As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 8, 2019
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM F-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
So-Young International Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of Registrants name into English)
Cayman Islands | 8000 | Not Applicable | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
So-Young International Inc.
3/F, Wangjing SOHO-Tower 3A
Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100102
Peoples Republic of China
+86 10 5707-6564
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrants principal executive offices)
Puglisi & Associates
850 Library Avenue, Suite 204
Newark, Delaware 19711
+1 302-738-6680
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Z. Julie Gao, Esq. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP c/o 42/F, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark 15 Queens Road Central Hong Kong +852 3740-4700 |
Chris K.H. Lin, Esq. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP c/o 35th Floor, ICBC Tower 3 Garden Road Central, Hong Kong +852-2514-7600 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
as soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☒
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of each class of securities to be registered |
Proposed
maximum aggregate offering price (2)(3) |
Amount of
registration fee |
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Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share (1)(2) |
US$150,000,000 | US$18,180 | ||
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(1) |
American depositary shares issuable upon deposit of Class A ordinary shares registered hereby will be registered under a separate registration statement on Form F-6 (Registration No. 333- ). Each American depositary share represents Class A ordinary shares. |
(2) |
Includes Class A ordinary shares that are issuable upon the exercise of the underwriters over-allotment option. Also includes Class A ordinary shares initially offered and sold outside the United States that may be resold from time to time in the United States either as part of their distribution or within 40 days after the later of the effective date of this registration statement and the date the shares are first bona fide offered to the public. These Class A ordinary shares are not being registered for the purpose of sales outside the United States. |
(3) |
Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the amount of registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933. |
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
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The term new or revised financial accounting standard refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012. |
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion. Dated , 2019.
American Depositary Shares
So-Young International Inc.
Representing Class A Ordinary Shares
This is an initial public offering of American depositary shares, or ADSs, by So-Young International Inc. Each ADS represents Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share. It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price per ADS will be between US$ and US$ .
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the ADSs or our shares. We have applied to list the ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol SY.
We are an emerging growth company under applicable U.S. federal securities laws and are eligible for reduced public company reporting requirements.
Investing in our ADSs involve risks. See Risk Factors beginning on page 17.
PRICE US$ PER ADS
Price to
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Underwriting
and Commissions (1) |
Proceeds
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Per ADS |
US$ | US$ | US$ | |||||||||
Total |
US$ | US$ | US$ |
(1) |
See Underwriting for additional disclosure regarding underwriting compensation payable by us. |
We have granted the underwriters the right to purchase up to an additional ADSs to cover over-allotments.
Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The underwriters expect to deliver the ADSs against payment in U.S. dollars in New York, New York on or about , 2019.
Upon the completion of this offering, our outstanding shares will consist of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares, and we will be a controlled company as defined under the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules because Mr. Xing Jin, our co-founder, chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer, will beneficially own all of our then issued Class B ordinary shares and will be able to exercise % of the total voting power of our issued and Outstanding shares if the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, or % if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full. Holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. Each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote, and each Class B ordinary share is entitled to thirty votes and is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holders thereof. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances.
Upon the completion of this offering, our directors, executive officers and principal shareholders will continue to have substantial control over our company. Our affiliates will be able to exercise % of the total voting power of our issued and outstanding shares if the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, or % if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full.
Deutsche Bank Securities | CICC |
Prospectus dated , 2019.
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MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
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F-1 |
No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the ADSs offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date.
Neither we nor any of the underwriters has done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus or any filed free writing prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus or any filed free writing prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the ADSs and the distribution of this prospectus or any filed free writing prospectus outside of the United States.
Until , 2019 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade ADSs, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the obligation of dealers to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
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The following summary is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed information and financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. In addition to this summary, we urge you to read the entire prospectus carefully, especially the risks of investing in our ADSs discussed under Risk Factors, before deciding whether to buy our ADSs. This prospectus contains information from an industry report, dated December 2018 and updated in March 2019, commissioned by us and prepared by Frost & Sullivan (Beijing) Inc., or Frost & Sullivan, an independent market research firm, to provide information regarding our industry and our market position in China.
Our Mission and Vision
Our mission is to bring beauty and health to everyone. Our founders set up So-Young to transform the fast-growing yet opaque medical aesthetics market in China by providing transparent information, which ultimately allowed us to build a one-stop destination where users can conveniently find quality services.
Our vision is to become the most trusted technology company in the broader consumption healthcare service industry, and transform this market in the same way we have been doing for the medical aesthetics sector in China.
Business Overview
So-Young is No. 1 and the most popular online destination for discovering, evaluating and reserving medical aesthetic services in China.
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audience reach : over 240 million average monthly views of our rich media content distributed through social media networks and our targeted media platforms in the fourth quarter of 2018; |
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user engagement : our So-Young mobile app accounted for 84.1% of total daily user time spent on online medical aesthetic service mobile apps in 2018, according to Frost & Sullivan; |
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transaction value facilitated : we facilitated medical aesthetic treatment transactions in the aggregate value of RMB2.1 billion (US$306.6 million) through our platform in 2018, representing 33.1% of total amounts paid for medical aesthetic treatment booked online in that year, according to Frost & Sullivan; and |
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trustworthiness : we ranked top in terms of both brand awareness and customer stickiness in a survey of 1,000 respondents conducted in October 2018. |
Our business model comprises three integrated components: (i) our original, reliable and professional content and its distribution through major social media networks and our targeted media platforms in China, (ii) our highly engaged social community characterized by signature user-generated content, and (iii) our transparent and user-friendly online reservation services for medical aesthetic treatment. With reliable and comprehensive content, as well as a multitude of social functions on our platform, users seeking medical aesthetic treatment can discover products and services, evaluate their quality, and reserve desired treatment. Because of our highly engaged user base, we believe that we are a more effective customer acquisition channel for medical aesthetic service providers, compared to other online channels. According to Frost & Sullivan, customer acquisition spending by medical aesthetic service providers on online medical aesthetic service platforms as a percentage of total customer acquisition spending on all online channels rapidly increased from 0.9% in 2014 to 7.0% in 2018, and is expected to reach 25.6% by 2023.
We leverage our popular and professional media content to reach and attract a vast audience. Our vibrant and trustworthy social community allows our users to discover the latest medical aesthetic treatment trends and
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helps them make purchase decisions. The personal experience shared by users who had undergone medical aesthetic treatment further builds the trust that is critical for others who wish to have similar treatment. We had a large depository of over 2 million day-by-day, case-based blogs called Beauty Diaries , as of December 31, 2018. We believe our business model, which connects a users innate desire to be more beautiful with a personal, emotionally-attached discovery and assessment process on our platform, is highly effective in facilitating users decision making and enhancing user experience. We also encourage users to rate, review and share their treatment experience on our platform. We believe the user-generated content, ratings and reviews on our platform incentivize medical aesthetic service providers to offer high-quality and diversified treatment with transparent pricing.
Our Value Propositions for Users
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reliability : we offer users a reliable experience through our pursuit of quality and trustworthy content offerings and our medical aesthetic service providers that are carefully selected; |
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transparency : we provide transparency on medical aesthetic treatment details, such as pricing, reviews and service provider credentials; and |
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convenience : our comprehensive media content, social community and online reservation function guide users to a seamless medical aesthetic service journey, from discovery, interaction and evaluation, to reservation, review and aftercare. |
Our Value Propositions for Medical Aesthetic Service Providers
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effective customer acquisition : leveraging our user base with high propensity to spend, as well as our data insight and technological strengths, we are able to match medical aesthetic service providers with targeted users cost-effectively; |
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differentiated branding : we empower medical aesthetic service providers, especially small and medium sized market participants, to introduce their brands and build credibility through authentic user-driven evaluations; and |
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operating efficiency : we provide Software as a Service, or SaaS, and professional training programs for medical service providers, to help them better manage client information, increase conversion rate and upgrade their service offerings. |
Our DNA for innovation defines who we are, brought about our earlier success, and will continue to serve as a bedrock for our future growth. Leveraging our strong brand image, extensive audience reach, trust of our users, highly engaged social community and data insights, we are well positioned to expand both along the medical aesthetic industry value chain and into the massive, fast-growing consumption healthcare service market. We have built a proven track record by launching a series of services aimed at medical aesthetic service providers, and by achieving early advantages in expanding into the dental, dermatology, ophthalmology, gynecology, and physical examination services in China.
We generate revenues primarily through information service fees and reservation service fees charged to medical aesthetic service providers. Our total revenues increased rapidly by 428.2% from RMB49.1 million in 2016 to RMB259.3 million in 2017, and further by 138.0% to RMB617.2 million (US$89.8 million) in 2018. Our net income was RMB55.1 million (US$8.0 million) in 2018, compared to a net loss of RMB81.0 million in 2016 and a net income of RMB17.2 million in 2017.
Our Industry
Growth of Medical Aesthetic Service Industry in China
Medical aesthetic services are elective medical procedures that specialize in improving cosmetic appearance, thereby improving peoples quality of life and psychological well-being. The medical aesthetic service industry in China is large and rapidly growing. According to Frost & Sullivan, the total revenues of the medical aesthetic services industry reached RMB121.7 billion (US$17.7 billion) in 2018, representing a CAGR of 23.6% from 2014. The total revenues of this industry are expected to reach RMB360.1 billion (US$52.4 billion) by 2023, with an accelerated CAGR of 24.2% from 2018 to 2023. With such growth rate, China has become one of the fastest growing medical aesthetic service markets in the world, ranked the second in terms of market size in 2017, and is poised to become the largest market in the world by 2021.
The medical aesthetic service industry in China is highly fragmented and competitive. According to Frost and Sullivan, there were approximately 10,000 medical aesthetic service providers in 2018. In addition, the medical aesthetic service industry in China is largely driven by private institutions as they actively create a competitive niche in their treatment and closely follow aesthetic trends. Among private institutions, the top five players merely represented 7.4% of the total market.
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Online Customer Acquisition by Medical Aesthetic Service Industry in China
Medical aesthetic service providers in China acquire their customers through offline channels, such as beauty salons and outdoor advertisement, as well as online channels, which include online medical aesthetic platforms, search engines and general online e-commerce platforms. According to Frost & Sullivan, medical aesthetic service providers spent RMB31.3 billion (US$4.6 billion) on customer acquisition in 2018, representing 25.8% of the total revenues in this industry.
Source: Frost & Sullivan
In particular, online customer acquisition spending in Chinas medical aesthetic service industry amounted to RMB18.1 billion (US$2.6 billion) in 2018, and is expected to continue to grow rapidly at a CAGR of 22.2% from 2018 to 2023, reaching RMB49.3 billion (US$7.2 billion) by 2023.
Online Medical Aesthetic Service Platform in China
Online medical aesthetic service platforms are where users can discover, evaluate and reserve medical aesthetic services for treatment offline. Online medical aesthetic service platforms emerged in recent years and quickly gained market share from traditional online customer acquisition channels as such platforms effectively facilitated the direct interaction between consumers and medical aesthetic service providers. According to Frost & Sullivan, customer acquisition spending on online medical aesthetic platforms accounted for 0.9% of total customer acquisition spending through online channels in 2014 and 7.0% in 2018, and is expected to reach 25.6% by 2023. Customer acquisition spending on online medical aesthetic service platforms increased from RMB64.5 million (US$9.4 million) in 2014 to RMB1.3 billion (US$0.2 billion) in 2018, and is expected to grow to RMB12.6 billion (US$1.8 billion) in 2023, representing a CAGR of 58.2% from 2018.
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Source: Frost & Sullivan
Consumption Healthcare Service Industry in China
Consumption healthcare services, such as medical aesthetic services, refer to elective medical services that are primarily for improving peoples quality of life and not aimed at treating serious diseases. China enjoys a large and fast-growing consumption healthcare service industry. According to Frost & Sullivan, total revenues from consumption healthcare services industry in China was RMB560.7 billion (US$81.6 billion) in 2018, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.0% from 2018 to 2023, reaching RMB1,395.5 billion (US$203.0 billion) by 2023. Similar to the medical aesthetic service industry, consumption healthcare service providers observe increasing spending on online customer acquisition channels to gain customers as the industry is also highly competitive and fragmented.
Our Competitive Strengths
We believe the following strengths have contributed to our success:
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market leader in terms of audience reach, user engagement, transaction value facilitated and trustworthiness, according to Frost & Sullivan and a survey of 1,000 respondents conducted in October 2018, with powerful business model; |
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market trailblazer and technology innovator, being the first to introduce a social community focused on medical aesthetic services and the first to utilize artificial intelligence technology in analyzing facial features for evaluating virtual medical aesthetic needs and predicting treatment effects online, according to Frost & Sullivan; |
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most trusted platform, according to a survey of 1,000 respondents conducted in October 2018, with highly engaged community of users; |
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reliable professional content distributed through social media; |
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platform of choice for approximately 4,000 medical aesthetic service providers as of December 31, 2018; and |
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visionary management team with proven execution capability. |
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Our Strategies
Going forward, we will continue to be laser-focused on enhancing the credibility, transparency and comprehensiveness of the information and services featured on our platform. We believe these unique competitive advantages are key to reinforcing our brand reputation, user loyalty and leadership position. Such established brand awareness, industry standing and platform capabilities position us well to expand into the broader consumption healthcare market.
We plan to achieve our vision, and ultimately our mission, through the following key strategies:
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drive transparency in the industry through enriched content offering; |
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proactively deploy artificial intelligence and other technological innovations; |
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strengthen collaboration with medical aesthetic service providers through more value-added services; |
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continue to raise brand awareness and expand user acquisition channels; and |
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expand into other consumption healthcare verticals and tap into new user segments. |
Our Challenges
Our ability to realize our mission and execute our strategies is subject to risks and uncertainties, including those relating to:
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our limited operating history in the evolving online medical aesthetic service industry, which makes it difficult to evaluate our future prospects; |
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our ability to manage the growth and increased complexity of our business, to control our costs and expenses, and to execute our strategies effectively; |
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consumer claims, regulatory or professional investigations and litigations regarding the medical information and services being offered on our platform; |
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characterization of our business as engaging in medical, drug and/or medical device advertisement distribution in China without proper licenses or permits; |
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our ability to anticipate user preferences and provide high-quality and reliable content in a cost-effective manner; |
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our ability to attract users and medical service providers to continue to contribute content that is high-quality, reliable or otherwise valuable to our users; |
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unfavorable market perception of the overall medical aesthetic industry; |
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our ability to maintain the strength of our brand and reputation; |
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uncertainties, changes and developments in the regulatory framework in China with respect to the provision of online medical aesthetic services and information; |
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potential liabilities for infringement, misappropriation or other violations of third-party intellectual property rights or other allegations based on the content available on our platform or services we provide; and |
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our ability to prevent our medical service providers from breaching their contractual obligations and failure to pay the full amount of fees owed to us. |
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Corporate History and Structure
We commenced our operations in November 2013 through Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd., or Beijing So-Young, a limited liability company established under the laws of the PRC, to provide medical aesthetic information.
In April 2014, we incorporated So-Young International Inc., or So-Young Cayman, in the Cayman Islands as our holding company. In May 2014, So-Young Cayman established a wholly owned subsidiary, So-Young Hong Kong Limited, in Hong Kong, which in turn established So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd., or Beijing Wanwei, a wholly owned PRC subsidiary in July 2014.
Due to the restrictions imposed by PRC laws and regulations on foreign ownership of companies engaged in value-added telecommunication services and certain other businesses, Beijing Wanwei entered into a series of contractual arrangements, as amended and restated, with Beijing So-Young and its shareholders, through which we obtained control over Beijing So-Young and its subsidiaries. As a result, we are regarded as the primary beneficiary of Beijing So-Young and its subsidiaries. We treat them as our consolidated affiliated entities under U.S. GAAP, and have consolidated the financial results of these entities in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We refer to Beijing Wanwei as our wholly foreign owned entity, or WFOE, and to Beijing So-Young as our variable interest entity, or VIE, in this prospectus. For more details and risks related to our variable interest entity structure, please see Corporate History and StructureContractual Arrangements with our VIE and Its Shareholders and Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Corporate Structure.
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The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure as of the date of this prospectus, including our significant subsidiaries and other entities that are material to our business, as of the date of this prospectus:
Note: |
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(1) |
Shareholders of Beijing So-Young are Mr. Hui Shao, Mr. Xing Jin, and Mr. Tao Yu, holding 59.7%, 37.8%, and 2.5%, respectively, of the equity interest in Beijing So-Young. Mr. Hui Shao, Mr. Xing Jin and Mr. Tao Yu are our beneficiary owners; Mr. Shao is our director; Mr. Jin is our co-founder, director and chief executive officer, and Mr. Yu is our co-founder and chief information officer. |
Upon the completion of this offering, our outstanding shares will consist of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares, and we will be a controlled company as defined under the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules because Mr. Xing Jin, our co-founder, chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer, will beneficially own all of our then issued Class B ordinary shares and will be able to exercise % of the total voting power of our issued and outstanding shares if the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, or % if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full. Holders of Class A ordinary
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shares and Class B ordinary shares have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. Each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote, and each Class B ordinary share is entitled to thirty votes and is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holders thereof. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances.
Upon the completion of this offering, our directors, executive officers and principal shareholders will continue to have substantial control over our company. Our affiliates will be able to exercise % of the total voting power of our issued and outstanding shares if the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, or % if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full.
Implication of Being an Emerging Growth Company and Foreign Private Issuer
As a company with less than US$1.07 billion in revenue for our last fiscal year, we qualify as an emerging growth company pursuant to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended, or the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements compared to those that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in the assessment of the emerging growth companys internal control over financial reporting. The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company does not need to comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards until such date that a private company is otherwise required to comply with such new or revised accounting standards. However, we have elected to opt out of this provision and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards as required when they are adopted for public companies. This decision to opt out of the extended transition period under the JOBS Act is irrevocable.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (a) the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of at least US$1.07 billion; (b) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering; (c) the date on which we have, during the preceding three-year period, issued more than US$1.00 billion in non-convertible debt; or (d) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our ADSs that are held by non-affiliates exceeds US$700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter. Once we cease to be an emerging growth company, we will not be entitled to the exemptions provided in the JOBS Act discussed above.
We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions of the securities rules and regulations in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. Moreover, the information we are required to file with or furnish to the SEC will be less extensive and less timely compared to that required to be filed with the SEC by U.S. domestic issuers. In addition, as a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from the Nasdaq listing standards. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to the ADSs and This OfferingAs an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards; these practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we comply fully with the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 3/F, Wangjing SOHO-Tower 3A, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100102, Peoples Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is +86 10 5707-6564. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.
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Investors should submit any inquiries to the address and telephone number of our principal executive offices. Our main website is www.soyoung.com . The information contained on our website is not a part of this prospectus. Our agent for service of process in the United States is Puglisi & Associates, located at 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204, Newark, Delaware 19711.
Conventions that Apply to this Prospectus
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to:
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ADRs are to the American depositary receipts that evidence our ADSs; |
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ADSs are to our American depositary shares, each of which represents Class A ordinary shares; |
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CAGR are to compound annual growth rate; |
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China or the PRC are to the Peoples Republic of China, excluding, for the purposes of this prospectus only, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan; |
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Class A ordinary shares are to our Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share; |
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Class B ordinary shares are to our Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share; |
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consultation message are to each message sent between a user and a medical service provider on our platform, with each text sent counting as one distinct message; |
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Existing Class A ordinary shares are to our Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share, existing prior to the completion of this offering; |
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Existing Class B ordinary shares are to our Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share, existing prior to the completion of this offering; |
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mobile MAUs are to the sum of (i) the number of unique mobile devices that have accessed our platform through our So-Young mobile app at least once during a month, and (ii) the number of unique Weixin users that have accessed our platform through our Weixin mini programs at least once during a month. The numbers of our mobile MAUs are calculated using internal company data that has not been independently verified, and we treat each distinguishable device and Weixin user account as a separate user for purposes of calculating mobile MAUs, although inaccuracy may result from the possibility that some individuals may use more than one mobile device, may share the same mobile device with other individuals, and/or may use both our mobile app and Weixin mini programs to access our platform; |
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monthly UVs of soyoung.com , are to the number of unique IP address that various internet browsers apply to access our website, from either PC end or mobile end, at least once during a month. The numbers of our monthly UVs of soyoung.com are calculated using internal company data that has not been independently verified, and we treat each distinguishable IP address as a separate user for purposes of calculating monthly UVs, although inaccuracy may result from the possibility that some individuals may have more than one IP address and/or share the same IP address with other individuals to access our platform; |
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online medical aesthetic platform service market are to the business activities of online medical aesthetic service platforms, where users can discover, evaluate and reserve medical aesthetic services for treatment offline, such as So-Young; |
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RMB and Renminbi are to the legal currency of China; |
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So-Young, we, us, our company and our are to So-Young International Inc., its subsidiaries and its consolidated affiliated entity; |
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shares or ordinary shares are to our ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share, and upon and after the completion of this offering, are to our Class A and Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share; |
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US$, U.S. dollars, $, and dollars are to the legal currency of the United States. |
Unless the context indicates otherwise, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option.
Our reporting currency is the Renminbi. This prospectus also contains translations of certain foreign currency amounts into U.S. dollars for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations of Renminbi into U.S. dollars were made at RMB6.8755 to US$1.00, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board on December 31, 2018. We make no representation that the Renminbi or U.S. dollar amounts referred to in this prospectus could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars or Renminbi, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all. On March 29, 2019, the noon buying rate for Renminbi was RMB6.7112 to US$1.00.
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Offering price |
We currently estimate that the initial public offering price will be between US$ and US$ per ADS. |
ADSs offered by us |
ADSs (or ADSs if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full). |
ADSs outstanding immediately after this offering |
ADSs (or ADSs if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full). |
Ordinary shares outstanding immediately after this offering |
A total of ordinary shares, comprised of Class A ordinary shares and 12,000,000 Class B ordinary shares (or ordinary shares if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, comprised of Class A ordinary shares and 12,000,000 Class B ordinary shares). Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding immediately after the completion of this offering will represent % of our total issued and outstanding shares and % of the then total voting power (or % of our total issued and outstanding shares and % of the then total voting power if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full). |
The ADSs |
Each ADS represents Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share. |
The depositary will hold Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs. You will have rights as provided in the deposit agreement among us, the depositary and holders and beneficial owners of ADSs from time to time. |
We do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. If, however, we declare dividends on our Class A ordinary shares, the depositary will pay you the cash dividends and other distributions it receives on our Class A ordinary shares after deducting its fees and expenses in accordance with the terms set forth in the deposit agreement. |
You may turn in your ADSs to the depositary in exchange for Class A ordinary shares. The depositary will charge you fees for any exchange. |
We may amend or terminate the deposit agreement without your consent. If you continue to hold your ADSs after an amendment to the deposit agreement, you agree to be bound by the deposit agreement as amended. |
To better understand the terms of the ADSs, you should carefully read the Description of American Depositary Shares section of this prospectus. You should also read the deposit agreement, which is |
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filed as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus. |
Over-allotment option |
We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable within 30 days from the date of the final prospectus, to purchase up to an aggregate of additional ADSs. |
Use of proceeds |
We expect that we will receive net proceeds of approximately US$ million from this offering, or approximately US$ million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, assuming an initial public offering price of US$ per ADS, which is the midpoint of the estimated range of the initial public offering price, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. |
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering (i) to invest in technology and research and development, (ii) for brand promotion and user acquisition efforts, (iii) for horizontal and vertical business expansions, (iv) to enhance our content offering, and (v) for general corporate purposes and working capital. See Use of Proceeds for more information. |
Lock-up |
We, [our directors and executive officers, our existing shareholders and option holders] have agreed with the underwriters not to sell, transfer or dispose of any ADSs, ordinary shares or similar securities for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus. See Shares Eligible for Future Sales and Underwriting. |
Listing |
We have applied to have the ADSs listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbol SY. Our ADSs and shares will not be listed on any other stock exchange or traded on any automated quotation system. |
Payment and settlement |
The underwriters expect to deliver the ADSs against payment therefor through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company on , 2019. |
Depositary |
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
The number of ordinary shares that will be outstanding immediately after this offering:
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is based on 67,113,419 ordinary shares outstanding as of the date of this prospectus, assuming (i) the re-designation or conversion of all outstanding ordinary shares and preferred shares (other than ordinary shares held by Beauty & Health Limited) into 55,113,419 Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to the completion of this offering and (ii) the re-designation or conversion of all ordinary shares held by Beauty & Health Limited into 12,000,000 Class B ordinary shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering; |
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includes Class A ordinary shares in the form of ADSs that we will issue and sell in this offering, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase additional ADSs; |
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excludes Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of our outstanding options; and |
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excludes Class A ordinary shares reserved for future issuances under our share incentive plan. |
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SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following summary consolidated statements of comprehensive income/(loss) data for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, summary consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and summary consolidated statements of cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of results expected for future periods. You should read this Summary Consolidated Financial Data section together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included elsewhere in this prospectus.
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
(in thousands, except for share and per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
Summary Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss)/Income Data: |
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Revenues: |
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Information services |
19,869 | 143,613 | 415,119 | 60,377 | ||||||||||||
Reservation services |
29,221 | 115,692 | 202,107 | 29,395 | ||||||||||||
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Total revenues |
49,090 | 2 59,305 | 617,226 | 89,772 | ||||||||||||
Cost of revenues (1) |
(25,192 | ) | (44,799 | ) | (91,563 | ) | (13,317 | ) | ||||||||
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Gross profit |
2 3,898 | 2 14,506 | 525,663 | 76,455 | ||||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
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Sales and marketing expenses (1) |
(62,206 | ) | (127,462 | ) | (306,360 | ) | (44,558 | ) | ||||||||
General and administrative expenses (1) |
(18,043 | ) | (29,725 | ) | (75,442 | ) | (10,973 | ) | ||||||||
Research and development expenses (1) |
(17,932 | ) | (32,557 | ) | (94,726 | ) | (13,777 | ) | ||||||||
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Total operating expenses |
( 98,181 | ) | (189,744 | ) | (476,528 | ) | (69,308 | ) | ||||||||
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(Loss)/Income from operations |
( 74,283 | ) | 2 4,762 | 49,135 | 7,147 | |||||||||||
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(Loss)/Income before tax |
( 81,036 | ) | 13,221 | 58,254 | 8,473 | |||||||||||
Income tax benefit/(expense) |
| 3,981 | (3,171 | ) | (461 | ) | ||||||||||
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Net (loss)/income |
( 81,036 | ) | 17,202 | 55,083 | 8,012 | |||||||||||
Accretions of convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
(21,487 | ) | (28,521 | ) | (104,211 | ) | (15,157 | ) | ||||||||
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Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company |
(102,523 | ) | (11,319 | ) | (49,128 | ) | (7,145 | ) | ||||||||
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Net (loss)/income |
( 81,036 | ) | 1 7,202 | 55,083 | 8,012 | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive income/(loss): |
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Foreign currency translation adjustment |
2,323 | (2,203 | ) | 34,439 | 5,009 | |||||||||||
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Total other comprehensive income/(loss) |
2 ,323 | ( 2,203 | ) | 3 4,439 | 5,009 | |||||||||||
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Total comprehensive (loss)/income |
( 78,713 | ) | 1 4,999 | 89,522 | 13,021 | |||||||||||
Accretions of convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
(21,487 | ) | (28,521 | ) | (104,211 | ) | (15,157 | ) | ||||||||
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Comprehensive loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company |
( 100,200 | ) | ( 13,522 | ) | (14,689 | ) | (2,136 | ) | ||||||||
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Net loss per ordinary share: |
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Basic |
(3.81 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (2.00 | ) | (0.29 | ) | ||||||||
Diluted |
(3.81 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (2.00 | ) | (0.29 | ) | ||||||||
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Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing loss per share, basic and diluted |
26,882,387 | 26,882,387 | 24,555,427 | 24,555,427 |
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Note: |
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(1) |
Share-based compensation expenses were allocated as follows: |
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
(in thousands) |
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Cost of revenues |
(96 | ) | (89 | ) | (1,423 | ) | (207 | ) | ||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses |
(262 | ) | (490 | ) | (1,018 | ) | (148 | ) | ||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
(1,158 | ) | (1,675 | ) | (10,112 | ) | (1,471 | ) | ||||||||
Research and development expenses |
(168 | ) | (405 | ) | (13,306 | ) | (1,935 | ) | ||||||||
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Total |
(1,684 | ) | (2,659 | ) | (25,859 | ) | (3,761 | ) | ||||||||
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The following table presents our summary consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 and 2018.
The following table presents our summary consolidated cash flow data for the years presented:
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Summary Consolidated Cash Flow Data: |
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Net cash (used in)/generated from operating activities |
(40,756 | ) | 90,877 | 198,985 | 28,941 | |||||||||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities |
(108,345 | ) | 7,032 | (569,372 | ) | (82,811 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
122,690 | 324,671 | 485,414 | 70,601 | ||||||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
180 | (114 | ) | 7,497 | 1,090 | |||||||||||
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Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(26,231 | ) | 422,466 | 122,524 | 17,821 | |||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
44,624 | 18,393 | 440,859 | 64,120 | ||||||||||||
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Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |
18,393 | 440,859 | 563,383 | 81,941 | ||||||||||||
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An investment in our ADSs involves significant risks. You should carefully consider all of the information in this prospectus, including the risks and uncertainties described below, before making an investment in our ADSs. Any of the following risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In any such case, the market price of our ADSs could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
We have a limited operating history in the evolving online medical aesthetic service industry, which makes it difficult to evaluate our future prospects.
We launched our online medical aesthetic service business in November 2013 and have a limited operating history. We have limited experience in most aspects of our business operation, such as our service platform and the production of medical aesthetic-related content on our platform. In addition, we have limited experience in serving our users and medical service providers. As our business develops and as we respond to competition, we may continue to introduce new service offerings and make adjustments to our existing services and to our business operation in general. Any significant change to our business model that does not achieve expected results may have a material and adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. It is therefore difficult to effectively assess our future prospects.
The online medical aesthetic platform service industry may not develop as expected. Prospective users and medical service providers may not be familiar with the development of online medical aesthetic service markets and may have difficulties distinguishing our services from those of our competitors. Convincing prospective users and medical service providers of the value of using our services is important to the success of our business.
You should consider our business and prospects in light of the risks and challenges we encounter or may encounter given the rapidly evolving market in which we operate and our limited operating history. These risks and challenges include our ability to, among other things:
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manage our future growth; |
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offer personalized and competitive online medical aesthetic services; |
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increase the utilization of our service by existing and new users; |
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maintain and enhance our relationships with medical service providers and our other partners; |
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navigate the evolving regulatory environment; |
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enhance our technology infrastructure to support the growth of our business; |
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improve our operational efficiency; |
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attract, retain and motivate talented employees; |
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cope with economic fluctuations; and |
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defend ourselves against legal and regulatory actions. |
Our historical growth rates may not be indicative of our future growth. If we are unable to manage the growth and increased complexity of our business, fail to control our costs and expenses, or fail to execute our strategies effectively, our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
We have experienced rapid growth in our business and operations since our inception. Our total revenues increased by 428.2% from RMB49.1 million in 2016 to RMB259.3 million in 2017, and further by 138.0% to
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RMB617.2 million (US$89.8 million) in 2018. Our gross profit increased significantly by 797.6% from RMB23.9 million in 2016 to RMB214.5 million in 2017, and further by 145.1% to RMB525.7 million (US$76.5 million) in 2018. Our gross margin improved from 48.7% in 2016 to 82.7% in 2017, and further improved to 85.2% in 2018. However, our historical growth rates may not be indicative of our future growth, and we may not be able to generate similar growth rates in future periods. Our revenue growth may slow, or our total revenues may decline for a number of possible reasons, including decreasing consumer spending, changes in regulations and government policies, increasing competition, slowing down of Chinas medical aesthetic industry, emergence of alternative business models, and general economic conditions. If our growth rate declines, investors perceptions of our business and business prospects may be adversely affected and the market price of our ADSs could decline.
We may be subject to consumer claims, regulatory or professional investigations and litigations regarding the medical information and services offered on our platform, which could materially and adversely affect our brand, reputation, and results of operations.
We have implemented a screening procedure through verifying the qualifications and required licenses of medical service providers and paying regular visits to medical service providers, and also have recorded the contact person details of such medical service providers. However, we cannot assure you that all the information of the medical service providers we have is updated in a timely manner. Pursuant to the PRC Consumer Protection Law, under the circumstances where the users suffer injuries or damages due to the service reserved on our platform, they may bring claims or legal proceedings against us as a platform service provider if we fail to provide the real names, addresses and valid contact details of the medical service providers in the event that users request such information for purposes of seeking compensation from the medical service providers. Furthermore, if we know or should have known that medical service providers on our platform use our platform to infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of users but we fail to take necessary measures, we may be subject to joint and several liability with the medical service providers. Users may also seek refunds in such situations.
We do not provide any medical treatment ourselves. Medical service providers make their own decisions regarding the medical services provided to our users. Any incorrect decisions on the part of our service providers may result in undesirable or unexpected outcomes, including complications, injuries and potentially death in the most extreme cases. We may be subject to complaints, claims or legal proceedings initiated by our users as a result of any negative physical reaction to services reserved on our platform. We have implemented a strict procedure to verify the qualifications and required licenses of the medical service providers we partner with. However, we cannot assure you that all our medical service providers are fully licensed and qualified as required by PRC law. Pursuant to the PRC E-Commerce Law that became effective on January 1, 2019, we are required to verify the identities of our medical service providers, including but not limited to verification of business licenses and other required qualifications or licenses, and shall take necessary steps if we find out or should have found out that services provided by a service provider do not comply with the requirements of health and safety protections. If we are deemed to have failed to verify the service providers qualifications and licenses, or failed to otherwise perform our obligations as a platform with respect to services that are pertinent to the life and health of consumers provided through our platform, we may be subject to potential sanctions under PRC law, including suspension of certain business activities, rectification, compensation, and administrative penalties, and may face civil and criminal liabilities. See RegulationRegulations on Consumer Protection and RegulationRegulations on E-commerce.
In addition, as medical aesthetic service focuses on improving our users physical appearance, users may have varying expectations of the magnitude of improvement that may result from the medical aesthetic services. Users who are dissatisfied with the services received may request refunds and other compensation from us, complain on our platform and other social media platforms and/or file legal claims against us. We have experienced complaints from our users in the past, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully manage users expectation and prevent their complaints, allegations and other claims in the future. Such complaints, allegations and other claims, regardless of merits, may have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. Although we sometimes offer complimentary services, refunds and/or other insignificant amount of monetary compensations to address users
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complaints, the amounts of which have been immaterial historically, we cannot assure you that we can successfully address all user complaints in the future. Moreover, we require all platform users to have full legal capacity, and minors to be accompanied by their legal guardians, when they use medical services reserved or accessed through our platform. However, we cannot assure you that we can prevent all medical service providers from performing medical procedures on minors without parental consent, or prevent all minors from obtaining medical treatment from service providers without providing parental consent. Such non-compliance by users who are minors or by medical service providers could materially and adversely affect our brand image and reputation.
We may be subject to regulatory or professional investigations and litigations. Any complaint, claim or legal proceeding, regardless of merit, could adversely affect our brand image and reputation. In addition, any legal proceeding that may be brought against us could divert management resources and incur extra costs. A settlement or successful claim against us can result in legal costs, damages, compensation and reputational damage to use and may adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Characterization of our business as engaging in medical, drug and/or medical device advertisement distribution in China without proper licenses or permits.
As the leading online platform for medical aesthetic services as measured by audience reach, user engagement, transaction value facilitated and trustworthiness, according to Frost & Sullivan, we dedicate ourselves to providing transparent information. The information available on our platform includes but is not limited to information provided by medical service providers, including their registration or practicing license details, contact information, the services they provide, the price of such services and reviews and Beauty Diaries associated with the service providers contributed by users. We also connect our users with medical service providers on our platform. We have adopted internal control and platform regulation measures seeking to ensure the authenticity and pertinence of the medical aesthetic information available on our platform. and endeavor to prevent the information disseminated on our platform from being considered medical, drug or other medical device advertisements.
We believe it is improbable that PRC governmental authorities will deem the content or the format of the information disseminated from and displayed on our platform to constitute medical, drug or other medical device advertisements, and we have not been subject to any regulatory authoritys inquiries or investigations in connection with the content or format of information disseminated from and displayed on our platform. However, as advertisement is currently defined vaguely and broadly under the relevant PRC laws and regulations and the available regulatory interpretations, we cannot assure you that the information provided by medical aesthetic services providers on our platform will not be deemed by relevant authorities as advertisement.
If certain information listed on our platform is considered medical advertisement, it will subject us to regulations that may have material impacts on our operations. Medical, drug and/or medical devices advertisement must be approved by relevant PRC authorities before they are distributed, and distributors, among other obligations, are required to review the applicable licenses and permits of the medical service providers, ensure the content displayed is fair and accurate, and take steps to monitor the content of advertisements displayed on their platforms. In addition, distributors are required to label advertisements from other information so that consumers will not be misled. Furthermore, we may be required to scale back, rearrange or alter the content or format of information displayed on our platform, thereby affecting the fundamental of our business model. As a result, compliance with laws and regulations applicable to the advertisement industry could materially and adversely affect our business prospects, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, we will also be subject to increased liability under these laws and regulations and may incur additional costs, such as fines or other penalties, if we fail to comply. Such liabilities and costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. See RegulationRegulations on Advertising. Moreover, we may be subject to additional taxes applicable to the advertisement industry.
If we fail to anticipate user preferences and provide high-quality and reliable content in a cost-effective manner, we may not be able to attract and retain users to remain competitive.
Our success depends on our ability to maintain and grow user engagement on our platform. To attract and retain users and compete against our competitors, we must continue to offer high-quality and reliable content to
19
provide our users with a superior online medical aesthetic service experience. To this end, we must continue to produce original content and source new professional and user-generated content in a cost effective manner. Given that we operate in a rapidly evolving industry, we need to anticipate user preferences and industry changes and respond to such changes timely and effectively. If we fail to continue to offer high-quality and reliable content to our users that cater to the needs and preferences, we may suffer from reduced user traffic and engagement, and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
In addition to content generated by our users and medical service providers, we rely on our in-house team to generate creative ideas for original content and to supervise the original content origination and production process, and we intend to continue to invest resources in content production. We face competition for qualified personnel in a limited pool of high-quality creative talent. If we are not able to compete effectively for talents or attract and retain top talents at reasonable costs, our original content production capabilities would be negatively impacted. Any deterioration in our in-house content production capability, inability to attract creative talents at reasonable costs or losses in personnel may materially and adversely affect our business and operating results.
If our users and medical service providers do not continue to contribute content that is high-quality, reliable or otherwise valuable to our users, we may experience a decline in user traffic and user engagement.
In addition to content produced by ourselves, our ability to provide users with interesting, reliable and industry-specific content depends on information and content contributed by our users and medical service providers. We believe that one of our competitive advantages is the quality, quantity and open nature of the content on our platform, and that access to reliable, rich and industry-specific content is one of the main reasons users visit So-Young. We seek to foster a broader and more engaged user community, and we encourage influencers, such as social media celebrities and key opinion leaders, and medical service providers to use our platform to share interesting and high quality content.
If our users and medical service providers do not continue to contribute content to our platform as a result of any factors, such as government policy changes and use of alternative communication channels or if their content is not high-quality, reliable or otherwise valuable to users, we may be unable to provide users with attractive content and our user base and user engagement may decline. If we experience a decline in the number of users or the level of user engagement, our business and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.
Our business may be materially and adversely affected by an unfavorable market perception of the overall medical aesthetic industry.
Medical aesthetic services have been gaining popularity in recent years. However, we believe that existing and potential users of the medical aesthetic service industry remain cautious about the risks inherent in medical aesthetic services and are therefore sensitive to any negative review, comment or allegations on the industry in general. Any such allegations, negative news or research results regarding accident, ineffectiveness of services, health risks or inadequate services standard by any medical aesthetic service provider, regardless of merits, may lead to deterioration in consumer confidence in and market perception of the medical aesthetic service industry, and could lead to reduced demand for medical aesthetic services. Moreover, market perception of the medical aesthetic industry may be adversely affected by external factors beyond our control, including restrictive government policies and guidance. As a participant to the industry, we could consequently be exposed to reputational harm and our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects may be adversely affected.
