:
| ● | each of our directors and executive officers; and |
| ● | each person known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of our Class A Ordinary Shares or Class B Ordinary Shares. |
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Beneficial ownership includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. Except as indicated below, and subject to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all Class A Ordinary Shares or and Class B Ordinary Shares shown as beneficially owned by them. Percentage of beneficial ownership of each listed person is based on 40,617,513 Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding, and 41,880,000 Class B Ordinary Shares outstanding as of the date of this annual report.
Information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by each director, officer, or beneficial owner of 5% or more of our Class A Ordinary Shares or Class B Ordinary Shares. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally requires that such person have voting or investment power with respect to securities. In computing the number of Class A Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by a person listed below and the percentage ownership of such person, Class A Ordinary Shares underlying options, warrants, or convertible securities, including Class B Ordinary Shares, held by each such person that are exercisable or convertible within 60 days of the date of this annual report are deemed outstanding, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
| Class A Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned | Class B Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned | Voting Power* | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number | % | Number | % | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Directors, Director Appointees, and Executive Officers(1): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Yongxu Liu(2) | — | — | % | 41,880,000 | 100 | % | 91.16 | % | ||||||||||||
| Guoping Zheng | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Zhiping Yang | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Dan Liu | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Wen Li | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| John F. Levy | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| All directors, director appointees, and executive officers as a group (6 individuals): | — | — | % | 41,880,000 | 100 | % | 91.16 | % | ||||||||||||
| 5% Shareholders: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Shengfeng International Limited(2) | — | — | % | 41,880,000 | 100 | % | 91.16 | % | ||||||||||||
| Everbright International Development Limited(3) | 8,736,000 | 21.51 | % | — | — | 1.90 | % | |||||||||||||
| Double Sun Capital Limited(4) | 3,928,000 | 9.67 | % | — | — | 0.85 | % | |||||||||||||
| Changle International Limited(5) | 3,904,000 | 9.61 | % | — | — | 0.85 | % | |||||||||||||
| Chia-Yu Chen | 3,519,251 | 8.66 | % | — | — | 0.77 | % | |||||||||||||
| Yuansheng International Limited(6) | 3,784,000 | 9.32 | % | — | — | 0.82 | % | |||||||||||||
| Mid-Castle Development Limited(7) | 3,648,000 | 8.98 | % | — | — | 0.79 | % | |||||||||||||
| Prime Link Capital International Limited(8) | 3,074,000 | 7.57 | % | — | — | 0.67 | % | |||||||||||||
| Sky Top Capital International Limited(9) | 2,880,000 | 7.09 | % | — | — | 0.63 | % | |||||||||||||
| * | Represents the voting power with respect to all of our Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares, voting as a single class. Each holder of Class A Ordinary Shares is entitled to one vote per one Class A Ordinary Share and each holder of Class B Ordinary Shares is entitled to ten votes per one Class B Ordinary Share. |
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| (1) | Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the individuals is Shengfeng Building, No. 478 Fuxin East Road, Jin’an District, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China, 350001 |
| (2) | The number of Class B Ordinary Shares beneficially owned represents 41,880,000 Class B Ordinary Shares held by Shengfeng International Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, which is 100% owned by Yongxu Liu, our CEO, Chairman and President. The registered address of Shengfeng International Limited is 30 de Castro Street, Wickhams Cay 1, P.O. Box 4519, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. |
| (3) | The number of Class A Ordinary Shares beneficially owned represents 8,736,000 Class A Ordinary Shares held by Everbright International Development Limited, a British Virgin Islands company. Guangsheng Lin, the general manager of Shengfeng Logistics and one of the Shengfeng Logistics Shareholders, who serves as a director of Everbright International Development Limited, has the dispositive and voting power of the shares held by Everbright International Development Limited. The registered address of Everbright International Development Limited is 4th Floor, Water’s Edge Building, Meridian Plaza, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, British Virgin Islands. |
| (4) | The number of Class A Ordinary Shares beneficially owned represents 3,928,000 Class A Ordinary Shares held by Double Sun Capital Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, which is 100% owned by Yiping Wu. The registered address of Double Sun Capital Limited is 4th Floor, Water’s Edge Building, Meridian Plaza, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, British Virgin Islands. |
| (5) | The number of Class A Ordinary Shares beneficially owned represents 3,904,000 Class A Ordinary Shares held by Changle International Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, which is 100% owned by Rong Zheng. The registered address of Changle International Limited is 4th Floor, Water’s Edge Building, Meridian Plaza, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, British Virgin Islands. |
| (6) | The number of Class A Ordinary Shares beneficially owned represents 3,784,000 Class A Ordinary Shares held by Yuansheng International Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, which is 100% owned by Yusheng Yang. The registered address of Yuansheng International Limited is 4th Floor, Water’s Edge Building, Meridian Plaza, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, British Virgin Islands. |
| (7) | The number of Class A Ordinary Shares beneficially owned represents 3,648,000 Class A Ordinary Shares held by Mid-Castle Development Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, which is 100% owned by Qing Lin. The registered address of Mid-Castle Development Limited is 4th Floor, Water’s Edge Building, Meridian Plaza, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, British Virgin Islands. |
| (8) | The number of Class A Ordinary Shares beneficially owned represents 3,074,000 Class A Ordinary Shares held by Prime Link Capital International Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, which is 100% owned by Jinyuan Huang. The registered address of Prime Link Capital International Limited is 4th Floor, Water’s Edge Building, Meridian Plaza, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, British Virgin Islands. |
| (9) | The number of Class A Ordinary Shares beneficially owned represents 2,880,000 Class A Ordinary Shares held by Sky Top Capital International Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, which is 100% owned by Qiang Lin. The registered address of Sky Top Capital International Limited is 4th Floor, Water’s Edge Building, Meridian Plaza, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, British Virgin Islands. |
As of the date of this annual report, approximately 30.44% of our issued and outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares are held in the United States by one record holder (CEDE & CO), representing 2.69% of the aggregated voting power.
We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our Company.
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F. Disclosure of a registrant’s action to recover erroneously awarded compensation
Not applicable.
Item 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
A. Major Shareholders
See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—E. Share Ownership.”
B. Related Party Transactions
The VIE Agreements
See “Item 3. Key Information—Our VIE Agreements.”
Material Transactions with Related Parties
The relationship and the nature of related party transactions are summarized as follow:
The table below sets forth the major related parties and their relationships with the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
| Name of related parties | Relationship with the Company | |
| Fujian Bafang Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd (“Fujian Bafang”) | An equity investee of the Company | |
| Fuzhou Tianyu Shengfeng Industrial Co., Ltd (“Fuzhou Tianyu”) | A company controlled by Yongxu Liu, CEO and Chairman of the Company | |
| Fuzhou Tianyu Shengfeng Property Management Co., Ltd (“Fuzhou Tianyu Management”) | A company under the control of a shareholder | |
| Fuzhou Tianyu Yuanmei Catering Co., Ltd (“Fuzhou Tianyu Catering”) | A company under the control of a shareholder | |
| Beijing Union Logistics Co., Ltd (“Beijing Banglian”) (1) | A company under the control of a shareholder | |
| Fujian Desheng Logistics Co., Ltd (“Fujian Desheng”) | A company under the control of a shareholder | |
| Dongguan Suxing New Material Co., Ltd (“Suxing”) (2) | A company under the control of a non-controlling shareholder | |
| Hainan Tianyi Logistics Distribution Co., Ltd (“Hainan Tianyi”) (3) | An equity investee of the Company | |
| Yongteng Liu | CEO’s brother | |
| Fuzhou Puhui Technology Co., Ltd | A non-controlling shareholder of Ningde Shengfeng Logistics Co. Ltd. |
| (1) | In January 2022, the Company’s shareholder sold the equity interest in Beijing Banglian. |
| (2) | On July 14, 2021, Shengfeng Logistics entered into a share transfer agreement with Dongguan Suxing New Material Co., Ltd (“Dongguan Suxing”), a related party, to transfer its 51% equity interest in Fuzhou Shengfeng New Material Technology Co., Ltd. (“New Material Technology”) to Dongguan Suxing. After the transaction, Suxing became a non-related party to the Company. |
| (3) | On September 15, 2021, the Company signed a share purchase agreement with a third party. According to such agreement, the Company sold its 5% equity interests in Hainan Tianyi to such third party. After the transaction, Hainan Tianyi became a non-related party to the Company. |
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| i) | Significant transactions with related parties were as follows: |
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | Year ended December 31, 2022 | Year ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Transportation services to Fujian Bafang | $ | - | $ | 18 | $ | - | ||||||
| Transportation services to Fujian Desheng | 37 | - | 349 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 37 | $ | 18 | $ | 349 | ||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | Year ended December 31, 2022 | Year ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Transportation services from Beijing Banglian | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 2,265 | ||||||
| Transportation services from Hainan Tianyi | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 1,207 | ||||||
| Transportation services from Fujian Bafang | $ | 1,108 | $ | 1,196 | $ | 157 | ||||||
| Purchase raw materials from Suxing | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 577 | ||||||
| Lease services from Fuzhou Tianyu | $ | 228 | $ | 305 | $ | 358 | ||||||
| Lease services from Fuzhou Tianyu Management | $ | 17 | $ | 35 | $ | - | ||||||
| Catering services from Tianyu Catering | $ | 2 | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||
| ii) | Guarantees |
The Company’s shareholder, CEO and Chairman, Yongxu Liu, his brother, Yongteng Liu, and Fuzhou Puhui Technology Co., Ltd, were the guarantors of the Company’s short-term bank loans.
| iii) | Significant balances with related parties were as follows: |
| As of December 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Due from related parties | ||||||||
| Fuzhou Tianyu | $ | 41 | $ | 42 | ||||
| Fujian Desheng | 40 | - | ||||||
| Total | $ | 81 | $ | 42 | ||||
As
of | As
of | |||||||
| Due to related parties | ||||||||
| Fujian Bafang (a) | $ | 1,622 | $ | 1,694 | ||||
| Fuzhou Tianyu | 48 | 84 | ||||||
| Fuzhou Tianyu Management | 34 | 36 | ||||||
| Yongteng Liu | - | 600 | ||||||
| Total | $ | 1,704 | $ | 2,414 | ||||
| (a) | On December 10, 2007, the Company entered into an interest-free loan agreement with Fujian Bafang for a principal amount of approximately $1.4 million (RMB 9.6 million). Such loan is due on demand. |
C. Interests of Experts and Counsel
Not applicable.
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Item 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
We have appended consolidated financial statements filed as part of this annual report. See “Item 18. Financial Statements.”
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may become a party to various legal or administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business, including actions with respect to intellectual property infringement, violation of third-party licenses or other rights, breach of contract, and labor and employment claims. We are currently not a party to, and we are not aware of any threat of, any legal or administrative proceedings that, in the opinion of our management, are likely to have any material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flow, or results of operations.
Dividend Policy
See “Item 3. Key Information—Dividend Distributions, Cash Transfer, and Tax Consequences.”
B. Significant Changes
Except as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we have not experienced any significant changes since the date of our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
Item 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING
A. Offer and Listing Details.
Our Class A Ordinary Shares have been listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market since March 31, 2023 under the symbol “SFWL.”
B. Plan of Distribution
Not applicable.
C. Markets
Our Class A Ordinary Shares have been listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market since March 31, 2023 under the symbol “SFWL.”
D. Selling Shareholders
Not applicable.
E. Dilution
Not applicable.
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F. Expenses of the Issue
Not applicable.
Item 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A. Share Capital
Not applicable.
B. Memorandum and Articles of Association
We incorporate by reference into this annual report the description of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, Exhibit 3.1, and the description of differences in corporate laws contained in our registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-267367), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on September 9, 2022.
C. Material Contracts
We have not entered into any material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business and other than those described in “Item 4. Information on the Company” or elsewhere in this annual report.
D. Exchange Controls
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—Regulations Relating to Foreign Exchange.”
E. Taxation
People’s Republic of China Enterprise Taxation (for the purpose of this paragraph, PRC does not include Taiwan and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau)
The following brief description of Chinese enterprise income taxation is designed to highlight the enterprise-level taxation on our earnings, which will affect the amount of dividends, if any, we are ultimately able to pay to our shareholders. See “Item 3. Key Information—Dividend Distributions, Cash Transfer, and Tax Consequences.”
According to the EIT Law, which was promulgated by the SCNPC on March 16, 2007, became effective on January 1, 2008, and was last amended on December 29, 2018, and the Implementation Rules of the EIT Law, which were promulgated by the State Council on December 6, 2007, and became effective on January 1, 2008, enterprises are divided into resident enterprises and non-resident enterprises. Resident enterprises pay enterprise income tax on their incomes obtained in and outside the PRC at the rate of 25%. Non-resident enterprises setting up institutions in the PRC pay enterprise income tax on the incomes obtained by such institutions in and outside the PRC at the rate of 25%. Non-resident enterprises with no institutions in the PRC, and non-resident enterprises with income having no substantial connection with their institutions in the PRC, pay enterprise income tax on their income obtained in the PRC at a reduced rate of 10%.
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and we gain substantial income by way of dividends paid to us from our PRC subsidiary. The EIT Law and its implementation rules provide that China-sourced income of foreign enterprises, such as dividends paid by a PRC subsidiary to its equity holders that are non-resident enterprises, will normally be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of 10%, unless any such foreign investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a preferential tax rate or a tax exemption.
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Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of China with a “de facto management body” within China is considered a “resident enterprise,” which means that it is treated in a manner similar to a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes. Although the implementation rules of the EIT Law define “de facto management body” as a managing body that actually, comprehensively manage and control the production and operation, staff, accounting, property, and other aspects of an enterprise, the only official guidance for this definition currently available is set forth in SAT Notice 82, which provides guidance on the determination of the tax residence status of a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise, defined 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 Shengfeng Cayman 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 SAT Notice 82, in the absence of guidance specifically applicable to us, we have applied the guidance set forth in SAT Notice 82 to evaluate the tax residence status of Shengfeng Cayman and its subsidiaries organized outside the PRC.