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We depend significantly on the strength of our brand and reputation. Any failure to maintain and enhance, or any damage to, our brand image or reputation could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Our reputation and brand recognition, which depend on cultivating awareness, trust and confidence among our current or potential users, is critical to the success of our business. We believe a well-recognized brand is crucial to increasing our user base and, in turn, facilitating our effort to monetize our services and enhancing our attractiveness to our users and service providers. Our reputation and brand are vulnerable to many threats that can be difficult or impossible to control, and costly or impossible to remediate. Regulatory inquiries or investigations, lawsuits and other claims in the ordinary course of our business, perceptions of conflicts of interest and rumors, including complaints made by our competitors, among other things, could substantially damage our reputation, even if they are baseless or satisfactorily addressed.
In addition, any perception that the quality of our medical aesthetic services may not be the same as or better than that of other medical aesthetic service platforms can damage our reputation. Any negative media publicity about any of the services available on our platform or product or service quality problems at other online medical aesthetic service platforms, including at our competitors, may also negatively impact our reputation and brand. Negative perceptions of medical aesthetic products and services, or the industry in general, may reduce the number of users coming to our platform and the number of transactions conducted through our platform, which would adversely impact our revenues and liquidity position.
We are subject to uncertainties, changes and developments in the regulatory framework in China with respect to the provision of online medical aesthetic services industry.
As the online medical aesthetic service industry in China is at a relatively early stage of development, applicable laws and regulations may be adopted from time to time to address new issues and may require additional licenses and permits other than those we currently have obtained. As a result, substantial uncertainties exist with regard to the implementation and interpretation of and compliance with current and any future laws and regulations applicable to our business. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet all the applicable regulatory requirements, or comply with all the applicable regulations and guidelines at all times. Failure to do so could result in sanctions, fines, penalties or other disciplinary actions, including, among other things, limitations or prohibitions on our future business activities, which may harm our reputation, and consequently materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We have been, and may continue to be, subject to liabilities for infringement, misappropriation or other violations of third-party intellectual property rights or other allegations based on the content available on our platform or services we provide.
We have historically been and may continue to be subject to intellectual property infringement claims or other allegations by third parties for services we provide or for information or content displayed on, retrieved from or linked to our platform, or distributed to our users, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and prospects. We allow users and medical service providers to upload written materials, images, videos and other content on our platform and download, share, link to and otherwise access audio, video and other content on our platform. In addition, we regularly distribute articles, images, audios, videos and other content on our platform and our social media accounts. Although we have set up comprehensive procedures to enable copyright owners to provide us with notice of alleged infringement, given the volume of content available on our platform, it is not possible for us to identify and remove or disable all potentially infringing content that may exist. As a result, third parties may take action and file claims against us if they believe that certain content available on our platform violates their copyrights, rights of reputation, image rights or other intellectual property rights. We have been involved in litigation based on allegations of infringement of third-party intellectual property, including rights of reputation and image rights, due to the content available on our platform. We paid (or are obligated to pay) an aggregate of RMB6.9 million (US$1.0 million) to plaintiffs in
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alleged intellectual property right infringement lawsuits against us between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2018, as a result of settlements or adverse judgments. As of December 31, 2018, a total of 26 lawsuits against us in connection with our platform were still pending, with the aggregate amount of damages sought under these pending cases being approximately RMB11.3 million (US$1.6 million).
The validity, enforceability and scope of protection of intellectual property rights in internet-related industries, particularly in China, are uncertain and still evolving. Companies in the internet, technology and media industries own, and are seeking to obtain, a large number of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets, and they are frequently involved in litigation based on allegations of infringement, misappropriation or other violations of intellectual property rights or other related legal rights. We cannot be certain that our operations or any aspects of our business do not or will not infringe upon or otherwise violate trademarks, copyrights or other intellectual property rights held by third parties. Although we have, through our own in-house team or by cooperating with third parties, invested significant time and resources in registering our trademarks and other intellectual property rights, we cannot assure you that we have registered all the trademark rights necessary in our daily operation with competent governmental authorities. As we face increasing competition and as litigation becomes more common in China in resolving commercial disputes, we may need to resort to litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights and we also face a higher risk of being the subject of intellectual property infringement claims. Pursuing or defending intellectual property litigation is costly and can impose a significant burden on our management and employees, and there can be no assurances that favorable final outcomes will be obtained in all cases. Any claims against us, even if they do not result in liability, may harm our reputation. Any resulting liability or expenses, or changes required to our platform to reduce the risk of future liability, may have adverse effect on our business, financial condition and prospects.
Although we have not been subject to claims or lawsuits with respect to copyright infringement outside of China, we cannot assure you that we will not become subject to copyright laws or legal proceedings initiated by third parties in other jurisdictions, such as the United States, as a result of the ability of users to access our content in the United States and other jurisdictions, the ownership of our ADSs by investors in the United States and other jurisdictions, or the extraterritorial application of foreign law by foreign courts. In addition, as a publicly listed company, we may be exposed to increased risk of litigation. If a claim of infringement brought against us in the United States or other jurisdictions is successful, we may be required to, upon enforcement, (i) pay substantial statutory or other damages and fines, (ii) remove relevant content from our platform or (iii) enter into royalty or license agreements that may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all. In these cases, our business, financial condition and prospects may be adversely affected.
We may not prevent our medical service providers from breaching their contractual obligations and failing to pay the full amount of fees owed to us, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We charge reservation service fees from the medical service providers on our platform when our users use their services as a result of sales leads generated from our platform, as long as the service provider is active on our platform. In most cases, users make reservations with the medical service providers directly on our platform. However, in some circumstances, users may decide to purchase different or additional services during their on-site visits. In these cases, our medical service providers are under contractual obligations to make supplemental payments to us based on the actual transaction value. We have implemented rigorous monitoring procedures and comprehensive platform rules to prevent our medical service providers from underreporting transaction value and failing to pay the full amount of reservation service fees due to us. For example, we reach out to users after their visits and confirm the actual services they have purchased, and we impose monetary and other penalties in accordance with our platform rules against any medical service provider who is found to have misreported the transaction value or underpaid fees. However, we cannot assure you that we can prevent all our medical service providers from breaching their contractual obligations to us and failing to pay the full amount of reservation service fees owed to us. If there is an increase in the level of underpayment or nonpayment by our medical service providers, our business, financial condition and results of operation can be materially and adversely affected.
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We face significant competition; if we are unable to compete effectively, we may lose our market share, and our results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
As the market for online medical aesthetic services is relatively new, rapidly evolving and intensely competitive, we expect competition to continue and intensify in the future. We face competition from leading search engines, other online medical aesthetic service platforms and general online e-commerce platforms. We expect competition to intensify in the future as current competitors diversify and improve their service offerings and as new participants enter the market. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete effectively or efficiently with current or future competitors. 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. Furthermore, the current competitors and new entrants in the online medical aesthetic industry may also seek to develop new service offerings, technologies or capabilities that could render some of the services we offer obsolete or less competitive, and some of them may adopt more aggressive pricing policies or devote greater resources to marketing and promotional campaigns than we do. The Chinese medical aesthetic service market faces competition from developed markets such as South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The failure of Chinese service providers to compete effectively against their overseas counterparts may materially and adversely impact our financial results. The occurrence of any of these circumstances may hinder our growth and reduce our market share, and thus our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects would be materially and adversely affected.
Our current level of information and reservation services fee rates may decline in the future as a result of competitive and other industry-related factors, and any material reduction in our fee rates may reduce our profitability and materially and adversely affect our business.
We may experience pressure on our information and reservation services fee rates as a result of the competition we face in the online medical aesthetic service industry, as well as macroeconomic factors that are beyond our control. We derive substantially all of our revenues from information and reservation services fees paid by medical aesthetic service providers on our platform.
As the online medical aesthetic industry in China is experiencing significant growth and intensifying competition, we expect that average fee rates for certain medical aesthetic treatment and procedures to decrease. We believe that any downward pressure on these fee rates would likely continue and intensify as more players enter the market and as the Chinese online medical aesthetic market faces increasing competition from other geographic markets, including South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. A decline in the industry average fee rates in China could in turn lower our fee rates. If our information or reservation services fee rates decrease significantly, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
Fraudulent or illegal activities on our platform could negatively impact our brand and reputation and cause the loss of users. As a result, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
We may be subject to fraudulent or illegal activities on our platform, sometimes through sophisticated schemes or collusion. Our resources, technologies, fraud detection tools and risk management system may be insufficient to accurately detect and timely prevent fraud and misconduct. A significant increase in fraudulent activities could negatively impact our brand and reputation, result in losses suffered by users and medical service providers, and reduce user activity on our platform. We may need to adopt additional measures in the future to prevent and reduce fraud, which could increase our costs. High-profile fraudulent activities could also lead to regulatory intervention, and may divert our managements attention and cause us to incur additional expenses and costs. If any of the foregoing were to occur, our reputation and financial performance could be materially and adversely affected.
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Our failure to obtain and maintain approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our business could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
Our business is subject to governmental supervision and regulation by the relevant PRC governmental authorities, including the Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or MIIT, national and local health commissions, the National Radio and Television Administration or NRTA, the National Medical Products Administration, or the NMPA, and other governmental authorities in charge of the relevant categories of services offered by us. Together, these government authorities promulgate and enforce regulations that cover many aspects of the operation of online medical aesthetic business, including entry into this industry, the scope of permissible business activities, licenses and permits for various business activities, and foreign investment.
We have not obtained certain approvals, licenses and permits that may be required for some aspects of our business operations. For example, our platform offers live video broadcasting, video recordings of live streaming videos and original short videos created by ourselves and our service providers. According to the PRC Administrative Provisions on Internet Audio-Visual Program Services, a provider of online audio-visual service is required to obtain a license for online transmission of audio-visual programs, or Audio-Visual License. See RegulationsRegulations on Internet Audio-Visual Program Services. We have not obtained the Audio-Visual License for providing internet audio-visual program services and content through our platform in China and we may not be eligible for the Audio-Visual License, because the current PRC laws and regulations require an applicant to be a wholly state-owned or state-controlled entity. In addition, because uncertainty remains regarding the interpretation of relevant concepts including online publications under the current PRC laws and regulations, the provision of our self-produced content, including articles on medical aesthetic services, on our online platform may be considered online publishing and we may be required to obtain an Internet Publishing License, which we currently do not have. See RegulationsRegulations on Internet Publishing.
As of the date of this prospectus, we have not received any notice of warning or been subject to penalties or other disciplinary action from the relevant governmental authorities for lack of approvals and permits. However, we cannot assure you that we will not be subject to any warning, investigations or penalties in the future. If the PRC government deems us as operating without proper approvals, licenses or permits, promulgates new laws and regulations that require additional approvals or licenses or impose additional restrictions on the operation of any part of our business, we may be required to apply for additional approvals, license or permits, or subject to various penalties, including fines, termination or restrictions of the part of our business or revoking of our business licenses, which may adversely affect our business and materially and adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
Any change, disruption or discontinuity in the features and functions of major social networks in China could significantly limit our ability to continue growing our user base, and our business may be materially and adversely affected.
Our success depends on our ability to attract new users and retain existing users. We leverage social networks in China as a tool for user acquisition and engagement. We distribute a substantial part of our content through these social network platforms. To the extent that we fail to leverage such social networks, our ability to attract or retain users may be severely harmed. If any of these social networks makes unfavorable changes to its functions or support, or cease to offer its functions or support to us, we may not be able to locate alternative platforms of similar scales to provide similar functions or support to us. Furthermore, we may fail to establish or maintain relationships with additional social network operators to support the growth of our business. Any interruption to or discontinuation of our relationship with the major social network operators in China may severely and negatively impact our ability to continue growing our user base and result in material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Our expansion plans, including our plans to expand into new business lines and geographic areas, are subject to uncertainties and risks, and we may not be able to successfully manage our expanded operations.
To serve our expanding user base and our users evolving medical service needs, we continuously expand into new geographic areas and offer new services. Expansion into diverse locations and business categories involves new risks and challenges. Our lack of familiarity with these new geographic areas and service offerings may make it more difficult for us to anticipate user demand and preferences.
We have mainly focused on service providers in the major urban centers in China, and we plan to expand our nationwide network coverage to penetrate further into Chinas smaller cities. We also plan to expand further into international markets. There is no assurance that our geographic expansion strategies will be successful. As we enter markets and countries that are new to us, we must tailor our services and business model to the unique circumstances of such markets and countries, which can be complex, difficult and costly, and divert management and personnel resources. In addition, we may face competition from platforms that may have more experience with operations in such markets and countries. In addition, laws and business practices that favor local competitors or prohibit or limit foreign ownership of certain businesses, or our failure to adapt our practices, systems, processes and business models effectively to user preferences of each country into which we expand, could slow our growth. Certain markets in which we operate have, or certain new markets in which we may operate in the future may have, lower margins than our more mature markets, which could have a negative impact on our overall margins as our revenues from these markets grow over time.
We also plan to continue to introduce and expand new services on our platform. Expansion into diverse new products and service categories involves new risks and challenges. Our lack of familiarity with these new service offerings and lack of relevant customer data may make it more difficult for us to anticipate customer demand and preferences and manage legal, operational, competitive and other risks. We cannot assure you that we will be able to recoup our investments in introducing these new service categories. If we fail to execute our expansion strategies effectively or address the challenges and risks we encounter when executing our expansion strategies, our business and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
We have incurred net losses in the past, and we may again incur losses in the future.
While we generated net income in 2017 and 2018, we incurred a net loss in 2016. We anticipate that our operating costs and expenses will increase in the foreseeable future as we continue to grow our business, attract users, further enhance and develop our service offerings, enhance our technology capabilities and increase our brand recognition. These efforts may prove more costly than we currently anticipate, and we may not succeed in increasing our revenues sufficiently to offset these higher expenses. There are other external and internal factors that could negatively affect our financial condition. For example, the transaction volume achieved on our platform may be lower than expected, which may lead to lower-than-expected revenues. Furthermore, we have adopted a share incentive plan in the past and may adopt new share incentive plans in the future, which have caused, and will result in, significant share-based compensation expenses to us. We generate all of our total revenues from information and reservation services fees charged to medical aesthetic service providers we partner with. Any material decrease in our information or reservation services fees would have a substantial impact on our financial condition. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, we may again incur net losses in the future.
Any failure to protect our content and other intellectual property could harm our business and competitive position.
We believe that trademarks, trade secrets, copyright and other intellectual property we use are critical to our business. We rely on a combination of trademark, copyright and trade secret protection laws in China, as well as confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to protect our intellectual property and our brand.
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Protection of intellectual property rights in China may not be as effective as in the United States or other jurisdictions, and as a result, we may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property rights, which could adversely affect our revenues and competitive position. In addition, any unauthorized use of our intellectual property by third parties may adversely affect our revenues and our reputation. In particular, we may have difficulty addressing the threats to our business associated with piracy of our content, particularly our original content. Our content may be potentially subject to unauthorized consumer copying and illegal digital dissemination without an economic return to us. We adopt a variety of measures to mitigate risks associated with piracy, including by litigation and through technology measures. We cannot assure that such measures will be effective.
In addition, while we typically require our employees who may be involved in the development of intellectual property to execute agreements assigning such intellectual property to us, we may be unsuccessful in executing such an agreement with each party who in fact develops intellectual property that we regard as our own. In addition, such agreements may be breached. Accordingly, we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims that they may bring against us related to the ownership of such intellectual property.
Furthermore, policing unauthorized use of proprietary technology is difficult and expensive, and we may need to resort to litigation to enforce or defend intellectual property or to determine the enforceability, scope and validity of our proprietary rights or those of others. Such litigation and an adverse determination in any such litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.
We may be held liable for information or content displayed on, retrieved from or linked to our platform, which may materially and adversely affect our business and operating results.
As we serve as a social platform for our users, we may be held liable for content that is posted, made available through or linked to our platform. Although we have required our in-house content-generating team, users and service providers to post only legally compliant and inoffensive materials and have set up screening procedures, our requirements and screening procedures may fail to eliminate all potentially noncompliant content. As the live video broadcasting communications on our platform are conducted in real time, we are generally unable to examine the content generated before they are streamed. Therefore, it is possible that some of the live content on our platform may engage in illegal, obscene, incendiary or subversive conversations or activities, including posting of inappropriate or illegal content that may be deemed unlawful under PRC laws and regulations. In addition, we may fail to fully screen and prevent medical service providers from posting inauthentic user pictures and reviews on our platform. If the PRC authorities find that we have not adequately managed or supervised the content on our platform, they may impose legal sanctions on us, including, in serious cases, suspending or revoking the licenses needed to operate our platform. Moreover, we may face potential claims for libel or slander in connection with our platform content, or a third party may find content on our platform offensive or indecent and take other legal action against us. Any such claim, with or without merit, could be time-consuming and costly to defend, and may result in litigation and divert managements attention and resources. If we incur costs or liability as a result of these events, our business, financial condition and operating results could be adversely affected.
Privacy concerns relating to our services and the use of user information could negatively impact our user base or user engagement. If we fail to protect the confidential information of our users, whether due to cyberattacks, computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins, or other reasons, we may be subject to liabilities imposed by relevant laws and regulations, and our reputation and business may be materially and adversely affected.
Concerns about the collection, use, disclosure or security of personal information or chat history or other privacy-related matters, even if unfounded, could damage our reputation, cause us to lose users, customers and service providers and subject us to regulatory investigations, all which may adversely affect our business. We collect contact information, browsing history and other personal data from our users in order to better understand our users and their needs and to support our big data analytical capabilities for more targeted services. Due to the volume and sensitivity of the personal information and biometric data we collect and manage, the security
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features of our platform and information systems are critical. We have adopted security policies and measures, including encryption technology, to protect our proprietary data and user information. We also conduct a rigorous data-masking process before providing user information to medical aesthetic professionals. While we strive to comply with applicable data protection laws and regulations, as well as our privacy policies pursuant to our terms of use and other obligations we may have with respect to privacy and data protection, any failure or perceived failure to comply with these laws, regulations or policies may result in inquiries and other proceedings or actions against us by government agencies or others, as well as negative publicity and damage to our reputation and brand, each of which could cause us to lose users and service providers and have an adverse effect on our business and operating results.
In addition, any systems failure or compromise of our security that results in the unauthorized access to or release of the data of our users or service providers could significantly harm our reputation and brand. We expect to continue expending significant resources to protect against security breaches. The risk that these types of events could seriously harm our business is likely to increase as we expand the number of services we offer and increase the size of our user base. Our practices may also become inconsistent with new laws or regulations concerning data protection, or the interpretation and application of existing consumer and data protection laws or regulations, which is often uncertain and in flux. In addition to the possibility of fines, such inconsistency could result in substantial costs or requirement that we change our practices, which could have an adverse effect on our business and operating results. See also Risks Related to Doing Business in ChinaUncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.
We rely on proper operation and maintenance of our online platform. Any deficiencies, malfunction, capacity restraint, operation interruption or undetected programming failure or flaws could harm our reputation and adversely affect our business.
We conduct our business activities through our online platform. Therefore, the satisfactory performance, reliability and availability of our online platform are critical to our success and our ability to attract and retain users. The reliability and availability of our online platform depends on telecommunications carriers and other third-party providers for communications and storage capacity, including bandwidth and server storage, among other things. If we are unable to enter into and renew agreements with these providers on acceptable terms, or if any of our existing agreements with such providers are terminated as a result of our breach or otherwise, our ability to provide our services to our users could be adversely affected. In addition, service interruptions can prevent users from accessing our platform and making transactions, and frequent interruptions could frustrate users and discourage them from using our platform, which could cause us to lose users and adversely affect our operating results.
In addition, our platform and internal systems rely on software that is highly technical and complex, and depend on the ability of such software to store, retrieve, process and manage immense amounts of data. The software on which we rely has contained, and may now or in the future contain, undetected programming errors or flaws. Some errors may only be discovered after the code has been released for external or internal use. Errors or other design defects within the software on which we rely may result in a negative experience for users using our platform or disruptions to the operations of our medical service providers, delay introductions of new features or enhancements, result in errors or compromise our ability to support effective user service and enjoyable user engagement. Any errors, bugs or defects discovered in the software on which we rely could result in harm to our reputation and loss of users, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial conditions.
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Failure or poor performance of third-party software, infrastructure or systems on which we use could adversely affect our business. In particular, our users use third-party payment service providers to make payments on our platform. If these payment services are restricted or curtailed in any way or become unavailable to us or our users for any reason, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
We use third parties to provide and maintain certain infrastructure that is important to our business. If such services become limited, restricted, curtailed or less effective or more expensive in any way or become unavailable to us for any reason, our business may be materially and adversely affected. The infrastructure of our third-party service providers may malfunction or fail due to events out of our control, which could disrupt our operations and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Any failure to maintain and renew our relationships with these third parties on commercially favorable terms, or to enter into similar relationships in the future, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Historically, we had engaged in collecting payments on behalf of third parties, which may be deemed as having provided payment settlement services, thereby exposing us to potential penalties. We have since begun to cooperate with several third parties for the billing, payment and escrow functions on our platform. The commercial banks and third-party online payment service providers that we work with are subject to the supervision by the Peoples Bank of China, or the PBOC. The PBOC may publish rules, guidelines and interpretations from time to time regulating the operation of financial institutions and payment service providers that may in turn affect the availability of services provided by such entities for us. For example, in November 2017, the PBOC published a notice (the PBOC Notice) on the investigation and administration of illegal offering of settlement services by financial institutions and third-party payment service providers to unlicensed entities. We believe that our partnership with the commercial banks and third-party online payment service providers are not in violation of the PBOC Notice, but we cannot assure you that the PBOC or other governmental authorities will hold the same view with ours. If required by the PBOC or new legislation, the commercial banks or the payment service providers may modify or suspend the services they offer to us, and we may be required to obtain additional license and incur additional expenses. If the PBOC or other governmental authorities deem our cooperation with the commercial banks and payment service providers as in violation of relevant laws and regulations, we may be subject to penalties, fines, legal sanctions or suspension of the relevant functions on our platform. See RegulationsRegulations on Payment Services.
If major mobile application distribution channels change their standard terms and conditions in a manner that is detrimental to us, or suspend or terminate their existing relationship with us, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
We currently cooperate with Apples app store and major PRC-based Android app stores to distribute our So-Young mobile application to users. As such, the promotion, distribution and operation of our application are subject to such distribution platforms standard terms and policies for application developers, which are subject to the interpretation of, and frequent changes by, these distribution channels. If these third-party distribution platforms change their terms and conditions in a manner that is detrimental to us, or refuse to distribute our application, or if any other major distribution channel with which we would like to seek collaboration refuses to collaborate with us in the future on commercially favorable terms, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Our future growth depends on the further acceptance of the internet and particularly the mobile internet as an effective platform for assessing medical aesthetic services and content.
While the internet and the mobile internet have gained increased popularity in China as platforms for medical aesthetic products and content in recent years, many users have limited experience in accessing medical aesthetic services online. For example, users may not consider online content to be reliable sources of medical aesthetic information. If we fail to educate users about the value of our content, our platform and our services,
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our growth may be limited and our business, financial performance and prospects may be materially and adversely affected. The further acceptance of the internet and the mobile internet as an effective and efficient platform for medical aesthetic services and content is also affected by factors beyond our control, including negative publicity around online medical aesthetic services and potential restrictive regulatory measures taken by the PRC government. If online and mobile networks do not achieve adequate acceptance in the market, our growth prospects, results of operations and financial condition could be harmed.
Real or perceived inaccuracies in our operating metrics may harm our reputation and negatively affect our business.
We rely on certain key operating metrics, such as mobile MAUs and purchasing users, to evaluate the performance of our business. Our operating metrics may differ from estimates published by third parties or from similarly titled metrics used by other companies due to differences in methodology. We calculate these operating metrics using internal company data that have not been independently verified. If we discover material inaccuracies in the operating metrics we use, or if they are perceived to be inaccurate, our reputation may be harmed and our evaluation methods and results may be impaired, which could negatively affect our business. If investors make investment decisions based on operating metrics we disclose that are inaccurate, we may also face potential lawsuits or disputes.
Our success depends on the continuing service of our key employees, including our senior management members and other talent. If we fail to hire, retain and motivate our key employees, our business may suffer.
Our key executives have substantial experience and have made significant contributions to our business, and our continued success is dependent upon the retention of our key management executives, as well as the services provided by our staff and a number of other key managerial, marketing, business development, customer service, technical and operations personnel. The loss of such key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business. Growth in our business is dependent, to a large degree, on our ability to retain and attract such employees.
Competition for well-qualified employees in all aspects of our business is intense. Our continued ability to compete effectively depends on our ability to attract new employees and to retain and motivate existing employees. If we do not succeed in attracting well-qualified employees or retaining and motivating existing employees and key senior management, our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects may be adversely affected.
We face risks related to natural disasters, health epidemics and other outbreaks, which could significantly disrupt our operations.
We are vulnerable to natural disasters and other calamities. Fire, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, power loss, telecommunications failures, break-ins, war, riots, terrorist attacks or similar events may give rise to server interruptions, breakdowns, system failures, technology platform failures or internet failures, which could cause the loss or corruption of data or malfunctions of software or hardware as well as adversely affect our ability to provide services on our platform.
Given the nature of the medical aesthetic industry, our business could be significantly and adversely affected by health epidemics, including effects of Ebola virus disease, H1N1 flu, H7N9 flu, avian flu or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS. In addition, our business operations could be disrupted if any of our employees is suspected of having Ebola virus disease, H1N1 flu, H7N9 flu, avian flu, SARS or other epidemic disease, since it could require our employees to be quarantined and/or our offices to be disinfected. In addition, our results of operations could be adversely affected to the extent that any of these epidemics harms the Chinese economy in general.
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From time to time we may evaluate and potentially consummate investments and acquisitions or enter into alliances, which may require significant management attention, disrupt our business and adversely affect our financial results.
We may identify strategic partners to form strategic alliances or invest in or acquire additional assets, technologies or businesses that are complementary to our existing business. These investments may involve minority stakes in other companies, acquisitions of entire companies or acquisitions of selected assets.
Any future strategic alliances, investments or acquisitions and the subsequent integration of the new assets and businesses obtained or developed from such transactions into our own may divert management from their primary responsibilities and subject us to additional liabilities. In addition, the costs of identifying and consummating investments and acquisitions may be significant. We may also incur costs and experience uncertainties in completing necessary registrations and obtaining necessary approvals from relevant government authorities in China and elsewhere in the world. The costs and duration of integrating newly acquired assets and businesses could also materially exceed our expectations. Any such negative developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Our operating results may fluctuate from period to period, which makes our operating results difficult to predict and could cause our revenue, expenses and profitability to differ from our past performance and/or expectations during certain periods.
The performance of our businesses is subject to seasonal fluctuations. Our business is typically the slowest during the Chinese New Year, which generally falls in the first quarter of the year. In contrast, our business is the strongest and we experience highest volume of sales and platform activities in the fourth quarters of a year. As a result, we believe that comparisons of our operating results over any interim periods in the past may not be an accurate indicator of our future performance. Overall, the historical seasonality of our business has been relatively mild due to our rapid growth but seasonality may increase in the future. Due to our limited operating history, the seasonal trends that we have experienced in the past may not apply to, or be indicative of, our future operating results.
We have limited business insurance coverage.
The insurance industry in China is still in an early stage of development, and insurance companies in China currently offer limited business-related insurance products. We do not maintain business interruption insurance or general third-party liability insurance, nor do we maintain property insurance, product liability insurance or key-man insurance. We consider this practice to be reasonable in light of the nature of our business and the insurance products that are available in China and in line with the practices of other companies in the same industry of similar size in China. Any uninsured risks may result in substantial costs and the diversion of resources, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We may not be able to obtain additional capital when desired, on favorable terms or at all.
Since we launched our business, we have raised substantial financing to support the growth of our business. We may require additional capital to pursue our business objectives and respond to business opportunities, challenges or unforeseen circumstances, including to improve our brand awareness, develop new services or further improve existing services, expand into new geographic areas and acquire complementary businesses and technologies. However, additional funds may not be available when we need them on reasonable terms, or at all. Our ability to retain our existing financial resources and obtain additional financing on acceptable terms is subject to a variety of uncertainties, including but not limited to:
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our market position and competitiveness in the online medical aesthetic service industry; |
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our future profitability, overall financial condition, results of operations and cash flows; |
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general market conditions for capital raising activities by online medical aesthetic platforms and other internet companies in China; and |
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economic, political and other conditions in China and internationally. |
If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on satisfactory terms, our ability to continue to pursue our business objectives and respond to business opportunities, challenges or unforeseen circumstances could be significantly limited, and our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects could be adversely affected. In addition, our future capital needs and other business reasons could require us to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain a credit facility. The sale of additional equity or equity-linked securities could dilute our shareholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased debt service obligations and could result in operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations or our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders.
Changes in the level of consumer confidence and spending in China or a general downturn in the Chinese and global economy could materially and adversely affect us.
Our business, financial condition and results of operations are sensitive to changes in overall economic conditions that affect consumer spending in China. The medical aesthetic industry is sensitive to general economic changes. Any slowing in growth rate or decrease in per capita disposable income in China may negatively impact spending by consumers on medical aesthetic services. Many factors outside of our control, including inflation and deflation, interest rates, volatility of equity and debt securities markets, taxation rates, employment and other government policies can adversely affect consumer confidence and spending. While the economy in China has grown significantly over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy, and the rate of growth has been slowing.
Moreover, there is considerable uncertainty in the global economic condition as well as concern about the economic effects of the tensions between China and the United States. Any prolonged slowdown in the global or Chinese economy may lead users to delay or reduce use of our services, and consumer demand for our services may not grow as we expect, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, continued turbulence in the international markets may adversely affect our ability to access the capital markets to meet liquidity needs.
Increases in labor costs in the PRC and enforcement of stricter labor laws and regulations may adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Chinas overall economy and the average wage in China have increased in recent years and are expected 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 increase. Unless we are able to pass on these increased labor costs to those who pay for our services, our 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 funds, 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 and its implementation rules, employers are subject to stricter requirements in terms of signing labor contracts, paying 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 PRC 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.
As the interpretation and implementation of labor-related laws and regulations are still evolving, our employment practices may violate labor-related laws and regulations in China, which may subject us to labor
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disputes or government investigations. We cannot assure you that we have complied or will be able to comply with all labor-related law and regulations. 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 will be adversely affected.
We have granted, and may continue to grant, share options and other forms of share-based incentive awards, which may result in significant share-based incentive expenses.
We have adopted the Second Amended and Restated 2018 Share Plan, or the Plan, in March 2019 for the purpose of granting share-based compensation awards to employees, directors and consultants to incentivize their performance and align their interests with ours. Under the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares that may be issued pursuant to all awards is 7,700,000 ordinary shares plus an annual increase of 2% of our total outstanding share capital as of December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year on the first day of each fiscal year, beginning in 2020, or such lesser number of Class A ordinary shares as determined by our board of directors, provide that the aggregate number of shares initially reserved and subsequently increased during the term of the Plan shall not be more than 10% of our total outstanding share capital on December 31 immediately preceding the most recent increase. As of the date of this prospectus, options to purchase 5,073,510 ordinary shares are granted and outstanding under the Plan.
We believe the granting of share incentive awards is of significant importance to our ability to attract and retain employees, and we will continue to grant share incentive awards to employees in the future. As a result, our expenses associated with share-based compensation may increase, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
We have identified a material weakness in our internal controls as of December 31, 2018, and if we fail to implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls to remediate our material weakness over financial reporting, we may be unable to accurately report our results of operations, meet our reporting obligations or prevent fraud.
Prior to this offering, we have been a private company with limited accounting personnel and other resources with which to address our internal controls. In the course of auditing our consolidated financial statements, we and our independent registered public accounting firm identified a material weakness in our internal controls. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal controls 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. Our material weakness relates to our lack of a sufficient number of financial reporting personnel with the appropriate level of knowledge and experience in the application of U.S. GAAP and Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, rules and regulations commensurate with our reporting requirements. Although we have begun to implement measures to address the material weakness, implementation of those measures may not fully remediate the material weakness in a timely manner. In the future we may determine that we have additional material weaknesses, or our independent registered public accounting firm may disagree with our management assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls.
If we fail to establish and maintain adequate internal controls, we could suffer material misstatements in our financial statements and fail to meet our reporting obligations, which would likely cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information. This could limit our access to capital markets, adversely affect our results of operations and lead to a decline in the trading price of the ADSs. Additionally, ineffective internal controls could expose us to an increased risk of fraud or misuse of corporate assets and subject us to potential delisting from the stock exchange on which we list or to other regulatory investigations and civil or criminal sanctions. We could also be required to restate our historical financial statements.
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Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure
If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our operations in China do not comply with PRC regulations relating to 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.
Foreign ownership of certain telecommunication businesses and certain other businesses, such as provision of online medical aesthetic information and services, is subject to restrictions under current PRC laws and regulations. Specifically, foreign ownership of online medical aesthetic information and service provider may not exceed 50%, and the major foreign investor is required to have a record of good performance and operating experience in managing value-added telecommunications business. We are an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd., or So-Young Wanwei, is our PRC subsidiary and a wholly foreign-owned enterprise under PRC laws. To comply with PRC laws and regulations, we conduct our businesses in China through Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd., or Beijing So-Young, our consolidated affiliated entity, and its subsidiaries, based on a series of contractual arrangements by and among So-Young Wanwei, Beijing So-Young and its shareholders. For a description of these contractual arrangements, see Corporate History and Structure. As a result of these contractual arrangements, we exert control over our consolidated affiliated entity and consolidate its financial results in our financial statements under U.S. GAAP.
In the opinion of our PRC counsel, Han Kun Law Offices, the ownership structure of So-Young Wanwei and Beijing So-Young does not result in any violation of PRC laws and regulations currently in effect, and the contractual arrangements between So-Young Wanwei, Beijing So-Young and its shareholders as governed by PRC law will not result in any violation of PRC laws or regulations currently in effect. However, we have been further advised by our PRC counsel that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current or future PRC laws and regulations. Thus, the PRC government may ultimately take a view contrary to the opinion of our PRC counsel. If the PRC government otherwise find that we are in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations or lack the necessary permits or licenses to operate our business, the relevant governmental authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including, without limitation:
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revoking the business licenses and/or operating licenses of such entities; |
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imposing fines on us; |
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confiscating any of our income that they deem to be obtained through illegal operations; |
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terminating or placing restrictions or onerous conditions on our operations; |
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placing restrictions on our right to collect revenues; and |
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shutting down our servers or blocking our mobile apps and websites. |
Any of these events could cause significant disruption to our business operations and severely damage our reputation, which would in turn materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If occurrences of any of these events results in our inability to direct the activities of our consolidated affiliated entity in China that most significantly impact their economic performance, and/or our failure to receive the economic benefits from our consolidated affiliated entity, we may not be able to consolidate the entity in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
We rely on contractual arrangements with our consolidated affiliated entity and its shareholders for our business operations, which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control.
We have relied and expect to continue to rely on contractual arrangements with consolidated affiliated entity and its shareholders to operate our business in China. These contractual arrangements may not be as effective as
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direct ownership in providing us with control over our consolidated affiliated entity. For example, our consolidated affiliated entity and its 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 our consolidated affiliated entity in China, we would be able to exercise our rights as a shareholder to effect changes in the board of directors of our consolidated affiliated entity, which in turn could implement changes, subject to any applicable fiduciary obligations, at the management and operational level. However, under the current contractual arrangements, we rely on the performance by our consolidated affiliated entity and its shareholders of their obligations under the contracts to exercise control over our consolidated affiliated entity. The shareholders of our consolidated affiliated entity 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 portion of our business through the contractual arrangements with our consolidated affiliated entity. If any dispute relating to these contracts remains 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. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Business and IndustryAny failure by our consolidated affiliated entity or its shareholders to perform their obligations under our contractual arrangements with them would have a material and adverse effect on our business. Therefore, our contractual arrangements with our consolidated affiliated entity may not be as effective in ensuring our control over the relevant portion of our business operations as direct ownership would be.
Any failure by our consolidated affiliated entity or its shareholders to perform their obligations under our contractual arrangements with them would have a material and adverse effect on our business.
If our consolidated affiliated entity or its shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under the contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and expend additional resources to enforce such arrangements. We may also have to rely on legal remedies under PRC law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, and contractual remedies, which we cannot assure you will be sufficient or effective under PRC law. For example, if the shareholders of our consolidated affiliated entity were to refuse to transfer their equity interests in our consolidated affiliated entity to us or our designee if we exercise the purchase option pursuant to these contractual arrangements, or if they were otherwise to act in bad faith toward us, then we may have to take legal actions to compel them to perform their contractual obligations.
All the agreements under our contractual arrangements are governed by PRC law and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in China. Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with PRC law and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal system 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 these contractual arrangements. Meanwhile, there are very few precedents and little formal guidance as to how contractual arrangements in the context of a consolidated affiliated entity should be interpreted or enforced under PRC law. There remain significant uncertainties regarding the ultimate outcome of such arbitration should legal action become necessary. In addition, under PRC law, rulings by arbitrators are final, parties cannot appeal the arbitration results in courts, and if the losing parties fail to carry out the arbitration awards within a prescribed time limit, the prevailing parties may only enforce the arbitration awards in PRC courts through arbitration award recognition proceedings, which would require additional expenses and delay. In the event we are unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, or if we suffer significant delay or other obstacles in the process of enforcing these contractual arrangements, we may not be able to exert effective control over our consolidated affiliated entity, and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively affected. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Doing Business in ChinaUncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.
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The shareholders of our consolidated affiliated entity may have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.
The shareholders of our consolidated variable entity are Mr. Hui Shao, Mr. Xing Jin and Mr. Tao Yu. Mr. Hui Shao is our director, Mr. Xing Jin is our co-founder and chief executive officer, and Tao Yu is our co-founder and chief information officer. Nevertheless, conflicts of interest may arise between the roles of them as shareholders, directors or officers of our company and as shareholders of our consolidated affiliated entity. These shareholders may breach, or cause our consolidated variable entity to breach, or refuse to renew, the VIE Contractual Arrangements we have with them and our consolidated variable entity, which would have a material and adverse effect on our ability to effectively control our consolidated variable entity and receive economic benefits from such entity. For individuals who are also our directors and officers, we rely on them to abide by the laws of the Cayman Islands, which provide that directors and officers owe fiduciary duties to our company, including duties to act in good faith and in what they believe to be the best interest of our company and not to use their positions for personal gain. The shareholders of our consolidated affiliated entity have executed powers of attorney to appoint So-Young Wanwei or a person designated by So-Young Wanwei to vote on their behalf and exercise voting rights as shareholders of our consolidated affiliated entity. We cannot assure you that when conflicts arise, these shareholders will act in the best interest of our company or that conflicts will be resolved in our favor. If we cannot resolve any conflicts of interest or disputes between us and these shareholders, we would have to rely on legal proceedings, which may be expensive, time-consuming and disruptive to our operations. There is also substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.
Contractual arrangements in relation to our consolidated affiliated entity may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and they may determine that we or our PRC consolidated affiliated entity owes additional taxes, which could negatively affect our financial condition and the value of your investment.
Under applicable PRC laws and regulations, arrangements and transactions among related parties may be subject to audit or challenge by the PRC tax authorities within ten years after the taxable year when the transactions are conducted. We could face material and adverse tax consequences if the PRC tax authorities determine that the contractual arrangements in relation to our consolidated affiliated entity were not entered into on an arms length basis in such a way as to result in an impermissible reduction in taxes under applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations, and adjust income of our consolidated affiliated entity in the form of a transfer pricing adjustment. A transfer pricing adjustment could, among other things, result in a reduction of expense deductions recorded by our consolidated affiliated entity for PRC tax purposes, which could in turn increase its tax liabilities without reducing our WFOEs tax expenses. In addition, the PRC tax authorities may impose late payment fees and other penalties on our consolidated affiliated entity for the adjusted but unpaid taxes according to the applicable regulations. Our financial position could be materially and adversely affected if our affiliated entitys tax liabilities increase or if it is required to pay late payment fees and other penalties.
We may lose the ability to use and enjoy assets held by our consolidated affiliated entity that are material to the operation of certain portion of our business if the entity goes bankrupt or becomes subject to a dissolution or liquidation proceeding.
As part of our contractual arrangements with our consolidated affiliated entity, the entity holds certain assets that are material to the operation of our business, including permits, domain names and most of our IP rights. If our consolidated affiliated entity goes bankrupt and all or part of its 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. Under the contractual arrangements, our consolidated affiliated entity may not, in any manner, sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of its assets or legal or beneficial interests in the business without our prior consent. If our consolidated affiliated entity undergoes a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, the independent 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, financial condition and results of operations.
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Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the newly enacted PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.
On March 15, 2019, the National Peoples Congress approved the Foreign Investment Law, which will come into effect on January 1, 2020 and replace the trio of existing laws regulating foreign investment in China, namely, the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. The Foreign Investment Law embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with prevailing international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic investments. However, since it is relatively new, uncertainties still exist in relation to its interpretation and implementation. For instance, under the Foreign Investment Law, foreign investment refers to the investment activities directly or indirectly conducted by foreign individuals, enterprises or other entities in China. Though it does not explicitly classify contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment, there is no assurance that foreign investment via contractual arrangement would not be interpreted as a type of indirect foreign investment activities under the definition in the future. In addition, the definition contains a catch-all provision which includes investments made by foreign investors through means stipulated in laws or administrative regulations or other methods prescribed by the State Council. Therefore, it still leaves leeway for future laws, administrative regulations or provisions promulgated by the State Council to provide for contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment. In any of these cases, it will be uncertain whether our contractual arrangements will be deemed to be in violation of the market access requirements for foreign investment under the PRC laws and regulations. Furthermore, if future laws, administrative regulations or provisions prescribed by the State Council mandate further actions to be taken by companies with respect to existing contractual arrangements, we may face substantial uncertainties as to whether we can complete such actions in a timely manner, or at all. Failure to take timely and appropriate measures to cope with any of these or similar regulatory compliance challenges could materially and adversely affect our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.
We may rely on dividends paid by our PRC subsidiary to fund cash and financing requirements. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business and to pay dividends to holders of the ADSs and our ordinary shares.
We are a holding company, and we may rely on dividends to be paid by our PRC subsidiary for our cash and financing requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to the holders of the ADSs and our ordinary shares and service any debt we may incur. If our PRC subsidiary incurs debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us.
Under PRC laws and regulations, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in the PRC, such as So-Young Wanwei, may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, after making up previous years accumulated losses, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds, until the aggregate amount of such a fund reaches 50% of its registered capital. At the discretion of the board of directors of the wholly foreign-owned enterprise, it may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to staff welfare and bonus funds. These reserve funds and staff welfare and bonus funds are not distributable as cash dividends. Any 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.
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Risks Related to Doing Business in China
Changes in Chinas economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.
Substantially all of our revenues are derived from China. Accordingly, our results of operations, financial condition and prospects are influenced by economic, political and legal developments in China. Economic reforms begun in the late 1970s have resulted in significant economic growth. However, any economic reform policies or measures in China may from time to time be modified or revised. Chinas economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including with respect to the amount of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth in the past 30 years, growth has been uneven across different regions and among different economic sectors.
The PRC government exercises significant control over Chinas economic growth through strategically allocating resources, controlling the payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. Although the PRC economy has grown significantly in the past decade, that growth may not continue, as evidenced by the slowing of the growth of the PRC economy since 2012. Any adverse changes in economic conditions in China, in the policies of the PRC 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, lead to reduction in demand for our services and adversely affect our competitive position.
Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.
The PRC legal system is based on written statutes and court decisions have limited precedential value. The PRC legal system is evolving rapidly, and the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules may contain inconsistencies and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties.
From time to time, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. However, since PRC judicial and administrative authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to predict the outcome of a judicial or administrative proceeding 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, but which may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not always be aware of any potential violation of these policies and rules. Such unpredictability towards our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights could adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.
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 prospectus based on foreign laws.
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, while we conduct substantially all of our operations in China, and substantially all of our assets are located in China. In addition, all our senior executive officers reside within China for a significant portion of the time and most are PRC nationals. As a result, it may be difficult for our shareholders to effect service of process upon us or those persons inside China. In addition, China does not have treaties providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts with the Cayman Islands and many other countries and regions. Therefore, recognition and enforcement in China of judgments of a court in any of these non-PRC jurisdictions in relation to any matter not subject to a binding arbitration provision may be difficult or impossible.
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 the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by changes in Chinas political and economic conditions and Chinas foreign exchange policies, among other things. On July 21, 2005,
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the PRC government changed its decade-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. Since October 1, 2016, Renminbi has joined the International Monetary Funds basket of currencies that make up the Special Drawing Right (SDR) along with the U.S. dollar, the Euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound. In 2018, the Renminbi has depreciated significantly against the backdrop of a surging U.S. dollar and persistent capital outflows of China. With the development of the foreign exchange market and progress towards interest rate liberalization and Renminbi internationalization, the PRC government may in the future announce further changes to the exchange rate system and we cannot assure you that Renminbi will not appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the future. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future.
Significant revaluation of the Renminbi may have a material and adverse effect on your investment. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from this offering into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert our Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or ADSs or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to us.
Very limited hedging options are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, we have not entered into any material hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may decide to enter into 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 Renminbi into foreign currency.
Governmental control of currency conversion may limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively and affect the value of your investment.
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. We receive substantially all of our revenues in Renminbi. Under our current corporate structure, our Cayman Islands holding company may rely on dividend payments from our PRC subsidiary to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval of the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Specifically, under the existing exchange restrictions, without prior approval of SAFE, cash generated from the operations of our PRC subsidiary in China may be used to pay dividends to our company. However, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where Renminbi 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. As a result, we need to obtain SAFE approval to use cash generated from the operations of our PRC subsidiary and consolidated affiliated entity to pay off their respective debt in a currency other than Renminbi owed to entities outside China, or to make other capital expenditure payments outside China in a currency other than Renminbi.
In light of the recent flood of capital outflows of China due to the weakening RMB, the PRC government has imposed more restrictive foreign exchange policies and stepped up scrutiny of major outbound capital movement including overseas direct investment. More restrictions and substantial vetting process are put in place by SAFE to regulate cross-border transactions falling under the capital account. If any of our shareholders
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regulated by such policies fails to satisfy the applicable overseas direct investment filing or approval requirement timely or at all, it may be subject to penalties from the relevant PRC authorities. The PRC government may at its discretion further 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 demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our ADSs.
The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.
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, and some 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, including requirements in some instances that the Ministry of Commerce, or the MOC, be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise. Moreover, the Anti-Monopoly Law requires that the MOC shall be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain thresholds are triggered. In addition, the security review rules issued by the MOC 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 the MOC, 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 the MOC or its local counterparts may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.
PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of this offering to make loans to or make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary and variable interest entity, 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, our variable interest entity and its subsidiaries. We may make loans to our PRC subsidiary, variable interest entity and its subsidiaries, or we may make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary, or we may establish new PRC subsidiaries and make capital contributions to these new PRC subsidiaries, or we may acquire offshore entities with business operations in China in an offshore transaction.
Most of these activities are subject to PRC regulations and approvals. For example, loans by us to our wholly owned PRC subsidiary to finance its activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with the local counterpart of SAFE. If we decide to finance our wholly owned PRC subsidiary by means of capital contributions, these capital contributions are subject to the requirement of making necessary filings in the Foreign Investment Comprehensive Management Information System and registration with other governmental authorities in China. Due to the restrictions imposed on loans in foreign currencies extended to any PRC domestic companies, total principal amount of loans provided by us to each PRC domestic company every year cannot exceed a certain amount. Further, we are not likely to finance the activities of our consolidated affiliated entity by means of capital contributions due to regulatory restrictions relating to foreign investment in PRC domestic enterprises engaged in internet information services and related businesses.
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SAFE promulgated Circular on the Reforming of the Management Method of the Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, effective June 2015, in replacement of the Circular on the Relevant Issues Concerning the Launch of Reforming Trial of the Administration Model of the Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, the Notice from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Exchange Businesses, and the Circular on Further Clarification and Regulation of the Issues Concerning the Administration of Certain Capital Account Foreign Exchange Businesses. According to SAFE Circular 19, the flow and use of the RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company is regulated such that RMB capital may not be used for the issuance of RMB entrusted loans, the repayment of inter-enterprise loans or the repayment of banks loans that have been transferred to a third party. Although SAFE Circular 19 allows RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise to be used for equity investments within China, it also reiterates the principle that RMB capital converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope. Thus, it is unclear whether SAFE will permit such capital to be used for equity investments in China in actual practice. 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 of the rules set forth in SAFE 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-associated enterprises, the repayment of inter-enterprise loans or the repayment of banks loans that have been transferred to a third party. Violations of SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 could result in administrative penalties. SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to transfer any foreign currency we hold, including the net proceeds from this offering, to our PRC subsidiary, which may adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business in China.
In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations on loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans by us to our PRC subsidiary or with respect to future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiary. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds we received from our initial public offering and to capitalize or otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies 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 subsidiarys ability to increase its registered capital or distribute profits to us, or may otherwise adversely affect us.
The SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Relating to Domestic Residents Investment and Financing and Round-Trip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, in July 2014 that requires PRC residents or entities to register with SAFE or its local branch in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of overseas investment or financing with such PRC residents or entities legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests. On February 13, 2015, SAFE issued SAFE Circular No. 13, which took effect on June 1, 2015, pursuant to which, the power to accept SAFE registration was delegated from local SAFE to local qualified banks where the assets or interest in the domestic entity was located. SAFE Circular 37 is issued to replace the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for PRC Residents Engaging in Financing and Roundtrip Investments via Overseas Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 75.
If our shareholders who are PRC residents or entities do not complete their registration with the local SAFE branches, our PRC subsidiary may be prohibited from distributing their profits and proceeds from dividends, any
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reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to us, and we may be restricted in our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiary. Moreover, failure to comply with the SAFE registration described above could result in liability under PRC laws for evasion of applicable foreign exchange restrictions.
We have used our best efforts to notify PRC residents or entities who directly or indirectly hold shares in our Cayman Islands holding company and who are known to us as being PRC residents to complete the foreign exchange registrations. However, we may not be informed of the identities of all the PRC residents or entities holding direct or indirect interest in our company, nor can we compel our beneficial owners to comply with SAFE registration requirements. We cannot assure you that all shareholders or beneficial owners of ours who are PRC residents or entities have complied with, and will in the future make, obtain or update any applicable registrations or approvals required by, SAFE regulations. Failure by such shareholders or beneficial owners to comply with SAFE regulations, or failure by us to amend the foreign exchange registrations of our PRC subsidiary, could subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, limit our PRC subsidiarys ability to make distributions or pay dividends to us or affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and prospects.
Failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration requirements for employee stock ownership plans or share option plans may subject the PRC plan participants or us to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions.
Pursuant to SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who participate in share incentive plans in overseas non-publicly-listed companies due to their position as director, senior management or employees of the PRC subsidiaries of the overseas companies may submit applications to SAFE or its local branches for the foreign exchange registration with respect to offshore special purpose companies. Our directors, executive officers and other employees who are PRC residents and who have been granted share-based awards may follow SAFE Circular 37 to apply for the foreign exchange registration before our company becomes an overseas listed company. In February 2012, SAFE promulgated the Notices on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed Company, or SAFE Circular 7. Under SAFE Circular 7 and other relevant rules and regulations, PRC residents and non-PRC citizens who reside in China for a continuous period of not less than one year who participate in stock incentive plan in an overseas publicly-listed company, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with SAFE or its local branches and complete certain other procedures. Participants of a stock incentive plan who are PRC residents must retain a qualified PRC agent, which could be a PRC subsidiary of such overseas publicly listed company or another qualified institution selected by such PRC subsidiary, to conduct the SAFE registration and other procedures with respect to the stock incentive plan on behalf of its participants. Such participants must also retain an overseas entrusted institution to handle matters in connection with their exercise of share-based awards, the purchase and sale of corresponding shares or interests and fund transfers. In addition, the PRC agent is required to amend the SAFE registration with respect to the stock incentive plan if there is any material change to the stock incentive plan, the PRC agent or the overseas entrusted institution or other material changes. We and our PRC employees or employees who reside in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year and who have been granted share-based awards will be subject to SAFE Circular 7 and other relevant rules and regulations upon the completion of this offering. Failure of our PRC share-based award holders to complete their SAFE registrations may subject these PRC residents to fines and legal sanctions and may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital into our PRC subsidiary, limit our PRC subsidiarys ability to distribute dividends to us, or otherwise materially adversely affect our business.
If we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders or ADS holders.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with its de facto management body within the PRC is considered a resident enterprise and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its global income at the rate of 25%. The implementation rules define the term de facto management body as the body that exercises full and substantial control and overall
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management over the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In 2009, the State Administration of Taxation issued a circular, known as SAT Circular 82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the de facto management body of a PRC-controlled enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in China. Although this circular only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the State Administration of Taxations general position on how the de facto management body text should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises. According to SAT Circular 82, an offshore incorporated enterprise controlled by a PRC enterprise or a PRC enterprise group will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having its de facto management body in China and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its global income only if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in the PRC; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprises financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC; (iii) the enterprises primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions, are located or maintained in the PRC; and (iv) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.
We believe none of our entities outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. However, the tax resident 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. If the PRC tax authorities determine that So-Young International Inc. 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, including the holders of our ADSs. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders (including our ADS holders) may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 10% on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares at a rate of 10%, if such income is treated as sourced from within the PRC. Furthermore, if PRC tax authorities determine that we are a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, dividends paid to our non-PRC individual shareholders (including our ADS holders) and any gain realized on the transfer of ADSs or ordinary shares by such shareholders may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 20% (which, in the case of dividends, may be withheld at source by us), if such dividends or gains are deemed to be from PRC sources. These rates may be reduced by an applicable tax treaty, but it is unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of So-Young International Inc. would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that So-Young International Inc. is treated as a PRC resident enterprise. Any such PRC tax may reduce the returns on your investment in the ADSs.
We face uncertainty with respect to indirect transfer of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.
We face uncertainties regarding the reporting on and consequences of previous private equity financing transactions involving the transfer and exchange of shares in our company by non-resident investors. In February 2015, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Bulletin on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or Bulletin 7. Pursuant to Bulletin 7, an indirect transfer of PRC assets, including a transfer of equity interests in an unlisted non-PRC holding company of a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises may be re-characterized and treated as a direct transfer of the underlying PRC assets, if such arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of avoiding payment of PRC enterprise income 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. Bulletin 7 does not apply to transactions of sale of shares by investors through a public stock exchange where such shares were acquired from a transaction through a public stock exchange. On October 17, 2017, the SAT issued the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues of Tax Withholding regarding Non-resident Enterprise Income Tax, or Bulletin 37, which came into effect on December 1, 2017. The Bulletin 37 further clarifies the practice and procedure of the withholding of nonresident enterprise income tax.
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There is uncertainty as to the application of Bulletin 37 or previous rules under Bulletin 7. We face uncertainties on the reporting and consequences of private equity financing transactions, share exchanges or other transactions involving the transfer of shares in our company by investors that are non-PRC resident enterprises. Our company may be subject to filing obligations or taxes if our company is the transferor in such transactions, and may be subject to withholding obligations if our company is the transferee in such transactions, under Bulletin 37 and Bulletin 7.
The audit report included in this prospectus is prepared by an auditor who is not inspected by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and, as such, you are deprived of the benefits of such inspection.
Our independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit reports included in our prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with applicable professional standards. Because our auditors are located in China, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB has been unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the Chinese authorities, our auditors are not currently inspected by the PCAOB.
On December 7, 2018, the SEC and the PCAOB issued a joint statement highlighting continued challenges faced by the U.S. regulators in their oversight of financial statement audits of U.S.-listed companies with significant operations in China. However, it remains unclear what further actions, if any, the SEC and PCAOB will take to address the problem.
Inspections of other firms that the PCAOB has conducted outside of China have identified deficiencies in those firms audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. The lack of PCAOB inspections in China prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating our auditors audits and its quality control procedures. As a result, investors may be deprived of the benefits of PCAOB inspections.
The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our auditors audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to PCAOB inspections. Investors may lose confidence in our reported financial information and procedures and the quality of our financial statements.
Proceedings instituted by the SEC against Chinese affiliates of the big four accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, could result in financial statements being determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
Starting in 2011 the Chinese affiliates of the big four accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, were affected by a conflict between U.S. and Chinese law. Specifically, for certain U.S.-listed companies operating and audited in mainland China, the SEC and the PCAOB sought to obtain from the Chinese firms access to their audit work papers and related documents. The firms were, however, advised and directed that under Chinese law, they could not respond directly to the U.S. regulators on those requests, and that requests by foreign regulators for access to such papers in China had to be channeled through the CSRC.
In late 2012, this impasse led the SEC to commence administrative proceedings under Rule 102(e) of its Rules of Practice and also under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 against the Chinese accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm. A first instance trial of the proceedings in July 2013 in the SECs internal administrative court resulted in an adverse judgment against the firms. The administrative law judge proposed penalties on the firms including a temporary suspension of their right to practice before the SEC, although that proposed penalty did not take effect pending review by the Commissioners of the SEC. On
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February 6, 2015, before a review by the Commissioner had taken place, the firms reached a settlement with the SEC. Under the settlement, the SEC accepted that future requests by the SEC for the production of documents will normally be made to the CSRC. The firms were to receive matching Section 106 requests, and were required to abide by a detailed set of procedures with respect to such requests, which in substance require them to facilitate production via the CSRC. If they failed to meet specified criteria, the SEC retained authority to impose a variety of additional remedial measures on the firms depending on the nature of the failure. Under the terms of the settlement, the underlying proceeding against the four China-based accounting firms was deemed dismissed with prejudice four years after entry of the settlement. The four-year mark occurred on February 6, 2019. We cannot predict if the SEC will further challenge the four China-based accounting firms compliance with U.S. law in connection with U.S. regulatory requests for audit work papers or if the results of such a challenge would result in the SEC imposing penalties such as suspensions. If additional remedial measures are imposed on the Chinese affiliates of the big four accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, we could be unable to timely file future financial statements in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
In the event the Chinese affiliates of the big four become subject to additional legal challenges by the SEC or PCAOB, depending upon the final outcome, listed companies in the United States with major PRC operations may find it difficult or impossible to retain auditors in respect of their operations in the PRC, which could result in financial statements being determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, including possible delisting. Moreover, any negative news about any such future proceedings against these audit firms may cause investor uncertainty regarding China-based, U.S.-listed companies and the market price of our common stock may be adversely affected.
If our independent registered public accounting firm was denied, even temporarily, the ability to practice before the SEC and we were unable to timely find another registered public accounting firm to audit and issue an opinion on our financial statements, our financial statements could be determined not to be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act. Such a determination could ultimately lead to the delisting of the ADSs from Nasdaq Stock Market LLC or deregistration from the SEC, or both, which would substantially reduce or effectively terminate the trading of the ADSs in the United States.
The enforcement of the PRC Labor Contract Law and other labor-related regulations in the PRC may adversely affect our business and results of operations.
The Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress enacted the Labor Contract Law in 2008, and amended it on December 28, 2012. The Labor Contract Law introduced specific provisions related to fixed-term employment contracts, part-time employment, probationary periods, consultation with labor unions and employee assemblies, employment without a written contract, dismissal of employees, severance, and collective bargaining to enhance previous PRC labor laws. Under the Labor Contract Law, an employer is obligated to sign an unlimited-term labor contract with any employee who has worked for the employer for ten consecutive years. Further, if an employee requests or agrees to renew a fixed-term labor contract that has already been entered into twice consecutively, the resulting contract, with certain exceptions, must have an unlimited term, subject to certain exceptions. With certain exceptions, an employer must pay severance to an employee where a labor contract is terminated or expires. In addition, the PRC governmental authorities have continued to introduce various new labor-related regulations since the effectiveness of the Labor Contract Law.
Under the PRC Social Insurance Law and the Administration of Housing Fund, employees are required to participate in pension insurance, work-related injury insurance, medical insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance, and housing funds and employers are required, together with their employees or separately, to complete the social insurance registration and housing fund registration and pay the social insurance premiums and housing funds for their employees. If we are deemed to have failed to make adequate social insurance and/or housing fund contributions or complete the social insurance registration and housing fund registration, we may be subject to fines and legal sanctions, and our business, financial conditions and results of operations may be
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adversely affected. These laws designed to enhance labor protection tend to increase our labor costs. In addition, as the interpretation and implementation of these regulations are still evolving, our employment practices may not be at all times be deemed in compliance with the regulations. As a result, we could be subject to penalties or incur significant liabilities in connection with labor disputes or investigations.
Risks Related to Our ADSs and This Offering
An active trading market for our ADSs may not develop and the trading price for our ADSs may fluctuate significantly.
We have applied to list our ADSs on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. We have no current intention to seek a listing for our ordinary shares on any stock exchange. Prior to the completion of this offering, there has been no public market for our ADSs or our ordinary shares, and we cannot assure you that a liquid public market for our ADSs will develop. If an active public market for our ADSs does not develop following the completion of this offering, the market price and liquidity of our ADSs may be materially and adversely affected. The initial public offering price for our ADSs will be determined by negotiation between us and the underwriters based upon several factors, and we can provide no assurance that the trading price of our ADSs after this offering will not decline below the initial public offering price. As a result, investors in our securities may experience a significant decrease in the value of their ADSs.
The trading price of our ADSs is likely to be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to investors.
The trading price of our ADSs is likely to be volatile and could fluctuate widely due to multiple factors, some of which are 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. In addition to market and industry factors, the price and trading volume for our ADSs may be highly volatile for factors specific to our own operations, including the following:
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variations in our revenues, earnings, cash flow and data related to our user base or user engagement; |
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announcements of new investments, acquisitions, strategic partnerships or joint ventures by us or our competitors; |
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announcements of new service offerings and expansions by us or our competitors; |
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announcements of new laws and regulations or interpretations of existing laws and regulations that affect our business; |
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changes in financial estimates by securities analysts; |
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detrimental adverse publicity about us, our services or our industry; |
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additions or departures of key personnel; |
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release of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding equity securities or sales of additional equity securities; and |
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actual or potential litigation or regulatory investigations. |
Any of these factors may result in large and sudden changes in the volume and price at which our ADSs will trade.
In the past, shareholders of public companies have often brought securities class action suits against those companies following periods of instability in the market price of their securities. If we were involved in a class action suit, it could divert a significant amount of our managements attention and other resources from our business and operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit, which could harm our results of operations. Any such class action suit, whether or not successful, could harm our reputation and restrict
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our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, if a claim is successfully made against us, we may be required to pay significant damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our dual-class voting structure will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could discourage others from pursuing any change of control transactions that holders of our Class A ordinary shares and ADSs may view as beneficial.
We have adopted a dual-class voting structure such that our ordinary shares consist of Existing Class A ordinary shares and Existing Class B ordinary shares. Holders of Existing Class A ordinary shares and Existing Class B ordinary shares have the same rights other than voting and conversion rights. Each holder of Existing Class A ordinary shares is entitled to ten votes per share and each holder of our Existing Class B ordinary shares is entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to them for a vote. Each Existing Class A ordinary share is convertible into one Existing Class B ordinary share, whereas Existing Class B ordinary shares are not convertible into Existing Class A ordinary shares. Upon any transfer of Existing Class A ordinary shares by a holder thereof to any other person or entity, such Existing Class A ordinary shares are automatically and immediately converted into the equal number of Existing Class B ordinary shares. As the date of this prospectus, Mr. Xing Jin, our chief executive officer, together with his affiliates, beneficially owns all of our issued Existing Class A ordinary shares.
Immediately prior to the completion of this offering, we expect to amend our dual-class share structure such that our ordinary shares will consist of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. In respect of matters requiring the votes of shareholders, holders of Class A ordinary shares will be entitled to one vote per share, while holders of Class B ordinary shares will be entitled to thirty votes per share based on our proposed dual-class share structure. We will sell Class A ordinary shares represented by our ADSs in this offering. Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holder thereof, while Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. Upon any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of any Class B ordinary share by a holder thereof to any person who is not the Founder or an Affiliate of the Founder (as such terms defined in our post-offering amended and restated articles of association), such Class B ordinary share shall be automatically and immediately converted into one Class A ordinary share.
Immediately prior to the completion of this offering, Mr. Xing Jin, our co-founder, chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer, will beneficially own all of our issued Class B ordinary shares. These Class B ordinary shares will constitute approximately % of our total issued and outstanding share capital immediately after the completion of this offering and % of the aggregate voting power of our total issued and outstanding share capital immediately after the completion of this offering due to the disparate voting powers associated with our dual class share structure, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option. As a result of the dual-class share structure and the concentration of ownership, Mr. Jin will have considerable influence over matters such as decisions regarding mergers and consolidations, election of directors and other significant corporate actions, and may take actions that are not in the best interest of us or our other shareholders. This concentration of ownership may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company, which could have the effect of depriving our other shareholders of the opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of a sale of our company and may reduce the price of the ADSs. This concentrated control will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could discourage others from pursuing any potential merger, takeover or other change of control transactions that holders of Class A ordinary shares and ADSs may view as beneficial.
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If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding our ADSs, the market price for our ADSs and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our ADSs will be influenced by research or reports that industry or securities analysts publish about our business. If one or more analysts who cover us downgrade our ADSs, the market price for our ADSs would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover us or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause the market price or trading volume for our ADSs to decline.
The sale or availability for sale of substantial amounts of our ADSs could adversely affect their market price.
Sales of substantial amounts of our ADSs in the public market after the completion of this offering, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our ADSs and could materially impair our ability to raise capital through equity offerings in the future. The ADSs sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, and shares held by our existing shareholders may also be sold in the public market in the future subject to the restrictions in Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Securities Act and the applicable lock-up agreements. There will be ADSs (equivalent to Class A ordinary shares) outstanding immediately after this offering, or ADSs (equivalent to Class A ordinary shares) if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs in full. In connection with this offering, [we, our directors and executive officers, our existing shareholders and holders of our share-based awards] have agreed not to sell any ordinary shares, ADSs or similar securities for 180 days after the date of this prospectus without the prior written consent of the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions. However, the underwriters may release these securities from these restrictions at any time, subject to applicable regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. We cannot predict what effect, if any, market sales of securities held by our significant shareholders or any other shareholder or the availability of these securities for future sale will have on the market price of our ADSs. See Underwriting and Shares Eligible for Future Sale for a more detailed description of the restrictions on selling our securities after this offering.
Because we do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future after this offering, you must rely on price appreciation of our ADSs for return on your investment.
We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings after this offering to fund the development and growth of our business. As a result, we do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Therefore, you should not rely on an investment in our ADSs as a source for any future dividend income.
Our board of directors has complete discretion as to whether to distribute dividends. In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our board of directors. In either case, all dividends are subject to certain restrictions under Cayman Islands law, namely that our company may only pay dividends out of profits or share premium, and provided always that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. Even if we decide to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Accordingly, the return on your investment in our ADSs will likely depend entirely upon any future price appreciation of our ADSs. There is no guarantee that our ADSs will appreciate in value after this offering or even maintain the price at which you purchased the ADSs. You may not realize a return on your investment in our ADSs and you may even lose your entire investment in our ADSs.
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We have not determined a specific use for a portion of the net proceeds from this offering and we may use these proceeds in ways with which you may not agree.
We have not determined a specific use for a portion of the net proceeds of this offering, and our management will have considerable discretion in deciding how to apply these proceeds. You will not have the opportunity to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately before you make your investment decision. You must rely on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the net proceeds of this offering. We cannot assure you that the net proceeds will be used in a manner that would improve our results of operations or increase our ADS price, nor that these net proceeds will be placed only in investments that generate income or appreciate in value.
The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission may be required in connection with this offering under PRC law.
The M&A Rules, which were adopted in 2006 by six PRC regulatory agencies, including the CSRC, and amended in 2009, purport to require offshore special purpose vehicles that are controlled by PRC companies or individuals and that have been formed for the purpose of seeking a public listing on an overseas stock exchange through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies or assets to obtain CSRC approval prior to publicly listing their securities on an overseas stock exchange. The interpretation and application of the regulations remain unclear, and 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 this offering would subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC and other PRC regulatory agencies.
Our PRC counsel, Han Kun Law Offices, has advised us that, based on its understanding of the current PRC laws and regulations, we will not be required to submit an application to the CSRC for the approval of the listing and trading of our ADSs on Nasdaq Stock Market LLC because (i) the CSRC currently has not issued any definitive rule or interpretation concerning whether offerings like ours under this prospectus are subject to this regulation, (ii) our wholly owned PRC subsidiary were established by foreign direct investment, rather than through a merger or acquisition of a domestic company as defined under the M&A Rules and (iii) no explicit provision in the M&A Rules classifies the respective contractual arrangements among our PRC subsidiary, our consolidated affiliated entity and its respective shareholders as a type of acquisition transaction falling under the M&A Rules.
However, we cannot assure you that relevant PRC government agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as our PRC counsel, and hence we may face regulatory actions or other sanctions from the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies. If the CSRC or other relevant PRC regulatory authorities subsequently determine that a prior CSRC approval is required, we may face regulatory actions or other sanctions from the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities. These regulatory agencies 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 from this offering into China or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of the ADSs. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies also may take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt this offering before settlement and delivery of the ADSs offered hereby. Consequently, if you engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to settlement and delivery, you do so at the risk that settlement and delivery may not occur. In addition, if the CSRC or other regulatory agencies later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals for this offering, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. Any uncertainties and/or negative publicity regarding such approval requirement could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of the ADSs.
Our memorandum and articles of association contain anti-takeover provisions that could have a material adverse effect on the rights of holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs.
We have adopted amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering. Our post-offering memorandum and articles of association
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will contain provisions which could limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company or cause us to engage in change-of-control transactions. These provisions could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transaction. Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our shareholders, to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to fix their designations, powers, preferences, privileges, and relative participating, optional or special rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the rights associated with our ordinary shares, in the form of ADS or otherwise. Preferred shares could be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. If our board of directors decides to issue preferred shares, the price of our ADSs may fall and the voting and other rights of the holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs may be materially and adversely affected.
You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law.
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Law (2018 Revision) of the Cayman Islands and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against our directors, actions by our minority shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors owed to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from the common law of England, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding, on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors owed to us under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States. Some U.S. states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law than the Cayman Islands. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States.
Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like us have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records (other than the memorandum and articles of association and any special resolutions passed by such companies, and the registers of mortgages and charges of such companies) or to obtain copies of lists of shareholders of these companies. Our directors have discretion under our post-offering memorandum and 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, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by our management, members of our board of directors or our controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a company incorporated in the United States. For a discussion of significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders, see Description of Share CapitalDifferences in Corporate Law.
Certain judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may not be enforceable.
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company and substantially all of our assets are located outside of the United States. All of our current operations are conducted in China. In addition, most of our current directors and officers are nationals and residents of countries other than the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States in the event that
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you believe that your rights have been infringed under the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands and of China may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers. For more information regarding the relevant laws of the Cayman Islands and China, see Enforceability of Civil Liabilities.
ADSs holders may not be entitled to a jury trial with respect to claims arising under the deposit agreement, which could result in less favorable outcomes to the plaintiff(s) in any such action.
The deposit agreement governing the ADSs representing our Class A ordinary shares provides that, subject to the depositarys right to require a claim to be submitted to arbitration, the federal or state courts in the City of New York have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine claims arising under the deposit agreement and in that regard, to the fullest extent permitted by law, ADS holders waive the right to a jury trial of any claim they may have against us or the depositary arising out of or relating to our Class A shares, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including any claim under the U.S. federal securities laws.
If we or the depositary opposed a jury trial demand based on the waiver, the court would determine whether the waiver was enforceable based on the facts and circumstances of that case in accordance with the applicable U.S. state and federal law. To our knowledge, the enforceability of a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver in connection with claims arising under the U.S. federal securities laws has not been finally adjudicated by the United States Supreme Court. However, we believe that a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver provision is generally enforceable, including under the laws of the State of New York, which govern the deposit agreement. In determining whether to enforce a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver provision, courts will generally consider whether a party knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived the right to a jury trial. We believe that this is the case with respect to the deposit agreement and the ADSs. It is advisable that you consult legal counsel regarding the jury waiver provision before investing in the ADSs.
If you or any other holders or beneficial owners of ADSs bring a claim against us or the depositary in connection with matters arising under the deposit agreement or the ADSs, including claims under U.S. federal securities laws, you or such other holder or beneficial owner may not be entitled to a jury trial with respect to such claims, which may have the effect of limiting and discouraging lawsuits against us and/or the depositary. If a lawsuit is brought against us and/or the depositary under the deposit agreement, it may be heard only by a judge or justice of the applicable trial court, which would be conducted according to different civil procedures and may result in different outcomes than a trial by jury would have had, including results that could be less favorable to the plaintiff(s) in any such action.
Nevertheless, if this jury trial waiver provision is not enforced, to the extent a court action proceeds, it would proceed under the terms of the deposit agreement with a jury trial. No condition, stipulation or provision of the deposit agreement or ADSs serves as a waiver by any holder or beneficial owner of ADSs or by us or the depositary of compliance with any substantive provision of the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
The voting rights of holders of ADSs are limited by the terms of the deposit agreement, and you may not be able to exercise your right to direct how the Class A ordinary shares which are represented by your ADSs are voted.
Holders of ADSs do not have the same rights as our registered shareholders. As a holder of our ADSs, you will not have any direct right to attend general meetings of our shareholders or to cast any votes at such meetings. You will only be able to exercise the voting rights which are carried by the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs indirectly by giving voting instructions to the depositary in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement. Under the deposit agreement, you may vote only by giving voting instructions to the depositary. If we instruct the depositary to ask for your instructions, then upon receipt of your voting instructions, the depositary will try, as far as is practicable, to vote the underlying Class A ordinary shares
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which are represented by your ADSs in accordance with your instructions. If we do not instruct the depositary to ask for your instructions, the depositary may still vote in accordance with instructions you give, but it is not required to do so. You will not be able to directly exercise your right to vote with respect to the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs unless you withdraw the shares and become the registered holder of such shares prior to the record date for the general meeting.
Under our post-offering memorandum and articles of association that will become effective immediately prior to completion of this offering, the minimum notice period required to be given by our company to our registered shareholders to convene a general meeting will be ten days. When a general meeting is convened, you may not receive sufficient advance notice of the meeting to withdraw the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs and become the registered holder of such shares to allow you to attend the general meeting and to vote directly with respect to any specific matter or resolution to be considered and voted upon at the general meeting. In addition, under our post-offering memorandum and articles of association that will become immediately effective prior to the completion of this offering, for the purposes of determining those shareholders who are entitled to attend and vote at any general meeting, our directors may close our register of members and/or fix in advance a record date for such meeting, and such closure of our register of members or the setting of such a record date may prevent you from withdrawing the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs and becoming the registered holder of such shares prior to the record date, so that you would not be able to attend the general meeting or to vote directly. If we ask for your instructions, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming vote and will arrange to deliver our voting materials to you. We have agreed to give the depositary at least days prior notice of shareholder meetings. Nevertheless, we cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for their manner of carrying out your voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to direct how the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs are voted and you may have no legal remedy if the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs are not voted as you requested.
You may experience dilution of your holdings due to inability to participate in rights offerings.
We may, from time to time, distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire securities. Under the deposit agreement, the depositary will not distribute rights to holders of ADSs unless the distribution and sale of rights and the securities to which these rights relate are either exempt from registration under the Securities Act with respect to all holders of ADSs, or are registered under the provisions of the Securities Act. The depositary may, but is not required to, attempt to sell these undistributed rights to third parties, and may allow the rights to lapse. We may be unable to establish an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, and we are under no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to these rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have a registration statement declared effective. Accordingly, holders of ADSs may be unable to participate in our rights offerings and may experience dilution of their holdings as a result.
You may be subject to limitations on transfer of your ADSs.
Your ADSs are transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its books at any time or from time to time when it deems expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. The depositary may close its books from time to time for a number of reasons, including in connection with corporate events such as a rights offering, during which time the depositary needs to maintain an exact number of ADS holders on its books for a specified period. The depositary may also close its books in emergencies, and on weekends and public holidays. The depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer or register transfers of our ADSs generally when our share register or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any time if we or the depositary thinks it is advisable to do so because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body, or under any provision of the deposit agreement, or for any other reason.
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We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to United States domestic public companies.
Because we are a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the securities rules and regulations in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, including: (i) the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K with the SEC; (ii) the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents, or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; (iii) the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and (iv) the selective disclosure rules by issuers of material nonpublic information under Regulation FD.
We will be required to file an annual report on Form 20-F within four months of the end of each fiscal year. In addition, we intend to publish our results on a quarterly basis through press releases, distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. Press releases relating to financial results and material events will also be furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K. However, the information we are required to file with or furnish to the SEC will be less extensive and less timely compared to that required to be filed with the SEC by U.S. domestic issuers. As a result, you may not be afforded the same protections or information, which would be made available to you, were you investing in a U.S. domestic issuer.
We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the Securities Act and may take advantage of certain reduced reporting requirements.
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, most significantly, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for so long as we remain an emerging growth company. As a result, if we elect not to comply with such auditor attestation requirements, our investors may not have access to certain information they may deem important.
We will incur increased costs as a result of being a public company, particularly after we cease to qualify as an emerging growth company.
Upon completion of this offering, we will become a public company and expect to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, impose various requirements on the corporate governance practices of public companies. As a company with less than US$1.07 billion in revenues for our last fiscal year, we qualify as an emerging growth company pursuant to the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, in the assessment of the emerging growth companys internal control over financial reporting. The JOBS Act also permits an emerging growth company to delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. However, we have elected to opt out of this provision and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards as required when they are adopted for public companies.
We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some corporate activities more time-consuming and costly. After we are no longer an emerging growth company, we expect to incur significant expenses and devote substantial management effort toward ensuring compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the other rules and regulations of the SEC. For example, as a result of becoming a public company, we will need to increase the number of independent directors and adopt policies regarding internal controls and disclosure controls and
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procedures. We also expect that operating as a public company will make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. In addition, we will incur additional costs associated with our public company reporting requirements. It may also be more difficult for us to find qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers. We are currently evaluating and monitoring developments with respect to these rules and regulations, and we cannot predict or estimate with any degree of certainty the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs.
As an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards; these practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we comply fully with the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.
As a Cayman Islands exempted company listed on Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, we are subject to the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. However, Nasdaq Stock Market LLC rules 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 Stock Market corporate governance listing standards. We do not currently plan to utilize the home country exemption for corporate governance matters immediately upon the listing of our ADSs on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. However, if we choose to follow home country practice in the future, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they would otherwise enjoy under the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.
We will be a controlled company within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules and, as a result, can rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that provide protection to shareholders of other companies.
Upon the completion of this offering, we will be a controlled company as defined under the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules because Mr. Xing Jin, our co-founder, chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer, will own more than 50% of our total voting power. For so long as we remain a controlled company under that definition, we are permitted to elect to rely, and may rely, on certain exemptions from corporate governance rules. For example, we may rely on the exemption from the corporate governance rule that a majority of our board of directors must be independent directors. As a result, you may not have the same protection afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to these corporate governance requirements.
We may be a passive foreign investment company, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. investors owning our ADSs or ordinary shares.
We will be classified as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for any taxable year if either (a) 75% or more of our gross income for such year consists of certain types of passive income or (b) 50% or more of the value of our assets (determined on the basis of a quarterly average) during such year produce or are held for the production of passive income (the asset test). Although the law in this regard is unclear, we intend to treat our VIE (including its subsidiaries) as being owned by us for United States federal income tax purposes, not only because we exercise effective control over the operation of such entities but also because we are entitled to substantially all of their economic benefits, and, as a result, we consolidate their results of operations in our consolidated financial statements. Assuming that we are the owner of our VIE (including its subsidiaries) for United States federal income tax purposes, and based upon our current and expected income and assets, including goodwill (taking into account the expected proceeds from this offering) and projections as to the market price of our ADSs following the offering, we do not presently expect to be a PFIC for the current taxable year or the foreseeable future.