According to SAT Notice 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: (i) the places where senior management and senior management departments that are responsible for daily production, operation and management of the enterprise perform their duties are mainly located within the territory of China; (ii) financial decisions (such as money borrowing, lending, financing and financial risk management) and personnel decisions (such as appointment, dismissal and salary and wages) are decided or need to be decided by organizations or persons located within the territory of China; (iii) main property, accounting books, corporate seal, the board of directors and files of the minutes of shareholders’ meetings of the enterprise are located or preserved within the territory of China; and (iv) one half (or more) of the directors or senior management staff having the right to vote habitually reside within the territory of China.
We believe that we do not meet some of the conditions outlined in the immediately preceding paragraph. For example, as a holding company, the key assets and records of Shengfeng Cayman, 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. In addition, 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 Shengfeng Cayman 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 SAT Notice 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, (i) if the enterprise that distributes dividends is domiciled in the PRC or (ii) if gains are realized from transferring equity interests of enterprises domiciled in the PRC, then such dividends or 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 which are non-resident enterprises as well as gains realized by such shareholders from the transfer of our shares may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result become subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%. AllBright, our PRC counsel, is unable to provide a “will” opinion because it believes that it is more likely than not that we and our offshore subsidiaries would be treated as non-resident enterprises for PRC tax purposes because we do not meet some of the conditions outlined in SAT Notice 82. Therefore, AllBright believes that it is possible but highly unlikely that the income received by overseas shareholders who are not PRC residents will be regarded as China-sourced income.
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See “Item 3. Key Information—D.Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, we may be classified as a PRC ‘resident enterprise’ for PRC enterprise income tax purposes. Such classification would likely result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.”
Currently, as resident enterprises in the PRC, Tianyu as well as Shengfeng Logistics and its subsidiaries in PRC are subject to the enterprise income tax at the rate of 25%, except that once an enterprise meets certain requirements and is identified as a small-scale minimal profit enterprise, For qualified small and thin-profit enterprises, the annual taxable income up to RMB3 million is subject to an effective EIT rate of 5% from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2027. The EIT is calculated based on the entity’s global income as determined under PRC tax laws and accounting standards. If the PRC tax authorities determine that Shengfeng Cayman is a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we may be required to withhold a 10% withholding tax from dividends we pay to our shareholders that are non-resident enterprises. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders may be subject to a 10% PRC withholding tax on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of our Class A Ordinary Shares or Class B Ordinary Shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within the PRC. It is unclear whether our non-PRC individual shareholders would be subject to any PRC tax on dividends or gains obtained by such non-PRC individual shareholders in the event we are determined to be a PRC resident enterprise. If any PRC tax were to apply to dividends or gains realized by non-PRC individuals, it would generally apply at a rate of 20% unless a reduced rate is available under an applicable tax treaty. However, it is also unclear whether our non-PRC shareholders would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise. There is no guidance from the PRC government to indicate whether or not any tax treaties between the PRC and other countries would apply in circumstances where a non-PRC company was deemed to be a PRC tax resident, and thus there is no basis for expecting how tax treaty between the PRC and other countries may impact non-resident enterprises.
Hong Kong Taxation
Entities incorporated in Hong Kong are subject to two-tier profit tax rates. The profits tax rate for the first HKD 2 million of assessable profits of a corporation will be subject to the lowered tax rate of 8.25%, while the remaining assessable profits will be subject to the legacy tax rate of 16.5%.
Cayman Islands Taxation
The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains, or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the Government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or, after execution, brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. No stamp duty is payable in the Cayman Islands on the issue of shares by, or any transfers of shares of, Cayman Islands companies (except those which hold interests in land in the Cayman Islands). There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our Class A Ordinary Shares or Class B Ordinary Shares will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of our Class A Ordinary Shares or Class B Ordinary Shares, as the case may be, nor will gains derived from the disposal of our Class A Ordinary Shares or Class B Ordinary Shares be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.
United States Federal Income Taxation
The following does not address the tax consequences to any particular investor or to persons in special tax situations such as:
| ● | banks; | |
| ● | financial institutions; |
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| ● | insurance companies; | |
| ● | regulated investment companies; | |
| ● | real estate investment trusts; | |
| ● | broker-dealers; | |
| ● | persons that elect to mark their securities to market; | |
| ● | U.S. expatriates or former long-term residents of the U.S.; | |
| ● | governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof; | |
| ● | tax-exempt entities; |
| ● | persons liable for alternative minimum tax; | |
| ● | persons holding our Class A Ordinary Shares as part of a straddle, hedging, conversion or integrated transaction; | |
| ● | persons that actually or constructively own 10% or more of our voting power or value (including by reason of owning our Class A Ordinary Shares); | |
| ● | persons who acquired our Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of any employee share option or otherwise as compensation; | |
| ● | persons holding our Class A Ordinary Shares through partnerships or other pass-through entities; | |
| ● | beneficiaries of a Trust holding our Class A Ordinary Shares; or | |
| ● | persons holding our Class A Ordinary Shares through a trust. |
The discussion set forth below is addressed only to U.S. Holders that purchase Class A Ordinary Shares. Prospective purchasers are urged to consult their own tax advisors about the application of the U.S. federal income tax rules to their particular circumstances as well as the state, local, foreign and other tax consequences to them of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
Material Tax Consequences Applicable to U.S. Holders of Our Class A Ordinary Shares
The following sets forth the material U.S. federal income tax consequences related to the ownership and disposition of our Class A Ordinary Shares. It is directed to U.S. Holders (as defined below) of our Class A Ordinary Shares and is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this annual report, all of which are subject to change. This description does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to ownership and disposition of our Class A Ordinary Shares or U.S. tax laws, other than the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as the tax consequences under non-U.S. tax laws, state, local and other tax laws.
The following brief description applies only to U.S. Holders (defined below) that hold Class A Ordinary Shares as capital assets and that have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. This brief description is based on the federal income tax laws of the United States in effect as of the date of this annual report and on U.S. Treasury regulations in effect or, in some cases, proposed, as of the date of this annual report, as well as judicial and administrative interpretations thereof available on or before such date. All of the foregoing authorities are subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax consequences described below.
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The brief description below of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to “U.S. Holders” will apply to you if you are a beneficial owner of Class A Ordinary Shares and you are, for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
| ● | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; | |
| ● | a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; | |
| ● | an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or | |
| ● | a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and the control of one or more U.S. persons for all substantial decisions or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
If a partnership (or other entities treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of our Class A Ordinary Shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships and partners of a partnership holding our Class A Ordinary Shares are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding an investment in our Class A Ordinary Shares.
Taxation of Dividends and Other Distributions on our Class A Ordinary Shares
Subject to the PFIC (defined below) rules discussed below, the gross amount of distributions made by us to you with respect to the Class A Ordinary Shares (including the amount of any taxes withheld therefrom) will generally be includable in your gross income as dividend income on the date of receipt by you, but only to the extent that the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). With respect to corporate U.S. Holders, the dividends will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations in respect of dividends received from other U.S. corporations. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, we did not declare any dividends.
With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individual U.S. Holders, dividends will be taxed at the lower capital gains rate applicable to qualified dividend income, provided that (1) the Class A Ordinary Shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, or we are eligible for the benefits of an approved qualifying income tax treaty with the United States that includes an exchange of information program, (2) we are not a PFIC (defined below) for either our taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding taxable year, and (3) certain holding period requirements are met. Because there is no income tax treaty between the United States and the Cayman Islands, clause (1) above can be satisfied only if the Class A Ordinary Shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Under U.S. Internal Revenue Service authority, Class A Ordinary Shares are considered for purpose of clause (1) above to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States if they are listed on certain exchanges, which presently include the NYSE and the Nasdaq Stock Market. On March 31, 2023, our Class A Ordinary Shares were listed and started to be traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market. You are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower rate for dividends paid with respect to our Class A Ordinary Shares, including the effects of any change in law after the date of this annual report.
Dividends will constitute foreign source income for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. If the dividends are taxed as qualified dividend income (as discussed above), the amount of the dividend taken into account for purposes of calculating the foreign tax credit limitation will be limited to the gross amount of the dividend, multiplied by the reduced rate divided by the highest rate of tax normally applicable to dividends. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income. For this purpose, dividends distributed by us with respect to our Class A Ordinary Shares will constitute “passive category income” but could, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, constitute “general category income.”
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To the extent that the amount of the distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), it will be treated first as a tax-free return of your tax basis in your Class A Ordinary Shares, and to the extent the amount of the distribution exceeds your tax basis, the excess will be taxed as capital gain. We did not calculate our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles and did not declare or pay any dividends for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Therefore, a U.S. Holder should expect that a distribution, if any will be treated as a dividend even if that distribution would otherwise be treated as a non-taxable return of capital or as capital gain under the rules described above.
Taxation of Dispositions of Class A Ordinary Shares
Subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed below, you will recognize taxable gain or loss on any sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of a share equal to the difference between the amount realized (in U.S. dollars) for the share and your tax basis (in U.S. dollars) in the Class A Ordinary Shares. The gain or loss will be capital gain or loss. If you are a non-corporate U.S. Holder, including an individual U.S. Holder, who has held the Class A Ordinary Shares for more than one year, you will generally be eligible for reduced tax rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Any such gain or loss that you recognize will generally be treated as United States source income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes which will generally limit the availability of foreign tax credits.
Passive Foreign Investment Company (“PFIC”) Consequences
A non-U.S. corporation is considered a PFIC, as defined in Section 1297(a) of the US Internal Revenue Code, for any taxable year if either:
| ● | at least 75% of its gross income for such taxable year is passive income; or | |
| ● | at least 50% of the value of its assets (based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets during a taxable year) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income (the “asset test”). |
Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business) and gains from the disposition of passive assets. We will be treated as owning our proportionate share of the assets and earning our proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, at least 25% (by value) of the stock. In determining the value and composition of our assets for purposes of the PFIC asset test, (1) the cash we raise in this offering will generally be considered to be held for the production of passive income and (2) the value of our assets must be determined based on the market value of our Class A Ordinary Shares from time to time, which could cause the value of our non-passive assets to be less than 50% of the value of all of our assets (including the cash raised in this offering) on any particular quarterly testing date for purposes of the asset test.
Based on our operations and the composition of our assets, we have determined that we are not a PFIC under the current PFIC rules for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. We must make a separate determination each year as to whether we are a PFIC, however, and there can be no assurance with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable year or any future taxable year. Depending on the amount of cash we raised in our offering, together with any other assets held for the production of passive income, it is possible that, for any subsequent taxable year, more than 50% of our assets may be assets held for the production of passive income. We will make the determination following the end of any particular tax year. Although the law in this regard is unclear, we are treating the VIE as being owned by us for United States federal income tax purposes, not only because we control their management decisions, but also because we are entitled to the economic benefits associated with the VIE, and as a result, we are treating the VIE as our wholly owned subsidiary for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If we are not treated as owning the VIE for United States federal income tax purposes, we would likely be treated as a PFIC. In addition, because the value of our assets for purposes of the asset test will generally be determined based on the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares and because cash is generally considered to be an asset held for the production of passive income, our PFIC status will depend in large part on the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares and the amount of cash we raise in this offering. Accordingly, fluctuations in the market price of the Class A Ordinary Shares may cause us to become a PFIC. In addition, the application of the PFIC rules is subject to uncertainty in several respects and the composition of our income and assets will be affected by how, and how quickly, we spend the cash we raise in this offering. We are under no obligation to take steps to reduce the risk of our being classified as a PFIC, and as stated above, the determination of the value of our assets will depend upon material facts (including the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares from time to time and the amount of cash we raise in this offering) that may not be within our control. If we are a PFIC for any year during which you hold Class A Ordinary Shares, we will continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years during which you hold Class A Ordinary Shares. If we cease to be a PFIC and you did not previously make a timely “mark-to-market” election as described below, however, you may avoid some of the adverse effects of the PFIC regime by making a “purging election” (as described below) with respect to the Class A Ordinary Shares.
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If we are a PFIC for your taxable year(s) during which you hold Class A Ordinary Shares, you will be subject to special tax rules with respect to any “excess distribution” that you receive and any gain you realize from a sale or other disposition (including a pledge) of the Class A Ordinary Shares, unless you make a “mark-to-market” election as discussed below. Distributions you receive in a taxable year that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions you received during the shorter of the three preceding taxable years or your holding period for the Class A Ordinary Shares will be treated as an excess distribution. Under these special tax rules:
| ● | the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over your holding period for the Class A Ordinary Shares; | |
| ● | the amount allocated to your current taxable year, and any amount allocated to any of your taxable year(s) prior to the first taxable year in which we were a PFIC, will be treated as ordinary income, and | |
| ● | the amount allocated to each of your other taxable year(s) will be subject to the highest tax rate in effect for that year and the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the resulting tax attributable to each such year. |
The tax liability for amounts allocated to years prior to the year of disposition or “excess distribution” cannot be offset by any net operating losses for such years, and gains (but not losses) realized on the sale of the Class A Ordinary Shares cannot be treated as capital, even if you hold the Class A Ordinary Shares as capital assets.
A U.S. Holder of “marketable stock” (as defined below) in a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election under Section 1296 of the US Internal Revenue Code for such stock to elect out of the tax treatment discussed above. If you make a mark-to-market election for first taxable year which you hold (or are deemed to hold) Class A Ordinary Shares and for which we are determined to be a PFIC, you will include in your income each year an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Class A Ordinary Shares as of the close of such taxable year over your adjusted basis in such Class A Ordinary Shares, which excess will be treated as ordinary income and not capital gain. You are allowed an ordinary loss for the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the Class A Ordinary Shares over their fair market value as of the close of the taxable year. Such ordinary loss, however, is allowable only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains on the Class A Ordinary Shares included in your income for prior taxable years. Amounts included in your income under a mark-to-market election, as well as gain on the actual sale or other disposition of the Class A Ordinary Shares, are treated as ordinary income. Ordinary loss treatment also applies to any loss realized on the actual sale or disposition of the Class A Ordinary Shares, to the extent that the amount of such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included for such Class A Ordinary Shares. Your basis in the Class A Ordinary Shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts. If you make a valid mark-to-market election, the tax rules that apply to distributions by corporations which are not PFICs would apply to distributions by us, except that the lower applicable capital gains rate for qualified dividend income discussed above under “—Taxation of Dividends and Other Distributions on our Class A Ordinary Shares” generally would not apply.
The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” which is stock that is traded in other than de minimis quantities on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter (“regularly traded”) on a qualified exchange or other market (as defined in applicable U.S. Treasury regulations), including the Nasdaq Capital Market. If the Class A Ordinary Shares are regularly traded on Nasdaq and if you are a holder of Class A Ordinary Shares, the mark-to-market election would be available to you were we to be or become a PFIC.
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Alternatively, a U.S. Holder of stock in a PFIC may make a “qualified electing fund” election under Section 1295(b) of the US Internal Revenue Code with respect to such PFIC to elect out of the tax treatment discussed above. A U.S. Holder who makes a valid qualified electing fund election with respect to a PFIC will generally include in gross income for a taxable year such holder’s pro rata share of the corporation’s earnings and profits for the taxable year. The qualified electing fund election, however, is available only if such PFIC provides such U.S. Holder with certain information regarding its earnings and profits as required under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. We do not currently intend to prepare or provide the information that would enable you to make a qualified electing fund election. If you hold Class A Ordinary Shares in any taxable year in which we are a PFIC, you will be required to file U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form 8621 in each such year and provide certain annual information regarding such Class A Ordinary Shares, including regarding distributions received on the Class A Ordinary Shares and any gain realized on the disposition of the Class A Ordinary Shares.
If you do not make a timely “mark-to-market” election (as described above), and if we were a PFIC at any time during the period you hold our Class A Ordinary Shares, then such Class A Ordinary Shares will continue to be treated as stock of a PFIC with respect to you even if we cease to be a PFIC in a future year, unless you make a “purging election” for the year we cease to be a PFIC. A “purging election” creates a deemed sale of such Class A Ordinary Shares at their fair market value on the last day of the last year in which we are treated as a PFIC. The gain recognized by the purging election will be subject to the special tax and interest charge rules treating the gain as an excess distribution, as described above. As a result of the purging election, you will have a new basis (equal to the fair market value of the Class A Ordinary Shares on the last day of the last year in which we are treated as a PFIC) and holding period (which new holding period will begin the day after such last day) in your Class A Ordinary Shares for tax purposes.
IRC Section 1014(a) provides for a step-up in basis to the fair market value for our Class A Ordinary Shares when inherited from a decedent that was previously a holder of our Class A Ordinary Shares. However, if we are determined to be a PFIC and a decedent that was a U.S. Holder did not make either a timely qualified electing fund election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder held (or was deemed to hold) our Class A Ordinary Shares, or a mark-to-market election and ownership of those Class A Ordinary Shares are inherited, a special provision in IRC Section 1291 provides that the new U.S. Holder’s basis should be reduced by an amount equal to the Section 1014 basis minus the decedent’s adjusted basis just before death. As such if we are determined to be a PFIC at any time prior to a decedent’s passing, the PFIC rules will cause any new U.S. Holder that inherits our Class A Ordinary Shares from a U.S. Holder to not get a step-up in basis under Section 1014 and instead will receive a carryover basis in those Class A Ordinary Shares.
You are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to your investment in our Class A Ordinary Shares and the elections discussed above.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Dividend payments with respect to our Class A Ordinary Shares and proceeds from the sale, exchange or redemption of our Class A Ordinary Shares may be subject to information reporting to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and possible U.S. backup withholding under Section 3406 of the US Internal Revenue Code with at a current flat rate of 24%. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes any other required certification on U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding. U.S. Holders who are required to establish their exempt status generally must provide such certification on U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the U.S. information reporting and backup withholding rules.
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Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, and you may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by filing the appropriate claim for refund with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and furnishing any required information. We do not intend to withhold taxes for individual shareholders. Transactions effected through certain brokers or other intermediaries, however, may be subject to withholding taxes (including backup withholding), and such brokers or intermediaries may be required by law to withhold such taxes.
Under the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act of 2010, certain U.S. Holders are required to report information relating to our Class A Ordinary Shares, subject to certain exceptions (including an exception for Class A Ordinary Shares held in accounts maintained by certain financial institutions), by attaching a complete Internal Revenue Service Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets, with their tax return for each year in which they hold Class A Ordinary Shares. Failure to report such information could result in substantial penalties. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your obligation to file a Form 8938.
F. Dividends and Paying Agents
Not applicable.
G. Statement by Experts
Not applicable.
H. Documents on Display
We are subject to the periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Under the Exchange Act, we are required to file reports and other information with the SEC. Specifically, we are required to file annually a Form 20-F within four months after the end of each fiscal year. The SEC maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding registrants that make electronic filings with the SEC using its EDGAR system. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules of the Exchange Act prescribing, among other things, the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders, and our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
I. Subsidiary Information
For a listing of our subsidiaries and the VIEs, see “Item 3. Key Information—Our Corporate Structure—Corporate Structure.”
Item 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Concentration of credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, approximately $29.3 million and $23.4 million were deposited with financial institutions located in the PRC, respectively, where there is a RMB 500,000 deposit insurance limit for a legal entity’s aggregated balance at each bank. While management believes that these financial institutions are of high credit quality, it also continually monitors their credit worthiness.
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The Company is also exposed to risk from its accounts receivable and other receivables. These assets are subjected to credit evaluations. An allowance has been made for estimated unrecoverable amounts which have been determined by reference to past default experience and the current economic environment.
Concentration of customers and suppliers
Substantially all revenue was derived from customers located in China. There are no customers from whom revenue individually represent greater than 10% of our total revenue in any of the periods presented.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, Fujian Jinwang Yuntong Logistics Technology Co., Ltd. contributed approximately 32.7% of total cost of revenue of the Company. For the year ended December 31, 2022, Fujian Jinwang Yuntong Logistics Technology Co., Ltd. contributed approximately 23.5% of total cost of revenue of the Company. For the year ended December 31, 2021, Anhui Luge Transportation Co., Ltd. contributed approximately 27.8% of total cost of revenue of the Company.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, no customers accounted more than 10% of the account receivables.
As of December 31, 2023, Fujian Jinwang Yuntong Logistics Technology Co., Ltd. contributed approximately 13.7% of total account payable balances. As of December 31, 2022, Fujian Jinwang Yuntong Logistics Technology Co., Ltd. contributed approximately 13.4% of total account payable balances.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company’s exposure to changes in interest rates relates primarily to the Company’s outstanding debt. While the Company is exposed to interest rate fluctuations, the Company’s interest income and expense are most sensitive to fluctuations in China interest rates. Changes in rates affect the interest earned on the Company’s cash as costs associated with interest paid on the Company’s bank loans. We have not been exposed to material risks due to changes in interest rates, and we have not used any derivative financial instruments to manage our interest risk exposure.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
Our revenue is denominated in Renminbi. And our costs are denominated in Renminbi as well. Our management considers that the business is not exposed to any significant foreign exchange risk and we have not used any derivative financial instruments to hedge exposure to such risk.
In July 2005, the PRC government changed its decades-old policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar, and the Renminbi appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over the following three years. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted and the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, the Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. The RMB depreciated by 1.70% in the year ended December 31, 2023. The depreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar was approximately 9.24% in fiscal year 2022. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future.
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To the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into RMB for our operations, appreciation of RMB against the U.S. dollar would reduce the RMB amount we receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert RMB into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares, servicing our outstanding debt, or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the RMB would reduce the U.S. dollar amounts available to us.
As of December 31, 2023, we had RMB-denominated cash and restricted cash of approximately $28.7 million. A 10% depreciation of RMB against U.S. dollar based on the foreign exchange rate on December 31, 2023 would result in a decrease of approximately $2.9 million in cash and restricted cash. A 10% appreciation of RMB against U.S. dollar based on the foreign exchange rate on December 31, 2023 would result in an increase of approximately $2.9 million in cash and restricted cash. As of December 31, 2022, we had RMB-denominated cash and restricted cash of approximately $23.3 million. A 10% depreciation of RMB against U.S. dollar based on the foreign exchange rate on December 31, 2022 would result in a decrease of approximately $2.3 million in cash and restricted cash. A 10% appreciation of RMB against U.S. dollar based on the foreign exchange rate on December 31, 2022 would result in an increase of approximately $2.3 million in cash and restricted cash.
Item 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
A. Debt Securities
Not applicable.
B. Warrants and Rights
Not applicable.
C. Other Securities
Not applicable.
D. American Depositary Shares
Not applicable.
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Part II
Item 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
None.
Item 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
See “Item 10. Additional Information” for a description of the rights of securities holders, which remain unchanged.
Use of Proceeds
The following “Use of Proceeds” information relates to the registration statement on Form F-1, as amended (File Number 333-267367) for our initial public offering, which was declared effective by the SEC on March 30, 2023. In April 2023, we completed our initial public offering in which we issued and sold an aggregate of 2,400,000 Class A Ordinary Shares, at a price of $4.00 per share for $9.60 million. Univest Securities, LLC was the representative of the underwriters of our initial public offering.
We incurred approximately $1.1 million in expenses in connection with our initial public offering, which included approximately $672,000 in underwriting discounts, approximately $209,600 in expenses paid to or for underwriters, and approximately $0.2 million in other expenses. None of the transaction expenses included payments to directors or officers of our company or their associates, persons owning more than 10% or more of our equity securities or our affiliates. None of the net proceeds we received from the initial public offering were paid, directly or indirectly, to any of our directors or officers or their associates, persons owning 10% or more of our equity securities or our affiliates.
The net proceeds raised from the initial public offering were approximately $8.5 million after deducting underwriting discounts and the offering expenses payable by us.
Item 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, which is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act, as of December 31, 2023.
Based on that evaluation, our management has concluded that, due to the material weakness described below, as of December 31, 2023, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective. Notwithstanding management’s assessment that our internal control over financial reporting was ineffective as of December 31, 2023 due to the material weakness described below, we believe that the consolidated financial statements included in this annual report on Form 20-F correctly present our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the fiscal years covered thereby in all material respects.
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Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
As required by Rule 13a-15(c) of the Exchange Act, our management conducted an evaluation of our Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 based on the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2023. In the course of auditing our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2023, we and our independent registered public accounting firm identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in the standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board of the United States. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
As of December 31, 2023, we identified the material weaknesses related to (i) lack of sufficient in-house personnel in our accounting department with sufficient knowledge of the U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting rules and (ii) lack of proper controls designed and implemented in IT environment and IT general control activities, which mainly associated with areas of change management, access / logical Security, IT operations and cyber security.
Our management is currently in the process of evaluating the steps necessary to remediate the ineffectiveness, such as (i)hiring more qualified accounting personnel with relevant U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting experience and qualifications to strengthen the financial reporting functions and to set up a financial and system control framework; (ii) implementing regular and continuous U.S. GAAP accounting and financial reporting training programs for our accounting and financial reporting personnel; and (iii) strengthening the supervision and controls on the IT functions, including the enhancement of logical security and job management.
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
This annual report on Form 20-F does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the SEC where domestic and foreign registrants that are non-accelerated filers, which we are, and “emerging growth companies,” which we also are, are not required to provide the auditor attestation report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Other than as described above, there were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this annual report on Form 20-F that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 16. RESERVED
Item 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
Mr. John F. Levy qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 16A of Form 20-F. Mr. John F. Levy satisfies the “independence” requirements of Section 5605(a)(2) of the NASDAQ Listing Rules as well as the independence requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.
Item 16B. CODE OF ETHICS
Our board of directors has adopted a code of business conduct and ethics, which is applicable to all of our directors, officers, and employees. Our code of business conduct and ethics is publicly available on our website.
Item 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees by categories specified below in connection with certain professional services rendered and billed by Marcum Asia CPAs LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, since November 11, 2022, and Friedman LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm before November 11, 2022, for the periods indicated.
| For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Audit fees (1) | $ | 365,000 | $ | 315,000 | $ | 380,000 | ||||||
| Audit-Related fees | 80,000 | 50,000 | 46,000 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 445,000 | $ | 365,000 | $ | 426,000 | ||||||
| (1) | Audit fees include the aggregate fees billed for each of the fiscal years for professional services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm for the audit of our annual financial statements or for the audits of our financial statements and review of the interim financial statements in connection with our initial public offering in 2023. |
The policy of our audit committee is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm, including audit services, audit-related services, tax services, and other services as described above.
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Item 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
Not applicable.
Item 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
None.
Item 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
There has been no change in independent accountants for our Company during the two most recent fiscal years or any subsequent interim period except as previously reported in our registration statement on Form F-1(File No. 333- 267367), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on September 9, 2022. There have been no disagreements of the type required to be disclosed by Item 16F(b).
Item 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
As a Cayman Islands company listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we are subject to the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. Nasdaq rules, however, permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, may differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.
Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635 generally provides that shareholder approval is required of U.S. domestic companies listed on Nasdaq prior to issuance (or potential issuance) of securities (i) equaling 20% or more of the company’s ordinary share or voting power for less than the greater of market or book value (ii) resulting in a change of control of the company; and (iii) which is being issued pursuant to a stock option or purchase plan to be established or materially amended or other equity compensation arrangement made or materially amended. Notwithstanding this general requirement, Nasdaq Listing Rule 5615(a)(3)(A) permits foreign private issuers to follow their home country practice rather than these shareholder approval requirements. The Cayman Islands do not require shareholder approval prior to any of the foregoing types of issuances. We, therefore, are not required to obtain such shareholder approval prior to entering into a transaction with the potential to issue securities as described above. We intend to comply with the requirements of Nasdaq listing rules in determining whether shareholder approval is required on such matters. We may, however, consider following home country practice in lieu of the requirements under Nasdaq listing rules with respect to certain corporate governance standards which may afford less protection to investors.
Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(b)(1) requires listed companies to have, among other things, a majority of its board members be independent. As a foreign private issuer, however, we are permitted to, and we may follow home country practice in lieu of the above requirements. The corporate governance practice in our home country, the Cayman Islands, does not require a majority of our board to consist of independent directors. Currently, a majority of our board members are independent. However, if we change our board composition such that independent directors do not constitute a majority of our board of directors, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they would otherwise enjoy under Nasdaq’s corporate governance requirements applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Class A Ordinary Shares and the Trading Market—Because we are a foreign private issuer and are exempt from certain Nasdaq corporate governance standards applicable to U.S. issuers, you will have less protection than you would have if we were a domestic issuer.”
Item 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
Item 16I. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.