While we do not expect to become a PFIC, because the value of our assets for purposes of the asset test may be determined by reference to the market price of our ADSs, fluctuations in the market price of our ADSs may
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cause us to become a PFIC for the current or subsequent taxable years. In addition, the composition of our income and assets will also be affected by how, and how quickly, we use our liquid assets and the cash raised in this offering. If we determine not to deploy significant amounts of cash for active purposes or if it were determined that we do not own the stock of our VIE for United States federal income tax purposes, our risk of being a PFIC may substantially increase. Because PFIC status is a factual determination made annually after the close of each taxable year, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for the current taxable year or any future taxable year.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder (as defined in TaxationU.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations) holds ADSs or ordinary shares, certain adverse United States federal income tax consequences could apply to such U.S. Holder. See TaxationU.S. Federal Income Tax ConsiderationsPassive Foreign Investment Company Rules.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current expectations and views of future events. The forward looking statements are contained principally in the sections entitled Prospectus Summary, Risk Factors, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Business. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those listed under Risk Factors, may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
You can identify some of these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as may, will, expect, anticipate, aim, estimate, intend, plan, believe, is/are likely to, potential, continue or other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to:
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our mission, goals and strategies; |
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our ability to retain and increase the number of users and expand our service offerings; |
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our future business development, financial conditions and results of operations; |
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expected changes in our revenues, costs or expenditures; |
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the trends in, expected growth and the market size of online medical aesthetics industry, both in the PRC and globally; |
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our expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of our services; |
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our expectations regarding our relationships with users and service providers; |
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our proposed use of proceeds; |
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competition in our industry; |
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general economic and business conditions in the market we have business; and |
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relevant government policies and regulations relating to our industry. |
These forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that our expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, our expectations may later be found to be incorrect. Our actual results could be materially different from our expectations. Important risks and factors that could cause our actual results to be materially different from our expectations are generally set forth in Prospectus SummaryOur Challenges, Risk Factors, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Business, Regulation and other sections in this prospectus. You should read thoroughly this prospectus and the documents that we refer to with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from and worse than what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
This prospectus contains certain data and information that we obtained from various government and private publications. Statistical data in these publications also include projections based on a number of assumptions. The medical aesthetic, online medical aesthetic and consumption healthcare industries may not grow at the rate projected by market data, or at all. Failure of this market to grow at the projected rate may have a material and adverse effect on our business and the market price of our ADSs. In addition, the rapidly evolving nature of the online medical aesthetic industry results in significant uncertainties for any projections or estimates relating to the growth prospects or future condition of our market. Furthermore, if any one or more of the assumptions underlying the market data are later found to be incorrect, actual results may differ from the projections based on these assumptions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
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The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this prospectus. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this prospectus and the documents that we refer to in this prospectus and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect.
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We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately US$ million, or approximately US$ million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, after deducting underwriting discounts and the estimated offering expenses payable by us. These estimates are based upon an assumed initial public offering price of US$ per ADS, the mid-point of the price range shown on the front cover page of this prospectus. A US$1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of US$ per ADS would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by US$ million, assuming no change to the number of ADSs offered by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated expenses payable by us.
The primary purposes of this offering are to create a public market for our shares for the benefit of all shareholders, retain talented employees by providing them with equity incentives, and obtain additional capital. We plan to use the net proceeds of this offering as follows:
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approximately 30% to invest in technology and research and development; |
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approximately 20% for brand promotion and user acquisition efforts; |
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approximately 20% for horizontal and vertical business expansions; |
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approximately 10% to enhance our content offering; and |
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the balance for general corporate purposes and working capital needs and potential strategic investments and acquisitions, although we have not identified any specific investments or acquisition opportunities at this time. |
The foregoing represents our current intentions based upon our present plans and business conditions to use and allocate the net proceeds of this offering. Our management, however, will have significant flexibility and discretion to apply the net proceeds of this offering. If an unforeseen event occurs or business conditions change, we may use the proceeds of this offering differently than as described in this prospectus. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our ADSs and This OfferingWe have not determined a specific use for a portion of the net proceeds from this offering and we may use these proceeds in ways with which you may not agree.
Pending any use described above, we plan to invest the net proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing, debt instruments.
In using the proceeds of this offering, we are permitted under PRC laws and regulations as an offshore holding company to provide funding to our PRC subsidiary only through loans or capital contributions and to our VIE only through loans, subject to satisfaction of applicable government registration and approval requirements. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain these government registrations or approvals on a timely basis, if at all. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Doing Business in ChinaPRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of this offering to make loans to or make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary and variable interest entity, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
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Our board of directors has complete discretion on whether to distribute dividends. In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our board of directors. In either case, all dividends are subject to certain restrictions under Cayman Islands law, namely that our company may only pay dividends out of profits or share premium, and provided always that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. Even if we decide decides to pay dividends, the form, frequency and amount will depend upon our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that the board of directors may deem relevant.
We do not have any present plan to pay any cash dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future after this offering. We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business.
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. We may rely on dividends from our subsidiary in China for our cash requirements, including any payment of dividends to our shareholders. PRC regulations may restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to us. See RegulationRegulations on Foreign ExchangeRegulations on Dividend Distributions.
If we pay any dividends on our ordinary shares, we will pay those dividends which are payable in respect of the ordinary shares underlying our ADSs to the depositary, as the registered holder of such ordinary shares, and the depositary then will pay such amounts to our ADS holders in proportion to ordinary shares underlying the ADSs held by such ADS holders, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, including the fees and expenses payable thereunder. See Description of American Depositary Shares. Cash dividends on our ordinary shares, if any, will be paid in U.S. dollars.
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The following table sets forth our capitalization as of December 31, 2018:
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on an actual basis ; |
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on a pro forma basis to reflect (i) the automatic conversion and re-designation of all of our issued and outstanding preferred shares into ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis immediately upon the completion of this offering; (ii) the re-designation of 12,000,000 ordinary shares into Class B ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to the completion of this offering; and (iii) the re-designation of all of the remaining ordinary shares into Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to the completion of this offering; and |
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on a pro forma as adjusted basis to reflect (i) the automatic conversion and re-designation of all of our issued and outstanding preferred shares into ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis immediately upon the completion of this offering; (ii) the re-designation of 12,000,000 ordinary shares into Class B ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to the completion of this offering; (iii) the re-designation of all of the remaining ordinary shares into Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to the completion of this offering; and (iv) the issuance and sale of Class A ordinary shares in the form of ADSs by us in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of US$ per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the front cover page of this prospectus, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, assuming the underwriters do not exercise the overallotment option. |
Unaudited pro forma basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share reflects the effect of the conversion of preferred shares as follows, as if the conversion occurred as of the beginning of the period or the original date of issuance, if later.
You should read this table together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus and the information under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
As of December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | Pro Forma |
Pro Forma As
Adjusted (1) |
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(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | US$ | RMB | US$ | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
Mezzanine equity: |
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Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 8,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018, respectively; and none (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
30,440 | 4,427 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Series B convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 10,476,190 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018, respectively; and none (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
99,075 | 14,410 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Series C-1 convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 1,030,126 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018, respectively; and none (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
17,769 | 2,584 | | |
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As of December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | Pro Forma |
Pro Forma As
Adjusted (1) |
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(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | US$ | RMB | US$ | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
Series C convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 4,902,554 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018, respectively; and none (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
161,101 | 23,431 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Series D convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 9,750,676 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018, respectively; and none (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
422,035 | 61,382 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Series D+ convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 3,497,954 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018, respectively; and none (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
178,035 | 25,894 |
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Series E convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 6,164,979 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018, respectively; and none (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
487,494 | 70,903 | |
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Total mezzanine equity |
1,395,949 | 203,031 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Shareholders equity: |
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Class A Ordinary shares (US$ 0.0005 par value, 12,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018, respectively; and 12,000,000 (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
37 | 5 | 37 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Class B ordinary shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 144,177,521 shares authorized, and 11,290,940 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018; and 55,113,419 (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
35 | 5 | 185 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital (2) |
| | 1,395,799 | 203,009 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(394,039 | ) | (57,311 | ) | (394,039 | ) | (57,311 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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Accumulated other comprehensive income |
36,398 | 5,294 | 36,398 | 5,294 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Total shareholders (deficit)/equity (2) |
(357,569 | ) | (52,007 | ) | 1,038,380 | 151,024 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Total capitalization (2) |
1,340,536 | 194,970 | 1,340,536 | 194,970 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Notes:
(1) |
The pro forma as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only. Our additional paid-in capital, total shareholders equity and total capitalization following the completion of this offering are subject to adjustment based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. |
(2) |
Assuming the number of ADSs offered by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus remains the same, and after deduction of underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by us, a US$1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of US$ per share, the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) each of additional paid-in capital, total shareholders equity, total equity and total capitalization by US$ million. |
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If you invest in our ADSs, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per ADS and our net tangible book value per ADS after this offering. Dilution results from the fact that the initial public offering price per ordinary share is substantially in excess of the book value per ordinary share attributable to the existing shareholders for our presently outstanding ordinary shares on an as-converted basis.
Our net tangible book value as of December 31, 2018 was US$151.0 million, or US$ per Class A ordinary share on an as-converted basis as of that date and US$ per ADS. Net tangible book value represents the amount of our total consolidated tangible assets, less the amount of our total consolidated liabilities. Dilution is determined by subtracting net tangible book value per ordinary share on an as-converted basis, after giving effect to the additional proceeds we will receive from this offering, from the assumed initial public offering price of US$ per ordinary share, which is the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus adjusted to reflect the ADS-to-ordinary share ratio, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Because the Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares have the same dividend and other rights, except for voting and conversion rights, the dilution is presented based on all issued and outstanding ordinary shares, including Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares.
Without taking into account any other changes in net tangible book value after December 31, 2018, other than to give effect to our sale of the ADSs offered in this offering at the assumed initial public offering price of US$ per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated range of the initial public offering price, after deduction of the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2018 would have been US$ million, or US$ per ordinary share and US$ per ADS. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of US$ per ordinary share and US$ per ADS to the existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of US$ per ordinary share and US$ per ADS to investors purchasing ADSs in this offering. The following table illustrates such dilution:
Per Ordinary Share | Per ADS | |||||||
Assumed initial public offering price |
US$ | US$ | ||||||
Net tangible book value as of December 31, 2018 |
US$ | US$ | ||||||
Pro forma net tangible book value after giving effect to the conversion of our preferred shares |
US$ | US$ | ||||||
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after giving effect to the conversion of our preferred shares and this offering |
US$ | US$ | ||||||
Amount of dilution in net tangible book value to new investors in this offering |
US$ | US$ |
A US$1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of US$ per ADS would increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after giving effect to this offering by US$ million, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per Class A ordinary share and per ADS after giving effect to this offering by US$ per ordinary share and US$ per ADS and the dilution in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share and per ADS to new investors in this offering by US$ per ordinary share and US$ per ADS, assuming no change to the number of ADSs offered by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses.
The following table summarizes, on a pro forma as adjusted basis as of December 31, 2018, the differences between existing shareholders and the new investors with respect to the number of ordinary shares (in the form of ADSs or shares) purchased from us, the total consideration paid and the average price per ordinary share and per
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ADS paid before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. The total number of ordinary shares does not include Class A ordinary shares underlying the ADSs issuable upon the exercise of the over-allotment option granted to the underwriters.
The pro forma as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only. Our net tangible book value following the completion of this offering is subject to adjustment based on the actual initial public offering price of our ADSs and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.
The discussion and tables above assume no exercise of any outstanding share options outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. As of the date of this prospectus, there are 5,073,510 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding share options at a weighted average exercise price of US$0.1 per share. To the extent that any of these options are exercised, there will be further dilution to new investors.
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability. We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands because of certain benefits associated with being a Cayman Islands exempted company, such as political and economic stability, an effective judicial system, a favorable tax system, the absence of foreign exchange control or currency restrictions and the availability of professional and support services. However, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States and provides less protection for investors. In addition, Cayman Islands companies do not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States.
Substantially all of our assets are located outside the United States. In addition, most of our directors and officers are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States and all or a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or these persons, or to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts against us or them, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. It may also be difficult for you to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors.
We have appointed Puglisi & Associates, located at 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204, Newark, Delaware 19711 as our agent to receive service of process with respect to any action brought against us in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with this offering under the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any State in the United States or any action brought against us in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the County of New York in connection with this offering under the securities laws of the State of New York.
Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law, has advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would (i) recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or officers that are predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any state in the United States, or (ii) entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands against us or our directors or officers that are predicated upon the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any state in the United States.
Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP has informed us that although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the federal or state courts of the United States (and the Cayman Islands are not a party to any treaties for the reciprocal enforcement or recognition of such judgments), a judgment obtained in such jurisdiction will be recognized and enforced in the courts of the Cayman Islands at common law, without any re-examination of the merits of the underlying dispute, by an action commenced on the foreign judgment debt in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, provided such judgment (i) is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction, (ii) imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given, (iii) is final, (iv) is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty; and (v) was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands. However, the Cayman Islands courts are unlikely to enforce a judgment obtained from the U.S. courts under civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities law if such judgment is determined by the courts of the Cayman Islands to give rise to obligations to make payments that are penal or punitive in nature. Because such a determination has not yet been made by a court of the Cayman Islands, it is uncertain whether such civil liability judgments from U.S. courts would be enforceable in the Cayman Islands.
Han Kun Law Offices, our counsel as to PRC law, has advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of China would (i) recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts 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, or (ii) entertain original actions brought in each respective jurisdiction against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
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Han Kun Law Offices has further advised us that 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 form of reciprocity with the United States or the Cayman Islands that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, courts in China 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 law 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 United States or in the Cayman Islands. Under the PRC Civil Procedures Law, foreign shareholders may originate actions based on PRC law against a company in China for disputes relating to contracts or other property interests, the PRC court may accept a course of action based on the laws or the parties express mutual agreement in contracts choosing PRC courts for dispute resolution if (i) the contract is signed and/or performed within China, (ii) the subject of the action is located within China, (iii) the company (as defendant) has seizable properties within China, (iv) the company has a representative organization within China, or (v) other circumstances prescribed under the PRC law. The action may be initiated by a shareholder through filing a complaint with the PRC court. The PRC court will determine whether to accept the complaint in accordance with the PRC Civil Procedures Law. The shareholder may participate in the action by itself or entrust any other person or PRC legal counsel to participate on behalf of such shareholder. Foreign citizens and companies will have the same rights as PRC citizens and companies in an action unless the home jurisdiction of such foreign citizens or companies restricts the rights of PRC citizens and companies. However, it would be difficult for foreign shareholders to establish sufficient nexus to the PRC solely by virtue of holding our ADSs or ordinary shares.
In addition, it will be difficult for U.S. shareholders to originate actions against us in China in accordance with PRC laws because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and it will be difficult for U.S. shareholders, by virtue only of holding our ADSs or ordinary shares, to establish a connection to China for a PRC court to have jurisdiction as required under the PRC Civil Procedures Law.
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CORPORATE HISTORY AND STRUCTURE
Corporate History
We commenced our operations in November 2013 through Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd., or Beijing So-Young, a limited liability company established under the laws of the PRC, to provide medical aesthetic information.
In April 2014, we incorporated So-Young International Inc., or So-Young Cayman, in the Cayman Islands as our holding company. In May 2014, So-Young Cayman established a wholly owned subsidiary, So-Young Hong Kong Limited, in Hong Kong, which in turn established So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd., or Beijing Wanwei, a wholly owned PRC subsidiary in July 2014.
Due to the restrictions imposed by PRC laws and regulations on foreign ownership of companies engaged in value-added telecommunication services and certain other businesses, Beijing Wanwei entered into a series of contractual arrangements, as amended and restated, with Beijing So-Young and its shareholders, through which we obtained control over Beijing So-Young and its subsidiaries. As a result, we are regarded as the primary beneficiary of Beijing So-Young and its subsidiaries. We treat them as our consolidated affiliated entities under U.S. GAAP, and have consolidated the financial results of these entities in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We refer to Beijing Wanwei as our wholly foreign owned entity, or WFOE, and to Beijing So-Young as our variable interest entity, or VIE, in this prospectus. For more details and risks related to our variable interest entity structure, please see Contractual Arrangements with our VIE and Its Shareholders and Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Corporate Structure.
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The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure as of the date of this prospectus, including our significant subsidiaries and other entities that are material to our business, as of the date of this prospectus:
Note: |
|
(1) |
Shareholders of Beijing So-Young are Mr. Hui Shao, Mr. Xing Jin, and Mr. Tao Yu, holding 59.7%, 37.8%, and 2.5%, respectively, of the equity interest in Beijing So-Young. Mr. Hui Shao, Mr. Xing Jin and Mr. Tao Yu are our beneficiary owners; Mr. Shao is our director, Mr. Jin is our co-founder, director and chief executive officer, and Mr. Yu is our co-founder and chief information officer. |
Contractual Arrangements with Our VIE and Its Shareholders
The following is a summary of the currently effective contractual arrangements by and among our wholly-owned subsidiary, Beijing Wanwei, our VIE Beijing So-Young and its shareholders. These contractual arrangements enable us to (i) exercise effective control over our VIE; (ii) receive substantially all of the economic benefits of our VIE; and (iii) have an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the equity interests in and assets of our VIE when and to the extent permitted by PRC law.
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Agreements that provide us effective control over our VIE
Pursuant to the powers of attorney, each shareholder of VIE irrevocably authorized our WFOE to act on the behalf of such shareholder with respect to all matters concerning the shareholding of the shares in VIE, including without limitation, attending shareholders meetings of VIE, exercising all the shareholders rights and shareholders voting rights, and designating and appointing the legal representative, directors, supervisors, general managers and other senior management members of Beijing So-Young.
Pursuant to the equity pledge agreements, the shareholders pledge 100% of their equity interest in VIE to our WFOE to guarantee the performance by VIE and its shareholders of their obligations under the exclusive business cooperation agreement, the exclusive option agreements and the power of attorney. If events of default defined therein occur, upon giving written notice to the shareholders, our WFOE may exercise the right to enforce the pledge to the extent permitted by PRC laws, unless the event of default has been successfully resolved to the satisfaction of our WFOE. The shareholders of our VIE agree that, without our WFOEs prior written consent, during the term of the equity interest pledge agreement, they will not place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the equity interest in VIE or any portion thereof. As of the date of this prospectus, we have completed registering the equity pledge with the relevant office of the PRC State Administration of Market Regulation in accordance with the PRC Property Rights Law.
Spousal Consent Letter. The spouse of each shareholder of VIE has each signed a spousal consent letter. Under the spousal consent letter, the signing spouse unconditionally and irrevocably approved the execution by her spouse of the power of attorney, equity interest pledge agreement and exclusive option agreement, and that her spouse may perform, amend or terminate such agreements without her consent. The signing spouse confirms she will not assert any rights over the equity interests in VIE held by her spouse. In addition, in the event that the spouse obtains any equity interest in VIE held by her spouse for any reason, she agrees to be bound by and sign any legal documents substantially similar to the contractual arrangements entered into by her spouse, as may be amended from time to time.
Agreements that allow us to receive economic benefits from our VIE
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement. On November 1, 2018, Beijing So-Young and our WFOE entered into an exclusive business cooperation agreement. Pursuant to the exclusive business cooperation agreement, our WFOE has the exclusive right to provide Beijing So-Young with comprehensive technical support, consulting services and other services. Without prior written consent of our WFOE, Beijing So-Young agrees not to directly or indirectly accept the same or any similar services provided by any third party regarding the matters contemplated by this agreement. Beijing So-Young agrees to pay our WFOE service fees, which will be determined by our WFOE based on various factors, including but not limited to the complexity, cost and value of the services provided by our WFOE. Our WFOE will have exclusive and proprietary ownership, rights and interests in any and all intellectual properties arising out of or developed during the performance of this agreement. The agreement may be terminated in accordance with the provisions of this agreement.
Agreements that provide us with the option to purchase the equity interests in our VIE
Exclusive Option Agreement. Pursuant to the exclusive option agreement entered into on November 1, 2018, each shareholder of Beijing So-Young has irrevocably granted our WFOE an exclusive option to purchase, or have its designated person or persons to purchase, at its discretion, to the extent permitted under PRC law, all or part of the shareholders equity interests in Beijing So-Young. The purchase price shall be RMB10 (US$1.5), the amount of registered capital contributed by such shareholder of Beijing So-Young in Beijing So-Young or the minimum price required by PRC law. If our WFOE exercises the option to purchase part of the equity interest held by a shareholder, the purchase price shall be calculated proportionally. Without our WFOEs prior written consent, Beijing So-Young shall not amend its articles of association, increase or decrease the registered capital, sell or otherwise dispose of its material assets or beneficial interest, create or allow any encumbrance on its
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material assets or other beneficial interests, provide any loans to any third parties except for payables incurred in the ordinary course of business other than through loans, enter into any material contract with a value of more than RMB500,000 (US$72.7 thousand) (except those contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business), merge with or acquire any other persons or make any investments, or distribute dividends to the shareholders. Each shareholder of Beijing So-Young has agreed that, without our WFOEs prior written consent, he or she will not dispose of his or her equity interests in Beijing So-Young or create or allow any encumbrance on their equity interests. Moreover, without our WFOEs prior written consent, no dividend will be distributed to Beijing So-Youngs shareholders, and if any of the shareholders receives any profit, interest, dividend or proceeds of share transfer or liquidation, the shareholder must give such profit, interest, dividend and proceeds to our WFOE or its designated person(s). These agreements will remain effective until all equity interests of Beijing So-Young held by its shareholder have been transferred or assigned to our WFOE or its designated person(s).
In the opinion of Han Kun Law Offices, our PRC legal counsel:
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the ownership structures of our WFOE and our VIE, both currently and immediately after giving effect to this offering, will not result in any violation of PRC laws or regulations currently in effect; and |
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the contractual arrangements among our WFOE and our VIE and its shareholders governed by PRC law, both currently and immediately after giving effect to this offering, are valid, binding and enforceable, and will not result in any violation of PRC laws or regulations currently in effect. |
However, we have been further advised by our PRC legal counsel that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations and rules. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may in the future take a view that is contrary to or otherwise different from the above opinion of our PRC legal counsel. If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our online medical aesthetic service business do not comply with PRC government restrictions on foreign investment in our businesses, we could be subject to severe penalties including being prohibited from continuing operations. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Corporate StructureWe rely on contractual arrangements with our consolidated affiliated entity and its shareholders for our business operations, which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control.
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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) data for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and selected consolidated statements of cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of results expected for future periods. You should read this Selected Consolidated Financial Data section together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included elsewhere in this prospectus.
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
(in thousands, except for share and per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
Selected Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss)/Income Data: |
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Revenues |
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Information services |
19,869 | 143,613 | 415,119 | 60,377 | ||||||||||||
Reservation services |
29,221 | 115,692 | 202,107 | 29,395 | ||||||||||||
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Total revenues |
49,090 | 259,305 | 617,226 | 89,772 | ||||||||||||
Cost of revenues (1) |
(25,192 | ) | (44,799 | ) | (91,563 | ) | (13,317 | ) | ||||||||
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Gross profit |
23,898 | 214,506 | 525,663 | 76,455 | ||||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
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Sales and marketing expenses (1) |
(62,206 | ) | (127,462 | ) | (306,360 | ) | (44,558 | ) | ||||||||
General and administrative expenses (1) |
(18,043 | ) | (29,725 | ) | (75,442 | ) | (10,973 | ) | ||||||||
Research and development expenses (1) |
(17,932 | ) | (32,557 | ) | (94,726 | ) | (13,777 | ) | ||||||||
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Total operating expenses |
(98,181 | ) | (189,744 | ) | (476,528 | ) | (69,308 | ) | ||||||||
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(Loss)/Income from operations |
(74,283 | ) | 24,762 | 49,135 | 7,147 | |||||||||||
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(Loss)/Income before tax |
(81,036 | ) | 13,221 | 58,254 | 8,473 | |||||||||||
Income tax benefit/(expense) |
| 3,981 | (3,171 | ) | (461 | ) | ||||||||||
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Net (loss)/income |
(81,036 | ) | 17,202 | 55,083 | 8,012 | |||||||||||
Accretions of convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
(21,487 | ) | (28,521 | ) | (104,211 | ) | (15,157 | ) | ||||||||
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Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company |
(102,523 | ) | (11,319 | ) | (49,128 | ) | (7,145 | ) | ||||||||
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Net (loss)/income |
(81,036 | ) | 17,202 | 55,083 | 8,012 | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive income/(loss): |
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Foreign currency translation adjustment |
2,323 | (2,203 | ) | 34,439 | 5,009 | |||||||||||
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Total other comprehensive income/(loss) |
2,323 | (2,203 | ) | 34,439 | 5,009 | |||||||||||
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Total comprehensive (loss)/income |
(78,713 | ) | 14,999 | 89,522 | 13,021 | |||||||||||
Accretions of convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
(21,487 | ) | (28,521 | ) | (104,211 | ) | (15,157 | ) | ||||||||
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Comprehensive loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company |
(100,200 | ) | (13,522 | ) | (14,689 | ) | (2,136 | ) | ||||||||
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Net loss per ordinary share |
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Basic |
(3.81 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (2.00 | ) | (0.29 | ) | ||||||||
Diluted |
(3.81 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (2.00 | ) | (0.29 | ) | ||||||||
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Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing loss per share, basic |
26,882,387 | 26,882,387 | 24,555,427 | 24,555,427 | ||||||||||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing loss per share, diluted |
26,882,387 | 26,882,387 | 24,555,427 | 24,555,427 | ||||||||||||
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Note: |
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(1) |
Share-based compensation expenses were allocated as follows: |
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Cost of revenues |
(96 | ) | (89 | ) | (1,423 | ) | (207 | ) | ||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses |
(262 | ) | (490 | ) | (1,018 | ) | (148 | ) | ||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
(1,158 | ) | (1,675 | ) | (10,112 | ) | (1,471 | ) | ||||||||
Research and development expenses |
(168 | ) | (405 | ) | (13,306 | ) | (1,935 | ) | ||||||||
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Total |
(1,684 | ) | (2,659 | ) | (25,859 | ) | (3,761 | ) | ||||||||
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The following table presents our selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 and 2018.
The following table presents our selected consolidated cash flow data for the years presented:
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Selected Consolidated Cash Flow Data: |
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Net cash (used in)/generated from operating activities |
(40,756 | ) | 90,877 | 198,985 | 28,941 | |||||||||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities |
(108,345 | ) | 7,032 | (569,372 | ) | (82,811 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
122,690 | 324,671 | 485,414 | 70,601 | ||||||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
180 | (114 | ) | 7,497 | 1,090 | |||||||||||
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Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(26,231 | ) | 422,466 | 122,524 | 17,821 | |||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
44,624 | 18,393 | 440,859 | 64,120 | ||||||||||||
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Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |
18,393 | 440,859 | 563,383 | 81,941 | ||||||||||||
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MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties about our business and operations. Our actual results may differ materially from those we currently anticipate as a result of various factors, including those we describe under Risk Factors and elsewhere in this prospectus. See Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.
Overview
So-Young is No. 1 and most popular online destination for discovering, evaluating and reserving medical aesthetic services in China as measured by audience reach, user engagement, transaction value facilitated and trustworthiness, according to Frost & Sullivan.
Our business model comprises three integrated components: (i) original, reliable and professional content and its distribution through major social media networks and our targeted media platforms in China, (ii) highly engaged social community characterized by signature user-generated content, and (iii) transparent and user-friendly online reservation services for medical aesthetic treatment. With reliable and comprehensive content, as well as a multitude of social functions on our platform, users seeking medical aesthetic treatment can discover products and services, evaluate their quality, and reserve desired treatment.
We believe our business model, which connects a users innate desire to be more beautiful with a personal, emotionally-attached discovery and assessment process on our platform, is highly effective in facilitating users decision making and enhancing user experience. We also encourage users to rate, review and share their treatment experience on our platform. We believe the user-generated content, ratings and reviews on our platform incentivize medical aesthetic service providers to offer high-quality and diversified treatment with transparent pricing, while developing differentiated yet nationwide branding and reputation on our platform.
We monetize through information services fees and reservation services fees primarily from medical aesthetic service providers. Leveraging our rich content that effectively serves our engaged user base, we offer targeted information services, in the forms of pictures, videos or links, primarily to help our service providers increase their exposure, customer acquisition and reservation volume. We also earn reservation services fees primarily from medical aesthetic service providers on treatment booked through our platform by our users, as well as subsequent treatment that users purchase from such service providers and are recorded on our platform, as long as the sales leads were generated on and the service provider is still active on our platform. We enter into agreements with medical service providers in which we agree on the terms of information and/or reservation services offered. Agreements for information services typically have one-year terms and can be terminated by both parties. We can also modify the services at our discretion. Medical service providers who use our information services are obliged to comply with relevant laws and regulations and ensure the credibility and reliability of all information provided to us and/or distributed on our platform. We charge information service fees primarily (i) at a fixed fee per each days content display, (ii) based on a contractual rate per unit of output, such as per click, etc. and (iii) at a fixed fee per article posted on our social media accounts. These fees also vary according to the geographical location of the medical service providers and their target users in China, as well as the desirability of the online location where the content is displayed. These information services may be sold in combination as a bundled arrangement or separately on a stand-alone basis. For reservation services, the term of agreement is typically one year, and both parties can terminate the agreement with advanced written notice. Medical service providers are obliged to ensure that any treatments that can be reserved through our platform are fully licensed and comply with relevant laws and regulations, and that the descriptions of the treatments are accurate and truthful. Medical service providers also commit to offering the most competitive prices on our platform. We typically charge a reservation services fee rate of approximately 10% of the amount paid by consumers.
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We have grown rapidly while at the same time significantly improving our cost efficiency as our revenue growth significantly outpaced the increase in our cost and expenses. Our total revenues increased by 428.2% from RMB49.1 million in 2016 to RMB259.3 million in 2017, and further by 138.0% to RMB617.2 million (US$89.8 million) in 2018. Our gross profit increased significantly by 797.6% from RMB23.9 million in 2016 to RMB214.5 million in 2017, and further by 145.1% to RMB525.7 million (US$76.5 million) in 2018. Our gross margin improved from 48.7% in 2016 to 82.7% in 2017, and further improved to 85.2% in 2018.
Key Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
Our business and operating results are primarily affected by the general factors affecting Chinas medical aesthetic industry, including the increase in per capita disposable income and the growth in medical aesthetic spending in China. In addition, they are also affected by factors driving online media and social community in China, such as the growing number of online users, the improved telecommunications infrastructure and the increasing adoption of mobile payment. Furthermore, our business and operating results are influenced by PRC governmental policies and initiatives affecting the online medical aesthetic service and content distribution industries. Changes in any of these general factors could affect the demand for content and services on our platform and our results of operations.
Despite the general factors mentioned above, we believe our results of operations are more directly affected by the following specific factors.
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The size of our user base, the level of user engagement and the audience reach of our content. |
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The quality, integrity and diversity of our content. |
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The effectiveness and the formats of our information services for medical aesthetic service providers, including our ability to apply relevant technologies to enhance targeted information distribution and service provider exposure. |
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Our ability to increase transaction volume for medical aesthetic service providers. |
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The efficiency of our sales and marketing activities. |
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The diversity of our monetization channels, including the vertical expansion along the medical aesthetic industry value chain and the horizontal expansion into the massive consumption healthcare service market. |
We focus on (i) attracting and engaging users and (ii) increasing the number of paying medical service providers on our platform. We measure our effectiveness in attracting and engaging users primarily through tracking mobile MAUs and number of purchasing users, who made verified transactions with service providers. Average mobile MAUs increased by 115.1% from 456.6 thousand in 2016 to 982.1 thousand in 2017, and further increased by 42.1% to 1.4 million in 2018. Total number of purchasing users increased by 112.9% from 71.6 thousand in 2016 to 152.4 thousand in 2017, and further increased by 105.3% to 313.0 thousand in 2018.
We measure our effectiveness in increasing the number of paying medical service providers by tracking the number of service providers that pay for information services and/or reservation services, which increased by 63.6% from 1,309 in 2016 to 2,141 in 2017, and further increased by 52.1% to 3,256 in 2018.
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Key Components of Results of Operations
Revenues
The following table sets forth the components of our revenues by amounts and percentages of our total revenues for the years presented:
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | % | RMB | % | RMB | US$ | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except for percentages) |
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Revenues: |
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Information services |
19,869 | 40.5 | 143,613 | 55.4 | 415,119 | 60,377 | 67.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Reservation services |
29,221 | 59.5 | 115,692 | 44.6 | 202,107 | 29,395 | 32.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Total revenues |
49,090 | 100.0 | 259,305 | 100.0 | 617,226 | 89,772 | 100.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information services revenues . We generate revenues primarily from information services by placing information of medical aesthetic service providers on our platform. We also generate a small portion of our revenues by placing information of other consumption healthcare service providers, beauty salons and certain beauty product sellers on our platform or in our content distributed through social media networks.
Reservation services revenues . We generate revenues from reservation services primarily from medical aesthetic service providers on treatment booked through our platform by our users, as well as subsequent treatment that users purchase from such service providers and are recorded on our platform, as long as the sales leads were generated on and the service provider is still active on our platform. We typically charge a reservation services fee rate of approximately 10% of the amount paid by consumers. We also generate a small portion of reservation service revenues from other consumption healthcare service providers and beauty salons. See BusinessMonetizationReservation Services.
Cost of revenues
Cost of revenues primarily consists of payroll costs, event organization costs, servers and bandwidth costs, payment processing fee paid to third party online platform, tax related surcharges, rental expenses and other direct costs related to the operation of business.
Gross profit and gross margin
The following table sets forth our gross profit and gross margin for the years presented:
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except for percentages) | ||||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
RMB23,898 | RMB214,506 | RMB525,663 | US$ | 76,455 | |||||||||||
Gross margin |
48.7% | 82.7% | 85.2% |
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Operating expenses
We classify our operating expenses into three categories: sales and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses. The following table sets forth the break-down of our total operating expenses and as percentages of our total revenues for the years presented:
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | % | RMB | % | RMB | US$ | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except for percentages) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses |
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Sales and marketing expenses |
(62,206 | ) | 126.7 | (127,462 | ) | 49.2 | (306,360 | ) | (44,558 | ) | 49.6 | |||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
(18,043 | ) | 36.8 | (29,725 | ) | 11.5 | (75,442 | ) | (10,973 | ) | 12.2 | |||||||||||||||||
Research and development expenses |
(17,932 | ) | 36.5 | (32,557 | ) | 12.6 | (94,726 | ) | (13,777 | ) | 15.3 | |||||||||||||||||
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Total |
(98,181 | ) | 200.0 | (189,744 | ) | 73.3 | (476,528 | ) | (69,308 | ) | 77.1 | |||||||||||||||||
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Sales and marketing expenses . Sales and marketing expenses primarily consist of marketing and user acquisition activities expenses, payroll costs and share-based compensation expenses. In terms of absolute amount, we expect our sales and marketing expenses to grow in the foreseeable future.
The following table sets forth the break-down of our sales and marketing expenses and as percentages of our total revenues for the years presented:
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | % | RMB | % | RMB | US$ | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except for percentages) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses |
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Marketing and user acquisition activities expenses |
(48,721 | ) | 99.2 | (94,495 | ) | 36.4 | 233,010 | 33,890 | 37.8% | |||||||||||||||||||
Payroll costs |
(10,554 | ) | 21.5 | (28,350 | ) | 10.9 | 60,553 | 8,807 | 9.8% | |||||||||||||||||||
Others |
(2,931 | ) | 6.0 | (4,617 | ) | 1.9 | 12,797 | 1,861 | 2.0% | |||||||||||||||||||
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Total |
(62,206 | ) | 126.7 | (127,462 | ) | 49.2 | 306,360 | 44,558 | 49.6% | |||||||||||||||||||
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General and administrative expenses . General and administrative expenses primarily consist of payroll costs, general office expenses, share-based compensation expenses and professional service fees related to past financing transactions.
Research and development expenses . Research and development expenses primarily consist of payroll costs, share-based compensation expenses and rental expenses incurred associated with research and development.
Taxation
Cayman Islands
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 brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. In addition, the Cayman Islands does not impose withholding tax on dividend payments.
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Hong Kong
Under the current Hong Kong Inland Revenue Ordinance, from the year of assessment 2018/2019 onwards, the subsidiaries in Hong Kong are subject to profits tax at the rate of 8.25% on assessable profits up to HK$2,000,000; and 16.5% on any part of assessable profits over HK$2,000,000. We had no taxable income generated from operations in Hong Kong in 2016 and 2017, while we generated income from operations in 2018. Additionally, payments of dividends by our subsidiary incorporated in Hong Kong to the Company is not subject to any Hong Kong withholding tax.
PRC
Generally, our PRC subsidiary, consolidated variable interest entity and its subsidiaries are subject to enterprise income tax on their taxable income in China at a statutory rate of 25%. The enterprise income tax is calculated based on the entitys global income as determined under PRC tax laws and accounting standards.
Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd., our variable interest entity, was a High and New Technology Enterprise, or HNTE in 2017. Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd., our WFOE, was a HNTE in 2018. They were subject to the preferential tax rate of 15% in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Dividends paid by our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in China to our intermediary holding company in Hong Kong will be subject to a withholding tax rate of 10%, unless the relevant Hong Kong entity satisfies all the requirements under the Arrangement between China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital and receives approval from the relevant tax authority. If our Hong Kong subsidiary satisfies all the requirements under the tax arrangement and receives approval from the relevant tax authority, then the dividends paid to the Hong Kong subsidiary would be subject to withholding tax at the standard rate of 5%. Effective from November 1, 2015, the above mentioned approval requirement has been abolished, but a Hong Kong entity is still required to file application package with the relevant tax authority, and settle the overdue taxes if the preferential 5% tax rate is denied based on the subsequent review of the application package by the relevant tax authority. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Corporate StructureWe may rely on dividends paid by our PRC subsidiary to fund cash and financing requirements. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business and to pay dividends to holders of the ADSs and our ordinary shares.
If our holding company in the Cayman Islands or any of our subsidiaries outside of China were deemed to be a resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, it would be subject to enterprise income tax on its worldwide income at a rate of 25%. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Doing Business in ChinaIf we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders or ADS holders.
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated results of operations for the years presented, both in absolute amount and as a percentage of our revenues for the years presented. This information should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The results of operations in any particular period are not necessarily indicative of our future trends.
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | % | RMB | % | RMB | US$ | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except for percentages) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
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Information services |
19,869 | 40.5 | 143,613 | 55.4 | 415,119 | 60,377 | 67.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Reservation services |
29,221 | 59.5 | 115,692 | 44.6 | 202,107 | 29,395 | 32.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Total revenues |
49,090 | 100.0 | 2 59,305 | 100.0 | 617,226 | 89,772 | 100 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Cost of revenues |
(25,192 | ) | (51.3 | ) | (44,799 | ) | (17.3 | ) | (91,563 | ) | (13,317 | ) | (14.8 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
23,898 | 48.7 | 2 14,506 | 82.7 | 525,663 | 76,455 | 85.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Operating expenses |
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Sales and marketing |
(62,206 | ) | (126.7 | ) | (127,462 | ) | (49.2 | ) | (306,360 | ) | (44,558 | ) | (49.6 | ) | ||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
(18,043 | ) | (36.8 | ) | (29,725 | ) | (11.5 | ) | (75,442 | ) | (10,973 | ) | (12.2 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Research and development |
(17,932 | ) | (36.5 | ) | (32,557 | ) | (12.6 | ) | (94,726 | ) | (13,777 | ) | (15.3 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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Total operating expenses |
(98,181 | ) | (200.0 | ) | (189,744 | ) | (73.3 | ) | (476,528 | ) | (69,308 | ) | (77.1 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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(Loss)/Income from operation |
(74,283 | ) | (151.3 | ) | 2 4,762 | 9.4 | 49,135 | 7,147 | 8.1 | |||||||||||||||||||
(Loss)/Income before tax |
(81,036 | ) | (165.1 | ) | 13,221 | 5.1 | 58,254 | 8,473 | 9.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Income tax benefit/(expense) |
| | 3,981 | 1.5 | (3,171 | ) | (461 | ) | (0.5 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Net (loss)/income |
(81,036 | ) | (165.1 | ) | 17,202 | 6.6 | 55,083 | 8,012 | 8.9 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Year ended December 31, 2018 compared to year ended December 31, 2017
Revenues
Our revenues increased by 138.0% from RMB259.3 million in 2017 to RMB617.2 million (US$89.8 million) in 2018, primarily resulted from the expansion of our user base and increased level of user engagement. Average mobile MAUs increased by 42.1% from 1.0 million in 2017 to 1.4 million in 2018. Total number of purchasing users increased by 105.3% from 152.4 thousand in 2017 to 313.0 thousand in 2018.