Item 16J. INSIDER TRADING POLICIES
Our board of directors has adopted insider trading policies and procedures governing the purchase, sale, and other dispositions of our securities by directors, senior management, and employees that are reasonably designed to promote compliance with applicable insider trading laws, rules, and regulations, and any listing standards applicable to us.
Our board of directors has also adopted a compensation recovery policy required by the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5608, the form of which is attached as Exhibit 97.1 to this annual report.
Item 16K. CYBERSECURITY
Pursuant to the applicable SEC transition guidance, the disclosure required by Item 16K will be applicable to the Company from the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
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Part III
Item 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18.
Item 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The consolidated financial statements of Shengfeng Cayman, and its operating entities are included at the end of this annual report.
Item 19. EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT INDEX
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| * | Filed herewith |
| ** | Furnished herewith |
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SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
| Shengfeng Development Limited | ||
| By: | /s/ Yongxu Liu | |
| Yongxu Liu | ||
| Chief Executive Officer, President, Director, and Chairman | ||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
| Date: April 22, 2024 | ||
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SHENGFENG DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Shengfeng Development Limited
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Shengfeng Development Limited (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2020 (such date takes into account the acquisition of certain assets of Friedman LLP by Marcum Asia CPAs LLP effective September 1, 2022).
March 29, 2024
NEW YORK OFFICE • 7 Penn Plaza • Suite 830 • New York, New York • 10001
Phone 646.442.4845 • Fax 646.349.5200 • www.marcumasia.com
F-2
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Shengfeng Development Limited
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows of Shengfeng Development Limited (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year in the period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and the auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2020 through 2022
July 25, 2022, except for Notes 1, 11, 17 and 18 to the consolidated financial statement included in the Registration Statement on Form F-1 effective on March 30, 2023 (“Form F-1”) which are dated September 9, 2022 and Notes 5 and 6 to Form F-1 which are dated October 31, 2022.
F-3
SHENGFENG DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(All amounts in thousands of USD, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current Assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Restricted cash | ||||||||
| Notes receivable | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | ||||||||
| Prepayments and other current assets, net | ||||||||
| Due from related parties | ||||||||
| Total Current Assets | ||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | ||||||||
| Intangible assets, net | ||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | ||||||||
| Long-term investments | ||||||||
| Deposit for investment | ||||||||
| Deferred tax assets | ||||||||
| Deferred issuance costs | ||||||||
| Other non-current assets | ||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Liabilities and Equity | ||||||||
| Current Liabilities | ||||||||
| Notes payable | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accounts payable | ||||||||
| Short-term bank loans | ||||||||
| Due to related parties | ||||||||
| Salary and welfare payables | ||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | ||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, current | ||||||||
| Tax payables | ||||||||
| Total Current Liabilities | ||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, non-current | ||||||||
Deferred tax liabilities | ||||||||
| Other non-current liabilities | ||||||||
| Total Liabilities | ||||||||
| Commitments and Contingencies | ||||||||
| Equity | ||||||||
| Class A Ordinary share, $ | ||||||||
| Class B Ordinary share, $ | ||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
| Statutory reserves | ||||||||
| Retained earnings | ||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total Shengfeng Development Limited’s Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||||
| Non-controlling Interests | ||||||||
| Total Equity | ||||||||
| Total Liabilities and Equity | $ | $ | ||||||
| * |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
SHENGFENG DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(All amounts in thousands of USD, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Revenues | ||||||||||||
| Transportation | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Warehouse storage management service | ||||||||||||
| Others | ||||||||||||
| Total revenues | ||||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Gross profit | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||
| Selling and marketing | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| General and administrative | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Income from operations | ||||||||||||
| Other income (expense) | ||||||||||||
| Interest income | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Other income, net | ||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | ||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net income | ||||||||||||
| Less: Income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Shengfeng Development Limited’s shareholders | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Comprehensive income (loss) | ||||||||||||
| Net income | ||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Total comprehensive income (loss) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Less: comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interests | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Shengfeng Development Limited | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share: | ||||||||||||
| Earnings per share | ||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| * |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
SHENGFENG DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(All amounts in thousands of USD, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
| Class A Ordinary Shares ($0.0001 par value) | Class B Ordinary Shares ($0.0001 par value) | Additional paid-in | Statutory | Accumulated Retained | Accumulated other comprehensive income | Non- controlling | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares* | Amount | Shares* | Amount | capital | reserves | earnings | (loss) | interests | equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2020 | $ | | $ | | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disposal of equity investment | - | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital contribution from non-controlling shareholders | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | - | - | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statutory reserves | - | - | ( | ) | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Currency translation adjustments | - | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividend to non-controlling shareholders | - | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appropriations to statutory reserves | - | - | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Currency translation adjustments | - | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital contribution from non-controlling shareholders | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appropriations to statutory reserves | - | - | ( | ) | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net proceeds from initial public offering-shares | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net proceeds from initial public offering - warrants | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued for warrants exercised | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
SHENGFENG DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(All amounts in thousands of USD, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
| Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment | ||||||||||||
| Amortization of right-of-use assets and interest of lease liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | ||||||||||||
| Provision for credit losses | ||||||||||||
| Income from equity method investment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| (Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Loss from disposal of subsidiaries | ||||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | ||||||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||
| Notes receivable | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Inventories | ||||||||||||
| Prepayments and other current assets | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Due from related parties | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Other non-current assets | ( | ) | - | |||||||||
| Notes payables | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | ||||||||||||
| Due to related parties | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Salary and welfare payable | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Tax payables | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Other non-current liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | ||||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||||||
| Investment deposit refund | ||||||||||||
| Purchase of intangible assets | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Purchase of property and equipment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from disposal of subsidiaries | ||||||||||||
| Consideration deposit received from a third party | ||||||||||||
| Dividend received from investment | ||||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from initial public offering | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from short-term bank loans | ||||||||||||
| Repayments of short-term bank loans | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Due from related parties | ||||||||||||
| Due to related parties | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Capital contribution from non-controlling shareholders | ||||||||||||
| Dividend to non-controlling shareholders | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Payment of deferred issuance costs | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Advance from a third-party | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Effects of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year | ||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Supplemental cash flow information: | ||||||||||||
| Cash paid for income tax | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Cash paid for interest | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Non-cash transaction in investing and financing activities: | ||||||||||||
| Liabilities incurred (settled) for purchase of property and equipment | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets (extinguished) obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | |||||||
| Reclassification of deferred issuance costs | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Reconciliation to amount on consolidated balance sheets: | ||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Restricted cash | ||||||||||||
| Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-7
SHENGFENG DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands of USD, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
| 1. | ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS |
Shengfeng Development Limited (“Shengfeng” or the “Company”), is a holding company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands on July 16, 2020, as an exempted company with limited liability. The Company has no substantive operations other than holding all of the outstanding share capital of Shengfeng Holding Limited (“Shengfeng HK”) established under the laws of Hong Kong on August 18, 2020.
Shengfeng HK is also a holding company holding all of the outstanding equity of Fujian Tianyu Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. (“Tianyu” or “Shengfeng WFOE” or “WFOE”), which was established on December 16, 2020 under the laws of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC” or “China”).
The Company, through its variable interest entity
(“VIE”), Shengfeng Logistics Group Co., Ltd. (“Shengfeng VIE” or “VIE”), and its subsidiaries, operates
as a transportation and warehouse storage management services provider in the PRC. Shengfeng VIE was incorporated on December 7, 2001
under the laws of the PRC. Paid-in capital of Shengfeng VIE was approximately $
On December 18, 2020, the Company completed a reorganization of entities under common control of its then existing shareholders, who collectively owned all of the equity interests of the Company prior to the reorganization. The Company, and Shengfeng HK were established as the holding companies of Shengfeng WFOE. Shengfeng WFOE is the primary beneficiary of Shengfeng VIE and its subsidiaries, and all of these entities included in the Company are under common control which results in the consolidation of Shengfeng VIE and its subsidiaries which have been accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control at carrying value. The consolidated financial statements are prepared on the basis as if the reorganization became effective as of the beginning of the first period presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company.
F-8
| No. | Name of subsidiaries | Place of incorporation |
Date of incorporation or acquisition |
Percentage of direct or indirect |
Principal activities | ||||||
| 1 | Shengfeng Holding Limited (“Shengfeng HK”) | Hong Kong | August 18, 2020 | 100 | % | Investment holding of Tianyu | |||||
| 2 | Tianyu Shengfeng Logistics Group Co., Ltd. (“Tianyu”, formerly known as “Fujian Tianyu Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd “) | % | |||||||||
| VIE and VIE’s subsidiaries: | |||||||||||
| 3 | Shengfeng Logistics Group Co., Ltd. (“Shengfeng VIE” or “Shengfeng Logistics”) | % | |||||||||
| 4 | Fuqing Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 5 | Xiamen Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 6 | Guangdong Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 7 | Hainan Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
|
8 |
Beijing Tianyushengfeng E-commerce Technology Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
|
9 |
Beijing Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 10 | Shengfeng Logistics (Guizhou) Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 11 | Shengfeng Logistics (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 12 | Shengfeng Logistics (Shandong) Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 13 | Shengfeng Logistics Hebei Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 14 | Shengfeng Logistics (Henan) Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 15 | Shengfeng Logistics (Liaoning) Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 16 | Shengfeng Logistics (Yunnan) Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 17 | Shengfeng Logistics (Guangxi) Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 18 | Hubei Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 19 | Shengfeng Logistics Group (Shanghai) Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 20 | Shanghai Shengxu Logistics Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 21 | Hangzhou Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 22 | Nanjing Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 23 | Suzhou Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 24 | Suzhou Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 25 | Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 26 | Fuzhou Shengfeng Transportation Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 27 | Sichuan Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | % |
F-9
| No. | Name of subsidiaries | Place of incorporation |
Date of incorporation or acquisition |
Percentage of direct or indirect |
Principal activities | ||||||
| 28 | Fujian Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 29 | Fujian Dafengche Information Technology Co. Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 30 | Ningde Shengfeng Logistics Co. Ltd.(a) | % | |||||||||
| 31 | Fujian Fengche Logistics Co., Ltd. (b) | % | |||||||||
| 32 | Shengfeng Logistics (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 33 | Chengdu Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| 34 | Shengfeng Logistics Group (Ningde) Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | |
% | ||||||||
| 35 | Anhui Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. | % | |||||||||
| Significant subsidiaries of Tianyu: | |||||||||||
| 36 | Yichun Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. (c) | % | |||||||||
| 37 | Fujian Shengfeng Smart Technology Co., Ltd. (“SF Smart”)(d) | % | |||||||||
| 38 | Shenzhen Tianyu Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. (e) | % | |||||||||
| 39 | Fujian Pingtan Tianyu Shengfeng Technology Co., Ltd. (“Pingtan SF”) (f) | % |
| ||||||||
| 40 | Hubei Tianyu Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd | % | |||||||||
| 41 | Wanzai Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd | % | |||||||||
| (a) |
| (b) |
| (c) |
| (d) |
F-10
| (e) |
| (f) |
Contractual Agreements
The Company conducts its operations through a series of agreements with the VIE and its subsidiaries as stated above. The VIE and its subsidiaries are utilized solely to facilitate the Company’s participation in transportation and warehouse storage management services in the PRC where foreign ownership is restricted. As such, Shengfeng VIE is controlled through contractual arrangements in lieu of direct equity ownership by the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Such contractual arrangements were made effective by a series of six agreements (“Contractual Arrangements”, or VIE Agreements, which were signed on January 7, 2021).
As a result of the direct ownership in Tianyu and the Contractual Arrangements, the Company is regarded as the primary beneficiary of the VIE and its subsidiaries. Therefore, the VIE and its subsidiaries were treated as the consolidated entities under U.S. GAAP.
The significant terms of the Contractual Arrangements are as follows:
Equity Pledge Agreements
Each equity holder of the VIE Company has pledged all of his/her shares in the VIE Company and all other rights relevant to the shares to WFOE, as a collateral security for his/her and/or the VIE Company’s obligations to pay off all debt to WFOE, including consulting and services fees payable to WFOE. In the event of default of any payment obligation, WFOE will be entitled to certain rights, including transferring the pledged shares to itself and disposing the pledged shares through a sale or auction.
The Equity Pledge Agreement is effective until the full payment of the service fees under the Technical Consultation and Service Agreement and upon termination of Shengfeng Logistics’ obligations under the Technical Consultation and Service Agreement, or upon the transfer of shares of the Equity Shareholders.
The purposes of the Equity Pledge Agreement are to (1) guarantee the performance of Shengfeng Logistics’ obligations under the Technical Consultation and Service Agreement, (2) make sure the Equity Shareholders do not transfer or assign the pledged shares, or create or allow any encumbrance that would prejudice Tianyu’s interests without Tianyu’s prior written consent, and (3) provide Tianyu control over Shengfeng Logistics under certain circumstances. In the event Shengfeng Logistics breaches its contractual obligations under the Technical Consultation and Service Agreement, Tianyu will be entitled to dispose of the pledged shares in accordance with relevant PRC laws.
As of the date of this annual report, the share pledges under the Equity Pledge Agreement have been registered with the competent PRC regulatory authority.
Exclusive Technical Consultation and Service Agreements
The VIE Company has entered into an exclusive
technical consultation and service agreement with WFOE, pursuant to which, WFOE is engaged to provide certain technical services to the
VIE, depending on the licenses obtained and held by the VIE. This technical consultation and service agreement will remain effective for
The Technical Consultation and Service Agreement
became effective on January 7, 2021 and will remain effective for
The Technical Consultation and Service Agreement does not prohibit related party transactions. Upon the establishment of the audit committee at the consummation of this offering, the Company’s audit committee will be required to review and approve in advance any related party transactions, including transactions involving Tianyu or Shengfeng Logistics.
F-11
Exclusive Call Option Agreements
The equity shareholders of the VIE (the “Equity Shareholders”) have granted WFOE the exclusive and irrevocable right to purchase or to designate one or more person(s) at their discretion to purchase part or all of the equity interests in the VIE from the Equity Shareholders for a purchase price at any time, subject to the lowest price permitted by PRC laws and regulations. The VIE and its Equity Shareholders have agreed that without prior written consent of WFOE, the respective Equity Shareholders cannot sell, transfer, pledge or dispose their equity interests, and the VIE cannot sell, transfer, pledge or dispose, including but not limited to, the equity interests, significant assets, significant revenue and significant business. Also as agreed, the VIE cannot declare any dividend or change capitalization structure of the VIE and cannot enter into any loan or investment agreements without prior written consent of WFOE. Furthermore, the Equity Shareholders of the VIE have agreed that any proceeds from, including but not limited to, the sales of the Equity Shareholders’ equity interests in the VIE should be gratuitously paid to WFOE or one or more person(s) at their discretion. The Call Option Agreement will remain effective until all equity options in VIE held by such Equity Shareholders are transferred or assigned to WFOE or their designated representatives.