Our revenues from information services increased by 189.1% from RMB143.6 million in 2017 to RMB415.1 million (US$60.4 million) in 2018. This increase was primarily attributable to the increase in the number of paying medical service providers on our platform from 2,141 in 2017 to 3,256 in 2018, especially the increase in the number of medical service providers subscribing to information services on our platform from 1,295 in 2017 to 2,229 in 2018, as well as the increase in average information service spending by subscribing medical service providers. Such increases were in turn driven by our expanding and increasingly engaged user base as well as the increased effectiveness of our customer acquisition solution.
Our revenues from reservation services increased by 74.7% from RMB115.7 million in 2017 to RMB202.1 million (US$29.4 million) in 2018. This increase was primarily attributable to a 73.3% increase in aggregate value of medical aesthetic treatment transactions facilitated by our platform from RMB1.2 billion in 2017 to RMB2.1 billion (US$306.6 million) in 2018. The increase in transaction value was primarily driven by the increase in the number of purchasing users from 152.4 thousand in 2017 to 313.0 thousand in 2018, which in turn
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drew an increasing number of medical service providers to our platform. We also expanded our reservation function in terms of types of medical aesthetic treatment available and number of medical aesthetic service providers in various cities.
Cost of revenues
Our cost of revenues increased by 104.4% from RMB44.8 million in 2017 to RMB91.6 million (US$13.3 million) in 2018. The increase was primarily due to the increase in our payroll costs by RMB26.6 million, which was driven by the increase in our operational staff headcount from 183 as of December 31, 2017 to 346 as of December 31, 2018.
Gross profit
As a result of the foregoing, our gross profit increased by 145.1% from RMB214.5 million in 2017 to RMB525.7 million (US$76.5 million) in 2018. Our gross margin improved from 82.7% in 2017 to 85.2% in 2018.
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing expenses . Our sales and marketing expenses increased by 140.4% from RMB127.5 million in 2017 to RMB306.4 million (US$44.6 million) in 2018. The increase was primarily due to (i) an increase of RMB138.5 million in our expenses associated with marketing and user acquisition activities as we continued to enhance our brand recognition, (ii) an increase of RMB32.2 million in payroll costs from the expansion of our sales and marketing team and (iii) an increase of RMB0.5 million in share-based compensation expenses.
General and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses increased by 153.8% from RMB29.7 million in 2017 to RMB75.4 million (US$11.0 million) in 2018. The increase was primarily due to (i) an increase of RMB12.3 million in payroll costs in connection with the expansion of our administrative team (ii) an increase of RMB8.4 million in share-based compensation expenses and (iii) an increase of RMB14.7 million in professional services fees that was incurred for financing activities in 2018. Our general and administrative expenses grew faster in 2018 than in the earlier periods, primarily because of our relatively short operating history and the rapid development of our internal operations capabilities in an effort to accommodate anticipated future growth.
Research and development expenses. Our research and development expenses increased by 191.0% from RMB32.6 million in 2017 to RMB94.7 million (US$13.8 million) in 2018, primarily due to (i) an increase of RMB43.2 million in payroll costs in connection with the expansion of our research and development team and (ii) an increase of RMB12.9 million in share-based compensation expenses. Our research and development expenses grew faster in 2018 than in the earlier periods, primarily due to our commitment to developing our technology capacity to further enhance users and medical service providers experience on our platform.
(Loss)/Income from operations
As a result of our strong revenue growth, our income from operations increased by 98.4% from RMB24.8 million in 2017 to RMB49.1 million (US$7.1 million) in 2018.
Income tax expense
We recorded income tax expense of RMB3.2 million (US$0.5 million) in 2018, compared to income tax benefit of RMB4.0 million in 2017, primarily attributable to the increase of our taxable income during 2018.
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Net (loss)/income
As a result of the foregoing, our net income increased by 220.2% from RMB17.2 million in 2017 to RMB55.1 million (US$8.0 million) in 2018.
Year ended December 31, 2017 compared to year ended December 31, 2016
Revenues
Our revenues increased significantly by 428.2% from RMB49.1 million in 2016 to RMB259.3 million in 2017, primarily resulted from the expansion of our user base and its increased level of engagement. Average mobile MAUs increased by 115.1% from 456.6 thousand in 2016 to 982.1 thousand in 2017. Total number of purchasing users increased by 112.9% from 71.6 thousand in 2016 to 152.4 thousand in 2017.
Our revenues from information services increased by 622.8% from RMB19.9 million in 2016 to RMB143.6 million in 2017. This increase was primarily attributable to the increase in the number of paying medical service providers on our platform from 1,309 in 2016 to 2,141 in 2017, especially the increase in the number of medical service providers subscribing to information services on our platform from 467 in 2016 to 1,295 in 2017, which were in turn driven by our larger and more engaged user base as well as the increased effectiveness of our customer acquisition solutions.
Our revenues from reservation services increased by 295.9% from RMB29.2 million in 2016 to RMB115.7 million in 2017. This increase was primarily attributable to a 192.2% increase in value of medical aesthetic treatment transactions facilitated by our platform from RMB416.4 million in 2016 to RMB1.2 billion in 2017, which is primarily driven by the increase of the number of purchasing users from 71.6 thousand in 2016 to 152.4 thousand in 2017. We also expanded our reservation function in terms of types of medical aesthetic treatment available and number of medical aesthetic service providers. In addition, we deployed a subsequent order reporting system for service providers in 2017 to pay reservation services fees for the subsequent treatment received by our users. Such system allowed us to more effectively monitor all treatment received by our users for which medical aesthetic service providers are obligated to pay us in the form of reservation fees.
Cost of revenues
Our cost of revenues increased by 77.8% from RMB25.2 million in 2016 to RMB44.8 million in 2017. The increase was primarily due to the increase in (i) payroll costs by RMB12.3 million, which resulted from an increase in our operational staff headcount from 95 as of December 31, 2016 to 183 as of December 31, 2017, and (ii) event organization costs by RMB2.2 million, which resulted from increased spending on annual events.
Gross profit
Our gross profit increased significantly by 797.6% from RMB23.9 million in 2016 to RMB214.5 million in 2017. Our gross margin improved from 48.7% in 2016 to 82.7% in 2017, mainly because of our rapid business expansion and economies of scale.
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing expenses . Our sales and marketing expenses increased by 104.9% from RMB62.2 million in 2016 to RMB127.5 million in 2017. The increase was primarily due to (i) an increase of RMB45.8 million in our expenses associated with marketing and user acquisition activities, as we continued to enhance our brand recognition, (ii) an increase of RMB17.8 million in payroll costs from the expansion of our sales and marketing team and (iii) an increase of RMB0.2 million in share-based compensation expenses.
General and administrative expenses . Our general and administrative expenses increased by 64.7% from RMB18.0 million in 2016 to RMB29.7 million in 2017. The increase was primarily due to (i) an increase of
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RMB4.4 million in payroll costs from the expansion of our administrative team, (ii) an increase of RMB0.5 million in share-based compensation and (iii) an increase of RMB1.7 million in professional services fees that was incurred for financing activities in 2017.
Research and development expenses . Our research and development expenses increased by 81.6% from RMB17.9 million in 2016 to RMB32.6 million in 2017, primarily due to (i) an increase of RMB13.9 million in payroll costs in connection with the expansion of our research and development team and (ii) an increase of RMB0.2 million in share-based compensation.
(Loss)/Income from operations
As a result of the strong revenue growth and economies of scale, we had income from operations of RMB24.8 million in 2017, compared to loss from operations of RMB74.3 million in 2016.
Income tax benefit
We recorded an income tax benefit of RMB4.0 million in 2017, which resulted from the utilization of prior year tax loss carryforward.
For the year ended December 31, 2016, we recorded nil income tax expense, mainly attributable to the full allowance of the deferred tax assets mainly due to historical operating losses.
Net (loss)/income
As a result of the foregoing, we had a net income of RMB17.2 million in 2017, compared to a net loss of RMB81.0 million in 2016.
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Selected Quarterly Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our unaudited condensed consolidated quarterly results of operations for each of the eight quarters from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018. You should read the following table in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have prepared this unaudited condensed consolidated quarterly financial data on the same basis as we have prepared our audited consolidated financial statements. The unaudited condensed consolidated quarterly financial data include all adjustments, consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments, that our management considered necessary for a fair statement of our financial position and results of operation for the quarters presented.
For the Three Months Ended, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 31,
2017 |
June 30,
2017 |
September 30,
2017 |
December 31,
2017 |
March 31,
2018 |
June 30,
2018 |
September 30,
2018 |
December 31,
2018 |
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(Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in RMB thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
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Information services |
10,592 | 23,336 | 48,187 | 61,498 | 70,210 | 103,091 | 114,740 | 127,078 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reservation services |
16,965 | 26,526 | 35,848 | 36,353 | 43,490 | 49,065 | 53,617 | 55,935 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total revenues |
27,557 | 49,862 | 84,035 | 97,851 | 113,700 | 152,156 | 168,357 | 183,013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of revenues |
(7,304 | ) | (9,266 | ) | (12,082 | ) | (16,147 | ) | (14,789 | ) | (21,131 | ) | (24,014 | ) | (31,629 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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Gross profit |
20,253 | 40,596 | 71,953 | 81,704 | 98,911 | 131,025 | 144,343 | 151,384 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|
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Operating expenses |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses (1) |
(23,488 | ) | (33,273 | ) | (39,203 | ) | (31,498 | ) | (44,760 | ) | (89,311 | ) | (108,413 | ) | (63,876 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses (1) |
(4,926 | ) | (6,459 | ) | (6,634 | ) | (11,706 | ) | (11,097 | ) | (13,095 | ) | (23,443 | ) | (27,807 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Research and development expenses (1) |
(6,291 | ) | (7,563 | ) | (8,933 | ) | (9,770 | ) | (13,423 | ) | (20,800 | ) | (34,551 | ) | (25,952 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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Total operating expenses |
(34,705 | ) | (47,295 | ) | (54,770 | ) | (52,974 | ) | (69,280 | ) | (123,206 | ) | (166,407 | ) | (117,635 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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(Loss)/Income from operations |
(14,452 | ) | (6,699 | ) | 17,183 | 28,730 | 29,631 | 7,819 | (22,064 | ) | 33,749 | |||||||||||||||||||||
(Loss)/Income before tax |
(18,587 | ) | (14,516 | ) | 16,329 | 29,995 | 33,032 | 9,989 | (26,370 | ) | 41,603 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Income tax benefit/(expenses) |
1,636 | 1,281 | (1,552 | ) | 2,616 | (2,416 | ) | (1,119 | ) | 1,154 | (790 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Net (loss)/income |
(16,951 | ) | (13,235 | ) | 14,777 | 32,611 | 30,616 | 8,870 | (25,216 | ) | 40,813 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Accretions of convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
(6,773 | ) | (6,848 | ) | (6,924 | ) | (7,976 | ) | (18,802 | ) | (21,506 | ) | (28,120 | ) | (35,783 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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Net (loss)/income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company |
(23,724 | ) | (20,083 | ) | 7,853 | 24,635 | 11,814 | (12,636 | ) | (53,336 | ) | 5,030 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Note:
(1) |
Share-based compensation expense were allocated in operating expenses as follows: |
For the Three Months Ended, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 31,
2017 |
June 30,
2017 |
September 30,
2017 |
December 31,
2017 |
March 31,
2018 |
June 30,
2018 |
September 30,
2018 |
December 31,
2018 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in RMB thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses |
130 | 131 | 121 | 108 | 156 | 316 | 358 | 188 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
417 | 422 | 421 | 415 | 401 | 2,405 | 2,817 | 4,489 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Research and development expenses |
104 | 105 | 101 | 95 | 106 | 483 | 12,142 | 575 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total |
651 | 658 | 643 | 618 | 663 | 3,204 | 15,317 | 5,252 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Quarterly trends
We have experienced continued growth in our revenues for the eight quarters from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018. Driven by the continued expansion of our user base, increased level of user engagement as well as the increase in the number of paying medical aesthetic service providers, our revenues from information services and reservation services both increased continuously and substantially during these periods.
The general increase in our costs during these periods was mainly attributable to the expansion of our business as well as the resultant increase in our operational staff headcount and payroll costs. The decrease in the cost of revenues from the fourth quarter of 2017 to the first quarter of 2018 was because of the decrease in event organization costs.
Our quarterly operating expenses also increased for most quarters during these periods, which was mainly due to the increase in our expense associated with marketing and user acquisition activities and the increase in our payroll costs. The decrease in our quarterly operating expenses from the third quarter of 2017 to the fourth quarter of 2017 and from the third quarter of 2018 to the fourth quarter of 2018 was primarily because of seasonality factors. We typically reduce our marketing and user acquisition activities in the months leading to the first quarters, during which our business tend to be the slowest as a result of the Chinese New Year. In contrast, our operating expenses tend to peak during the second and the third quarters as we built up our marketing efforts in preparation for the various shopping festivals in China during the fourth quarters.
Our results of operations are subject to fluctuations and changes in market conditions, including seasonal factors. Our business is typically the slowest during the Chinese New Year, which generally falls in the first quarter of the year, while we generally experience strongest sales and platform activities in the fourth quarter of the year. The impact of fluctuations and changes of market conditions, however, was not apparent historically due to the rapid growth of our business historically. Due to our limited operating history, the trends that we have experienced in the past may not apply to, or be indicative of, our future operating results.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the years presented:
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from operating activities |
(40,756 | ) | 90,877 | 198,985 | 28,941 | |||||||||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities |
(108,345 | ) | 7,032 | (569,372 | ) | (82,811 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
122,690 | 324,671 | 485,414 | 70,601 | ||||||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
180 | (114 | ) | 7,497 | 1,090 | |||||||||||
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Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(26,231 | ) | 422,466 | 122,524 | 17,821 | |||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period |
44,624 | 18,393 | 440,859 | 64,120 | ||||||||||||
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Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period |
18,393 | 440,859 | 563,383 | 81,941 | ||||||||||||
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To date, we have financed our operating and investing activities primarily through net cash generated from operating activities and historical equity financing activities. As of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, our cash and cash equivalents were RMB18.4 million, RMB440.9 million and RMB563.4 million (US$81.9 million), respectively. Our cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of cash on hand and demand deposits.
We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents and our anticipated cash flows from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated working capital requirements and capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months. After this offering, we may decide to enhance our liquidity position or increase our cash reserve for future investments through additional capital and finance funding. The issuance and sale of additional equity would result in further dilution to our shareholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed obligations and could result in operating covenants that would restrict our operations. We cannot assure you that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
As of December 31, 2018, 58.6% and 41.4% of our cash and cash equivalents were held in China and overseas, respectively, of which 18.5% were denominated in U.S. dollars and 81.5% were denominated in Renminbi. As of December 31, 2018, 16.7% and 83.3% of our short-term investments were held in China and overseas, respectively, of which 71.8% were denominated in Renminbi. As of December 31, 2018, 40.5% of our cash and cash equivalents were held by our VIE and its subsidiaries. Although we consolidate the results of our variable interest entity and its subsidiaries, we only have access to the assets or earnings of our variable interest entity and its subsidiaries through our contractual arrangements with our variable interest entity and its shareholders. See Corporate History and StructureContractual Arrangements with Our VIE and Its Shareholders. For restrictions and limitations on liquidity and capital resources as a result of our corporate structure, see Holding Company Structure.
In utilizing the proceeds we expect to receive from this offering, we may make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary, establish new PRC subsidiaries and make capital contributions to these new PRC subsidiaries, make loans to our PRC subsidiary, or acquire offshore entities with operations in China in offshore transactions. However, most of these uses are subject to PRC regulations. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Doing Business in ChinaPRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of this offering to make loans to or make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary and variable interest entity, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business and Use of Proceeds.
We expect that a substantial majority of our future revenues will be denominated in Renminbi. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions,
82
interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior SAFE approval as long as certain routine procedural requirements are fulfilled. Therefore, our PRC subsidiary is allowed to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior SAFE approval by following certain routine procedural requirements. However, approval from or registration with competent government authorities is required where the Renminbi 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 at its discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions in the future.
Operating activities
Net cash generated from operating activities in 2018 was RMB199.0 million (US$28.9 million). The difference between net cash generated from operating activities and net income of RMB55.1 million (US$8.0 million) in the same period was substantially due to (i) the increase of RMB71.0 million (US$10.3 million) in contract liabilities that primarily refer to the prepayment of information service fees from medical aesthetic service providers, (ii) the increase of RMB39.3 million (US$5.7 million) in accrued expenses and other current liabilities that primarily include accrued professional service fees and advanced payment from users in the form of unearned reservation services fees for treatment that have not been completed, (iii) an increase in tax payable of RMB31.7 million (US$4.6 million), and (iv) the increase of RMB29.2 million (US$4.2 million) in salary and welfare payables. Such difference is partially offset by an increase of RMB33.4 million (US$4.9 million) in prepayment and other current assets, primarily in the form of prepaid fees paid to user acquisition channels and an increase of RMB21.8 million (US$3.2 million) in deferred tax assets.
Net cash generated from operating activities in 2017 was RMB90.9 million. The difference between net cash generated from operating activities and net income of RMB17.2 million in the same period was substantially due to (i) the increase of RMB41.4 million in contract liabilities that primarily refer to the prepayment of information service fees from medical aesthetic service providers, (ii) the increase of RMB14.2 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities that primarily include accrued professional service fees and advanced payment from users in the form of unearned reservation services fees for treatment that have not been verified to have been completed, (iii) the increase of RMB21.6 million in salary and welfare payables, and (iv) an increase in tax payable of RMB9.2 million. Such difference is partially offset by (i) an increase of RMB11.0 million in prepayment and other current assets, primarily in the form of prepaid fees paid to user acquisition channels, (ii) an increase in deferred tax assets of RMB9.1 million, and (iii) an increase of RMB6.5 million in trade receivables.
Net cash used in operating activities in 2016 was RMB40.8 million. The difference between net cash used in operating activities and net loss of RMB81.0 million in the same period was primarily due to (i) the increase of RMB15.8 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, primarily including advanced payment from users in the form of unearned reservation services fees for treatment that have not been performed, as well as payment collected on behalf of and payable to service providers, (ii) the increase of RMB12.9 million in salary and welfare payables, and (iii) the increase of RMB7.5 million in the amortization of non-cash marketing services contributed by certain shareholder. Such difference is partially offset by an increase of RMB2.6 million in receivables from online payment platforms.
Investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities in 2018 was RMB569.4 million (US$82.8 million), primarily due to purchase of short-term investments and term deposits of RMB1,130.2 million (US$164.4 million) and cash paid for long-term investment of RMB20.7 million (US$3.0 million), offset by proceeds from maturities of short-term investments and term deposits of RMB587.6 million (US$85.5 million).
Net cash generated from investing activities in 2017 was RMB7.0 million, primarily due to proceeds from maturities of short-term investments of RMB40.7 million and proceeds from repayment of the loans of
83
RMB9.0 million, partially offset by purchase of short-term investments of RMB27.6 million and cash paid for long-term investments of RMB12.1 million.
Net cash used in investing activities in 2016 was RMB108.3 million, primarily due to purchase of short-term investments of RMB121.1 million and cash paid for advances to related party of RMB15.3 million, partially offset by proceeds from maturities of short-term investments of RMB30.0 million.
Financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities in 2018 was RMB485.4 million (US$70.6 million), primarily due to proceeds from issuance of preferred shares, net of issuance cost.
Net cash provided by financing activities in 2017 was RMB324.7 million, primarily due to proceeds from issuance of preferred shares, net of issuance cost.
Net cash provided by financing activities in 2016 was RMB122.7 million, primarily due to proceeds from issuance of preferred shares, net of issuance cost.
Capital expenditures
Our capital expenditures are primarily incurred for purchases of electronic equipment, furniture and office equipment, as well as leasehold improvements. Our capital expenditures were RMB0.9 million in 2016, RMB0.2 million in 2017 and RMB6.4 million (US$0.9 million) in 2018. We intend to fund our future capital expenditures with our existing cash balance. We will continue to make capital expenditures to meet the expected growth of our business.
Contractual obligations
The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2018:
Payment due by December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
2023 and
thereafter |
|||||||||||||||||||
(RMB in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating lease obligations (1) |
267,797 | 47,966 | 49,567 | 45,309 | 45,615 | 79,340 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Total |
267,797 | 47,966 | 49,567 | 45,309 | 45,615 | 79,340 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Note: |
|
(1) |
Operating lease obligations consist of the obligations under the lease agreements covering various facilities. |
Other than as shown above, we did not have any significant capital and other commitments, long-term obligations or guarantees as of December 31, 2018.
Off-Balance Sheet Commitments and Arrangements
We have not entered into any financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties. In addition, we have not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to our shares and classified as shareholders equity or that are not reflected in our consolidated financial statements. Furthermore, we do not have any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity. We do not have any variable interest in any unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit support to us or engages in leasing, hedging or product development services with us.
84
Critical Accounting Policies
An accounting policy is considered critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time such estimate is made, and if different accounting estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the consolidated financial statements.
We prepare our financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions. We continually evaluate these estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, our own historical experiences and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from our expectations as a result of changes in our estimates. Some of our accounting policies require a higher degree of judgment than others in their application and require us to make significant accounting estimates.
The following descriptions of critical accounting policies, judgments and estimates should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and other disclosures included in this prospectus. When reviewing our financial statements, you should consider (i) our selection of critical accounting policies, (ii) the judgments and other uncertainties affecting the application of such policies and (iii) the sensitivity of reported results to changes in conditions and assumptions.
Principle of consolidation
Our consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of our Company, our subsidiaries, our consolidated VIE and subsidiaries of VIE for which we are the primary beneficiary. All transactions and balances among our Company, our subsidiaries, our consolidated VIE and their respective subsidiaries have been eliminated upon consolidation.
We set up a joint venture named So-Young Medical Cosmetology (Beijing) Management Consulting Co., Ltd. in May 2016, and owned 70% of equity interest. We assessed this investment in Medical Cosmetology under ASC Topic 810, Consolidation (ASC 810) and concluded that Medical Cosmetology is not a variable interest entity as none of the criteria of ASC 810-10-15-14 was met. As such, Medical Cosmetology is not within the scope of ASC 810-20 and should be evaluated for consolidation under the voting interest model. Because of the existence of substantive participating rights of the 30% equity investor, including the joint approval of material operating decisions, such as appointment of key management and determination of key managements compensation consistent with ASC 810-10-25-11, we do not have unilateral rights over this investment. Therefore, we do not consolidate Medical Cosmetology but account for this investment using equity method in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification 323, InvestmentsEquity Method and Joint Ventures.
Revenue recognition
We adopted ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, for all periods presented. Consistent with the criteria of Topic 606, we recognize revenue to depict the transfer of the promised goods or services to the customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services.
Under ASC 606, we determine revenue recognition through the following steps:
|
identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer; |
|
identification of the performance obligations in the contract; |
|
determination of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; |
85
|
allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and |
|
recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy a performance obligation. |
The following is a description of the accounting policy for our principal revenue streams.
Information service
We generate revenue from offering information services primarily to help medical aesthetic service providers better introduce their services, and increase their customer base. We help the service providers introduce their services through information display, in formats such as profile pages and banners, to increase exposure on the platform. We also place content of participating service providers on social platforms in the forms of pictures, videos or links.
We generate our information service revenue primarily i) at a fixed fee per each days content display, ii) based on a contractual rate per unit of output, such as per click, etc. and iii) at a fixed fee per each article posted on our social media accounts. These information services may be sold in combination as a bundled arrangement or separately on a stand-alone basis.
Service providers can choose to sign up arrangements through our online information service system or sign up offline arrangements. Advance payment is required when signing up the arrangement. In the case of signing up online arrangements, the service providers are required to purchase So-Young tokens, or the Token, in the service provider account as the information service is priced in token in the on-line platform. The Token will be locked in the individual service provider account when a service provider places an order online and will be deducted from the service provider account when service is performed. On a recurring basis, we offer free Tokens to service providers to as certain percentage of purchased Tokens. The free Tokens function the same way as the purchased Tokens, which represent an advance payment from customers. Token is the virtual currency of our platform that are interchangeable and not tied directly to any specific revenue transaction because the Tokens are fungible. As such, we value the Tokens based on a average pricing method to determine the transaction price for the specific information services provided to the service provider. The Tokens are not transferable or refundable and are generally consumed in three months after purchased or given for free. The value of expired Tokens has been immaterial. In the case of signing up off-line arrangements, the service providers are required to make cash advance payment for each individual contract. Contract consideration is determined and fixed in cash at the inception of contract.
The fees for the information services above are recognized in the period when information service is delivered as evidenced in a manner satisfying the types of engagements selected by the service providers, such as display of content, clicks on content, and/or post of articles on our platform. Arrangements involving multiple performance obligations primarily consist of combinations of the above information services. For arrangements that include a combination of these services, we use an estimate of the standalone selling price for these services in order to allocate any potential discount to all performance obligations in the arrangement. The estimate of standalone selling price is based on a standalone selling price basis. We believe the use of the estimation approach and allocation of the transaction price on a relative standalone selling price basis to each performance obligation result in revenue recognition in a manner consistent with the underlying economics of the transaction and the allocation principle included in ASC 606.
We also provide other services, which are also presented under information service, primarily comprising (i) service fee received from financial institutions for sales facilitation, ii) service fee for training courses provided to service providers, and iii) service fee for offline event organization, etc. Revenue is recognized when these services are rendered. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017 and 2018, the revenues derived from other services are not significant.
86
Barter transactions
We entered into agreements with service providers whereby we provided information service as the consideration for sharing advertising space purchased by the service providers from other third party providers. In general, the service provider would share certain percentage of the purchased advertising space with us. In exchange, we would provide the Tokens with the same value of the shared advertising space to the service provider based on the service providers purchase price with the third party and the shared percentage of the advertising space. Revenue from the barter transactions is recognized when information service is provided as discussed above and the expense related to the shared advertising space is recognized over the duration of display. We use the fair value of the goods or services received when measuring the non-cash consideration for information service revenue earned. We will only measure the non-cash consideration indirectly by reference to the standalone selling price of the goods or services surrendered if the fair value of the goods or services received is not reasonably estimable. We recognized revenue from barter transactions amounted to nil, RMB0.9 million and RMB15.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. The expense recognized from barter transaction for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 were nil, RMB1.9 million and RMB19.7 million, respectively.
Reservation service
We earn reservation service fees primarily from medical aesthetic service providers when a medical or beauty treatment is performed for our user through reservation from our platform. Such fees are generally determined as an agreed percentage of the value of service actually provided by service providers. As per our agreements with service providers, we collect reservation service fees for all services provided to a user as long as (i) the user was brought to the particular service provider through our platform, and (ii) the service provider is still active on our platform. This includes the situations where the user visits the service provider directly without online ordering, chooses treatment services or site that is different from the online reservation, adds more services during the time of visit, and visits the service provider for other treatment in the future. The service providers are obligated to report the completed transactions in above situations to us. In the event that the service providers fail to report such transaction to us in time, we would charge the service providers a penalty in addition to the reservation service fee.
In order to list available services and related prices on our online platform, service providers are required to sign agreements with us and pay a non-refundable upfront fee to us. However, the agreement does not have binding effect as the service provider can cancel the agreement at their discretion without any penalty. Although the upfront fee is not a material amount, it provides the service provider a renewal right to make optional purchase of the reservation service. The agreement is in substance a day-to-day contract with performance obligation of facilitating of each successful sales of service by service providers to our users.
Reservation service fees are in the form of a fixed fee per transaction or an agreed percentage of the value of service actually provided by the service providers. The consideration for each sales facilitation service is determined when the contract is placed. Following ASC 606-10-32-40, we recognize revenue for each completed transaction based on the value of service actually provided by the service providers as reservation service fee relates specifically to the facilitation for that transaction.
We do not control the underlying services provided by the service providers before they are provided to users, as we are not responsible for fulfilling the promise of service to users and have no inventory risk before the service is provided. In addition, we have no discretion in establishing prices of the service provided by service providers. Reservation service revenues are recognized on a net basis at the point of a successful transaction, which is when the user accepts the service.
We provide various incentives for the users to reserve service on our platform. These incentive programs mainly include loyalty program (So-Young points) and coupons, which are both redeemed mainly to reduce the transaction price. We have considered the guidance under ASC 606 to account for these incentives and determined to record them as a reduction to the revenue upon redemption.
87
Fair Value of options
Share-based compensation expenses arise from share-based awards, including share options for the purchase of ordinary shares. We account for share-based awards granted to employees in accordance with ASC 718 Stock Compensation. For share options for the purchase of ordinary shares granted to employees classified as equity awards, the related share-based compensation expenses are recognized in the consolidated financial statements based on the fair value of the awards on the grant date, which is calculated using the binomial option pricing model. The determination of the fair value is affected by the share price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables, including the expected share price volatility, actual and projected employee share option exercise behavior, risk-free interest rates and expected dividends. The fair value of the ordinary shares is assessed using the income approach/discounted cash flow method, with a discount for lack of marketability, given that the shares underlying the awards were not publicly traded at the time of grant. We account for forfeitures in the period they occur as a reduction to expense.
The fair value of the options granted is estimated on the dates of grant using the binomial option pricing model with the following assumptions used.
2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2018 | |||||||||||||
Risk-free interest rate (1) |
2.70% | 2.16% | 1.57% 1.62% | 2.59% 2.93% | ||||||||||||
Expected volatility (2) |
59.94% | 55.00% | 51.52% 53.54% | 47.40% 50.18% | ||||||||||||
Expected dividend yield (3) |
0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | ||||||||||||
Expected multiples (4) |
2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 2.8 | ||||||||||||
Fair value of underlying ordinary share |
US$0.12 | US$0.43 | US$1.42 US$1.44 | US$4.71 US$10.19 |
Notes:
(1) |
We estimate risk-free interest rate based on the daily treasury long term rate of U.S. Department of the Treasury with a maturity period close to the contract term of the options. |
(2) |
We estimate expected volatility based on the annualized standard deviation of the daily return embedded in historical share prices of comparable companies with a time horizon close to the expected expiry of the term. |
(3) |
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock, and we do not anticipate any dividend payments on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. |
(4) |
We estimate the exercise multiple as the ratio of fair value of underlying shares over the exercise price as at the time the option is exercised, based on a consideration of research study regarding exercise pattern based on historical statistical data. |
Fair Value of ordinary shares
The following table sets forth the fair value of our ordinary shares estimated at the grant dates of share options with the assistance from an independent valuation firm.
Date of Valuation |
Fair Value Per Share
(US$) |
DLOM | Discount Rate | |||||||||
2014-4-24 |
0.12 | 25 | % | 30 | % | |||||||
2015-5-4 |
0.43 | 25 | % | 27 | % | |||||||
2016-6-13 |
1.42 | 20 | % | 24 | % | |||||||
2016-8-16 |
1.44 | 20 | % | 24 | % | |||||||
2018-4-1 |
4.71 | 15 | % | 20 | % | |||||||
2018-6-20 |
6.02 | 10 | % | 20 | % | |||||||
2018-8-23 |
7.16 | 10 | % | 19 | % | |||||||
2018-12-31 |
10.19 | 10 | % | 18 | % |
In determining the grant date fair value of our ordinary shares for purposes of recording share-based compensation in connection with employee stock options, we, with the assistance of an independent valuation firm, evaluated the use of income approach to estimate the enterprise value of our company and income approach (discounted cash flow, or DCF method) was relied on for value determination. The determination of the fair value of our ordinary shares requires complex and subjective judgments to be made regarding our projected
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financial and operating results, our unique business risks, the liquidity of our shares and our operating history and prospects at the time of valuation.
The major assumptions used in calculating the fair value of ordinary shares include:
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Weighted average cost of capital, or WACC: The WACCs were determined based on a consideration of the factors including risk-free rate, comparative industry risk, equity risk premium, company size and non-systematic risk factors. |
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Discount for lack of marketability, or DLOM: DLOM was quantified by the Finnertys Average-Strike put options mode. Under this option-pricing method, which assumed that the put option is struck at the average price of the stock before the privately held shares can be sold, the cost of the put option was considered as a basis to determine the DLOM. |
The income approach involves applying appropriate WACCs to estimated cash flows that are based on earnings forecasts. Our revenues and earnings growth rates, as well as major milestones that we have achieved, contributed to the increase in the fair value of our ordinary shares from 2014 to 2018. However, these fair values are inherently uncertain and highly subjective. The assumptions used in deriving the fair values are consistent with our business plan. These assumptions include: no material changes in the existing political, legal and economic conditions in China; our ability to retain competent management, key personnel and staff to support our ongoing operations; and no material deviation in market conditions from economic forecasts. These assumptions are inherently uncertain. The risk associated with achieving our forecasts were assessed in selecting the appropriate WACCs, which ranged from 30% to 18%.
The option-pricing method was used to allocate equity value to preferred and ordinary shares. This method involves making estimates of the anticipated timing of a potential liquidity event, such as a sale of our company or an initial public offering, and estimates of the volatility of our equity securities. The anticipated timing is based on the plans of our board of directors and management.
Income taxes
We follow the liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, or ASC 740. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences by applying enacted statutory rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. The tax base of an asset or liability is the amount attributed to that asset or liability for tax purposes. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Loss in the period of change. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the amount of deferred tax assets if it is considered more likely than not that some portion of, or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
We accounted for uncertainties in income taxes in accordance with ASC 740. We recognize interest and penalties, if any, under accrued expenses and other current liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheet and under Other Expenses in our Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Loss.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Prior to this offering, we have been a private company with limited accounting personnel and other resources with which we address our internal control over financial reporting. In connection with the audits of our consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus, we and our independent registered public accounting firm identified one material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. As defined in the standards established by the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, a material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
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The material weakness identified relates to lack of sufficient competent financial reporting and accounting personnel with appropriate understanding of United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP) to design and implement formal period-end financial reporting controls and procedures to address complex U.S. GAAP technical accounting issues, and to prepare and review the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with U.S. GAAP and financial reporting requirements set forth by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. The material weakness, if not timely remedied, may lead to significant misstatement in our consolidated financial statements in the future.
To remediate identified material weakness, we have hired additional qualified financial and accounting personnel with working experience with U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting requirements. We are currently in the process of establishing clear rules and responsibilities for accounting and financial reporting staff to address complex accounting and financial reporting issues. Furthermore, we have engaged an external consulting firm to assist us in assessing Sarbanes-Oxley compliance readiness and improve overall internal controls. In addition, we plan to:
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implement regular U.S. GAAP and SEC financial reporting training programs for our accounting and financial personnel, and |
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develop and implement a comprehensive set of period-end financial reporting policies and procedures, especially for non-recurring and complex transactions to ensure consolidated financial statements and related disclosures are in compliance with U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting requirements. |
However, we cannot assure you that we will remediate our material weakness in a timely manner. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Business and IndustryWe have identified a material weakness in our internal controls as of December 31, 2018, and if we fail to implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls to remediate our material weakness over financial reporting, we may be unable to accurately report our results of operations, meet our reporting obligations or prevent fraud.
As a company with less than US$1.07 billion in revenue for our last fiscal year, we qualify as an emerging growth company pursuant to the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in the assessment of the emerging growth companys internal control over financial reporting.
Holding Company Structure
So-Young International Inc. is a holding company with no material operations of its own. We conduct our operations primarily through our PRC subsidiary, our consolidated variable interest entity and its subsidiaries in China. As a result, So-Young International Inc.s ability to pay dividends depends upon dividends paid by our PRC subsidiary. If our existing PRC subsidiary or any newly formed ones incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. In addition, our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in China is permitted to pay dividends to us only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Under PRC law, each of our subsidiary and consolidated variable interest entity in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds until such reserve funds reach 50% of their registered capital. In addition, our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in China may allocate a portion of their after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to enterprise expansion funds and staff bonus and welfare funds at their discretion, and our consolidated variable interest entity may allocate a portion of their after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to a surplus fund at its discretion. The statutory reserve funds and the discretionary funds are not distributable as cash dividends. Remittance of dividends by a wholly foreign-owned company out of China is subject to examination by the banks designated by SAFE. Our PRC subsidiary has not paid dividends and will not be able to pay dividends until they generate accumulated profits and meet the requirements for statutory reserve funds.
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Inflation
Since our inception, inflation in China has not materially affected our results of operations. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the year-over-year percent changes in the consumer price index for December 2016, December 2017 and December 2018 were increases of 2.1%, 1.8% and 1.9%, respectively. Although we have not been materially affected by inflation in the past, we may be affected if China experiences higher rates of inflation in the future.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Foreign exchange risk
Substantially all of our revenues and expenses are denominated in RMB. We do not believe that we currently have any significant direct foreign exchange risk and have not used any derivative financial instruments to hedge exposure to such risk. Although our exposure to foreign exchange risks should be limited in general, the value of your investment in our ADSs will be affected by the exchange rate between U.S. dollar and Renminbi because the value of our business is effectively denominated in RMB, while our ADSs will be traded in U.S. dollars.
The value of Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions and the foreign exchange policy adopted by the PRC government. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar. Following the removal of the U.S. dollar peg, the Renminbi appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over the following three years. On August 11, 2015, the Peoples Bank of China announced plans to improve the central parity rate of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar by authorizing market-makers to provide parity to the China Foreign Exchange Trading Center operated by the Peoples Bank of China with reference to the interbank foreign exchange market closing rate of the previous day, the supply and demand for foreign currencies as well as changes in exchange rates of major international currencies. Effective from October 1, 2016, the International Monetary Fund added Renminbi to its Special Drawing Rights currency basket. Such change and additional future changes may increase volatility in the trading value of the Renminbi against foreign currencies. The PRC government may adopt further reforms of its exchange rate system, including making the Renminbi freely convertible in the future. Accordingly, it is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future. The Renminbi has recently depreciated significantly against the backdrop of a surging U.S. dollar and persistent capital outflows of China, and we cannot assure you that the Renminbi will not appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the future. Although our exposure to foreign exchange risks should be limited in general, the value of your investment in our ADSs will be affected by the exchange rate between U.S. dollar and Renminbi because the value of our business is effectively denominated in RMB, while our ADSs will be traded in U.S. dollars.
To the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would reduce the Renminbi amount we receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or ADSs, servicing our outstanding debt, or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi would reduce the U.S. dollar amounts available to us.
As of December 31, 2018, we had Renminbi-denominated cash and cash equivalents of RMB459.2 million. A 10% depreciation of Renminbi against the U.S. dollar based on the foreign exchange rate on December 31, 2018 would result in a decrease of US$6.1 million in cash and cash equivalents. A 10% appreciation of Renminbi against the U.S. dollar based on the foreign exchange rate on December 31, 2018 would result in an increase of US$7.4 million in cash and cash equivalents.
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Interest rate risk
Our exposure to interest rate risk primarily relates to the interest income generated by excess cash, which is mostly held in interest-bearing bank deposits and wealth management products. Interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. 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.