The Call Option Agreement remains effective until all the equity of Shengfeng Logistics is legally transferred under the name of Tianyu and/or other entity or individual designated by it.
Voting Rights Proxy Agreement
Pursuant to the irrevocable power of attorney, each of the Equity Shareholders of the VIE appointed WFOE as his or her attorney-in-fact to exercise such shareholder’s rights under PRC law and the relevant articles of association, including but not limited to, attending shareholders meetings, voting on their behalf on all matters requiring shareholders’ approval, including but not limited to, sale, transfer, pledge, or disposition of all or part of the Equity Shareholders’ equity interests, and designating and appointing the legal representative, directors, supervisors, chief executive officer and other senior management members of the VIE. Each power of attorney will remain in force until such Equity Shareholder ceases to be a shareholder of the VIE. Each shareholder has waived all his or her rights in connection with his or her equity interests, and confirmed that such rights have been authorized to WFOE under each power of attorney.
The Voting Rights Proxy
Agreement became effective on January 7, 2021 and will remain effective for
Power of attorney
Each of the Equity Shareholders has signed a power of attorney (the “Power of Attorney”), pursuant to which, each of the Equity Shareholders has authorized WFOE to act as his or her exclusive agent and attorney with respect to all rights of such individual as a shareholder of the VIE, including but not limited to: (a) attending shareholders’ meetings; (b) exercising all the shareholder’s rights that shareholders are entitled to under PRC laws and the Articles of Association of VIE, including but not limited to, sale, transfer, pledge and disposition of the equity interests of the VIE; and (c) designating and appointing the legal representative, chairperson, directors, supervisors, chief executive officer and other senior management members of the VIE. The Power of Attorney has the same term as the Voting Rights Proxy Agreement.
The Powers of Attorney is irrevocable and continuously valid from the date of execution of the Powers of Attorney, so long as the Equity Shareholders are shareholders of Shengfeng Logistics.
Spouse consent letter
Each of the respective spouse of the individual Equity Shareholders has executed an additional spousal consent letter which contains terms as described below. Pursuant to the spousal consent letters, each of the respective spouse of the individual Equity Shareholders, unconditionally and irrevocably agreed that the equity interests in the VIE held by and registered in the name of his/her spouse will be disposed of pursuant to the equity pledge agreement, the exclusive call option agreement and the shareholders’ voting rights proxy agreement. The spouse agreed not to assert any rights over the equity interests in the VIE held by his/her spouse.
Based on the foregoing Contractual Arrangements, which grant Shengfeng WFOE the effective control of Shengfeng VIE and enable Shengfeng WFOE to receive all of their expected residual returns, the Company accounts for Shengfeng VIE as a VIE. Accordingly, the Company consolidates the accounts of Shengfeng VIE for the periods presented herein, in accordance with Regulation S-X-3A-02 promulgated by the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810-10, Consolidation.
F-12
| 2. | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
Basis of presentation
The accompanying audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for information pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries, VIE and VIE’s subsidiaries over which the Company exercises control and, where applicable, entities for which the Company has a controlling financial interest or is the primary beneficiary. All significant transactions and balances between the Company, its subsidiaries, VIE and VIE’s subsidiaries have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Subsidiaries are those entities in which the Company, directly or indirectly, controls more than one half of the voting power; or has the power to govern the financial and operating policies, to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the board of directors, or to cast a majority of votes at the meeting of directors.
A VIE is an entity in which the Company, or its subsidiary, through contractual arrangements, bears the risks of, and enjoys the rewards normally associated with, ownership of the entity, and therefore the Company or its subsidiary is the primary beneficiary of the entity.
Non-controlling interest represents the portion of the net assets of subsidiaries attributable to interests that are not owned or controlled by the Company. The non-controlling interest is presented in the consolidated balance sheets, separately from equity attributable to the shareholders of the Company. Non-controlling interest’s operating results are presented on the face of the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income as an allocation of the total income for the year between non-controlling shareholders and the shareholders of the Company.
All significant transactions and balances between the Company, its subsidiaries, VIE and VIE’s subsidiaries have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Use of Estimate and Assumptions
The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods presented. Estimates are adjusted to reflect actual experience when necessary. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements include allowance for credit losses, discount rate used in operating lease right-of-use assets and valuation allowance for deferred tax asset. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Variable Interest Entities
The Company applies the guidance codified in Accounting Standard Codification 810, Consolidations (“ASC 810”) on accounting for the VIE and its respective subsidiaries, which requires certain variable interest entities to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary of the entity in which it has a controlling financial interest. A VIE is an entity with one or more of the following characteristics: (a) the total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support; (b) as a group, the holders of the equity investment at risk lack the ability to make certain decisions, the obligation to absorb expected losses or the right to receive expected residual returns, or (c) an equity investor has voting rights that are disproportionate to its economic interest and substantially all of the entity’s activities are on behalf of the investor. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries and the VIE.
F-13
The Company is considered the primary beneficiary of a VIE or its subsidiaries if the Company had variable interests, that will absorb the entity’s expected losses, receive the entity’s expected residual returns, or both.
The Company’s total assets and liabilities
presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements represent substantially all of the total assets and liabilities of the
VIE because the other entities in the consolidation are non-operating holding entities with nominal assets and liabilities.
| As of December 31, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Current assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Non-current assets | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Current liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
| Non-current liabilities | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
| Net assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Cost of revenues | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||
| Income from operations | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Foreign currencies translation and transaction
The reporting currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar. The Company in mainland China conducts its businesses in the local currency, Renminbi (RMB), as its functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at the unified exchange rate as quoted by the People’s Bank of China at the end of the period. The statement of income accounts is translated at the average translation rates and the equity accounts are translated at historical rates. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations as incurred.
Translation adjustments included in accumulated
other comprehensive loss amounted to $
F-14
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents represent demand deposits
placed with banks or other financial institutions, which are unrestricted as to withdrawal or use, and which have original maturities
of three months or less and are readily convertible to known amounts of cash. The Company maintains most of its bank accounts in the mainland
of China. Cash balances in bank accounts in mainland China are insured by the People’s Bank of China Financial Stability Department
(“FSD”) while there is a RMB
Restricted cash
Restricted cash represents cash that cannot be withdrawn without the permission of third parties. The Company’s restricted cash is substantially cash balance in designated bank accounts as security for payment processing lawsuit and bank acceptance notes payables. Restriction on the use of such cash and the interest earned thereon is imposed by the banks and remains effective throughout the term of the security period. Upon maturities of the security period, the bank’s deposits are available for general use by the Company.
Fair value of financial instruments
ASC 825-10 requires certain disclosures regarding the fair value of financial instruments. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A three-level fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:
| ● | Level 1 — inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. |
| ● | Level 2 — inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted market prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable and inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data. |
| ● | Level 3 — inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable. |
Unless otherwise disclosed, the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash, restricted cash, accounts receivable, prepayments and other current assets, due from related parties, accounts payable, due to a related party, short-term bank loans, salary and welfare payables, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, current operating lease liabilities and taxes payable, approximates their recorded values due to their short-term maturities. The carrying value of long-term lease liabilities approximated its fair value as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 as the interest rates applied reflect the current market yield for comparable financial instruments.
Notes receivable
Notes receivable represents trade accounts receivable due from various customers where the customers’ banks have guaranteed the payments. The notes are non-interest bearing and normally paid within three to twelve months. The Company has the ability to submit request for payment to the customer’s bank earlier than the scheduled payment date but will incur an interest charge and a processing fee. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, no notes were pledged for the Company’s notes payable.
Accounts receivable, net
Accounts receivable are recognized in the period
when the Company has provided services to its customers and when its right to consideration is unconditional. On January 1, 2023, the
Company adopted ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”
Topic 326): Measurement on Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”, including certain subsequent amendments, transitional guidance
and other interpretive guidance within ASU 2018-19, ASU 2019-04, ASU 2019-05, ASU 2019-11, ASU 2020-02 and ASU 2020-03 (collectively,
including ASU 2016-13, “ASC 326”). ASC 326 introduces an approach based on expected losses to estimate the allowance for doubtful
accounts, which replaces the previous incurred loss impairment model. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on
the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company’s estimation of allowance for credit losses considers factors
such as historical credit loss experience, age of receivable balances, current market conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts
of future economic conditions, as well as an assessment of receivables due from specific identifiable counterparties to determine whether
these receivables are considered at risk or uncollectible. The Company evaluates its accounts receivable for expected credit losses on
a regular basis. The Company maintains an estimated allowance for credit losses to reduce its accounts receivable to the amount that it
believes will be collected. The Company considers factors in assessing the collectability of its receivables, such as the age of the amounts
due, the customer’s payment history, credit-worthiness and other specific circumstances related to the accounts. The Company adjusts
the allowance percentage periodically when there are significant differences between estimated bad debts and actual bad debts. If there
is strong evidence indicating that the accounts receivable is likely to be unrecoverable, the Company also makes specific allowance in
the period in which a loss is determined to be probable. Accounts receivable balances are written off after all collection efforts have
been exhausted. The allowance for credit losses was approximately $
F-15
Prepayments and other assets, net
Prepayment and other assets primarily consist
of VAT recoverable, advances to vendors for purchasing goods, long-lived assets or services that have not been received or provided, advances
to employees, security deposits made to customers and advances to employees. Prepayment and other assets are classified as either current
or non-current based on the terms of the respective agreements. These advances are unsecured and are reviewed periodically to determine
whether their carrying value has become impaired. The Company considers the assets to be impaired if the collectability and recoverability
of the advance becomes doubtful. The Company uses the aging method to estimate the allowance for uncollectible balances. The allowance
is also based on management’s best estimate of specific losses on individual exposures, as well as a provision on historical trends
of collections and utilizations. Actual amounts received or utilized may differ from management’s estimate of credit worthiness
and the economic environment. The allowance for credit losses for prepayments and other assets were approximately $
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment are stated at cost less
accumulated depreciation and amortization.
| Useful Life | |
| Building | |
| Office equipment | |
| Machinery and tools | |
| Vehicles | |
| Leasehold improvements |
The Company constructs certain of its property and equipment. In addition to costs under the construction contracts, external costs that are directly related to the construction and acquisition of such property and equipment are capitalized. Depreciation and amortization is recorded at the time assets are ready for their intended use. Such properties are classified to the appropriate categories of property and equipment when completed and ready for intended use. Depreciation and amortization of these assets, on the same basis as other property assets, commences when the assets are ready for their intended use.
The cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization of assets sold or otherwise retired are eliminated from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income (loss). Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to earnings as incurred, while additions, renewals and betterments, which are expected to extend the useful life of assets, are capitalized. The Company also re-evaluates the periods of depreciation and amortization to determine whether subsequent events and circumstances warrant revised estimates of useful lives.
Intangible assets, net
Intangible assets consist primarily of land use
rights and licensed software acquired, which are stated at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment, if any. Intangible assets
are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives, which are generally
| Useful life | |
| Land use right | |
| Licensed software |
F-16
Impairment of long-lived assets
The Company evaluates its long-lived assets, including property and equipment and intangibles with finite lives, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances, such as a significant adverse change to market conditions that will impact the future use of the assets, indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be fully recoverable. When these events occur, the Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to the future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets, the Company recognizes an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount of the assets over their fair value. Fair value is generally determined by discounting the cash flows expected to be generated by the assets, when the market prices are not readily available. The adjusted carrying amount of the assets become new cost basis and are depreciated over the assets’ remaining useful lives. Long-lived assets are grouped with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. Given no events or changes in circumstances indicating the carrying amount of long-lived assets may not be recovered through the related future net cash flows, the Company did not recognize any impairment loss on long-lived assets for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Long-term investments
Long-term investments are primarily consisted of equity investments in privately held entities accounted for using equity investments accounted for using the equity method. On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01 Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. According to the guidance, the Company started to record equity investments at fair value, with gains and losses recorded through net earnings. And the Company elected to measure certain equity investments without readily determinable fair value at cost, less impairments, plus or minus observable price changes and assess for impairment quarterly.
Equity investments accounted for using the equity method
The Company accounts for its equity investment over which it has significant influence but does not own a majority equity interest or otherwise control, using the equity method. The Company adjusts the carrying amount of the investment and recognizes investment income or loss for its share of the earnings or loss of the investee after the date of investment. The Company assesses its equity investment for other-than-temporary impairment by considering factors including, but not limited to, current economic and market conditions, operating performance of the entity, including current earnings trends and undiscounted cash flows, and other entity-specific information. The fair value determination, particularly for investments in a privately held entity, requires judgment to determine appropriate estimates and assumptions. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could affect the calculation of the fair value of the investment and determination of whether any identified impairment is other-than-temporary.
Deferred issuance costs
Pursuant to ASC 340-10-S99-1, offering costs directly attributable to an offering of equity securities are deferred and would be charged against the gross proceeds of the offering as a reduction of additional paid-in capital. These costs include legal fees related to the registration drafting and counsel, consulting fees related to the registration preparation, SEC filing and print related costs, exchange listing costs, and road show related costs.
F-17
Notes payable
Notes payable represents trade accounts payable due to various suppliers where the Company’s banks have guaranteed the payment. The notes are non-interest bearing and normally paid within three to twelve months. The Company shall keep sufficient cash in designated bank accounts or notes receivable pledged to the bank as security for payment processing.