After completion of this offering, we may invest the net proceeds we receive from the offering in interest-earning instruments. Investments in both fixed rate and floating rate interest earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. Fixed rate securities may have their fair market value adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates, while floating rate securities may produce less income than expected if interest rates fall.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
A list of recently issued accounting pronouncements that are relevant to us is included in note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
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Medical Aesthetic Service Industry in China
Medical aesthetic services are elective medical procedures that specialize in improving cosmetic appearance, thereby improving peoples quality of life and psychological well-being. Medical aesthetic services can be divided into surgical and non-surgical treatment. Surgical medical aesthetic services, often referred to as plastic surgeries, include procedures such as breast augmentation, face and body contouring, blepharoplasty, and rhinoplasty; whereas non-surgical medical aesthetic services are comprised of injection procedures (using neurotoxins, dermal fillers, etc.), and laser and other energy-based treatment for skin management purposes, such as skin rejuvenation, tightening, and removal of scars and stretch marks.
The medical aesthetic service industry in China is large and rapidly growing. According to Frost & Sullivan, the total revenues of the medical aesthetic services industry reached RMB121.7 billion (US$17.7 billion) in 2018, representing a CAGR of 23.6% from 2014. The total revenues of this industry are expected to reach RMB360.1 billion (US$52.4 billion) by 2023, with an accelerated CAGR of 24.2% from 2018 to 2023. With such growth rate, China has become one of the fastest growing medical aesthetic service markets in the world, ranked the second in terms of market size in 2017, and is poised to become the largest market in the world by 2021. In particular, non-surgical medical aesthetic procedures enjoy a higher-than-market expected growth rate, a CAGR of 26.3% from 2018 to 2023, as they can reach a larger group of consumers thanks to the less risky and painful processes and shorter recovery time.
Source: Frost & Sullivan
Key growth drivers of the medical aesthetic service industry in China include the following:
Steady growth in disposable income . According to Frost & Sullivan, the per capita disposable income in China has increased from RMB20,167 (US$2,933) in 2014 to RMB28,228 (US$4,106) in 2018, observing a CAGR of 8.8%. The growth is expected to continue at a CAGR of 7.7% from 2018 to 2023. Increased disposable income naturally leads to higher discretionary spending, which, in turn, enable more consumption opportunities in the medical aesthetic service industry.
Significant potential in penetration rate . According to Frost & Sullivan, every 1,000 people in China had undergone an average of 11.7 medical aesthetic treatment in 2017, whereas the penetration per thousand people
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rates in South Korea, the U.S., Brazil, and Japan were 80.4, 50.1, 43.6, and 27.0, respectively. The significantly lower penetration rate in China, compared to other countries with more developed medical aesthetic markets, shows tremendous growth potential in the near future as the industry continues to develop and as social acceptance of medical aesthetic procedures permeates. In particular, penetration rates in lower-tier cities, which primarily refer to cities other than Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and other major provincial centers, are expected to catch up rapidly, contributing more to the overall penetration rate in China. Moreover, with more efforts on customer acquisition and publicity, better service quality, improved brand recognition, and accumulation of safety records, an increasing number of Chinese consumers regard medical aesthetic procedures as a natural extension and upgrade from traditional non-medical wellness procedures.
Diversified demand for personal appearance improvement . Compared to other major countries, average Chinese consumers in medical aesthetic services industry are younger, according to Frost & Sullivan. Exposure to medical aesthetic treatment at a younger age, when consumers are more prone to form entrenched habits, creates longer consumer lifecycle and ongoing demand. In addition to typical anti-aging treatment demand that drives medical aesthetic service industries in certain developed countries, such as the U.S., the market in China sees significant demand for a much more diversified range of treatment from younger consumers.
Technology advancement in medical aesthetic treatment . As technology advances, new medical aesthetic treatment that deliver more effective result and offer more efficient process have emerged and transformed the traditional non-medical wellness services. More consumers are willing to invest in various medical aesthetic services, including both surgical and non-surgical treatment, as products have become more diverse and less risky, and better addressing consumers customized needs.
Medical aesthetic service providers can be categorized based on whether they are owned by the government. The medical aesthetic service industry in China is largely driven by private institutions as they actively create a competitive niche in their treatment and closely follow aesthetic trends. According to Frost & Sullivan, revenues of private institutions accounted for 81.5% of the total revenues of the medical aesthetic service industry in China in 2018, and the percentage is expected to reach 87.9% by 2023. Consequently, private institutions contribute significantly to customer acquisition expenses in this industry, and are expected to continue spending at a high level on customer acquisition due to their heavy reliance on brand image, differentiation, and reputation to acquire new customers.
The medical aesthetic service industry in China is highly fragmented and competitive. According to Frost & Sullivan, there were approximately 10,000 medical aesthetic service providers in 2018. Among private institutions, the top five players merely represented 7.4% of the total market. Similar to more developed oversea markets such as the U.S. and Japan, the industry in China is expected to remain relatively fragmented in the foreseeable future. As a result of this, medical aesthetic service providers will likely continue to differentiate themselves in this competitive environment through developing niche treatment and building brand recognition by heavy spending in customer acquisition.
Customer Acquisition of Medical Aesthetic Service Industry in China
Medical aesthetic service providers in China acquire their customers through offline channels, such as beauty salons and outdoor advertisement, as well as online channels, which include online medical aesthetic platforms, search engines and general online e-commerce platforms. According to Frost & Sullivan, medical aesthetic service providers spent RMB31.3 billion (US$4.6 billion) on customer acquisition in 2018, representing 25.8% of the total revenues in this industry, which has increased from RMB12.9 billion (US$1.9 billion) in 2014, and is expected to reach RMB79.2 billion (US$11.5 billion) in 2023.
Compared to offline alternatives, online customer acquisition is the primary customer acquisition channel for medical aesthetic providers as consumers continue to generally shift to online channels for information and services. According to Frost & Sullivan, online customer acquisition spending in Chinas medical aesthetic
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service industry amounted to RMB18.1 billion (US$2.6 billion) in 2018, and is expected to continue to grow rapidly at a CAGR of 22.2% from 2018 to 2023, reaching RMB49.3 billion (US$7.2 billion) by 2023, and outpacing the growth rate of total customer acquisition spending. This proves that online customer acquisition channel will continue to expand its wallet share against other customer acquisition channels.
Source: Frost & Sullivan
Online medical aesthetic service platforms in China
Online medical aesthetic service platforms are destinations where users can discover, evaluate and reserve medical aesthetic treatment offline. Online medical aesthetic service platforms emerged in recent years and quickly gained market share from traditional online customer acquisition channels as such platforms effectively facilitated the direct interaction between consumers and medical aesthetic service providers.
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According to Frost & Sullivan, customer acquisition spending on online medical aesthetic platforms accounted for 7.0% of total customer acquisition spending through online channels in 2018, which has increased from 0.9% in 2014 and is expected to reach 25.6% by 2023. Customer acquisition spending on online medical aesthetic service platforms increased from RMB64.5 million (US$9.4 million) in 2014 to RMB1.3 billion (US$0.2 billion) in 2018, and is expected to grow to RMB12.6 billion (US$1.8 billion) in 2023, representing a CAGR of 58.2% from 2018.
Source: Frost & Sullivan
Compared to search engines and other online customer acquisition channels, online medical aesthetic service platforms provide the following benefits:
From consumers perspective,
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provide authentic, balanced and personalized content that promotes the transparency of the industry, and infuses consumers with knowledge and confidence; |
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serve as one-stop shop for research, evaluation, interaction and transaction reservation; |
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require medical aesthetic service providers to pass stringent validation processes, and constantly evaluate them based on real consumer ratings and reviews; |
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enable active and direct interactions between doctors and users, and among users, which promote free and transparent information flow and timely feedback; and |
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show transparent service prices, allowing consumers to effectively compare and make informed selections. |
From medical aesthetic service providers perspective,
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offer access to a wider geographic range of potential consumers; |
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reduce per user acquisition cost for high quality service providers as the vibrant social communities effectively distills medical institutions based on service quality; |
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feature flexible and cost-effective customer acquisition services that are especially friendly to the needs of small-to-medium sized medical service providers; |
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enable convenient, differentiated customer acquisition strategy through rich and highly customizable content formats, as well as the ability to communicate with users; |
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provide value-added services to increase operation and management efficiency; and |
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deliver insights into consumer behavioral and preference trends, based on large and engaged user base. |
Consumption Healthcare Service Industry and Its Reliance on Online Customer Acquisition in China
Consumption healthcare services, such as medical aesthetic services, refer to elective medical services that are primarily for improving peoples quality of life and not aimed at treating serious diseases. These include the non-therapeutic and high consumptive degree part of medical aesthetic services, health check-up services, dental and orthodontic services, refractive correction and optometry, certain obstetrics and gynecology services, assisted reproduction, and dermatology. In China, consumption healthcare services usually encompass those not covered by governmental medical insurance.
China enjoys a large and fast-growing consumption healthcare service industry. According to Frost & Sullivan, total revenues from consumption healthcare services industry in China grew from RMB276.6 billion (US$40.2 billion) in 2014 to RMB560.7 billion (US$81.6 billion) in 2018, representing a CAGR of 19.3%. The growth is expected to continue at a CAGR of 20.0% from 2018 to 2023, reaching RMB1,395.5 billion (US$203.0 billion) by 2023. Such growth is driven by increasing disposable income, growing awareness and household expenditure on discretionary healthcare services, rapid development of commercial healthcare insurance, and governmental support of private medical institutions.
Source: Frost & Sullivan
Consumption healthcare service providers have experienced significant growth on spending on online customer acquisition to gain their customers. Online customer acquisition spending of consumption healthcare service industry grew at a CAGR of 19.2% from 2014 to 2018, and are expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.9% from 2018 to 2023, reaching RMB 169.8 billion (US$24.7 billion) in 2023.
The broader consumption healthcare service industry is similar to the medical aesthetic service industry in many aspects. According to Frost & Sullivan, the consumption healthcare service industry is still at early stage of development. Because of the high level of complexity and personalization that is attached to healthcare issues, consumers have experienced difficulties in gathering relevant and reliable information to make sound decisions and form healthcare habits. While consumers have concerns on service quality and lack of transparent information, medical service providers face strong and fierce competition in this highly fragmented market and are forced to spend tremendously on customer acquisition through limited and inefficient customer acquisition
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channels. With similar industry challenges, and similar consumer demographics and income levels between the broader consumption healthcare industry and the medical aesthetic service market, online medical aesthetic service platforms are well positioned to expand into the consumption healthcare service industry by facilitating consumers informed conversion process and lowering acquisition cost for medical service providers.
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Our Mission and Vision
Our mission is to bring beauty and health to everyone. Our founders set up So-Young to transform the fast-growing yet opaque medical aesthetics market in China by providing transparent information, which ultimately allowed us to build a one-stop destination where users can conveniently find quality services.
Our vision is to become the most trusted technology company in the broader consumption healthcare service industry, and transform this market in the same way we have been doing for the medical aesthetics sector in China.
Overview
So-Young is No. 1 and the most popular online destination for discovering, evaluating and reserving medical aesthetic services in China.
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audience reach : over 240 million average monthly views of our rich media content distributed through social media networks and our targeted media platforms in the fourth quarter of 2018; |
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user engagement : our So-Young mobile app accounted for 84.1% of total daily user time spent on online medical aesthetic service mobile apps in 2018, according to Frost & Sullivan; |
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transaction value facilitated : we facilitated medical aesthetic treatment transactions in the aggregate value of RMB2.1 billion (US$306.6 million) through our platform in 2018, representing 33.1% of Chinas total amounts paid for medical aesthetic treatment booked online in that year, according to Frost & Sullivan; and |
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trustworthiness : we ranked top in terms of both brand awareness and customer stickiness in a survey of 1,000 respondents conducted in October 2018. |
Our business model comprises three integrated components: (i) our original, reliable and professional content and its distribution through major social media networks and our targeted media platforms in China, (ii) our highly engaged social community characterized by signature user-generated content, and (iii) our transparent and user-friendly online reservation services for medical aesthetic treatment. With reliable and comprehensive content, as well as a multitude of social functions on our platform, users seeking medical aesthetic treatment can discover products and services, evaluate their quality, and reserve desired treatment. Because of our highly engaged user base, we believe that we are a more effective customer acquisition channel for medical aesthetic service providers, compared to other online channels. According to Frost & Sullivan, customer acquisition spending by medical aesthetic service providers on online medical aesthetic service platforms as a percentage of total customer acquisition spending on all online channels rapidly increased from 0.9% in 2014 to 7.0% in 2018, and is expected to reach 25.6% by 2023.
We leverage our popular and professional media content to reach and attract a vast audience. Our vibrant and trustworthy social community allows our users to discover the latest medical aesthetic treatment trends and helps them make purchase decisions. The personal experience shared by users who had undergone medical aesthetic treatment further builds the trust that is critical for others who wish to have similar treatment. We had a large depository of over 2 million day-by-day, case-based blogs called Beauty Diaries , as of December 31, 2018. We believe our business model, which connects a users innate desire to be more beautiful with a personal, emotionally-attached discovery and assessment process on our platform, is highly effective in facilitating users decision making and enhancing user experience. We also encourage users to rate, review and share their treatment experience on our platform. We believe the user-generated content, ratings and reviews on our platform incentivize medical aesthetic service providers to offer high-quality and diversified treatment with transparent pricing.
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Our Value Propositions for Users
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reliability : we offer users a reliable experience through our pursuit of quality and trustworthy content offerings and our medical aesthetic service providers that are carefully selected; |
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transparency : we provide transparency on medical aesthetic treatment details, such as pricing, reviews and service provider credentials; and |
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convenience : our comprehensive media content, social community and online reservation function guide users to a seamless medical aesthetic service journey, from discovery, interaction and evaluation, to reservation, review and aftercare. |
Our Value Propositions for Medical Aesthetic Service Providers
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effective customer acquisition : leveraging our user base with high propensity to spend, as well as our data insight and technological strengths, we are able to match medical aesthetic service providers with targeted users cost-effectively; |
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differentiated branding : we empower medical aesthetic service providers, especially small and medium sized market participants, to introduce their brands and build credibility through authentic user-driven evaluations; and |
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operating efficiency : we provide SaaS and professional training programs for medical service providers, to help them better manage client information, increase purchase conversion rate and upgrade their service offerings. |
Our DNA for innovation defines who we are, brought about our earlier success, and will continue to serve as the bedrock for our future growth. Leveraging our strong brand image, extensive audience reach, trust of our users, highly engaged social community and data insights, we are well positioned to expand both along the medical aesthetic industry value chain and into the massive, fast-growing consumption healthcare service market. We have built a proven track record by launching a series of services aimed at medical aesthetic service
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providers, and by achieving early advantages in expanding into the dental, dermatology, ophthalmology, gynecology, and physical examination services in China.
We generate revenues through information service fees and reservation service fees primarily charged to medical aesthetic service providers. Our total revenues increased rapidly by 428.2% from RMB49.1 million in 2016 to RMB259.3 million in 2017, and further by 138.0% to RMB617.2 million (US$89.8 million) in 2018. Our net income was RMB17.2 million in 2017 and RMB55.1 million (US$8.0 million) in 2018, compared to a net loss of RMB81.0 million in 2016.
Our Competitive Strengths
We believe the following strengths have contributed to our success:
Market Leader with Powerful Business Model
We are the market leader in terms of audience reach, user engagement, transaction value facilitated, and trustworthiness, testifying to the success of our powerful business model.
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audience reach : over 240 million average monthly views of our rich media content distributed through social media networks and our targeted media platforms in the fourth quarter of 2018; |
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user engagement : our So-Young mobile app accounted for 84.1% of total daily user time spent on online medical aesthetic service mobile apps in 2018, according to Frost & Sullivan; |
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transaction value facilitated : we facilitated medical aesthetic treatment transactions in the aggregate value of RMB2.1 billion (US$306.6 million) through our platform in 2018, representing 33.1% of Chinas total amounts paid for medical aesthetic treatment booked online in that year, according to Frost & Sullivan; and |
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trustworthiness : we ranked top in terms of both brand awareness and customer stickiness in a survey of 1,000 respondents conducted in October 2018. |
Our industry leading scale and fundamentally, our business model led to strong network effects across our platform, which enhances user experience, engagement and retention, and have proven to be highly scalable.
Strong network effect . We believe the three components of our business model are deeply integrated with one another, creating robust barriers to entry and enabling us to create a sustainable business model that cannot be easily replicated by competitors. In the simplest terms, users are attracted to our platform by content and services that we offer, while medical aesthetic service providers gather on our platform for the direct access to the largest online medical aesthetic user community and effective customer acquisition that it brings. As the number of our users grows, so does the number of medical aesthetic service providers on our platform. More medical aesthetic service providers will then lead to more tailored and greater variety of treatment, as well as more targeted content, which ultimately attract more users.
High scalability . Leveraging our established brand image, extensive audience reach, highly engaged social community and data insights, we are well positioned to expand both vertically along the medical aesthetic industry value chain and horizontally into other sectors in the massive consumption healthcare service market. We have built a proven track record by launching a host of services aimed at medical aesthetic service providers, and by achieving early success in expanding into other consumption healthcare services in China.
Market Trailblazer and Technology Innovator
We have, as the most important part of our DNA, continued innovation aimed at pushing the boundaries of what the internet and technology can do to transform the traditional consumption healthcare service industry. We believe we have pioneered and shaped the online medical aesthetic services market in China as it exists today.
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Our core innovation and contribution to the medical aesthetic service industry is building a platform that seamlessly integrates media content, social community and online reservation function. Since our inception in 2013, we have been leading the campaign to increase the level of acceptance and popularity of discovering, evaluating and reserving medical aesthetic services online. According to Frost & Sullivan:
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We were the first to introduce a social community focused on medical aesthetic services, which has become the largest in China; |
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We introduced the Beauty Diaries , a revolutionary content format featuring day-by-day blogs written and shared by users who had undergone medical aesthetic treatment through our platform, which has become the iconic and most popular type of content in the industry; and |
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We were the first to launch online reservation function for medical aesthetic services in China, providing one-stop consumption experience to our users. |
We embrace the latest technology developments and pursue the integration of technology into our platform. For example, we were the first in our industry in China to utilize artificial intelligence technology in analyzing facial features for evaluating virtual medical aesthetic needs and predicting treatment effects online, according to Frost & Sullivan. Based on our facial analysis technologies, our platform enables users to search for, and we are also capable of actively channeling, relevant and suitable medical aesthetic content and treatment information with a simple image input of the users feature. We also pioneered live video broadcasting as a content format on our platform both for users to share their aftercare experience and for service providers to enhance their brand awareness.
Most Trusted Platform with Highly Engaged Community of Users
According to a survey of 1,000 respondents conducted in October 2018, we are the most trusted online medical aesthetic service platform in China, and we ranked No.1 in terms of both brand awareness and customer stickiness. The association of our brand value with trustworthiness translates into high repeat purchase rate on our platform.
Our highly engaged social community plays a vital role in promoting transparency in terms of the pricing and quality of medical aesthetic services by encouraging genuine user reviews and ratings, which in turn helps our users arrive at informed decisions. Our iconic Beauty Diaries invigorated our social community and allowed our users to be emotionally connected and supported, during and after treatment.
As a testament to the highly engaged nature of our community, as well as the trust our users place in us, as of December 31, 2018, a total of over two million pieces of Beauty Diaries , each with authors emotions and personal details, had been posted on our platform. In addition, our users frequently seeks advice on specific medical aesthetic treatment procedures from medical service providers on our platform through our messaging function, and the average number of daily consultation messages between users and medical service providers amounted to 160.6 thousand in 2017 and 288.4 thousand in 2018. A consultation message means each message sent between a user and a medical service provider on our platform, with each text sent counting as one distinct message.
We also attach the utmost importance to ensuring the quality of the medical services that are offered on our platform and the customer services that our users can enjoy. Transparency and fairness have been our philosophy and we have adopted carefully crafted mechanisms to allow for authentic and timely feedback. We subject each prospective medical aesthetic service provider to our strict selection process to safeguard the reliability of our platform. In addition to examining qualification documents, we conduct thorough background and publicity review, including on-site due diligence reviews, on prospective service providers. We also continue to monitor the qualification of our existing medical aesthetic service providers and the quality of their performance through our rating and review systems and other internal mechanism that we have implemented.
Reliable Professional Content Distributed through Social Media
We use reliable, highly relevant, interactive and multi-media content to attract our users and inform them of the latest medical aesthetics trends and services, and assist in their purchase decisions. We have the most
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comprehensive online content library in China with a focus on medical aesthetic services, according to Frost & Sullivan. We have a large pool of experienced in-house editors who incubate original ideas and present them in visually appealing formats. They also collaborate with doctors and medical aesthetic service providers throughout the content generating process. Our content is interactive and largely in the form of short-form videos, live video broadcasting, articles, and photographs, covering a full spectrum of beauty-related topics and medical aesthetics treatment categories.
We distribute our original content through our platform and major social media networks in China, giving us the broadest reach of audience and dynamic ways to attract and engage our users. In the fourth quarter of 2018, we recorded on average over 240 million monthly views of our rich media content distributed through social media networks.
Platform of Choice for Medical Aesthetic Service Providers
We provide compelling value to medical aesthetic service providers by offering targeted consumer acquisition solutions, helping them build their online presence so as to effectively connect and brand with users, and improving their operating efficiency. This makes us a platform of choice for approximately 4,000 verified medical aesthetic service providers including hospitals, out-patient departments and clinics covering over 300 cities in China as of December 31, 2018.
We not only expand the medical aesthetic service providers audience reach, but also match them with targeted consumers effectively, powered by our artificial intelligence prowess and big data insights. Moreover, we provide differentiated solutions such as SaaS, as well as providing professional training programs to medical aesthetic service providers based on their scale and needs.
We enjoy tremendous loyalty among our medical service providers and achieved retention rates of 80% in 2017 and 87% in 2018, which are calculated as the percentage of paying service providers in the previous year who made payments in the year at issue.
Visionary Management Team with Proven Execution Capability
Our management team has extensive experience in internet, social community, healthcare and finance, and has proven execution capability. Our founder and CEO, Mr. Xing Jin, has been instrumental in setting up our innovative business model and leading So-Young to reach major milestones. Moreover, his serial entrepreneurial experiences combined with a deep understanding of and passion for the beauty and health industries provide clear leadership for and strong commitment to our mission and execution. Additionally, our management team has deep expertise across a number of sectors and disciplines, as well as extensive experience working at leading technology companies such as Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent.
Our Strategies
Going forward, we will continue to be laser-focused on enhancing the credibility, transparency and comprehensiveness of the information and services featured on our platform. We believe these unique competitive advantages are key to reinforcing our brand reputation, user loyalty and leadership position. Such established brand awareness, industry standing and platform capabilities position us well to expand into the broader consumption healthcare market.
We plan to achieve our vision, and ultimately our mission, through the following key strategies:
Drive Transparency in the Industry through Enriched Content Offering
We aim to further transform medical aesthetic industry in China towards greater transparency on service quality and pricing by focusing on enriching our universe of reliable, appealing and topical content offering. As
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the No. 1 player in the industry, we will lead by example and commit to delivering authentic, relevant and timely content to consumers to enable informed decisions and promote positive industry growth dynamics.
Professionalism . We will leverage our deep understanding of medical aesthetics treatment, users and medical aesthetics service providers, as well as proprietary technology prowess and advanced algorithms, to systematically produce quality, appealing and topical original content. We will strengthen collaboration with medical professionals and star medical aesthetic influencers to deliver more interactive professional content, which in turn catalyzes higher conversion rates.
Content visualization . We will continue to commit resources to diversify and enrich our media formats and tools, especially video-based content. We believe that our comprehensive and expanding collection of multi-media content will enhance the integrity of our content, drive consumer purchase decisions, and empower medical aesthetic service providers to introduce their services with greater precision.
Proactively Deploy Artificial Intelligence and other Technological Innovations
Technological innovations and competency are essential to our platforms competitive advantage. We will continue to implement a number of industry breakthrough technologies, including:
AI diagnosis . A key area of our research in artificial intelligence focuses on improved facial and object recognition technology powered by advanced neural network and algorithm. Cutting-edge simulation services have been integrated into and continually improved on our mobile apps to further enrich user experience and facilitate decision-making process.
Personalized content recommendation . We plan to further develop advanced artificial intelligence and big data technologies to increase the precision of our content recommendation, thereby increasing user exposure to relevant information, which catalyzes transaction reservation volume.
Smart customer service . We are developing advanced natural language processing algorithms and machine learning technologies to upgrade our automated messaging system, serving to lower the operating costs of medical aesthetic service providers on our platform, and allow more timely responses to user inquiries for greater customer satisfaction.
Strengthen Collaboration with Medical Aesthetic Service Providers through More Value-added Services
We offer and will continue to enhance our SaaS module to help our service providers reduce user maintenance cost and improve efficiency. Software products currently in our research and development pipelines include intelligent in-app messaging system and digital patient record database for online information service on our platform.
We intend to strengthen professional training courses on the proper management of sophisticated medical equipment, for medical aesthetic service providers to improve their service quality, professional knowledge and operational capabilities.
Continue to Raise Brand Awareness and Expand User Acquisition Channels
We intend to increase marketing and branding efforts to further raise the awareness of our professional and trustworthy platform. Our branding strategy will fully embrace the latest trends in social-based marketing activities, in a cost-effective manner by leveraging our word-of-mouth reputation.
We plan to establish a stronger presence on leading social media networks in China with high user traffic volume through collaborations. We also aim to expand our audience reach by establishing multiple channels of
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strategic marketing partnerships. Building on our profound understanding of user behaviors and preferences, we intend to launch more innovative and effective online and offline marketing events, cross-platform membership programs with other industry participants, as well as sponsorships of popular entertainment titles in China.
Expand into Other Consumption Healthcare Verticals and Tap into New User Segments
We believe a more diversified service offering will address a wider spectrum of our users healthcare needs, and in turn extend and expand their consumption lifecycle on our platform. We have started and will continue to prudently expand into consumption healthcare verticals with similar industry pain-points, overlapping consumer bases, or comparable decision-making processes. We plan to gain stronger foothold in the dental, dermatology, ophthalmology, obstetrics & gynecology, and physical examination services sectors.
We will offer multi-tiered service categories on our platform to better serve our increasingly diversified user base, particularly users with higher spending power and more tailored preferences.
Our Business Model
Our platform serves as a vibrant and dynamic social community and offers online reservation function that enables users to both discover reliable content and share their own medical aesthetics services experience, which incentivizes users to reserve offline treatment from medical aesthetic service providers. Thus, users are guided through the entire process of seeking and obtaining medical aesthetic treatment on our platform.
Our business model has unique value propositions for its constituents. With reliable content and various social tools on our platform, users seeking medical aesthetic treatment can discover suitable services and obtain comprehensive medical information on the desired treatment. Users can also interact among one another and with medical aesthetic practitioners directly through our social community functions. Once they decide on the type of treatment, users can conveniently reserve treatment through our online reservation function. Our reservation function facilitates reservations by providing insurance service referrals for users. In addition, after users complete their treatment offline, our online platform encourages them to share their experience through Beauty Diaries and ratings and reviews systems. This further enriches our content and drives more interaction within our social community.
Medical aesthetic service providers benefit from our business model when more users are drawn to our online platform because of our reliable content offered in rich media formats and our reputation among people seeking aesthetic improvements. The user-generated content in our social community, as well as the ratings and reviews on the services, can effectively and efficiently incentivize service providers to offer high-quality and diversified treatment with transparent pricing. Medical aesthetic service providers can further increase their exposure and boost user conversion rate by communicating with users on an individual basis through our social community functions, and through our information services. Our online reservation function, in return, provides data insights on current user landscape and market trends that allow medical aesthetic service providers to improve their business operation efficiency.
As users and medical aesthetic service providers are inexorably connected through our content, social community, and online reservation function, our business model forms an overall virtuous cycle that fuels its continued growth and expansion. In essence, users are attracted to our platform by our content and services offered on our platform, while medical aesthetic service providers are attracted to our platform by the access to the largest online medical aesthetic user community and the commercial opportunities that they bring. As the number of users grows, more medical aesthetic service providers will want to join our platform. More medical aesthetic service providers will then lead to more tailored treatment in more locations, as well as more targeted content, and ultimately attract more users.
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Our Online Platform
Our online platform is realized through various products, including So-Young mobile app, So-Young Weixin mini program, and soyoung.com website, where both users and medical aesthetic service providers can access our rich media content, engaging social community, and transparent online reservation function. In addition, we developed So-Young Business College , a Weixin mini program, and an operation dashboard on soyoung.com to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the business operations for our medical aesthetic service providers.
In 2016, 2017 and 2018, our average monthly UVs reached 2.9 million, 4.8 million and 10.3 million, and our average mobile MAUs reached 0.5 million, 1.0 million and 1.4 million, respectively.
Mobile Apps
So-Young Mobile App
Our So-Young mobile app serves as a one-stop destination where we offer users relevant medical aesthetic knowledge and experience, guide them along their journey to reach an informed medical aesthetic treatment decision in a supportive community, and allow them to effortlessly act on those decisions and make reservations for treatment from their desired medical professionals and medical aesthetic institutions. We designed the interface of our platform in mint green and light pink, signaling health and beauty respectively, and creating a soft and welcoming texture to our platform.
When users open our So-Young mobile app, they will immediately see our featured banners that display articles, short-form videos, and sales events. As users scroll down, various additional medical aesthetic categories appear, such as skin management, neurotoxin injection, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, etc. Users can also explore various medical aesthetic tools, including cosmetic surgery simulation powered by artificial intelligence, live video broadcasting, medical aesthetic encyclopedia, and report of new treatment overseas. We also recommend relevant content to users based on their user behavior.
Below are screenshots of our mobile app main entrance interface:
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Beauty Research Club is where users get detailed information from Beauty Diaries written by users who have undergone medical aesthetic treatment and featured informational articles by practicing medical professionals on the platform. As users enter Beauty Research Club , a top navigation bar appears that includes content by people whom users follow, recommended content handpicked by our business operating team, and Q&A session with medical professionals.
The screenshots below illustrate the content in Beauty Research Club :
Users can make reservations for treatment through our mobile apps online reservation function. Medical aesthetic services are displayed based on the location of users and users can directly browse and search for services by categories and medical aesthetic service providers, and sort listings by popularity, price, reviews and location. Once users enter a particular services page, they will be shown other users reviews and diaries first. We also designed a tab displaying medical information of the particular treatment from our encyclopedia within the individual product page, so that users may obtain more objective description of the medical aesthetic treatment conveniently.
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Below are screenshots of the online reservation function on our app:
To facilitate reservations and strengthen social interactions on our mobile app, we developed a messaging system and a user dashboard. The messaging system enables users to send private messages to other users, medical professionals and medical aesthetic institutions to retrieve more information on medical aesthetic treatment with fast turnaround time. User dashboard allows users to manage their orders and track participation and contacts in our social community.
Weixin Mini Programs
Mini Program is an innovative platform built into Weixin, facilitating discovery and consumption of services and products. It is useful for discovery and quick actions, and complements full-function native apps by increasing their downloads and traffic.
Our Mini Programs on Weixin include So-Young Beauty and So-Young Business College . So-Young Beauty features similar interfaces and functions as our mobile app. It serves as additional access points to our platform.
So-Young Business College offers a convenient online training platform for medical aesthetic practitioners, including medical professionals, managers, and medical aesthetic consultants, where they can access textual and video educational materials provided by our medical aesthetic industry experts. See Our Medical and Beauty Service ProvidersComplementary ServicesTraining and Consulting Service.
Our Soyoung.com Website
Users can access medical aesthetic community content and our services through our website soyoung.com . In 2018, soyoung.com recorded an average monthly UV of 10.3 million. As more internet users shift to mobile ends, our website mainly serves a comprehensive knowledge base targeting users who are in the process of researching for medical aesthetic options.
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Below are screenshots of soyoung.com website:
Our Users
We provide a variety of services to our users, including reliable and rich medical aesthetic knowledge base, a supportive social community filled with user-shared experience and online reviews, and an online reservation function where users can reserve treatment from medical aesthetic service providers.
We have a group of popular content creators whom we refer to as medical aesthetic influencers. Medical aesthetic influencers are very active in creating and sharing content on the latest medical aesthetic trends and their treatment experience. Content created by our medical aesthetic influencers helps shape purchasing decisions of other users on our platform and encourage social interactions.
We closely monitor user activities and original content generated through our platform to discover potential medical aesthetic influencers. Typically, to become influencers, users need to be experienced and knowledgeable in multiple medical aesthetic treatment, and have shared numerous detailed Beauty Diaries that truthfully depict their recovery process in our social community. After identifying users who are passionate about sharing their experiences and good at producing original and engaging medical aesthetic content, we encourage them to partner with our platform, which not only gives them access to our broad user base, but also helps them monetize their popularity.
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We value our medical aesthetic influencers as they produce high-quality content and affect user behavior on our platform. We have historically provided cash and complimentary treatment in an immaterial amount as incentives to medical aesthetic influencers to encourage them to continually post popular and high quality content on our platform. Medical aesthetic influencers have their designated section in Beauty Research Club so that other users can access their content with ease.
Content
We strive to provide our users with the broad range of high-quality and engaging original content on medical aesthetics. We believe that reliable and well-crafted content provides the necessary information that users seek on our platform and enhance transparency of the medical aesthetic industry. Our content is available in a variety of rich media formats on our online platform, generated by users of all levels of experience and medical professionals, including Beauty Diaries , ratings and reviews, short-form videos and live video broadcasting.
Beauty Diaries
We introduced Beauty Diaries and transformed the traditional information flow in this industry. Users who went through medical aesthetic treatment are encouraged to share their experience in details including the medical institution, doctor, price, and other information on the treatment. The diaries typically start with before-surgery photos, followed by the entire recovery process in the form of diaries where their authors update their status by photos, videos and texts. In addition, by compiling other users experience and recovery progress, we offer recovery calendar for various medical aesthetic treatment so that users who are undergoing the same treatment can better prepare themselves with medical knowledge and emotional support. As of December 31, 2018, we had accumulated over 2 million Beauty Diaries .
Below is a screenshot of our Beauty Diaries :
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Online Ratings and Reviews
Apart from Beauty Diaries that mainly focus on users personal stories, we have established a large and active ratings and reviews system on medical aesthetic service providers. When users reserve certain treatment and complete the treatment, they can rate the treatment in terms of physical environment, professional knowledge, service quality, and eventual result, on a scale of one to five stars. They can also post their review on the doctor or the medical aesthetic service provider in general. Empowered by our artificial intelligent technology, we further extract and aggregate key words from all user reviews to present an instant perception for users when using our online reservation function.
Live Video Broadcasting
According to Frost & Sullivan, we were the first to introduce live video broadcasting to the medical aesthetic industry. The broadcasts are hosted by either medical aesthetic influencers or medical service providers, and are interactive, immersive and fun. Our live video broadcasting function has also proven to be an effective means of introducing medical aesthetic services to our key user demographics. Typically, medical aesthetic influencers elaborate on their experience in particular treatment while medical professionals broadcast actual diagnosis and treatment planning process with real users, during which they introduce their treatment. Medical professionals also host live questions and answers session, and from time to time broadcast selected real surgeries that are appropriate to general users.
While watching these live video broadcasts, users can interact with our medical aesthetic influencers and practitioners in real time through embedded instant messaging tools, and conveniently make reservation for the mentioned treatment introduced by the hosts. Hence, live video broadcasting is effective ways for our users to make and act on their medical aesthetic procedure decisions in a relatively short time frame, and for our medical professionals to build their own reputation and branding images.
Live video broadcasting is accessible through our main entrance feed, and the screenshots below illustrate the reservation option and user interaction interface:
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Short-form Videos
We believe we have established a proven approach to producing popular, original, short-form videos and have continually released popular original titles and series, covering topics such as medical aesthetic tips, celebrity face analysis, skincare testing and lifestyle guides. Our experienced and large pool of in-house editors incubate original ideas and present them in aesthetically pleasing video format and collaborate closely with medical professionals and medical aesthetic service providers in the content creation process.
Featured Articles
Our in-house content team and medical aesthetic influencers bring our assessment of the latest treatment to our users through featured articles. In addition to medical aesthetic content, our articles cover a wide spectrum of user interests, ranging from fitness to shopping hauls. Our library of medical aesthetic reviews and other critiques effectively influences reservation decisions of our users and enhance the integrity and activeness of our community. Users can conveniently access these informational articles in Beauty Research Club on our So-Young mobile app.
Integration with Major Social Media Networks in China
We distribute our content through all major social network and media platforms in China, encouraging followers and readers to share and repost our content, which amplifies our brand image and enables us to reach a larger audience. Each account we manage on social media networks is designed to have its own tailored content and a distinct strong personality that targets a particular internet user demographic group. The average monthly views of all our social media content on third-party platforms was over 240 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Our comprehensive and rich content provides us with continuous monetization opportunities. Through medical aesthetic services embedded within the content on our platform and social network networks, we provide information services to our medical aesthetic service providers to enable them to introduce their brands and services. See MonetizationInformation Services.
Trustworthy Social Community
Under our business model, after users discover potential suitable treatment through our rich content on medical aesthetics, we use our dynamic and supportive social community to enable our users to make decisions. We offer the following mechanisms to promote social interaction among users and between users and medical aesthetic service providers on our platform:
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Share . Users can easily share their experience on particular medical aesthetic treatment on our So-Young app by posting Beauty Diaries and providing short reviews and ratings. |
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Follow . Users can establish relationships with other users and medical aesthetic service providers by electing to follow them. Feeds that are posted by a user or medical aesthetic service provider will automatically appear in Beauty Research Clubs Following tab. |
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Comment, Like, Favorite . Users can leave comments on all formats of content, including Beauty Diaries , videos and articles, and reviews in online reservation function, by clicking on the Comment button, and the author may reply to the comments. If users like the content, they can click on the Like button to express their support for the author. At the bottom of each content module, users can see how many people have commented on or liked the content. Users can also save most types of content into their favorites by clicking on the Favorite button. |
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Messaging . Users can send private messages among one another or to medical service providers and medical professionals in the form of text or voice recordings and can attach photos or Beauty Diaries on our platform. In 2018, the average number of daily consultation messages between users and medical service providers amounted to 288.4 thousand. |
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Q&A . Users can raise questions addressed to particular medical professionals or medical aesthetic service providers in general. We urge our medical service providers and medical professionals to respond quickly to the questions. |
Through our warm and supportive social community, users are guided through the complete decision-making process in an efficient manner, resulting in significantly shorter time lag than typical medial aesthetic decision-making process. Moreover, filled with user experience and active doctor interaction, our platform enables our users to gain personal psychological support and professional care during the recovery process, thereby further increasing the reliability of our platform.
Online Reservation
While our medical aesthetic content and community help users form their treatment decisions, our online reservation function enables users to act on these decisions in a convenient manner.
Medical aesthetic treatment are grouped into categories including neurotoxin injection, injection of dermal fillers, mesotherapy injection, skin management, laser hair removal, hair transplantation, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, micro-blading, breast augmentation, and body contouring. We further provide traditional relaxing spa services, including Chinese medicine physical therapies and massages, body and facial cares, manicures and pedicures, to capture the users seeking non-intrusive light treatment.
Pricing Policy
While medical aesthetic service providers are free to set their own prices on our online platform, we request that their prices on our platform be lower than on-site prices of the same medical aesthetic treatment at the particular medical institutions by contracts. We organize a number of special sales events year-round, such as Chinas online shopping festival on November 11 and December 12, when our medical aesthetic service providers typically offer discounts on their treatment.
We believe that differentiation of medical aesthetic treatment promotes virtuous competition that not only produces reasonable prices and numerous options for our users, but also enhances the transparency and reliability of the medical aesthetic industry. At the same time, we also monitor the stability of prices for different categories of services to prevent destructive competition and fraud, thereby building a healthy online reservation function for the benefit of the whole industry.
Payment
When reserving services on our online platform, users only have to pay a portion of the treatment fee as deposit. The rest is settled when users visit medical aesthetic service providers offline. We provide our customers with a number of payment options through major third-party online payment platforms including Weixin Pay and Alipay, and enable our users to make payments for their reservations easily and efficiently. We are not dependent on any particular provider for online payment services.
Insurance
We designed medical aesthetic insurance products together with leading insurance companies in China, covering medical aesthetic treatment such as injections, blepharoplasty, and rhinoplasty. We believe that a well-customized insurance policy that addresses specific after-treatment medical and aesthetical situations provides additional protection for our users and enhance the reliability of our platform. While we are not a party in the insurance policy, we direct users to conveniently obtain the appropriate insurance products from insurance providers.
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Customer Service and Care
We believe our emphasis on customer service and care enhances our brand image and user engagement, which in turn benefits the medical service providers on our platform. We have a dedicated team of customer service representatives in Beijing. We train our customer service representatives to answer user inquiries, proactively educate potential users about medical aesthetic services and promptly resolve user complaints. Each representative is required to complete mandatory training, conducted by experienced managers, on medical aesthetic knowledge, complaint handling and communication skills.
We have developed key policies and procedures for our customer service that maintain the health and sustainability of our platform, including platform rules, qualification standards and credit scores for medical aesthetic service providers, and a rating system. Our around-the-clock customer service team provides real-time assistance to our large customer base. If a user makes a legitimate complaint regarding the service quality of a service provider, we will deduct the credit score of such service provider. A lower credit score results in limited content display, temporary suspension, or permanent ban on our platform. If a user is not satisfied with the result of the medical aesthetic procedure, which occurs mostly within a week of the procedure when recovery syndrome is expected, we will assist the medical aesthetic service provider to communicate the situation with the user and ease the anxiety. For cases where users are not satisfied with the result after the recovery period, we encourage medical service provider to offer follow-up procedures for free or issue full refunds.
To further ensure our users satisfaction, our customer service will step in when medical aesthetics providers fail to effectively resolve the complaint with the user. Serving as an extra layer of protection and care, our excellent customer service has ensured higher quality of user experience and greater trust among users.
Medical Service Providers
As of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, there were over 3,200, 4,000 and 5,600 medical service providers on our platform, respectively, including approximately 2,400 medical aesthetic service providers in 2016, approximately 2,700 medical aesthetic service providers in 2017, and approximately 4,000 medical aesthetic service providers and 1,600 other consumption healthcare service providers in 2018. Consumption healthcare services that can be reserved through our platform include dermatology, dentistry and orthodontics, ophthalmology, physical examinations, gynecology and human papilloma virus vaccines, and postnatal care. Leveraging on our brand awareness, unique user demographics and powerful business model, we believe that we are well positioned to further grow our market share in the consumption healthcare services industry.
Business Development and Qualification
We implemented an effective business development policy from the beginning of our business. Historically, we invested more business development resources to collaborate with independent medical professionals and their clinics with strong reputation and significant market shares. As our platform grows, we also focus on small to mid-sized private medical institutions that struggled to build their brands without high customer acquisition budgets. Regional and national medical aesthetic franchises have joined our platform as well when they observe the positive effect of our business model.
Once we find a prospective medical service provider, we ensure that it must pass our strict qualification process before admission to safeguard the reliability of our platform. First, medical service providers are required to submit their medical service permits and business licenses, as well as other relevant qualification certificates for our review. We then conduct thorough background and publicity review on prospective service providers. Furthermore, we send our team to visit the physical location of the medical service provider and check their service quality on site. Medical service providers can be admitted to use our platform only after they pass our aforementioned qualification process.
We generally enter into framework supply agreements with our service providers annually based on our standard form. In the contract, service providers agree to comply with all relevant laws and regulations, offer
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competitive price on our platform, actively resolve complaints and respond to other negative user feedback. We also reserve the right to terminate the contract when the service provider posts exaggerated information, relies on expired certifications, engages in illegal conducts, or encounters serious customer complaints.
Growth System for Our Service Providers
When a service provider joins our platform, it automatically participates in a multiple tiered growth system. Service providers are re-evaluated regularly based on their past performance indicators, such as user feedback. Under-performing statistics, often because of unsatisfactory user feedbacks, may result in downgrade in the growth system. The growth system incentivizes medical aesthetic service providers to improve their service quality on our platform in long term by providing exclusive benefits to higher level service providers. There is an increasing amount of information service fee discount as the level grows. Moreover, participants at higher levels enjoy more availability of information services, such as customized short videos, pop-up information display in mobile app, and participation in live video broadcasting. Internally, the growth system also gives our business development team guidance on the amount of resource we invest in certain medical aesthetic service providers and results in more targeted consulting and assistance on our platform.
Complementary Services
We seek to provide service providers on our platform with comprehensive tools and support that they can use to facilitate their management and growth, including training programs for their growth.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
From operation dashboard, medical aesthetic service providers are able to obtain real-time and historical statistics of their performance, including page view, unique visitors, private messages, orders and payments, and user feedback. User ratings help medical aesthetic service providers to manage their customers and provide guidance on their approach to particular users. In general, our operation dashboard enables medical aesthetic service providers to closely track the effectiveness of their customer acquisition and sales methods and pinpoint area of possible improvements, therefore increasing the efficiency of their business operations.
Training Service
We believe that the successful business operations of our company and our medical aesthetic providers hinge on the general reliability of our platform, which factors reputation, service quality and consumer satisfaction into the equation. We provide guiding and consulting services for new medical aesthetic providers so that they learn better ways to manage their online presence. We assist them by hosting various training programs both online and offline. On our So-Young Business College Weixin mini program, medical aesthetic service providers may choose online training courses ranging from customer acquisition and operation, medical knowledge, consulting service, and management skills. These training courses that are specially designed for our online platform allow traditional medical aesthetic service providers to successfully and efficiently adapt to a fast-evolving online environment.
In addition to online courses that medical aesthetic service providers can access 24/7, we offer offline training camps. Participants are arranged in groups to complete various social and team building activities so that they can broaden their networks in the industry. Through lectures, we systematically present the necessary knowledge, including professional medical knowledge, internet operation and customer acquisition, business development, public relations and media management. Participants have opportunities to share their own medical aesthetic work experience with the class for further discussion and case study.
We also offer customized training program onsite for medical aesthetic service providers on cutting-the-edge medical aesthetic equipment. Our training team assists the medical aesthetic service providers to
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develop comprehensive medical aesthetic treatment that can meet the latest treatment demands from users. To supplement the training program, we provide referral services to medical aesthetic equipment wholesalers and leasers for more cost-effective equipment usage options.
Monetization
We monetize across our online platform through information services and reservation services primarily offered to medical aesthetic service providers.
Information Services
Leveraging our rich user generated content that effectively serves our engaging user base, we offer a diverse range of information services primarily to help our medical aesthetic service providers better introduce their services, and increase their customer base.
We help our service providers introduce their services through information display on our platform. Medical aesthetic service providers can also participate in live video broadcasting and short-form video series to strengthen their branding effects.
Reservation Services
We earn reservation service fees primarily from medical aesthetic service providers when a medical or beauty treatment is performed for our user through reservation from our platform. Such fees are generally determined as an agreed percentage of the value of service actually provided by service providers. We typically charge a rate of approximately 10% of the total amount paid by users for services introduced through our online reservation function.
As per our agreements with service providers, we collect reservation service fees for all services provided to a user as long as (i) the user was brought to the particular service provider through our platform and (ii) the service provider is still active on our platform. This includes the situations where the user visits the service provider directly without online ordering, chooses treatment at site that is different from the online reservation, adds more services during the time of visit, and visits the service provider for other treatment in the future. The service provider will place an order through their interface on our reservation function on behalf of the user.
To ensure that we have the right basis to calculate the reservation service fee pursuant to our contracts with our service providers, we actively follow up with our users on our platform. At the same time, users actively provide ratings and reviews online on the treatment that they consumed offline, which feedback allows us to check the accuracy of orders reported by service providers. In addition, as we form long-term relationships with our service providers, our penalty and policing system renders conformity to service agreements a reasonable and cost-effective choice for them.
Branding and Marketing
We believe that our rich content and satisfactory user experience have contributed to the expansion of our user base and the increase in user engagement, leading to a strong word-of-mouth effect that strengthens our brand awareness. According to Frost & Sullivan analysis, 45% of survey respondents in China in October 2018 who are potentially interested in medical aesthetic treatment are aware of our brand.
We promote our platform and enhance brand awareness through a variety of online and offline marketing and brand promotion activities. We engage passionate and active medical aesthetic influencers and arrange for them to attend marketing and brand promotion campaigns and produce interesting video and textual professional medical aesthetic content on various social media networks. We cooperate with third-party apps, popular search engines and social media platforms for online and mobile marketing. We also conduct offline marketing primarily in the form cinema advertising, television commercials, and promotion events.
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Technology and Infrastructure
The success of our business is supported by our strong technological capabilities that enable us to deliver superior user experience and increase our operational efficiency. Our technology team, coupled with our proprietary artificial intelligence technology and the large volume of data generated and collected on our platform each day, have created opportunities for continued improvements in our technology capabilities, empowering reliability, scalability and flexibility.
As of December 31, 2018, we had a technology team with approximately 160 engineers, including those focusing on technology development to support every aspect of our business operation, those focusing on artificial intelligent algorithm design and development, and those focusing on underlying data and technology maintenance.
Artificial Intelligence
We believe we are in a unique position to capitalize on the use of artificial intelligence technologies, including computer vision, machine learning, and natural language processing, to further lead the revolution in medical aesthetic industry. Notable artificial intelligence products include:
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AI Diagnosis . A key area of our research in artificial intelligence focuses on improved facial and object recognition technology powered by advanced neural network algorithms. Through our AI analysis tool, users can obtain preliminary diagnosis information on how to improve their personal appearances. |
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Cosmetic Surgery Simulation . We have applied various artificial intelligence and facial recognition technologies to offer users convenient facial analysis and allow users to simulate medical aesthetic treatment results on their pictures. Users can adjust multiple parameters on their facial data. |
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Intelligent Image Search . Based on our facial analysis technologies, we enable users to search on our platform with their facial pictures to directly return relevant medical aesthetic content and treatment information. |
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Content Ranking and Recommendation . We utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to power our ranking and recommendation system. We employ an intelligent ranking formula based on user preference and content quality. |
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Automatic Messaging System . We utilize natural language processing algorithms and machine learning technologies to develop automated messaging system, which have significantly improved user experience by providing instant and helpful feedback, reducing the operating expenses for medical aesthetic service providers. |
Big Data
We build proprietary big data analysis framework on our platform to improve operating efficiencies and user satisfaction. We leverage big data analytics and artificial intelligence technologies to enhance the accuracy of user behavior predictions and user profiling and optimize our operation, targeted content and user experience.
The seamless collaboration among our technology and operational teams, together with our big data analytics capability, result in improved operational efficiency for our company and our medical aesthetic service providers. Our data engineers are involved in all critical operational areas. They have thorough understanding of the computational needs from different business segments, and are therefore capable of providing technological support to address diversified needs in operating our platform.
Security and Data Privacy
We are committed to protecting information of all participants on our platform. We collect personal information and data only with users prior consent. We do not provide sensitive user data to medical aesthetic service providers or other third-parties.
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We have a security team of engineers and technicians dedicated to protecting the security of our platform. Our back-end proprietary security system is capable of handling malicious attacks each day to safeguard the security of our platform and to protect the privacy of our users and medical aesthetic service providers. We back up our user and certain other critical forms of data on a daily basis in separate and various secured data back-up systems to minimize the risk of data lost. We encrypt confidential personal information we gather from our platform. To further ensure data security and avoid data leakage, we have established internal protocols under which we grant classified access to confidential personal data to limited employees with strictly defined and layered access authority. We strictly control and manage the use of data within our various teams.
Cloud Services
We have developed a secure, efficient and cost-effective cloud-based core system to operate our business. Cloud-based technology allows us to process large amount of complex data in-house, which significantly reduces cost and improves operation efficiency. We utilize the system of a leading enterprise cloud service provider in China so that we enjoy the instant scalability and robustness of cloud-based services.
Risk Management and Internal Control
We have adopted and implemented various policies and procedures to ensure rigorous risk management and internal control.
Content Screening and Monitoring
We are committed to complying with relevant laws and regulations on online content. We have invested significant resources in developing advanced content monitoring technologies, policies and procedures.
We maintain content management and review procedures to monitor Beauty Diaries , live video broadcasting, short-form videos, treatment reviews, featured articles, chat messages and other content on our platform to ensure that we are able to promptly identify content that may be deemed to be inappropriate, in violation of laws, regulations and government policies or infringing upon third-party rights. When any inappropriate or illegal content is identified, we promptly remove the content. Further actions may also be taken to hold relevant content creators accountable.
We have an automated AI-backed screening mechanism that serves as the first layer of defense in our content review system. This system automatically flags and screens out content that duplicates other content, or involve in appropriate or illegal audio, video, comments or texts. Once the content is processed by the automated screening mechanism, our system then extracts the content and sends to our manual content screening team, our second layer of defense, for further review. We have a dedicated team reviewing and handling content on our platform for compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and ensuring the quality of our content.
Quality Control
In addition to the strict selection process to ensure qualification of our medical aesthetic providers, we have built a framework in which we constantly monitor the service provided by medical institution, through our online system and on-site visits. We establish a credit score system for medical aesthetic service providers where we deduct the score if we find malicious competition, spam orders and ratings, repetitive unsatisfactory user services, or negative media exposure. Lower credit scores result in less exposure and lower ranking on our platform. If we are no longer satisfied by the action of medical aesthetic service providers, we may initiate termination process to remove them from our online platform, thereby protecting our brand image and our users.
Competition
The online medical aesthetics industry in China is highly competitive and rapidly evolving. Our primary competitors include (i) leading search engines, (ii) other online medical aesthetic service platforms, and (iii) general online e-commerce platforms.
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We compete primarily on the basis of the following factors: (i) the rich and specialized content on medical aesthetic treatment for our targeted user base; (ii) our ability to seamlessly connect content and users with medical aesthetic service providers; (iii) the superior decision-making process on our platform; (iv) our large and active user base; (v) pricing of medical aesthetic treatment that could be reserved on our platform; (vi) our ability to attract and retain medical aesthetic service providers; (vii) medical aesthetic service provider validation, and treatment quality control; (viii) brand recognition and reputation; and (ix) the experience and expertise of our management team.
Employees
The following table sets forth the numbers of our employees categorized by function as of December 31, 2018.
Function |
Number of Employees | |||
Platform operation |
306 | |||
Business development and marketing |
227 | |||
Research and development |
208 | |||
Administration and management |
71 | |||
Customer service |
22 | |||
Others |
28 | |||
|
|
|||
Total |
862 | |||
|
|
Our success depends on our ability to attract, motivate, train and retain qualified personnel. We believe we offer our employees competitive compensation packages and an environment that encourages self-development and, as a result, have generally been able to attract and retain qualified personnel and maintain a stable core management team.
As required by regulations in China, we participate in various employee social security plans that are organized by municipal and provincial governments, including pension, unemployment insurance, childbirth insurance, work-related injury insurance, medical insurance and housing insurance. We are required under PRC law to make contributions to employee benefit plans at specified percentages of the salaries, bonuses and certain allowances of our employees, up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time. To date, we have not experienced any significant labor disputes. None of our employees are represented by labor unions.
Facilities
We are headquartered in Beijing, China. As of December 31, 2018, we leased an aggregate of over 19,000 square meters of office space in Beijing, with a lease term from two years to five and a half years, and an aggregate of approximately 1,700 square meters of office space in 14 other cities in China with lease terms that typically last for one year. We lease our premises under operating lease agreements from independent third parties. We believe that our existing facilities are generally adequate to meet our current needs, but we expect to seek additional space as needed to accommodate future growth.
Intellectual Property
We regard our trademarks, copyrights, patents, domain names, know-how, proprietary technologies, and similar intellectual property as critical to our success, and we rely on copyright, trademark and patent law in the PRC, as well as confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions with our employees, contractors and others to protect our proprietary rights.
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As of December 31, 2018, we own 162 registered trademarks, copyrights to 31 software programs developed by us relating to various aspects of our operations, copyrights to 80 literature and art works, and 23 registered domain names, including soyoung.com . As of December 31, 2018, we have 449 trademarks with applications pending in the PRC Trademark Office.
Insurance
We maintain various insurance policies to safeguard against risks and unexpected events. We consider our insurance coverage to be sufficient for our business operations in China.
Legal Proceedings
We are currently not a party to, and we are not aware of any pending or threatened legal, arbitral or administrative proceedings or claims, which, in the opinion of our management, is likely to have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. We may from time to time become a party to various legal, arbitral or administrative proceedings or claims arising in the ordinary course of our business.
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This section sets forth a summary of the most significant laws, regulations and rules that affect our business activities in the PRC and the rights of our shareholders to receive dividends and other distributions from us.
Regulations on Value-added Telecommunication Services
On September 25, 2000, the State Council promulgated the Telecommunications Regulations of the Peoples Republic of China, or the Telecom Regulations, which was amended on July 29, 2014 and February 6, 2016. The Telecom Regulations is the primary PRC law governing telecommunication services and sets out the general regulatory framework for telecommunication services provided by PRC companies. The Telecom Regulations distinguishes between basic telecommunication services and value-added telecommunication services. The Telecom Regulations defines value-added telecommunications services as telecommunications and information services provided through public networks. Pursuant to the Telecom Regulations, commercial operators of value-added telecommunications services must first obtain an operating license from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or the MIIT, or its provincial level counterparts.
The Catalog of Telecommunications Business, or the Catalog, which was issued as an attachment to the Telecom Regulations and updated on February 21, 2003 and December 28, 2015, further categorizes value-added telecommunication services into two classes: Class 1 value-added telecommunication services and Class 2 value-added telecommunication services. Internet information services and online data processing and transaction processing services fall within Class 2 value-added telecommunications services, and the provider of Internet information services and online data processing and transaction processing services shall obtain ICP License and EDI Licenses from the MIIT, or its provincial branches, prior to the provision of ICP Services or EDI Services.
On July 3, 2017, the MIIT issued the Measures on the Administration of Telecommunications Business Operating Permits, or the Telecom License Measures, which became effective on September 1, 2017, to supplement the Telecom Regulations. The Telecom License Measures sets forth the types of licenses required to operate value-added telecommunications services and the qualifications and procedures for obtaining such licenses. The Telecom License Measures also provides that an operator providing value-added telecommunication services in multiple provinces is required to obtain an inter-regional license, whereas an operator providing value-added telecommunication services in one province is required to obtain an intra-provincial license. Any telecommunication services operator must conduct its business in accordance with the specifications in its license.
We engage in business activities that are value-added telecommunication services as defined in the Telecom Regulations and the Catalog. To comply with the relevant laws and regulations, Beijing So-Young, our VIE, has obtained a Value-Added Telecommunications Services Operating License for providing information services via the internet, or the ICP License, which will remain effective until August 25, 2020, and an EDI License which will remain effective until January 3, 2024. Beijing Meifenbao Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of our VIE, has also obtained an ICP License, which will remain effective until April 25, 2023. See Risk FactorsOur failure to obtain and maintain approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our business could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
Regulations on Foreign Investment
The Foreign Investment Catalog
The Guidance Catalog of Industries for Foreign Investment, or the Foreign Investment Catalog, was promulgated by the National Development and Reform Commission and the MOFCOM on June 28, 1995, and most recently amended on June 28, 2017. The Foreign Investment Catalog lays out the basic framework for foreign investment in China, classifying businesses into three categories with regard to foreign investment: encourage, restricted and prohibited. Industries not listed in the catalog are generally deemed as falling into a fourth category, permitted, unless specifically restricted by other PRC laws. Our business falls under
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value-added telecommunications services, which are under the restricted category in the Foreign Investment Catalog. In addition, in June 2018, the MOFCOM and the National Development and Reform Commission promulgated the Special Management Measures (Negative List) for the Access of Foreign Investment, or the Negative List, which became effective on July 28, 2018. Foreign investment in value-added telecommunications services (except for e-commerce) falls within the Negative List. As a result, foreign investors can only conduct investment activities through equity or contractual joint ventures with certain shareholding requirements and approvals from competent authorities. PRC partners are required to hold the majority interests in the joint ventures and approval from the MOFCOM and the MIIT for the incorporation of the joint ventures and the business operations.
PRC Company Law, the WFOE Law and FIE Interim Administration
The establishment, operation and management of corporate entities in the PRC is governed by the PRC Company Law, which was initially promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress, or the SCNPC, on December 29, 1993, came into effect on July 1, 1994, and was subsequently amended on December 25, 1999, August 28, 2004, October 27, 2005, December 28, 2013 and October 26, 2018. The latest amended PRC Company Law became effective on October 26, 2018. The PRC Company Law generally governs two types of companieslimited liability companies and joint stock limited companies. The PRC Company Law also applies to foreign-invested companies. Where laws on foreign investment have other stipulations, such stipulations shall prevail. The establishment procedures, approval or record-filing procedures, registered capital requirements, foreign exchange matters, accounting practices, taxation matters and labor matters of a wholly foreign-owned enterprise are regulated by the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law of the PRC, or the WFOE Law, promulgated on April 12, 1986 and amended on October 31, 2000 and September 3, 2016, and the Rules for the Implementation of the WFOE Law, promulgated on December 12, 1990 and amended on April 12, 2001 and February 19, 2014. According to the amendments to the WFOE law in 2016, for any wholly foreign-owned enterprise that the special entry management system does not apply to, its establishment, operation duration and extension, separation, merger or other major changes shall be reported for record.
On October 8, 2016, the MOFCOM promulgated the Interim Administrative Measures for Record-filing of the Incorporation and Change of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or FIE Interim Administrative Measures, and was subsequently amended on July 30, 2017 and on June 30, 2018. Under the FIE Interim Administrative Measures, the incorporation and change of FIEs are subject to record-filing procedures, instead of prior approval requirements, provided that the incorporation or change does not trigger any special entry administrative measures required by the government. If the incorporation or change of FIE matters is subject to the special entry administration measures, the approval of the MOFCOM or its local counterparts is still required.
Foreign Investment Law
On March 15, 2019, the National Peoples Congress approved the Foreign Investment Law, which will come into effect on January 1, 2020 and replace the trio of existing laws regulating foreign investment in China, namely, the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. The organization form, organization and activities of foreign-invested enterprises shall be governed, among others, by the PRC Company Law and the PRC Partnership Enterprise Law. Foreign-invested enterprises established before the implementation of the Foreign Investment Law may retain the original business organization and so on within five years after the implementation of this Law.
The Foreign Investment Law is formulated to further expand opening-up, vigorously promote foreign investment and protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors. According to the Foreign Investment Law, foreign investments are entitled to pre-entry national treatment and are subject to negative list management system. The pre-entry national treatment means that the treatment given to foreign investors and their investments at the stage of investment access shall not be less favorable than that of domestic investors and
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their investments. The negative list management system means that the state implements special administrative measures for access of foreign investment in specific fields. The Foreign Investment Law does not mention the relevant concept and regulatory regime of VIE structures. However, since it is relatively new, uncertainties still exist in relation to its interpretation and implementation. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Corporate StructureUncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the newly enacted PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.
Foreign investors investment, earnings and other legitimate rights and interests within the territory of China shall be protected in accordance with the law, and all national policies on supporting the development of enterprises shall equally apply to foreign-invested enterprises. Among others, the state guarantees that foreign-invested enterprises participate in the formulation of standards in an equal manner and that foreign-invested enterprises participate in government procurement activities through fair competition in accordance with the law. Further, the state shall not expropriate any foreign investment except under special circumstances. In special circumstances, the state may levy or expropriate the investment of foreign investors in accordance with the law for the needs of the public interest. The expropriation and requisition shall be conducted in accordance with legal procedures and timely and reasonable compensation shall be given. In carrying out business activities, foreign-invested enterprises shall comply with relevant provisions on labor protection.
Regulations on Foreign Investment in the Value-added Telecommunications Industry
Foreign direct investment in telecommunications companies in China is governed by the Provisions on the Administration of Foreign-Invested Telecommunications Enterprises, or the FITE Regulations, which was promulgated by the State Council on December 11, 2001 and amended on September 10, 2008 and February 6, 2016. These regulations require that foreign-invested value-added telecommunications enterprises in China must be established as Sino-foreign equity joint ventures and that foreign investors may not hold a majority equity interest in such joint ventures. In addition, foreign investors must demonstrate significant experience in a value-added telecommunications business as well as a good business track record. Moreover, foreign investors that meet these requirements must obtain approvals from the MIIT and the MOFCOM to provide value-added telecommunication services in China, and the MIIT and the MOFCOM retain considerable discretion in granting such approvals.
On July 13, 2006, the Ministry of Information Industry (the predecessor of the MIIT) issued the Circular on Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Investment in and Operation of Value-added Telecommunications Business, pursuant to which a PRC company that holds an ICP License is prohibited from leasing, transferring or selling the ICP License to foreign investors in any form, and from providing any assistance, including resources, sites or facilities, to foreign investors that conduct value-added telecommunications business illegally in China. Moreover, the domain names and registered trademarks used by an operating company providing value-added telecommunications services shall be legally owned by such company and/or its shareholders. In addition, such companys operation premises and equipment must comply with its approved ICP License, and such company must improve its internal internet and information security standards and emergency management procedures.
On June 19, 2015, the MIIT issued the Circular on Loosening the Restrictions on Shareholding by Foreign Investors in Online Data Processing and Transaction Processing Business (for-profit E-commerce), or the Circular 196. The Circular 196 allows a foreign investor to hold 100% of the equity interest in a PRC entity that provides online data processing and transaction processing services (for-profit E-commerce). With respect to the applications for a license for on-line data processing and transaction processing businesses (for-profit E-commerce), the requirements for the proportion of foreign equity are governed by this Circular; other requirements and corresponding approval procedures are subject to the FITE Regulations.
In view of these restrictions on foreign direct investment in value-added telecommunications services and certain other types of businesses under which our business may fall, including internet audio-visual program
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services and radio/television programs production and operation businesses, we have established various domestic consolidated affiliated entities to engage in value-added telecommunications services. For more information, please see Corporate History and StructureContractual Arrangements with Our VIE and Its Shareholders. Due to the lack of interpretative guidance from the relevant PRC governmental authorities, there are uncertainties regarding whether PRC governmental authorities would consider our corporate structure and contractual arrangements to constitute foreign ownership of a value-added telecommunications business. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Corporate StructureIf the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our operations in China do not comply with PRC regulations relating to 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. If our current ownership structure is found to be in violation of current or future PRC laws, rules or regulations regarding the legality of foreign investment in value-added telecommunications services and other types of businesses in which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited, we could be subject to severe penalties.
Regulations on Internet Content Providers
The Administrative Measures on Internet Information Services, or the Internet Content Measures, which was promulgated by the State Council on September 25, 2000 and amended on January 8, 2011, sets out guidelines on the provision of internet information services. The Internet Content Measures specifies that internet information services regarding news, publications, education, medical and health care, pharmacy and medical appliances, among other things, are required to be examined, approved and regulated by the relevant authorities. Internet information providers are prohibited from providing services beyond those included in the scope of their licenses or filings. Furthermore, the Internet Content Measures specifies a list of prohibited content. Internet information providers are prohibited from producing, copying, publishing or distributing information that is humiliating or defamatory to others or that infringes the legal rights of others. Internet information providers that violate such prohibition may face criminal charges or administrative sanctions. Internet information providers must monitor and control the information posted on their websites. If any prohibited content is found, they must remove the content immediately, keep a record of such content and report to the relevant authorities.
The Internet Content Measures classifies internet information services into commercial internet information services and non-commercial internet information services. Commercial internet information services refer to services that provide information or services to internet users with charge. A provider of commercial internet information services must obtain an ICP License.
Regulations on Advertising
On October 27, 1994, the SCNPC promulgated the Advertising Law, which was amended on April 24, 2015 and October 26, 2018. Under the Advertising Law, advertisers refer to any legal persons, economic organizations or individuals that, directly or through agents, design, produce and publish advertisements to promote products or services. Advertisement operators refer to those legal persons, economic organizations or individuals consigned to provide advertisement content design and production and agency services. Advertisement publisher refers to those legal persons or other economic organizations that publish advertisements for the advertisers or for those advertisement operators which are consigned by the advertisers. An advertisement should present distinct and clear descriptions of the products function, place of origin, quality, price, manufacturer, validity period, warranties or the contents, forms, quality, price or promises of the services offered. False advertising that may mislead consumers and the compromise legal rights and interests of consumers shall subject the advertiser to civil liabilities. Where the advertising operator or advertising publisher is unable to provide the real name, address or valid contact information of the advertiser, the consumers may require that the advertising operator or advertising publisher make compensation in advance. For false advertisements of goods or services other than those stipulated in the preceding sentence which caused harm to consumers, where the advertising operator, advertising publisher and advertising spokesperson knew or should have known about the falsity yet still provided design, production, agency or publishing services, or provided a recommendation or endorsement, they shall bear joint and several liabilities with the advertiser.
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On July 4, 2016, the State Administration for Industry & Commerce (the predecessor of the State Administration of Market Regulation), or the SAIC, promulgated the Interim Measures for the Administration of Internet Advertising, or the Internet Advertising Measures, which became effective as of on September 1, 2016. The Internet Advertising Measures set forth further compliance requirements for online advertising business in addition to those in the Advertising Law. Pursuant to the Internet Advertising Measures, Internet Advertising refers to the commercial advertising for direct or indirect marketing goods or services in the form of text, image, audio, video, or others means through websites, webpages, internet apps, or other internet media. Major additional compliance requirements are: (i) advertisements must be identifiable and marked with the word advertisement, enabling consumers to distinguish them from non-advertisement content; (ii) publishing advertisements on the Internet through a pop-up page or in other forms shall provide a prominently marked CLOSE button to ensure one-click closure; (iii) sponsored search results must be clearly distinguished from organic search results; (iv) it is forbidden to send advertisements or advertisement links by email without the recipients permission or induce Internet users to click on an advertisement in a deceptive manner; (v) internet information service providers that do not participate in the operation of internet advertisements should stop publishing illegal advertisements if they know or should know that the advertisements are illegal; and (vi) no advertisement of any medical treatment, medicines, foods for special medical purpose, medical apparatuses, pesticides, veterinary medicines, dietary supplements or other special commodities or services which are subject to review by advertisement review authorities as stipulated by laws and regulations shall be released unless it has passed such review.
The Administrative Measures on Medical Advertisement, which were jointly promulgated by the SAIC and the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China, or the NHFPC (the predecessor of the National Health Commission of China) on November 10, 2006 and came into effect on January 1, 2007, require that medical advertisements shall be reviewed by relevant health authorities and obtain a Medical Advertisement Review Certificate before they may be released by a healthcare institution. The Medical Advertisement Review Certificate has an effective term of one year and may be renewed upon application.
Pursuant to the Measures for Drug Advertisements Examination which were promulgated by the China Food and Drug Administration (replaced by State Administration of Market Regulation, or the SAMR and the National Medical Products Administration), or the CFDA, on March 13, 2007 and became effective on May 1, 2007, an enterprise seeking to advertise its drugs must apply for an advertising license number. The valid period of the drug advertisement license number shall be one year. The applicants for drug advertisement license numbers must be pharmaceutical manufacture enterprises or pharmaceutical operation enterprises that have obtained the consent from a pharmaceutical manufacture enterprise.
The Measures for the Examination of Medical Device Advertisements were released by the SAIC, the CFDA and the NHFPC on April 7, 2009, and stipulates that advertisements for medical devices shall be examined and approved by the provincial departments of CFDA, and advertisements shall be filed with the relevant counterparts of CFDA before their release.
See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Business and IndustryCharacterization of our business as engaging in medical, drug and/or medical device advertisement distribution in China without proper licenses or permits.
Regulations on E-commerce
On August 31, 2018, the SCNPC promulgated the PRC E-Commerce Law, or the E-Commerce Law, which became effective on January 1, 2019. The E-Commerce Law establishes the regulatory framework for the e-commerce sector in the PRC for the first time by laying out certain requirements on e-commerce operators, including e-commerce platform operators like us. Pursuant to the E-Commerce Law, e-commerce platform operators are required to (i) take necessary actions or report to relevant competent government authorities when such operators notice any illegal production or services provided by merchants on the e-commerce platforms;
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(ii) verify the identity of the business operators on the platforms, including but not limited to verify the business license, Medical Institution Practicing License, Medical Advertisement Review Certificate, physician qualification certificate, or license of aesthetic medical attending in-charge physician of services provider, as appropriate; (iii) provide identity and tax related information of merchants to local branches of the State Administration for Market Regulation and tax bureaus; or (iv) record and preserve goods and service information and transaction information on the e-commerce platform. The E-Commerce Law also specifically stipulates that e-commerce platform operators shall not impose unreasonable restrictions or conditions on the transactions of their business operators on the platforms. According to the E-Commerce Law, failures to comply with these requirements may subject the e-commerce platform operators to administrative penalties, fines and/or the suspension of business. In addition, for goods and services provided via e-commerce platforms and pertinent to the life and health of consumers, e-commerce platform operators shall bear relevant responsibilities, which may give rise to civil or criminal liabilities if the consumers suffered damages due to the e-commerce platform operators failure to duly verify the qualifications or the licenses of the business operators on the platforms or to duly perform their safety protection obligations as required by the E-Commerce Law. For details about medical liabilities that might arise, please refer to RegulationRegulations on Medical Liabilities.
Regulations on Consumer Protection
On October 31, 1993, the SCNPC promulgated the Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Consumers, or the Consumer Protection Law, which was amended on August 27, 2009 and October 25, 2013. Pursuant to the Consumer Protection Law, business operators must ensure that the commodities they sell satisfy safety requirements, provide consumers with authentic information, and guarantee the quality, function, term of use of the commodities. Failure to comply with the Consumer Protection Law may subject business operators to liabilities such as refund, returns, repairs, and the payment of damages. If business operators infringe upon the legal rights and interests of consumers, they may be subject to criminal liabilities. The amended Consumer Protection Law launched in October 2013 further enhances consumer protection and intensifies the obligations imposed on online trading platforms and business operators.
The Tort Liability Law, which was promulgated by the SCNPC on December 26, 2009 and became effective on July 1, 2010, provides that if an online services provider is aware that an online user is engaged in infringing activities but fails to take necessary measures, it shall be held jointly liable. If the online service provider receives any notice from the infringed party on any infringing activities, the online service provider shall take necessary measures, including removing, blocking and unlinking the infringing content, in a timely manner. Otherwise, it shall be held jointly liable with the relevant online user.
On May 31, 2010, the SAIC adopted the Interim Administrative Measures for the Online Commodities Trading and Relevant Services. According to these measures, enterprises or other operators which engage in online commodities trading and other services that have been registered with SAIC or its local branches must make the information available to the public in their business licenses, either through physical copies or electronic links. Operators that provide platform services for online trading shall review the identities of companies or individuals that apply for the provision of commodities and services through the online trading platform, conclude agreements with the aforesaid parties and establish relevant internal rules to provide the necessary and reliable transaction environment and transaction service, and maintain the order of online trading.
On January 26, 2014, the SAIC promulgated the Administrative Measure for the Online Trading, or the Online Trading Measures, which became effective as of March 15, 2014 and replaced the above measures. The online trading platform operators are obligated to examine the legal status of the third-party merchants and make the information of such third-party merchants available to the public through business licenses, either through displaying the information specified in their business licenses or electronic links to their business licenses. The online trading platform operators must distinguish between their own products and those of third-party merchants on the platform, as applicable. Subsequent to the Online Trading Measures, the SAIC issued the Guidelines for the Performance of Social Responsibilities by Online Trading Platform Operators on May 28, 2014 to regulate
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online product trading and the relevant services, guide online trading platform operators to actively perform social responsibilities, protect the lawful rights and interests of consumers and business operators, and promote the sustainable and healthy development of the online economy. These guidelines aim at enhancing the social responsibilities of online trading platforms.
Regulations on Medical Liabilities
The Tort Liability Law provides that, if a medical institution or its medical personnel are at fault for damage inflicted on a patient during the course of diagnosis and treatment, the medical institution will be liable for compensation. Medical institutions shall be liable and pay for the damage caused by the failure of the medical personnel to fulfill their statutory obligations in the course of diagnosis and treatment. Medical institutions and their medical personnel shall protect the privacy of their patients and will be subject to tortious liabilities for any damage caused by divulging the patients private or medical records without their consent.
The Regulations on Handling Medical Incidents, which were promulgated by the State Council on April 4, 2002 and came into effect on September 1, 2002, provide detailed provisions regarding the prevention, disposition, technical identification, administrative disposition and supervision and compensation of medical incidents. Medical incident means an accident caused by a medical institution or its medical personnel resulting in personal injuries to a patient due to faults in medical activities as a result of any violation of the laws, administrative regulations or departmental rules on medical and health administration, or of standards or procedures for diagnosis, cure and nursing. The medical institution and the patient may, through negotiation, settle the disputes on civil liability such as the compensation for medical incidents; if they are unwilling or fail to reach settlement, the parties concerned may apply for mediation to the health administration department, or may directly bring a civil lawsuit in the peoples court. The following factors shall be taken into account for determining the actual amount of compensation for medical incidents: the grade of the medical incidents; the extent of responsibility of the medical fault for the injury in the medical incidents; and the relationship between the injury in the medical incidents and the illness of the patient. Where a medical institution produces a medical accident, the health administration department may give the penalty to the medical institution according to the grade of the medical accident and circumstances.
Under the Regulations on Handling Medical Incidents, a medical incident can be classified as four degrees according to the seriousness of personal injuries to patients: (i) first degree medical incident: causing death or heavy disability of a patient, (ii) second degree medical incident: causing medium disability, or organ or tissue damage of a patient, thus resulting in severe dysfunction, (iii) third degree medical incident: causing minor disability, or organ or tissue damage of a patient, thus resulting in common dysfunction, and (iv) fourth degree medical incident: causing other tangible personal injuries to a patient. According to the Interim Measures for Medical Incident Appraisal, liability for medical incidents can be classified into four levels: (i) complete liability: the patients injuries were entirely attributable to the healthcare providers fault, (ii) primary liability: the patients injuries were primarily attributable to the healthcare providers fault, with other factors playing a secondary role, (iii) secondary liability: the patients injuries were primarily attributable to other factors, with the healthcare providers fault playing a secondary role, and (iv) minor liability: the patients injuries were for the most part attributable to other factors, with the healthcare providers fault playing a minor role. In practice, medical associations administered by the respective local branch of the NHFPC may also adjudicate peer liability which denotes a 50% liability attributable to the healthcare provider.
Regulations on Payment Services
In June 2010, the Peoples Bank of China, or PBOC, issued the Administrative Measures for the Payment Services of Non-Financial Institutions, or the Payment Services Measures, effective September 2010. Under the Payment Services Measures, a non-financial institution must obtain a payment business license, or Payment License, to qualify as a paying institution and provide payment services. With the Payment License, a non-financial institution may serve as an intermediary between payees and payers and provide services including
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online payment, issuance and acceptance of prepaid card, bank card acceptance, and other payment services as specified by PBOC. Without PBOCs approval. Non-financial institution or individual may not engage in payment business explicitly or in a disguised form.
In November 2017, PBOC published a notice, or the PBOC Notice, on the investigation and administration of illegal offering of settlement services by financial institutions and third-party payment service providers to unlicensed entities. The PBOC Notice intended to prevent unlicensed entities from using licensed payment service providers as a conduit for conducting the unlicensed payment settlement services in order to safeguard fund security and information security.
Regulations on Healthcare Institutions
The Administrative Measures on Healthcare Institutions, which was promulgated on February 26, 1994 by the State Council and came into effect on September 1, 1994, and was revised on February 6, 2016, and the Implementation Measures of the Administrative Measures on Healthcare Institutions, which were promulgated by the NHFPC on August 29, 1994 and came into effect on September 1, 1994, and was revised on November 1, 2006, June 24, 2008 and February 21, 2017, respectively, stipulate that the establishment of healthcare institutions shall be reviewed and approved by healthcare administrative departments at or above the county level and obtain an Approval Letter of Establishment of Medical Institution. Any entity or individual that intends to establish a healthcare institution must follow the application approval procedures and register with the relevant healthcare administrative authorities to obtain the Medical Institution Practicing License.