Revenue recognition
The Company adopted ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, effective as of January 1, 2019. Accordingly, the audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are presented under ASC 606. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Revenue is the transaction price the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for the promised services in a contract in the ordinary course of the Company’s activities and is recorded net of value-added tax (“VAT”). To achieve that core principle, the Company applies the following steps:
Step 1: Identify the contract (s) with a customer
Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract
Step 3: Determine the transaction price
Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation
The Company generates revenues from providing transportation services and warehouse storage management services. No practical expedients were used when adoption ASC 606. Revenue recognition policies for each type of revenue stream are as follow:
Transportation services
The Company derives its transportation service revenue by providing logistic services based on customers’ order. The Transportation service is considered a performance obligation as the customer can only obtain benefits when the goods are delivered to the destination. The transaction price is predetermined according to the distance of the transportation as well as the volume of the goods. Generally, the credit term is within two months. There is no other obligation in our contracts, such as return, refund or warranties. Revenue is recognized at the point in time when delivery of goods is made and customer has accepted delivery.
Warehouse storage management services
The Company derives revenue from the warehouse storage management service provided to third-party companies, including handling services, security and other services. The promised services in each warehouse storage management service contract are accounted as a single performance obligation, as the promised services in a contract are not distinct and are considered as a significant integrated service. The consideration is predetermined in the contract according to the unit price, space and term as well as the services used with no other obligations such as return, refund or warranties. No variable considerations exist such as discounts, rebates, refunds, credits, price concession, incentive performance bonuses or penalties. Pursuant to the service agreement, the Company provides the clients with warehouse storage management service during the service period. Service fees for which are paid by such customers on a monthly basis. The revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period of the warehouse storage management service term, as customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of these services throughout the service period.
F-18
Principal and Agent Considerations
In the Company’s transportation business, the Company utilizes independent contractors and third-party carriers in the performances of some transportation services as and when needed. GAAP requires us to evaluate, using a control model, whether the Company itself promises to provide services to the customers (as a principal) or to arrange for services to be provided by another party (as an agent). Based on the Company’s evaluation using a control model, the Company determined that in all of its major business activities, it serves as a principal rather than an agent within their revenue arrangements. Revenue and the associated purchased transportation costs are both reported on a gross basis within the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.
Contract costs
Contract costs include contract acquisition costs and contract fulfillment costs which are all recorded within prepayments, deposits, and other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
Contract acquisition costs consist of incremental costs incurred by the Company to originate contracts with customers. Contract acquisition costs, which generally include costs that are only incurred as a result of obtaining a contract, are capitalized when the incremental costs are expected to be recovered over the contract period. All other costs incurred regardless of obtaining a contract are expensed as incurred. Contract acquisition costs are amortized over the period the costs are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to future cash flows, which is generally over the contract term, on a basis consistent with the transfer of goods or services to the customer to which the costs relate. Contract fulfillments costs consist of costs incurred by the Company to fulfill a contract with a customer and are capitalized when the costs generate or enhance resources that will be used in satisfying future performance obligations of the contract and the costs are expected to be recovered. Capitalized contract fulfillment costs generally include contracted services, direct labor, materials, and allocable overhead directly related to resources required to fulfill the contract. Contract fulfillment costs are recognized in cost of revenue during the period that the related costs are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to future cash flows, which is generally over the contract term, on a basis consistent with the transfer of goods or services to the customer to which the costs are related. There were no contract acquisition costs and fulfillment costs as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Contract assets
A contract asset is the right to consideration in exchange for goods or services transferred to the customer. If the Company performs by transferring goods or services to a customer before the customer pays consideration or before a payment is due, a contract asset is recognized for the earned consideration that is conditional. Contract assets are subject to impairment assessment.
Contract liabilities
A contract liability is recognized when a payment
is received or a payment is due (whichever is earlier) from a customer before the Company transfers the related services. Contract liabilities
are recognized as revenue when the Company performs under the contract. Revenue recognized that was included in contract liabilities at
the beginning of the year was approximately $
| Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Revenues: | ||||||||||||
| Transportation | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Warehouse storage management service | ||||||||||||
| Others | ||||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
F-19
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company
had outstanding contracts for providing transportation and warehouse management services amounting to approximately $
The Company’s operations are primarily based
in the PRC, where the Company derived a substantial portion of revenues.
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Fujian | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Beijing | ||||||||||||
| Zhejiang | ||||||||||||
| Guangdong | ||||||||||||
| Hubei | ||||||||||||
| Others | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Government Subsidies
The Company’s PRC based subsidiaries received
government subsidies from certain local governments. The Company’s government subsidies consisted of specific subsidies and other
subsidies. Specific subsidies are subsidies that the local government has provided for a specific purpose, such as truck station subsidies.
Other subsidies are the subsidies that the local government has not specified its purpose for and are not tied to future trends or performance
of the Company; receipt of such subsidy income is not contingent upon any further actions or performance of the Company and the amounts
do not have to be refunded under any circumstances. The Company recorded specific subsidies as accrued expenses and other current liabilities
when received. For specific subsidies, they are recognized as other income on a straight-line method within the useful life of relevant
assets. Other subsidies are recognized as other income which is included in the consolidated statements of income upon receipt as further
performance by the Company is not required. The government subsidies were approximately $
Advertising expenses
Advertising expenditures are expensed as incurred
and such expenses were included as part of selling and marketing expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the advertising
expenses amounted to approximately $
Employee defined contribution plan
Full-time employees of the Company in the PRC
participate in a government-mandated multi-employer defined contribution plan pursuant to which certain pension benefits, medical care,
unemployment insurance, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to them. Chinese labor regulations require that
the Company make contributions to the government for these benefits based on government prescribed percentage of the employee’s
salaries. The Company has no legal obligation for the benefits beyond the contributions. The total amount was expensed as incurred. For
the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, employee welfare contribution expenses amounted to approximately $
Leases
The Company has elected the package of practical
expedients permitted which allows the Company not to reassess the following at adoption date: (i) whether any expired or existing contracts
are or contains a lease, (ii) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and (iii) initial direct costs for any expired
or existing leases (i.e. whether those costs qualify for capitalization under ASU 2016-02). The Company also elected the short-term lease
exemption for certain classes of underlying assets including office space, warehouses and equipment, with a lease term of
F-20
The Company determines whether an arrangement is or contain a lease at inception. A lease for which substantially all the benefits and risks incidental to ownership remain with the lessor is classified by the lessee as an operating lease. All leases of the Company are currently classified as operating leases. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, operating lease liability, current, and operating lease liability, non-current in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Please refer to Note 13 for the disclosures regarding the Company’s method of adoption of ASC 842 and the impacts of adoption on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. The operating lease ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The operating lease ROU assets also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease. Renewal options are considered within the ROU assets and lease liabilities when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expenses for lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
For operating leases with a term of
The Company reviews the impairment of its ROU assets consistent with the approach applied for its other long-lived assets. The Company reviews the recoverability of its long-lived assets when events or changes in circumstances occur that indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. The assessment of possible impairment is based on its ability to recover the carrying value of the asset from the expected undiscounted future pre-tax cash flows of the related operations. The Company has elected to include the carrying amount of operating lease liabilities in any tested asset group and include the associated operating lease payments in the undiscounted future pre-tax cash flows.
Value added tax (“VAT”)
Revenue represents the invoiced value of goods
and service, net of VAT. The VAT is based on gross sales price and VAT rates range up to
Income taxes
The Company follows the liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740 (“ASC 740”), Income Taxes. The Company accounts for current income taxes in accordance with the laws of the relevant tax authorities. Deferred income taxes are recognized when temporary differences exist between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period including the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
F-21
An uncertain tax position is recognized as a benefit
only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination. The amount recognized
is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than
Statutory reserves
The Company’s PRC subsidiaries and the VIE
are required to allocate at least
Comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) consists of two components, net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to revenue, expenses, gains and losses that under GAAP are recorded as an element of equity but are excluded from net income. Other comprehensive income (loss) consists of a foreign currency translation adjustment resulting from the Company not using the U.S. dollar as its functional currencies.
Earnings per share
The Company computes earnings per share (“EPS”) in accordance with ASC 260, “Earnings per Share.” ASC 260 requires companies to present basic and diluted EPS. Basic EPS is measured as net income divided by the weighted average common share outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS presents the dilutive effect on a per-share basis of the potential Ordinary Shares (e.g., convertible securities, options and warrants) as if they had been converted at the beginning of the periods presented, or issuance date, if later. Potential Ordinary Shares that have an anti-dilutive effect (i.e., those that increase income per share or decrease loss per share) are excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS.
The rights, including the liquidation and dividend
rights, of the holders of the Company’s Class A and Class B Ordinary Shares are identical, except with respect to voting and conversion
rights. Each Class A Ordinary Share is entitled to one vote; and each Class B Ordinary Share is entitled to ten votes and is convertible
into
Risks and Concentration
| a) | Interest rate risk |
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. The Company’s interest rate risk arises primarily from short-term borrowings. Borrowings issued at variable rates and fixed rates expose the Company to cash flow interest rate risk and fair value interest rate risk respectively.
F-22
| b) | Concentration of credit risk |
Financial instruments
that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash. As of December 31, 2023 and
2022, approximately $
The Company is also exposed to risk from its accounts receivable and other receivables. These assets are subjected to credit evaluations. An allowance has been made for estimated unrecoverable amounts which have been determined by reference to past default experience and the current economic environment.
A majority of the Company’s expense transactions are denominated in RMB and a significant portion of the Company and its subsidiaries’ assets and liabilities are denominated in RMB. RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. In the PRC, certain foreign exchange transactions are required by law to be transacted only by authorized financial institutions at the exchange rates set by the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”). Remittances in currencies other than RMB by the Company in China must be processed through the PBOC or other China foreign exchange regulatory bodies which require certain supporting documentation in order to process the remittance.
Shengfeng WFOE and its
subsidiaries, Shengfeng VIE and its subsidiaries (collectively “Shengfeng PRC entities”), the functional currency is the RMB,
and the Company’s consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars. The RMB depreciated by
To the extent that the Company needs to convert U.S. dollars into RMB for capital expenditures and working capital and other business purposes, appreciation of RMB against U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount the Company would receive from the conversion. Conversely, if the Company decides to convert RMB into U.S. dollar for the purpose of making payments for dividends, strategic acquisition or investments or other business purposes, appreciation of U.S. dollar against RMB would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to the Company.
| c) | Concentration of customers and suppliers |
Substantially all revenue
was derived from customers located in China. There are no customers from whom revenue individually represented greater than
For the year ended December
31, 2023, Fujian Jinwang Yuntong Logistics Technology Co., Ltd. contributed approximately
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, no customers accounted more than 10% of the account receivables.
As of December 31, 2023,
Fujian Jinwang Yuntong Logistics Technology Co., Ltd., contributed approximately
| d) | VIE risk |
Under the Contractual
Agreements with the consolidated VIE, the Company has the power to direct activities of the consolidated VIE and VIE’s subsidiaries
through the Company’s relevant PRC subsidiaries, and can have assets transferred freely out of the consolidated VIE and VIE’s
subsidiaries without restrictions. Therefore, the Company considers that there is no asset of the consolidated VIE that can only be used
to settle obligations of the respective consolidated VIE, except for the registered capital of the consolidated VIE amounting to approximately
$
F-23
The Company believes that the Company’s relevant PRC subsidiaries’ Contractual Arrangements with the consolidated VIE and the Equity Shareholders are in compliance with PRC laws and regulations, as applicable, and are legally binding and enforceable. However, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit the Company’s ability to enforce these Contractual Arrangements.
In addition, if the current structure or any of the Contractual Arrangements were found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC law, the Company may be subject to penalties, which may include, but not limited to, cancellation or revocation of the Company’s business and operating licenses and being required to restructure the Company’s operations or terminate the Company’s operating activities. The imposition of any of these or other penalties may result in a material and adverse effect on the Company’s ability to conduct its operations. In such case, the Company may not be able to operate or control the VIE, which may result in deconsolidation of the VIE.
Contingencies
From time to time, the Company is a party to various legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company accrues costs associated with these matters when they become probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs incurred in connection with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred. The Company’s management does not expect any liability from the disposition of such claims and litigation individually or in the aggregate would have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Related parties
Parties, which can be a corporation or individual, are considered to be related if the Company has the ability, directly or indirectly, to control the other party or exercise significant influence over the other party in making financial and operating decisions. Companies are also considered to be related if they are subject to common control or common significant influence, such as a family member or relative, shareholder, or a related corporation.
Segment reporting
The Company’s chief operating decision-maker
(“CODM”) has been identified as its Chief Executive Officer, who reviews the consolidated results when making decisions about
allocating resources and assessing the performance of the Company as a whole and hence, the Company has only
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company considers the applicability and impact of all accounting standards updates (“ASUs”). Management periodically reviews new accounting standards that are issued. Under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended (the “JOBS Act”), the Company meets the definition of an emerging growth company, or EGC, and has elected the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards, which delays the adoption of these accounting standards until they would apply to private companies.
F-24
In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-08, “‘Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2021-08”). This ASU requires entities to apply Topic 606 to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities in a business combination. The amendments improve comparability after the business combination by providing consistent recognition and measurement guidance for revenue contracts with customers acquired in a business combination and revenue contracts with customers not acquired in a business combination. The amendments are effective for the Company beginning after December 15, 2023 and are applied prospectively to business combinations that occur after the effective date. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2021-04 will have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-03 Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions. The update clarifies that a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security is not considered part of the unit of account of the equity security and, therefore, is not considered in measuring fair value. The update also clarifies that an entity cannot, as a separate unit of account, recognize and measure a contractual sale restriction. The update also requires certain additional disclosures for equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions. For public business entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for both interim and annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. As an emerging growth company, the standard is effective for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2025. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2023, the FASB issued new accounting guidance, ASU 2023-01, for leasehold improvements associated with common control leases, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for both interim and annual financial statements that have not yet been made available for issuance. The new guidance introduced two issues: terms and conditions to be considered with leases between related parties under common control and accounting for leasehold improvements. The goals for the new issues are to reduce the cost associated with implementing and applying Topic 842 and to promote diversity in practice by entities within the scope when applying lease accounting requirements.
F-25
In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-06, Disclosure Improvements — codification amendments in response to SEC’s disclosure Update and Simplification initiative which amend the disclosure or presentation requirements of codification subtopic 230-10 Statement of Cash Flows—Overall, 250-10 Accounting Changes and Error Corrections— Overall, 260-10 Earnings Per Share— Overall, 270-10 Interim Reporting— Overall, 440-10 Commitments—Overall, 470-10 Debt—Overall, 505-10 Equity—Overall, 815-10 Derivatives and Hedging—Overall, 860-30 Transfers and Servicing—Secured Borrowing and Collateral, 932-235 Extractive Activities— Oil and Gas—Notes to Financial Statements, 946-20 Financial Services— Investment Companies— Investment Company Activities, and 974-10 Real Estate—Real Estate Investment Trusts—Overall. The amendments represent changes to clarify or improve disclosure and presentation requirements of above subtopics. Many of the amendments allow users to more easily compare entities subject to the SEC’s existing disclosures with those entities that were not previously subject to the SEC’s requirements. Also, the amendments align the requirements in the Codification with the SEC’s regulations. For entities subject to existing SEC disclosure requirements or those that must provide financial statements to the SEC for securities purposes without contractual transfer restrictions, the effective date aligns with the date when the SEC removes the related disclosure from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K. Early adoption is not allowed. For all other entities, the amendments will be effective two years later from the date of the SEC’s removal.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, which is an update to Topic 740, Income Taxes. The amendments in this update related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disclosures improve the transparency of income tax disclosures by requiring (1) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and (2) income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. The amendments allow investors to better assess, in their capital allocation decisions, how an entity’s worldwide operations and related tax risks and tax planning and operational opportunities affect its income tax rate and prospects for future cash flows. The other amendments in this Update improve the effectiveness and comparability of disclosures by (1) adding disclosures of pretax income (or loss) and income tax expense (or benefit) to be consistent with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Regulation S-X 210.4-08(h), Rules of General Application—General Notes to Financial Statements: Income Tax Expense, and (2) removing disclosures that no longer are considered cost beneficial or relevant. For public business entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. For entities other than public business entities, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The amendments in this Update should be applied on a prospective basis. Retrospective application is permitted.
Except for the above-mentioned pronouncements, there are no new recent issued accounting standards that will have a material impact on the consolidated financial position, statements of operations and cash flows.
| 3. | Accounts receivable, net |
| As of December 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Accounts receivable | $ | $ | ||||||
| Less: Allowance for credit losses for accounts receivable | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Beginning balance | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Provision for credit losses | ||||||||||||
| Written-off | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Exchange rate effect | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Ending balance | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
F-26
| 4. | Prepayments and other assets, net |
| As of December 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Deposits (a) | $ | $ | ||||||
| Prepayments for goods and services | ||||||||
| VAT recoverable (b) | ||||||||
| Prepayments for property and equipment (c) | ||||||||
| Prepayments for intangible assets (d) | ||||||||
| Advances to employees | ||||||||
| Others | ||||||||
| Prepayments and other assets | ||||||||
| Less: Allowance for credit losses for prepayments and other assets | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Prepayments and other assets, net | ||||||||
| Less: Prepayments and other current assets, net | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Other non-current assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| (a) | |
| (b) | |
| (c) | |
| (d) | (i) In January 2022, the Company signed an agreement
with Ningde City government to purchase a land use right located at Jinwan Road, Jiaocheng District, Ningde, Fujian Province amounted
to approximately $
(ii) On September 30, 2023, SF Smart and Fujian
Yingfu Integrated Circuit Co., Ltd. (“Yingfu”) entered into an agreement, pursuant to which, SF Smart agreed to pay Yingfu
approximately $ On December 22, 2023, SF Smart made a deposit of approximately $ |
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Beginning balance | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| (Recovery) provisions for credit losses for prepayments and other assets | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Written-off | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Exchange rate effect | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Ending balance | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
F-27
| 5. | Property and equipment, net |
| As of December 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Buildings | $ | $ | ||||||
| Office equipment | ||||||||
| Machinery and tools | ||||||||
| Vehicles | ||||||||
| Leasehold improvements | ||||||||
| Constructions in progress | ||||||||
| Subtotal | ||||||||
| Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Property and equipment, net | $ | $ | ||||||
As
of December 31, 2023 and 2022, property and equipment with net book value amounted to approximately $
Depreciation and amortization expenses for the
years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, amounted to approximately $
| 6. | Intangible assets, net |
| As of December 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Land use rights(a) | $ | $ | ||||||
| Licensed software | ||||||||
| Subtotal | ||||||||
| Less: accumulated amortization | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Intangible assets, net | $ | $ | ||||||
| (a) |
F-28
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, land use rights with
net book value amounted to approximately $
Amortization expenses
for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, amounted to approximately $
| Twelve months ending December 31, | Estimated amortization expense | |||
| 2024 | $ | |||
| 2025 | ||||
| 2026 | ||||
| 2027 | ||||
| 2028 | ||||
| Thereafter | ||||
| Total | $ | |||
| 7. | Long-term investments |
| As of December 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Equity investments accounted for using the equity method | $ | $ | ||||||
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company has the following equity investments which were accounted for using the equity method:
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended 2021 | ||||||||||
| Beginning balance | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Share of income in equity method investee | ||||||||||||
| Dividend received | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Exchange rate effect | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Ending balance | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
In 2007, the Company
acquired
No impairment loss was recognized for the long-term investments for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
F-29
| 8. | Deposit for investment |
On
August 16, 2019, the Company, with an intention to acquire a Target land (see Note 4), signed
a Share Purchase Agreement (“2019 SPA”) with Huasheng Group Limited (the “Huasheng”), an unrelated third party
to the Company. Pursuant to the SPA, Huasheng agreed to sell and the Company agreed to buy
The
2019 SPA was terminated later based on mutual agreement of all parties and a new share purchase agreement (“2020 SPA”) has
been entered into on December 18, 2020. Pursuant to the 2020 SPA, the Company will buy a newly established subsidiary of Yingfu with
the Target land for the same consideration. The deposit for the 2020 SPA is approximately $
Due
to the delay of the government’s approval on this transaction involved with the Target land, the 2020 SPA agreement expired in
December 2021. A new agreement (“2021 SPA”) has been entered into to replace the 2020 SPA on December 31, 2021. There were
no other changes for the consideration nor the deposit. Moreover, Huasheng agreed to make an interest payment of RMB
On December 23, 2022,
a new agreement (“2022 SPA”) has been entered into to replace the 2021 SPA, which expired on the same date. There are no other
changes for the consideration nor the deposit, expect that Yingfu agreed to make an interest payment of RMB
On September 30, 2023,
the Company, Yingfu and Huasheng reached a termination agreement. Pursuant to the termination agreement, all parties agreed to terminate
the 2022 SPA, and Yingfu shall refund the deposit of RMB
In
October and November 2023, Yingfu refunded RMB
F-30
| 9. | Related party transactions |
| Name of related parties | Relationship with the Company | |
| Fujian Bafang Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd (“Fujian Bafang”) | ||
| Fuzhou Tianyu Shengfeng Industrial Co., Ltd (“Fuzhou Tianyu”) | ||
| Fuzhou Tianyu Shengfeng Property Management Co., Ltd (“Fuzhou Tianyu Management”) | ||
| Fuzhou Tianyu Yuanmei Catering Co., Ltd (“Fuzhou Tianyu Catering”) | ||
| Beijing Union Logistics Co., Ltd (“Beijing Banglian”) (1) | ||
| Fujian Desheng Logistics Co., Ltd (“Fujian Desheng”) | ||
| Dongguan Suxing New Material Co., Ltd (“Suxing”) (2) | ||
| Hainan Tianyi Logistics Distribution Co., Ltd (“Hainan Tianyi”) (3) | ||
| Yongteng Liu | ||
| Fuzhou Puhui Technology Co., Ltd |
| (1) | |
| (2) | |
| (3) |
| i) | Significant transactions with related parties were as follows: |
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | Year ended December 31, 2022 | Year ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Transportation services to Fujian Bafang | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Transportation services to Fujian Desheng | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
F-31
| Year ended December 31, 2023 |
Year ended December 31, 2022 |
Year ended December 31, 2021 |
||||||||||
| Transportation services from Beijing Banglian | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Transportation services from Hainan Tianyi | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Transportation services from Fujian Bafang | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Purchase raw materials from Suxing | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Lease services from Fuzhou Tianyu | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Lease services from Fuzhou Tianyu Management | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Catering services from Tianyu Catering | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| ii) | Guarantees |
The Company’s shareholder, CEO and Chairman, Yongxu Liu, his brother, Yongteng Liu and Fuzhou Puhui Technology Co., Ltd, were the guarantors of the Company’s short-term bank loans (See Note 11).
| iii) | Significant balances with related parties were as follows: |
| As of December 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Due from related parties | ||||||||
| Fuzhou Tianyu | $ | $ | ||||||
| Fujian Desheng | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
| As of December 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Due to related parties | ||||||||
| Fujian Bafang (a) | $ | $ | ||||||
| Fuzhou Tianyu | ||||||||
| Fuzhou Tianyu Management | ||||||||
| Yongteng Liu | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
| (a) |
F-32
| 10. | Notes payables |
| As of December 31, 2023 |
As of December 31, 2022 |
|||||||
| Bank acceptance notes payable issued by Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd. Fuzhou Branch (a) | $ | $ | ||||||
| Commercial acceptance notes payable guaranteed by China Minsheng Bank Fuzhou Branch (b) | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
| (a) |
| (b) |
After repayment these notes, the Company reissued commercial acceptance
notes payable of approximately $ |
| 11. | Short-term bank loans |
| As of December 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| China Minsheng Bank Fuzhou Branch | $ | $ | ||||||
| Bank of China Fuzhou Jin’an Branch | ||||||||
| China Merchant Bank Fuzhou Branch | ||||||||
| Xiamen International Bank Co., Ltd. Fuzhou Branch | ||||||||
| Haixia Bank of Fujian Fuzhou Jin’an Branch | ||||||||
| Fujian Fuzhou Rural Commercial Bank Co., Ltd. Yuefeng Branch | ||||||||
| Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd. Fuzhou Branch | ||||||||
| Industrial Bank Fuzhou Huqian Sub Branch | ||||||||
| Industrial Bank Fuzhou Branch | ||||||||
| China Everbright Bank Co., Ltd Fuzhou Tongpan Branch | ||||||||
| Haixia Bank of Fujian Fuzhou Minjiang Branch | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
As of December 31,
2023 and 2022, the total short-term bank borrowings balance of the Company was approximately $
F-33
China Minsheng Bank Fuzhou Branch
On September 10, 2021
and September 22, 2021, respectively, the Company entered into short-term loan facility agreements with China Minsheng Bank Fuzhou Branch,
pursuant to which a facility of up to approximately $
The $
After the repayment,
the Company obtained additional loans of approximately $
The aforementioned loans
were repaid on maturity on February 7, February 14 and February 18, 2023. After repayment of the loans of $
Bank of China Fuzhou Jin’an Branch
On June 28, 2021, the
Company entered into a short-term loan facility agreement with Bank of China Fuzhou Jin’an Branch pursuant to which a total facility
of up to approximately $
The Company made early
repayment for the loans of approximately $
The aforementioned loan’s maturity dates
are March 20, 2023, May 25, 2023, June 12, 2023 and June 22, 2023, respectively. On October 21, 2022, the Company signed supplementary
contracts with Bank of China Fuzhou Jin’an Branch to change the interest rate of the loan obtained in May and June 2022, from
F-34
On
March 15, 2023, the Company entered into a short-term loan facility agreement with Bank of China Fuzhou Jin’an Branch pursuant
to which a total facility of up to approximately $
As of December 31, 2023,
loan balance under such short-term loan facility was approximately $
China Merchant Bank Fuzhou Branch
On December 24, 2021,
the Company entered into a short-term loan facility agreement with China Merchant Bank Fuzhou Branch to replace a prior agreement with
aggregate principal amount of approximately $
On January 14 and 21,
2022, approximately $
On January 28, February 28 and March 17, 2022,
approximately $
After the repayments were made, the Company drew
down approximately $
On January 14, 2022,
Fujian Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. drew down approximately $
F-35
On January 14, 2022,
Fuqing Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd. drew down approximately $
On June 5, 2023, the
Company entered into a new short-term loan facility agreement with China Merchant Bank Fuzhou Branch to replace the short-term loan facility
agreement signed with China Merchant Bank Fuzhou Branch during fiscal year 2021. Pursuant to such new short-term loan facility agreement,
a total facility of up to an aggregate principal amount of approximately $
On June 15, 2023 and
June 19, 2023, the Company drew down approximately $
On June 19, 2023, the
Company drew down approximately $
On September 12, 2023,
the Company drew down approximately $
As of December 31, 2023, loan balance under such
short-term loan facility was approximately $
Xiamen International Bank Co., Ltd. Fuzhou Branch
On August 11, 2021, the Company entered into a
short-term loan facility agreement with Xiamen International Bank Co., Ltd. Fuzhou Branch pursuant to which a total facility of up to
approximately $
As of December 31, 2023, the loan balance under
such short-term loan facility was approximately $
On April 8, 2022, the Company entered into a short-term
loan facility agreement with Xiamen International Bank Co., Ltd. Fuzhou Branch, pursuant to which a total facility of up to approximately
$
As
of December 31, 2023, the loan balance under such short-term loan facility was approximately $
Haixia Bank of Fujian Fuzhou Jin’an Branch
On April 2, 2021, the Company entered into a loan
agreement with Haixia Bank of Fujian Fuzhou Jin’an Branch for a principal amount of approximately $
F-36
On June 16, 2022, the
Company entered into a new short-term loan agreement with Haixia Bank of Fujian Fuzhou Jin’an Branch for a principal amount of approximately
$
On September 26, 2023,
the Company entered into a short-term facility agreement with Haixia Bank of Fujian Fuzhou Jin’an Branch, pursuant to which a total
facility of up to approximately $
As
of December 31, 2023, the loan balance under such short-term loan facility was approximately $
Fujian Fuzhou Rural Commercial Bank Co., Ltd. Yuefeng Branch
In November 2021, the Company entered into a short-term
loan agreement with Fujian Fuzhou Rural Commercial Bank Co., Ltd. Yuefeng Branch for a principal amount of $
After the repayment, the Company entered into a new short-term loan agreement with Fujian Fuzhou Rural Commercial Bank Co., Ltd. Yuefeng Branch on November 9, 2022 and drew down the loan on November 9, 2022 for the same amount of the original loan, with the same terms as the previous agreement and the new loan has been repaid on November 8, 2023.
Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd. Fuzhou Branch
On September 17, 2021,
the Company entered into a short-term loan agreement with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd. Fuzhou Branch for a principal amount
of approximately $
On
February 21, 2024, the Company entered into a new short-term loan agreement with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd. Fuzhou Branch
for a principal amount of approximately $
On December 27, 2023, the Company entered into
a short-term loan agreement with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd. Fuzhou Branch for a principal amount of approximately $
F-37
Industrial Bank Fuzhou Huqian Sub Branch
On March 9, 2021, one
of the VIE’s subsidiaries, Fuqing Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd., entered into a short-term loan facility agreement with Industrial
Bank Fuzhou Huqian Sub-Branch pursuant to which a total facility of up to approximately $
On January 21, 2022,
the Company drew down approximately $
On February 3, 2023,
one of the VIE’s subsidiaries, Fuqing Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd., entered into a short-term loan facility agreement with Industrial
Bank Fuzhou Huqian Sub-Branch, pursuant to which a total facility of up to approximately $
As of December 31, 2023,
the loan balance under such short-term loan facility was approximately $
On January 12, 2024,
Fuqing Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd., drew down approximately $
Industrial Bank Fuzhou Branch
On March 10, 2021, the
Company entered into a loan agreement Industrial Bank Co., Ltd. Fuzhou Branch for a principal amount of approximately $
On March 4, 2022, the
Company entered into a short-term loan credit line agreement with Industrial Bank Co., Ltd. Fuzhou Branch for a principal amount of approximately
$
On November 14, 2023,
the Company entered into a facility agreement with Industrial Bank Co., Ltd. Fuzhou Branch, pursuant to which a total facility of up to
approximately $
As of December 31, 2023,
loan balance under the $
On February 29, 2024,
the Company entered into a long-term loan credit line agreement with Industrial Bank Co., Ltd. Fuzhou Branch to replace a prior agreement
with an aggregate principal amount of approximately $
On March 13, 2024, the Company issued commercial acceptance notes
payable of approximately $
F-38
China Everbright Bank Co., Ltd Fuzhou Tongpan Branch
On January 19, 2022, Fuqing Shengfeng Logistics
Co., Ltd. entered into a short-term loan agreement with China Everbright Bank Co., Ltd. Fuzhou Tongpan Branch for a term of one year in
the principal amount of approximately $
On January 9, 2023, the Company repaid approximately
$
On January 9, 2023, Fuqing Shengfeng Logistics
Co., Ltd. entered into a short-term loan agreement with Fuzhou Tongpan Branch of China Everbright Bank Co., Ltd. in the principal amount
of approximately $
Guangxi Beibu Gulf Bank Nanning Branch
On January 17, 2023, one of the VIE’s subsidiaries,
Shengfeng Logistics Guangxi Co., Ltd. entered into a short-term loan agreement with Guangxi Beibu Gulf Bank Nanning branch in the principal
amount of approximately $
Haixia Bank of Fujian Fuzhou Minjiang Branch
On December 25, 2023,
the Company entered into a short-term facility agreement with Haixia Bank of Fujian Fuzhou Minjiang Branch, pursuant to which a total
facility of up to approximately $
As of December 31, 2023,
loan balance under such short-term loan facility was approximately $
Bank of China Ningde Branch
On December 7, 2023, one of the VIE’s subsidiaries,
Ningde Shengfeng Logistics Co. Ltd. entered into a long-term credit line agreement with Bank of China Ningde Branch, pursuant to which
a total facility of up to approximately $
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and
2021, the interest expenses for the above short-term bank loans were approximately $
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had an aggregate
credit line of approximately $
F-39
| 12. | Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
| As of December 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Rental and freight logistics deposits received | $ | $ | ||||||
| Payables for long-term assets | ||||||||
| Government subsidies | ||||||||
| Contract liabilities | ||||||||
| Cash collected on behalf of the customers (a) | ||||||||
| Service payables | ||||||||
| Contingent liability | ||||||||
Consideration deposit received from a third party (b) | ||||||||
Advance from third party (b) | ||||||||
| Others | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
| Less: accrued expenses and other current liabilities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Other non-current liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
| (a) | |
| (b) |
| 13. | Leases |
Operating leases as lessee
As
of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company has operating leases recorded on its consolidated balance sheets for certain office spaces
and warehouses that expire on various dates through 2032. The Company does not plan to cancel the existing lease agreements for its existing
facilities prior to their respective expiration dates. When determining the lease term, the Company considers options to extend or terminate
the lease when it is reasonably certain that it will exercise or not exercise that option. The Company’s lease arrangements may
contain both lease and non-lease components. The Company has separately accounted for lease and non-lease components based on their nature.
Payments under the Company’s lease arrangement are fixed. The Company terminated leases for certain facilities with lower usage,
the termination of the leases reduced operating ROU assets of approximately $
| As of December 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | $ | $ | ||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, current | $ | $ | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, non-current | $ | $ | ||||||
| Weighted average remaining lease term (in years) | ||||||||
| Weighted average discount rate (%) | ||||||||
F-40
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | Year ended December 31, 2022 | Year ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets (extinguished) obtained in exchange for lease liabilities | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | |||||||
| Operating lease expense | ||||||||||||
| Amortization of right-of-use assets | ||||||||||||
| Interest of lease liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Lease Liabilities | ||||
| Twelve months ending December 31, | ||||
| 2024 | $ | |||
| 2025 | ||||
| 2026 | ||||
| 2027 | ||||
| 2028 | ||||
| Thereafter | ||||
| Total lease payments | ||||
| Less: imputed interest | ( | ) | ||
| Total | $ | |||
| 14. | Taxes |
| (a) | Corporate Income Taxes (“CIT”) |
Cayman Islands
Under the current tax laws of Cayman Islands, the Company is not subject to tax on income or capital gain. Additionally, the Cayman Islands does not impose a withholding tax on payments of dividends to shareholders.
Hong Kong
Under the current Hong
Kong Inland Revenue Ordinance, the Company’s subsidiaries incorporated in Hong Kong are subject to two-tier profit tax rates. The
profits tax rate for the first HKD
PRC
The Company’s PRC
subsidiaries, VIE and VIE’s subsidiaries are governed by the income tax laws of the PRC and the income tax provision in respect
to operations in the PRC is calculated at the applicable tax rates on the taxable income for the periods based on existing legislation,
interpretations and practices in respect thereof. Under the Enterprise Income Tax Laws of the PRC (the “EIT Laws”), domestic
enterprises and Foreign Investment Enterprises (the “FIE”) are usually subject to a unified
F-41
Under the PRC Income
Tax Laws, an enterprise which qualifies as a High and New Technology Enterprise (“the HNTE”) is entitled to a preferential
tax rate of
Several VIE’s subsidiaries, including Chengdu Shengfeng Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd., Shengfeng Logistics (Liaoning) Co., Ltd., Sichuan Shengfeng Logistics Co., Ltd., Shengfeng Logistics (Guangxi) Co., Ltd., etc., are qualified as small and micro enterprises, thus the preferential effective tax rates of %-5% are applied to these entities.
| i) |
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | Year ended December 31, 2022 | Year ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Non-PRC | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||
| PRC | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| ii) |
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | Year ended December 31, 2022 | Year ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Current | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Deferred | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| iii) | The following table reconciles PRC statutory rates to the Company’s effective tax rate: |
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | Year ended December 31, 2022 | Year ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| PRC statutory income tax rate | % | % | % | |||||||||
| Effect of preferential tax rates (1) | ( | )% | ( | )% | ( | )% | ||||||
| Eligible additional deduction (2) | ( | )% | ( | )% | ( | )% | ||||||
| Impact of different tax rates in other jurisdictions | % | % | - | % | ||||||||
| Non-taxable and exemptions | ( | )% | ( | )% | - | % | ||||||
| Permanent differences (3) | % | % | % | |||||||||
| Effective income tax rate | % | % | % | |||||||||
| (1) |
| (2) |
| (3) |
F-42
| iv) |
| As of December 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Deferred tax assets: | ||||||||
| Net operating losses carryforward | $ | $ | ||||||
| Allowance for credit losses | ||||||||
| Deferred income (a) | ||||||||
| Intangible assets (b) | ||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | ||||||||
| Subtotal | ||||||||
| Less: valuation allowance | ||||||||
| Deferred tax assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities: | ||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities | $ | $ | - | |||||
| (a) | |
| (b) |
The ultimate realization
of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences
become deductible. Management considers the cumulative earnings and projected future taxable income in making this assessment. Recovery
of substantially all of the Company’s deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future income, exclusive of reversing
taxable temporary differences. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods
in which the deferred tax assets are recoverable, valuation allowances of were provided for the Company’s certain subsidiaries
with net operating loss carryforwards as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were approximately $
Uncertain tax positions
According to the PRC
Tax Administration and Collection Law, the statute of limitation is three years if the underpayment of taxes is due to computational errors
made by the taxpayer or the withholding agent. The statute of limitation is extended to five years under special circumstances where the
underpayment of taxes is more than RMB
| (b) | Tax payable |
| As of December 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Value-added tax payable | $ | $ | ||||||
| Income tax payable | ||||||||
| Other taxes payable | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
F-43
| 15. | Shareholders’ equity |
Ordinary shares
The Company was established
as a holding company under the laws of Cayman Islands on July 16, 2020. The original authorized number of ordinary shares is
Initial Public Offering
On April 4, 2023, the
Company completed its initial public offering (the “IPO”) of
Underwriter’s Warrants
In connection with the IPO, the Company issued to Univest Securities,
LLC, and its affiliates, as the representative of the underwriters, warrants that are exercisable for a period of one year after the effective
date of the registration statement, entitling the holders of the warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to
As of December 31, 2023,
Non-controlling interests
For the year ended December
31, 2023, one of the non-controlling shareholders made capital contributions totaling approximately $
Statutory reserves
The Company is required
to make appropriations to certain reserve funds, comprising the statutory surplus reserve and the discretionary surplus reserve, based
on after-tax net income determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the PRC (“PRC GAAP”). Appropriations
to the statutory surplus reserve are required to be at least
Restricted assets
The Company’s ability to pay dividends is primarily dependent on the Company receiving distributions of funds from its subsidiary. Relevant PRC statutory laws and regulations permit payments of dividends by Shengfeng WFOE and its subsidiaries, Shengfeng VIE and its subsidiaries (collectively “Shengfeng PRC entities”) only out of its retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. The results of operations reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP differ from those reflected in the statutory financial statements of Shengfeng PRC entities.
Shengfeng PRC entities
are required to set aside at least
As a result of the foregoing
restrictions, Shengfeng PRC entities are restricted in their ability to transfer their assets to the Company. Foreign exchange and other
regulation in the PRC may further restrict Shengfeng PRC entities from transferring funds to the Company in the form of dividends, loans
and advances. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, amounts restricted are the paid-in-capital and statutory reserve of Shengfeng PRC entities,
which amounted to approximately $
F-44
| 16. | Commitments and contingencies |
| (a) | Contingencies |
The Company is subject
to legal proceedings and regulatory actions in the ordinary course of business. The results of such proceedings cannot be predicted with
certainty, but the Company does not anticipate that the final outcome arising out of any such matters will have a material adverse effect
on our consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations on an individual basis or in the aggregate. As of December
31, 2023, the Company had various legal proceedings or disputes related to the customers, suppliers, labor contracts and traffic accidents,
which were still pending court decisions. Approximately $
| (b) | Variable interest entity structure |
It is the opinion of management that (i) the corporate structure of the Company is in compliance with existing PRC laws and regulations; (ii) the Contractual Arrangements are valid and binding, and do not result in any violation of PRC laws or regulations currently in effect; and (iii) the business operations of Tianyu and the VIE are in compliance with existing PRC laws and regulations in all material respects.
However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws and regulations. Accordingly, the Company cannot be assured that PRC regulatory authorities will not ultimately take a contrary view to the foregoing opinion of the Company’s management. If the current corporate structure of the Company or the Contractual Arrangements is found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws and regulations, the Company may be required to restructure its corporate structure and operations in the PRC to comply with changing and new PRC laws and regulations. In the opinion of management, the likelihood of loss in respect of the Company’s current corporate structure or the Contractual Arrangements is remote based on current facts and circumstances.
| 17. | Subsequent events |
The Company evaluated all events and transactions that occurred after December 31, 2023 up through the date the Company issued these consolidated financial statements, for disclosure or recognition in the consolidated financial statements of the Company as appropriate.
| 18 | Unaudited Condensed financial information of the parent company |
The Company’s PRC
subsidiaries are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to the Company. Payment of dividends by entities
organized in the PRC are subject to limitations, procedures and formalities. Regulations in the PRC currently permit payments of dividends
only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with accounting standards and regulations in the PRC. The Company’s
PRC subsidiaries are also required to set aside at least
In addition, the Company’s operations and revenues are conducted and generated in the PRC, all of the Company’s revenue being earned and currency received is denominated in RMB. RMB is subject to the foreign exchange control regulation in China, and, as a result, the Company may be unable to distribute any dividends outside of China due to PRC foreign exchange control regulations that restrict the Company’s ability to convert RMB into USD.
Regulation S-X requires
that the condensed financial information of registrant shall be filed when the restricted net assets of consolidated subsidiaries exceed
F-45
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||
| Cash | $ | $ | ||||||
| Prepayments and other current assets | ||||||||
| Total Current Assets | ||||||||
| Deferred issuance costs | ||||||||
| Investment in subsidiaries and VIEs (restricted) | ||||||||
| Non-current assets | ||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Liabilities and Equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||
| Due to a related party | ||||||||
| Total Current Liabilities | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||
| Commitments and Contingencies | ||||||||
| Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||||
| Class A Ordinary share, $ | ||||||||
| Class B Ordinary share, $ | ||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
| Retained earnings | ||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||||
| Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity | $ | $ | ||||||
F-46
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited)
| Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Equity in earnings of subsidiaries | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| NET INCOME | ||||||||||||
| OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) | ||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||
F-47
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
(Unaudited)
| Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||||||
| Equity income of subsidiaries and VIEs | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||||||
| Loan to a subsidiary | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||||||
| Due to a related party | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Deferred issuance costs | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Proceeds from initial public offering | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | ||||||||||||
| Net increase in cash | ||||||||||||
| Cash, beginning of year | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Cash, end of year | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
F-48