According to the Administrative Measures for Verification of Medical Institutions (For Trial Implementation), which was promulgated by the NHFPC and came into effect on June 15, 2009, the registration authorities shall periodically verify the Medical Institution Practicing License. The verification period shall be 3 years for general hospitals, hospitals of traditional Chinese medicine, hospitals of western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, hospitals of ethnic minority medicine and specialized hospitals, as well as sanitariums, rehabilitation hospitals, maternity and childrens health care centers, emergency centers, clinical laboratories and specialized disease prevention institutions equipped with more than 100 beds, while the verification period shall be 1 year for other medical institutions. In the event that a medical institution fails to apply for verification as required and post re-verification procedures or unsuccessful in its re-verification application, the registration authorities may cancel its Medical Institution Practicing License.
Regulations on Aesthetic Medical Services
The Administrative Measures for Aesthetic Medical Services, which were promulgated by the NHFPC on January 22, 2002, came into effect on May 1, 2002 and amended on February 13, 2009 and January 19, 2016, stipulate that aesthetic medical item shall be classified as a first-level subject, and aesthetic surgery, aesthetic dentistry, aesthetic dermatology and aesthetic Chinese medicine shall be classified as a secondary subject. Medical practitioners of aesthetic medical services shall obtain the qualification license of aesthetic medical attending in-charge physician or provide aesthetic medical clinical services under the supervision of a licensed attending in-charge physician. An aesthetic medical attending in-charge physician shall meet certain requirements and provincial level health authorities shall be responsible for the qualification review of aesthetic medical attending in-charge physicians.
The Classification Catalog of Aesthetic Medical Item, which was promulgated by the NHFPC on December 11, 2009 and came into effect on the same date, classifies aesthetic medical services into four categories: (i) aesthetic surgery items; (ii) aesthetic dentistry items; (iii) aesthetic dermatological items and (iv) aesthetic Chinese medicine items. Provincial-level counterparts of the NHFPC may adjust the catalog based on local circumstances. In accordance with the difficulty and complexity of the surgery, the possibility of medical malpractice and the level of surgery risk, the aesthetic surgical items are divided into four grades. Surgeries that involve uncomplicated operation processes and less technical difficulty and risk shall be classified
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as grade 1. Surgeries that involve general complexity of operation processes and certain technical difficulty and risk, as well as requiring the use of epidural space block anesthesia and intravenous anesthesia, shall be classified as grade 2. Surgeries involving relatively high complexity of operation processes and relatively huge technical difficulties and risk, as well as requiring the preoperative blood preparation and tracheal intubation for general anesthesia, shall be classified as grade 3. If highly complicated operation processes are needed and huge technical difficulty and high risk are involved, the surgeries shall be classified as grade 4.
The Basic Standard for Aesthetic Medical Institution and Aesthetic Medical Department (For Trial Implementation), which was promulgated by the NHFPC on April 16, 2002 and came into effect on the same date, specifies basic standards that aesthetic medical hospitals, aesthetic medical out-patient departments, aesthetic medical clinics and aesthetic medical departments should meet, such as the number of beds, clinical departments and medical personnel.
Regulations on Medical Personnel
The Law on Medical Practitioners of the Peoples Republic of China, which was promulgated by the SCNPC on June 26, 1998 and came into effect on May 1, 1999 and revised on August 27, 2009, provides that doctors in the PRC must obtain qualification licenses for their medical profession. Qualified physicians must register with the relevant public health administrative authorities at or above the county level. After registration, doctors may work at healthcare institutions in their registered location in the types of jobs and within the scope of medical treatment, disease-prevention or healthcare business as provided in their registration.
The Notice on the Several Opinions on Promoting and Regulating Concerning Multi-site Practice of Doctors, which was jointly promulgated by the NHFPC and other four departments on November 5, 2014 and came into effect on the same date, provides that doctors may practice in cooperative healthcare institutions after performing relevant registration procedures with the authorities. The local NHFPC shall propose and implement its own multi-site practice policies. Key areas of such policies include: (i) doctors should obtain approval from the local NHFPC for multi-site practice; (ii) doctors should satisfy certain criteria before they become eligible to engage in multi-site practice; (iii) no multi-site doctor should have more than three practice sites in the same province; and (iv) doctors should enter into a written agreement with the hospitals that they intend to engage in multi-site practice with, which should clearly provide for legal liabilities in the event of disputes and other related matters prior to commencement of multi-site practice.
The Several Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Healthcare institutions with Social Capital, which were promulgated and made effective on December 30, 2013 by the NHFPC and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, specifically stipulate that multi-site practice of doctors shall be permitted and relevant authorities should provide favorable support for the orderly movements of the medical personnel.
The Administrative Measures for Temporary Medical Practicing in China by Foreign Doctors, which were promulgated by the NHFPC on October 7, 1992, came into effect on January 1, 1993 and amended on January 19, 2016, provide that temporary medical practicing in China by foreign doctors refers to those clinical diagnosis and treatment business activities that are carried out for a period of less than one year by foreign doctors licensed in other countries who are invited to apply to come to, or employed in, China. Temporary medical practicing in China by foreign doctors shall be registered and be issued a License of Temporary Medical Practicing in China by Foreign Doctors. The effective period for a short-term foreign doctor practicing permit in China should not exceed one year. Foreign doctors can re-apply for their registration of medical practicing upon the expiration of their previous registration.
Regulations on Internet Medical Services
According to the Opinion Concerning the Promotion of the Development of Internet Plus Medical and Health, promulgated and implemented on April 25, 2018 by the General Office of the State Council, third-party
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organizations such as the internet medical health service platform shall ensure that the qualifications of their medical service staffs are in compliance with the relevant regulation provisions and bear the responsibilities for the services provided. The internet medical health service platform shall also be strictly in accordance with the relevant regulation provisions regarding information security and confidentiality obligations for health and medical data, and establish or improve its privacy information protection system.
According to the Notice of Publishing of the Measures on the Administration of the Internet Diagnosis and Treatment (For Trial Implementation) and Other Two Documents, which was promulgated and implemented on July 17, 2018 by the National Health Commission and State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Internet diagnosis and treatment refers to the use of doctors registered in the institution using the Internet and other information technology to carry out diagnosis of some common diseases, chronic diseases re-diagnosis and Internet Plus family doctor contract services. Internet diagnosis and treatment activity shall be provided by medical institution that has obtained the Medical Institution Practicing License and the medical institution shall apply for registration of Internet diagnosis and treatment activity. Medical institutions carrying out Internet diagnosis and treatment activities should be consistent with their diagnosis and treatment subjects.
Regulations on Internet Drug Information Service
The Administrative Measures on Internet Drug Information Service was promulgated by the CFDA in July 8, 2004 and amended in November 17, 2017 and came into effect on November 17, 2017, pursuant to which the internet drug information services is to provide drug (including medical device) information services to online users; services are divided into commercial internet drug information services and non-commercial internet drug information services. The website operator that provides drugs (including medical devices) information services must obtain an Internet Drug Information Service Qualification Certificate from the competent counterpart of the CFDA. The valid term for an Internet Drug Information Service Qualification Certificate is five years and may be renewed at least six months prior to its expiration date upon a re-examination by the relevant governmental authorities. Furthermore, as requested by Internet Drug Measures, the information relating to drugs shall be accurate and scientific in nature, and its provision shall comply with the relevant laws and regulations. No product information of stupefacient, psychotropic drugs, medicinal toxic drugs, radiopharmaceutical, detoxification drugs and pharmaceutics made by medical institutes shall be distributed on the website. In addition, advertisements relating to drugs (including medical devices) shall be approved by the CFDA or its competent counterparts. To comply with the relevant laws and regulations, Beijing So-Young, our VIE, has obtained an Internet Drug Information Service Qualification Certificate, which will remain effective until December 27, 2023.
Regulations on Medical Devices
According to the Measures on the Supervision and Administration of the Business Operations of Medical Devices, which were promulgated by the CFDA on July 30, 2014 and amended on November 17, 2017, and came into effect on November 17, 2017, business operations of medical devices are administered by category depending on the degree of risks of medical devices. Doing business for Class I medical devices will not require licensing or record-filing, while operations of Class II medical devices and Class III medical devices shall be subject to administration by record-filing and by licensing respectively. Also, the medical device operator shall bear the legal liability for any act of purchasing or selling medical devices performed by its offices or sales persons in its name, shall establish and put in practice the purchase inspection records system, and shall purchase medical devices from qualified manufacturers or operators. According to the Measures for the Administration and Supervision of Online Sales of Medical Devices, which were promulgated by the CFDA on December 20, 2017, and came into effect on March 1, 2018, enterprises engaged in online sales of medical devices shall be medical device production and operation enterprises that have obtained, or filed application of, a medical device production license or operation license in accordance with the law, unless such license or application is not required by laws and regulations. Providers of third-party platforms providing online trading service for medical devices shall take technical measures to guarantee that data and materials in respect of online sales of medical
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devices are authentic, complete and traceable and shall obtain the Qualification Certificate for Medicine Information Services on the Internet in accordance with the law.
According to the Administrative Measures for the Registration of Medical Devices, which were promulgated by the CFDA on July 27, 2014, and came into effect on October 1, 2014, Class-I medical devices shall be managed by record-filing, while Class-II and Class-III medical devices shall be managed by registration. Applicants for the registration and record-filing of medical devices shall establish quality management systems related to product research and development and manufacturing, and maintain the effective operation thereof. Also, when the applicants for registration and record-filing of medical devices launch medical device products on the market in their own names, they shall bear legal liabilities for such products.
Beijing So-young Qingyang Medical Devices Co., Ltd. has obtained a Medical Devices Operating License for wholesale of Class-III medical devices, which will remain effective until April 13, 2022, and a Medical Devices Operating Filing for wholesale of Class II medical devices.
Regulations on Internet Audio-Visual Program Services
Audio-Visual License
On December 20, 2007, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, or the SARFT (the predecessor of NRTA) and the MIII jointly promulgated the Administrative Provisions on Internet Audio-Visual Program Services, or the Audio-Visual Program Provisions, which became effective as of January 31, 2008 and were subsequently amended on August 28, 2015. Providers of internet audio-visual program services are required to obtain the license for online transmission of audio-visual programs, or the Audio-Visual License issued by SARFT, or complete record-filing procedures with SARFT. In general, providers of internet audio-visual program services must be either state-owned or state-controlled entities, and their businesses must satisfy the overall planning and guidance catalog for internet audio-visual program service determined by SARFT.
On May 21, 2008, SARFT issued a Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Application and Approval of License for the Online Transmission of Audio-Visual Programs, which was amended on August 28, 2015, and further sets out detailed provisions concerning the application and approval process regarding the Audio-Visual License. The notice also stipulates that internet audio-visual program services providers that had engaged in such services prior to the promulgation of the Audio-Visual Program Provisions are able to apply for the license so long as (i) the violation of the laws and regulations is minor in scope and can be rectified in a timely manner, and (ii) the providers had no violations of laws during the last three months prior to the promulgation of the Audio-Visual Program Provisions.
On March 30, 2009, SARFT promulgated the Notice on Strengthening the Administration of the Content of Internet Audio-Visual Programs, which prohibits internet audio-visual programs containing violence, pornography, gambling, terrorism, superstition or other similarly prohibited elements.
On April 1, 2010, the SARFT issued the Internet Audio-visual Program Services Categories for trial implementation, or the Categories, which were amended on March 10, 2017. In addition, the Notice concerning Strengthening the Administration of the Live Video Broadcast Service of Online Audio-Visual Programs promulgated by the State Administration of Press and Publication Radio, Film and Television, or SAPPRFT (the predecessor of NRTA) on September 2, 2016 emphasizes that, unless a specific license is granted, an audio-visual programs service provider is forbidden from engaging in live video broadcasting on major political, military, economic, social, cultural, or sports events, among others.
CAC Rules
On November 4, 2016, the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, promulgated the Provisions on the Administration of Online Live Video Broadcast Services effective as of December 1, 2016. Under these
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provisions, an online live video broadcasting service provider shall (i) establish a live video broadcasting content review platform; (ii) conduct authentication registration of internet live video broadcasting issuers based on their identity certificates, business licenses and organization code certificates; and (iii) enter into a service agreement with internet live video broadcasting services user to specify both parties rights and obligations.
On July 12, 2017, in order to tighten its scrutiny on content distributed through live video broadcasting platforms, the CAC issued a notice requiring that online live video broadcasting service providers to file with local branches of the CAC starting July 15, 2017.
See Risk FactorsOur failure to obtain and maintain approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our business could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
Regulations on Production and Operation of Radio/Television Programs
On July 19, 2004, the SARFT promulgated the Administrative Measures on the Production and Operation of Radio and Television Programs, or the Radio and Television Program Production Measures, which came into effect on August 20, 2004 and was amended on August 28, 2015. The Radio and Television Program Production Measures provides that any business that produces or operates radio or television programs must first obtain a Radio and Television Program Production and Operation Permit. Entities holding such permits shall conduct their business within the permitted scope as provided in their permits. In addition, foreign-invested enterprises are not allowed to engage in the above-mentioned services. To comply with the relevant laws and regulations, Beijing So-Young, our VIE, has obtained a Radio and Television Program Production and Operation Permit, which will remain effective until January 23, 2021.
Regulations on Internet Publishing
On February 4, 2016, the SAPPRFT and the MIIT jointly issued the Rules for the Administration for Internet Publishing Services, or the Internet Publishing Rules, which became effective on March 10, 2016, to replace the Provisional Rules for the Administration for Internet Publishing that had been jointly issued by the SAPPRFT and the MIIT on June 27, 2002. The Internet Publishing Rules defines internet publications as digital works that are edited, produced, or processed to be published and provided to the public through the internet, including (a) original digital works, such as pictures, maps, games, and comics; (b) digital works with content that is consistent with the type of content that, prior to the internet age, typically was published in media such as books, newspapers, periodicals, audio-visual products, and electronic publications; (c) digital works in the form of online databases compiled by selecting, arranging, and compiling other types of digital works; and (d) other types of digital works identified by the SAPPRFT. Under the Internet Publishing Rules, internet operators distributing such publications via internet are required to apply for an internet publishing license with the relevant governmental authorities and for SAPPRFT approval before distributing internet publications.
Regulations on Internet Security
Internet information in China is regulated and restricted from a national security standpoint. The SCNPC, has enacted the Decisions on Maintaining Internet Security on December 28, 2000, amended on August 27, 2009, which may subject violators to criminal punishment in China for any effort to: (i) gain improper entry into a computer or system of strategic importance; (ii) disseminate politically disruptive information; (iii) leak state secrets; (iv) spread false commercial information; or (v) infringe intellectual property rights. In 1997, the Ministry of Public Security promulgated measures that prohibit use of the internet in ways which, among other things, result in a leakage of state secrets or a spread of socially destabilizing content. If an internet information service provider violates these measures, the Ministry of Public Security and the local security bureaus may revoke its operating license and shut down its websites.
On November 7, 2016, the SCNPC promulgated the Network Security Law of the PRC, or the Network Security Law, which became effective on June 1, 2017. The Network Security Law requires network operators,
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including online lending information intermediaries, to comply with laws and regulations and fulfill their obligations to safeguard security of the network when conducting business and providing services. The Network Security Law further requires network operators to take all necessary measures in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and compulsory national requirements to safeguard the safe and stable operation of the networks, respond to network security incidents effectively, prevent illegal and criminal activities, and maintain the integrity, confidentiality and usability of network data.
Regulations on Privacy Protection
In December 2011, the MIIT issued Several Provisions on Regulating the Market Order of Internet Information Services, which provides that an internet information service provider may not collect any users personal information or provide any such information to third parties without such users consent. Pursuant to The Several Provisions on Regulating the Market Order of Internet Information Services, internet information service providers are required to, among others, (i) expressly inform the users of the method, content and purpose of the collection and processing of such users personal information and may only collect such information necessary for the provision of its services; and (ii) properly maintain the users personal information, and in case of any leak or possible leak of a users personal information, online lending service providers must take immediate remedial measures and, in severe circumstances, make an immediate report to the telecommunications regulatory authority.
In addition, pursuant to the Decision on Strengthening the Protection of Online Information, issued by the SCNPC in December 2012, and the Order for the Protection of Telecommunication and Internet User Personal Information, issued by the MIIT in July 2013, any collection and use of any user personal information must be subject to the consent of the user, and abide to the applicable law, rationality and necessity of the business and fall within the specified purposes, methods and scopes in the applicable law.
Pursuant to the Ninth Amendment to the Criminal Law, issued by the SCNPC in August 2015, which became effective in November, 2015, any internet service provider that fails to fulfill its obligations related to internet information security administration as required under applicable laws and refuses to rectify upon orders shall be subject to criminal penalty. In addition, Interpretations of the Supreme Peoples Court and the Supreme Peoples Procuratorate on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Handling of Criminal Cases Involving Infringement of Personal Information, issued on May 8, 2017 and effective as of June 1, 2017, clarified certain standards for the conviction and sentencing of the criminals in relation to personal information infringement.
In addition, the PRC General Provisions of the Civil Law, promulgated on March 15, 2017, which became effective on October 1, 2017, require personal information of individuals to be protected. Any organization or individual requiring personal information of others shall obtain such information legally and ensure the security of such information, and shall not illegally collect, use, process, or transmit such personal information, or illegally buy, sell, provide, or publish such personal information.
While we have taken measures to protect the confidentiality of information that we have access to, our security measures could be breached. Any accidental or willful security breaches or other unauthorized access to our platform could cause confidential information of users to be stolen and used for criminal purposes. Any security breaches or unauthorized access to confidential information could also expose us to liability for loss of information and negative publicity.
Regulations on Mobile Internet Applications Information Services
Administration of mobile internet application information services is strengthened through Regulations for Administration on Mobile Internet Applications Information Services, or the MIAIS Regulations, which was promulgated by the CAC, on June 28, 2016 and became effective on August 1, 2016. The MIAIS Regulations
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were enacted to regulate mobile app information service providers. Pursuant to the MIAIS Regulations, the CAC and local offices of cyberspace administration shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of nationwide or local mobile app information, respectively.
Under the MIAIS Regulations, mobile app information service providers are required to obtain relevant qualifications and are responsible for the supervision and administration of mobile app information. Mobile app information service providers are required to strictly implement information security management responsibilities, including, but not limited to: (i) authenticate the identity of the registered users, (ii) protect user information and obtain users consents for collecting and using their personal information in a lawful manner, (iii) establish information content audit and management mechanism, and prohibit any content in violation of laws or regulations, and (iv) record and keep users logged information for 60 days.
Regulations on Account Names of Internet Users
On February 4, 2015, the CAC promulgated the Administrative Provisions on the Account Names of Internet Users, which became effective as of March 1, 2015. These provisions strengthened the administration of the account names of internet users. In addition to the authentication requirement for the real identity of internet users by requiring users to provide their real names during the registration process, these provisions specifically require that any internet information service provider shall enhance security administration, perfect the user service agreement, purge any illegal or malicious information from account names, photos, personal profiles and user registration information. Service providers must employ specialized personnel in proportion to its service scale, to (i) review account names, photos, personal profile and all relevant user registration information of internet users, (ii) deregister account names containing illegal and malicious information, and (iii) protect the information of the users, accept the supervision from the public, and purge the illegal and malicious information in account names, photos, self-introductions and other registration-related information reported by the public in a timely manner.
Regulations on Intellectual Property
Patent Law
According to the Patent Law of the PRC (revised in 2008), the State Intellectual Property Office is responsible for administering patent law in the PRC. The patent administration departments of provincial, autonomous region or municipal governments are responsible for administering patent law within their respective jurisdictions. The Chinese patent system adopts a first-to-file principle, which means that when more than one person files different patent applications for the same invention, only the person who files the application first is entitled to obtain a patent of the invention. To be patentable, an invention or a utility model must meet three criteria: novelty, inventiveness and practicability. A patent is valid for twenty years in the case of an invention and ten years in the case of utility models and designs.
Regulations on Copyright
The Copyright Law of the PRC, or the Copyright Law, which took effect on June 1, 1991 and was amended in 2001 and in 2010, provides that Chinese citizens, legal persons, or other organizations shall, whether published or not, own copyright in their copyrightable works, which include, among others, works of literature, art, natural science, social science, engineering technology and computer software. Copyright owners enjoy certain legal rights, including right of publication, right of authorship and right of reproduction. The Copyright Law as revised in 2010 extends copyright protection to Internet activities, products disseminated over the Internet and software products. In addition, the Copyright Law provides for a voluntary registration system administered by the China Copyright Protection Center, or the CPCC. According to the Copyright Law, an infringer of the copyrights shall be subject to various civil liabilities, which include ceasing infringement activities, apologizing to the copyright owners and compensating the loss of copyright owner. Infringers of copyright may also be subject to fines and/or administrative or criminal liabilities in severe situations.
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Pursuant to the Computer Software Copyright Protection Regulations promulgated by the State Council on December 20, 2001 and last amended on January 30, 2013, the software copyright owner may go through the registration formalities with a software registration authority recognized by the State Councils copyright administrative department. The software copyright owner may authorize others to exercise that copyright, and is entitled to receive remuneration.
Trademark Law
Trademarks are protected by the Trademark Law of the PRC, which was adopted on August 23, 1982, and subsequently amended in 1993, 2001 and 2013 respectively as well as by the Implementation Regulations of the PRC Trademark Law adopted by the State Council in 2002 and as most recently amended on April 29, 2014. The Trademark Office under the State Administration for Industry and Commerce handles trademark registrations. The Trademark Office grants a ten-year term to registered trademarks and the term may be renewed for another ten-year period upon request by the trademark owner. A trademark registrant may license its registered trademarks to another party by entering into trademark license agreements, which must be filed with the Trademark Office for its record. As with patents, the Trademark Law has adopted a first-to-file principle with respect to trademark registration. If a trademark applied for is identical or similar to another trademark that has already been registered or subject to a preliminary examination and approval for use on the same or similar kinds of products or services, such trademark application may be rejected. Any person applying for the registration of a trademark may not injure existing trademark rights first obtained by others, nor may any person register in advance a trademark that has already been used by another party and has already gained a sufficient degree of reputation through such partys use.
Regulations on Domain Names
The MIIT promulgated the Measures on Administration of Internet Domain Names, or the Domain Name Measures, on August 24, 2017, which took effect on November 1, 2017 and replaced the Administrative Measures on China Internet Domain Name first promulgated by the MIIT on August 1, 2002. According to the Domain Name Measures, the MIIT is in charge of the administration of PRC internet domain names. The domain name registration follows a first-to-file principle. Applicants for registration of domain names must provide the true, accurate and complete information of their identities to domain name registration service institutions. The applicants will become the holder of such domain names upon the completion of the registration procedure.
Patents
The National Peoples Congress promulgated the PRC Patent Law in 1984 and amended it in 1992, 2000 and 2008, respectively. Any invention, utility model or design must meet three conditions to be patentable: novelty, inventiveness and practical applicability. Patents cannot be granted for scientific discoveries, rules and methods for intellectual activities, methods used to diagnose or treat diseases, animal and plant breeds or substances obtained by means of nuclear transformation. The Patent Office under the State Intellectual Property Office is responsible for receiving, examining and approving patent applications. A patent is valid for a twenty-year term for an invention and a ten-year term for a utility model or design, starting from the application date. Except under certain specific circumstances provided by law, any third-party user must obtain consent or a proper license from the patent owner to use the patent, or else the use will constitute an infringement of the rights of the patent holder.
Regulations on Foreign Exchange
General Administration of Foreign Exchange
Under the PRC Foreign Currency Administration Rules promulgated on January 29, 1996 and most recently amended on August 5, 2008 and various regulations issued by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of
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the PRC, or the SAFE and other relevant PRC government authorities, Renminbi is convertible into other currencies for current account items, such as trade-related receipts and payments and payment of interest and dividends. The conversion of Renminbi into other currencies and remittance of the converted foreign currency outside the PRC for capital account items, such as direct equity investments, loans and repatriation of investment, requires the prior approval from the SAFE or its local office.
Payments for transactions that take place within the PRC must be made in Renminbi. Unless otherwise approved, PRC companies may not repatriate foreign currency payments received from abroad or retain the same abroad. Foreign-invested enterprises may retain foreign exchange in accounts with designated foreign exchange banks under the current account items subject to a cap set by the SAFE or its local office. Foreign exchange proceeds under the current accounts may be either retained or sold to a financial institution engaged in settlement and sale of foreign exchange pursuant to relevant SAFE rules and regulations. For foreign exchange proceeds under the capital accounts, approval from the SAFE is generally required for the retention or sale of such proceeds to a financial institution engaged in settlement and sale of foreign exchange.
Pursuant to the Circular of the SAFE on Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies for Direct Investment, or the SAFE Circular No. 59 promulgated by SAFE on November 19, 2012, which became effective on December 17, 2012 and was further amended on May 4, 2015, approval of SAFE is not required for opening a foreign exchange account and depositing foreign exchange into the accounts relating to the direct investments. The SAFE Circular No. 59 also simplified foreign exchange-related registration required for the foreign investors to acquire the equity interests of Chinese companies and further improve the administration on foreign exchange settlement for foreign-invested enterprises.
The Circular on Further Simplifying and Improving the Foreign Currency Management Policy on Direct Investment, or the SAFE Circular No. 13, effective from June 1, 2015, cancels the administrative approvals of foreign exchange registration of direct domestic investment and direct overseas investment and simplifies the procedure of foreign exchange-related registration. Pursuant to the SAFE Circular No. 13, the investors shall register with banks for direct domestic investment and direct overseas investment.
The Circular on Reforming the Management Approach regarding the Settlement of Foreign Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprise, or the SAFE Circular No. 19, which was promulgated by the SAFE on March 30, 2015 and became effective on June 1, 2015, provides that a foreign-invested enterprise may, according to its actual business needs, settle with a bank the portion of the foreign exchange capital in its capital account for which the relevant foreign exchange administration has confirmed monetary capital contribution rights and interests (or for which the bank has registered the injection of the monetary capital contribution into the account). Pursuant to the SAFE Circular No. 19, for the time being, foreign-invested enterprises are allowed to settle 100% of their foreign exchange capitals on a discretionary basis; a foreign-invested enterprise shall truthfully use its capital for its own operational purposes within the scope of business; where an ordinary foreign-invested enterprise makes domestic equity investment with the amount of foreign exchanges settled, the invested enterprise must first go through domestic re-investment registration and open a corresponding account for foreign exchange settlement pending payment with the foreign exchange administration or the bank at the place where it is registered.
The Circular on Reforming and Regulating Policies on the Control over Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital Accounts, or the SAFE Circular No. 16, which was promulgated by the SAFE and became effective on June 9, 2016, provides that enterprises registered in the PRC may also convert their foreign debts from foreign currency into Renminbi on self-discretionary basis. The SAFE Circular No. 16 also provides an integrated standard for conversion of foreign exchange under capital account items (including but not limited to foreign currency capital and foreign debts) on a self-discretionary basis, which applies to all enterprises registered in the PRC.
According to the Provisional Measures, the Administrative Rules on the Company Registration, which was promulgated by the State Council on June 24, 1994, became effective on July 1, 1994 and was last amended on
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February 6, 2016, and other laws and regulations governing the foreign invested enterprises and company registrations, the establishment of a foreign invested enterprise and any capital increase and other major changes in a foreign invested enterprise shall be registered with the SAMR or its local counterparts, and shall be filed via the foreign investment comprehensive administrative system, or the FICMIS, if such foreign invested enterprise does not involve special access administrative measures prescribed by the PRC government.
Pursuant to the SAFE Circular No.13 and other laws and regulations relating to foreign exchange, when setting up a new foreign invested enterprise, the foreign invested enterprise shall register with the bank located at its registered place after obtaining the business license, and if there is any change in capital or other changes relating to the basic information of the foreign-invested enterprise, including without limitation any increase in its registered capital or total investment, the foreign invested enterprise must register such changes with the bank located at its registered place after obtaining the approval from or completing the filing with competent authorities. Pursuant to the relevant foreign exchange laws and regulations, the above-mentioned foreign exchange registration with the banks will typically take less than four weeks upon the acceptance of the registration application.
Based on the forgoing, if we intend to provide funding to our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries through capital injection at or after their establishment, we must register the establishment of and any follow-on capital increase in our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries with the SAMR or its local counterparts, file such via the FICMIS and register such with the local banks for the foreign exchange related matters.
Loans by the Foreign Companies to their PRC Subsidiaries
A loan made by foreign investors as shareholders in a foreign-invested enterprise is considered to be foreign debt in China and is regulated by various laws and regulations, including the Regulation of the Peoples Republic of China on Foreign Exchange Administration, the Interim Provisions on the Management of Foreign Debts, the Statistical Monitoring of Foreign Debts Tentative Provisions, the Detailed Rules for the Implementation of Provisional Regulations on Statistics and Supervision of External Debt, and the Administrative Measures for Registration of Foreign Debts. Under these rules and regulations, a shareholder loan in the form of foreign debt made to a PRC entity does not require the prior approval of SAFE. However, such foreign debt must be registered with and recorded by SAFE or its local branches within fifteen (15) business days after entering into the foreign debt contract. Pursuant to these rules and regulations, the balance of the foreign debts of a foreign invested enterprise shall not exceed the difference between the total investment and the registered capital of the foreign invested enterprise, or Total Investment and Registered Capital Balance.
Pursuant to the Interim Provisions of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce on the Ratio of the Registered Capital to the Total Investment of a Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise, promulgated by the predecessor SAMR and effective on February 17, 1987, with respect to a Sino-foreign equity join venture, the registered capital shall be (i) no less than 7/10 of its total investment, if the total investment is US$3 million or under US$3 million; (ii) no less than 1/2 of its total investment, if the total investment is ranging from US$3 million to US$10 million (including US$10 million), provided that the registered capital shall not be less than US$2.1 million if the total investment is less than US$4.2 million; (iii) no less than 2/5 of its total investment, if the total investment is ranging from US$10 million to US$30 million (including US$30 million), provided that the registered capital shall not be less than US$5 million if the total investment is less than US$12.5 million; and (iv) no less than 1/3 of its total investment, if the total investment exceeds US$30 million, provided that the registered capital shall not be less than US$12 million if the total investment is less than US$36 million.
On January 11, 2017, the Peoples Bank of China, or the PBOC, promulgated the Notice of the Peoples Bank of China on Matters concerning the Macro-Prudential Management of Full-Covered Cross-Border Financing, or the PBOC Notice No. 9. Pursuant to the PBOC Notice No. 9, within a transition period of one year from January 11, 2017, the foreign-invested enterprises may adopt the currently valid foreign debt management
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mechanism, or Current Foreign Debt Mechanism, or the mechanism as provided in the PBOC Notice No. 9, or Notice No. 9 Foreign Debt Mechanism, at their own discretion. The PBOC Notice No. 9 provides that enterprises may conduct independent cross-border financing in RMB or foreign currencies as required. Pursuant to the PBOC Notice No. 9, the outstanding cross-border financing of an enterprise (the outstanding balance drawn, here and below) shall be calculated using a risk-weighted approach, or Risk-Weighted Approach, and shall not exceed the specified upper limit, namely: risk-weighted outstanding cross-border financing £ the upper limit of risk-weighted outstanding cross-border financing. Risk-weighted outstanding cross-border financing = S outstanding amount of RMB and foreign currency denominated cross-border financing * maturity risk conversion factor * type risk conversion factor + S outstanding foreign currency denominated cross-border financing * exchange rate risk conversion factor. Maturity risk conversion factor shall be 1 for medium- and long-term cross-border financing with a term of more than one year and 1.5 for short-term cross-border financing with a term of less than one year. Type risk conversion factor shall be 1 for on-balance-sheet financing and 1 for off-balance-sheet financing (contingent liabilities) for the time being. Exchange rate risk conversion factor shall be 0.5. The PBOC Notice No. 9 further provides that the upper limit of risk-weighted outstanding cross-border financing for enterprises shall be 200% of its net assets, or Net Asset Limits. Enterprises shall file with SAFE in its capital item information system after entering into the relevant cross-border financing contracts and prior to three business day before drawing any money from the foreign debts.
Based on the foregoing, if we provide funding to our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries through shareholder loans, the balance of such loans shall not exceed the Total Investment and Registered Capital Balance and we will need to register such loans with SAFE or its local branches in the event that the Current Foreign Debt Mechanism applies, or the balance of such loans shall be subject to the Risk-Weighted Approach and the Net Asset Limits and we will need to file the loans with SAFE in its information system in the event that the Notice No. 9 Mechanism applies. According to the PBOC Notice No. 9, after a transition period of one year from January 11, 2017, the PBOC and SAFE will determine the cross-border financing administration mechanism for the foreign-invested enterprises after evaluating the overall implementation of the PBOC Notice No. 9. As of the date hereof, neither PBOC nor SAFE has promulgated and made public any further rules, regulations, notices or circulars in this regard. It is uncertain which mechanism will be adopted by PBOC and SAFE in the future and what statutory limits will be imposed on us when providing loans to our PRC subsidiaries.
Offshore Investment
Under the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration over the Overseas Investment and Financing and Round-trip Investment by Domestic Residents via Special Purpose Vehicles, or the SAFE Circular 37, issued by the SAFE and effective on July 4, 2014, PRC residents are required to register with the local SAFE branch prior to the establishment or control of an offshore special purpose vehicle, or SPV, which is defined as offshore enterprises directly established or indirectly controlled by PRC residents for offshore equity financing of the enterprise assets or interests they hold in China. An amendment to registration or subsequent filing with the local SAFE branch by such PRC resident is also required if there is any change in basic information of the offshore company or any material change with respect to the capital of the offshore company. At the same time, the SAFE has issued the Operation Guidance for the Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration over Round-trip Investment regarding the procedures for SAFE registration under the SAFE Circular 37, which became effective on July 4, 2014 as an attachment of Circular 37.
SAFE Notice Circular No. 13 has amended SAFE Circular 37 requiring PRC residents or entities to register with qualified banks rather than SAFE or its local branches in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of seeking offshore investment or making offshore financing.
Under the relevant rules, failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in the SAFE Circular 37 may result in bans on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant onshore company, including the payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent or affiliates, and may also subject relevant PRC residents to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations.
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Regulations on Dividend Distribution
The principal laws and regulations regulating the dividend distribution of dividends by foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC include the Company Law, the WFOE Law and its implementation regulations promulgated in 1990 and subsequently amended in 2001 and 2014, the Equity Joint Venture Law of the PRC promulgated in 1979 and subsequently amended in 1990, 2001 and 2016 and its implementation regulations promulgated in 1983 and subsequently amended in 1986, 1987, 2001, 2011 and 2014, and the Cooperative Joint Venture Law of the PRC promulgated in 1988 and amended in 2000, 2016 and 2017 and its implementation regulations promulgated in 1995 and amended in 2014 and 2017. Under the current regulatory regime in the PRC, foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC may pay dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. A PRC company is required to set aside as statutory reserve funds at least 10% of its after-tax profit, until the cumulative amount of such reserve funds reaches 50% of its registered capital unless laws regarding foreign investment provide otherwise. A PRC company shall not distribute any profits until any losses from prior fiscal years have been offset. Profits retained from prior fiscal years may be distributed together with distributable profits from the current fiscal year.
Regulations on Employee Share Incentive Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed Company
In February 2012, SAFE promulgated the Notice on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participation in Share Incentive Plan of Companies Listed Overseas, or the 2012 SAFE Notice. Under such notice and other relevant rules and regulations, PRC residents, including PRC citizens or non-PRC citizens who reside in China for a continuous period of not less than one year, who participate in any share incentive plan of any overseas publicly-listed company, are required to register with SAFE or its local branches and complete certain other procedures. Participants of a share incentive plan who are PRC residents must retain a qualified PRC agent, which could be a PRC subsidiary of the overseas publicly listed company or another qualified institution selected by the PRC subsidiary, to conduct the SAFE registration and other procedures with respect to the share incentive plan on behalf of the participants. We and our executive officers and other employees who are PRC residents that have been granted share incentive awards will be subject to these regulations upon the completion of this offering. Failure by these individuals to complete their SAFE registrations may subject such individuals and us to fines and other legal sanctions.
The State Administration of Taxation, or the SAT, has issued certain circulars concerning employee share incentive awards. Under these circulars, our employees working in China who exercise share incentive awards will be subject to PRC individual income tax. Our PRC subsidiary has the obligation to make filings related to employee share incentive awards with relevant tax authorities and to withhold individual income taxes of those employees who exercise their share incentive awards. If our employees fail to pay or we fail to withhold their income taxes according to relevant laws and regulations, we may face sanctions imposed by the tax authorities or other PRC governmental authorities.
Regulations on Tax
Enterprise Income Tax
On March 16, 2007, the SCNPC promulgated the Law of the PRC on Enterprise Income Tax which was amended on February 24, 2017 and on December 6, 2007, the State Council enacted the Regulations for the Implementation of the Law on Enterprise Income Tax, or collectively, the EIT Law. The EIT Law came into effect on January 1, 2008. Under the EIT Law, both resident enterprises and non-resident enterprises are subject to tax in the PRC. Resident enterprises are defined as enterprises that are established in China in accordance with PRC laws, or that are established in accordance with the laws of foreign countries but are actually or in effect controlled from within the PRC. Non-resident enterprises are defined as enterprises that are organized under the laws of foreign countries and whose actual management is conducted outside the PRC, but have established institutions or premises in the PRC, or have no such established institutions or premises but have income generated from inside the PRC. Under the EIT Law and relevant implementing regulations, a uniform corporate
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income tax rate of 25% is applied. However, if non-resident enterprises have not formed permanent establishments or premises in the PRC, or if they have formed permanent establishment or premises in the PRC but there is no actual relationship between the relevant income derived in the PRC and the established institutions or premises set up by them, enterprise income tax is set at the rate of 10% with respect to their income sourced from inside the PRC.
Value-added Tax
The Provisional Regulations of the PRC on Value-added Tax were promulgated by the State Council on December 13, 1993 and came into effect on January 1, 1994 which were subsequently amended on November 10, 2008 and came into effect on January 1, 2009 and most recently amended on February 6, 2016. The Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Provisional Regulations of the PRC on Value-added Tax (Revised in 2011) was promulgated by the Ministry of Finance on December 25, 1993 and subsequently amended on December 15, 2008 and October 28, 2011, or collectively, VAT Law. On November 19, 2017, the State Council promulgated The Decisions on Abolishing the Provisional Regulations of the PRC on Business Tax and Amending the Provisional Regulations of the PRC on Value-added Tax, or Order 691. According to the VAT Law and Order 691, all enterprises and individuals engaged in the sale of goods, the provision of processing, repair and replacement services, sales of services, intangible assets, real property and the importation of goods within the territory of the PRC are the taxpayers of VAT. The VAT tax rates generally applicable are simplified as 17%, 11%, 6% and 0%, and the VAT tax rate applicable to the small-scale taxpayers is 3%.
As of the date of this prospectus, our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities are generally subject to 3%, 6% and 16% VAT rates.
Dividend Withholding Tax
The EIT Law provides that since January 1, 2008, an income tax rate of 10% will normally be applicable to dividends declared to non-PRC resident investors who do not have an establishment or place of business in the PRC, or who have such establishment or place of business but the relevant income is not effectively connected with the establishment or place of business, to the extent such dividends are derived from sources within the PRC.
Pursuant to an Arrangement Between the Mainland of China 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 Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, and other applicable PRC laws, if a Hong Kong resident enterprise is determined by the competent PRC tax authority to have satisfied the relevant conditions and requirements under such Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement and other applicable laws, the 10% withholding tax on the dividends the Hong Kong resident enterprise receives from a PRC resident enterprise may be reduced to 5%. However, based on the Circular on Certain Issues with Respect to the Enforcement of Dividend Provisions in Tax Treaties, or the SAT Circular 81, issued on February 20, 2009 by the SAT, 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 the Circular on Several Questions regarding the beneficial owner in Tax Treaties, which was issued on February 3, 2018 by the SAT and will take effect on April 1, 2018, when determining the applicants status of the beneficial owner regarding tax treatment in connection with dividends, interests or royalties in the tax treaties, several factors, including without limitation, whether the applicant is obligated to pay more than 50% of his or her income in twelve months to residents in third country or region, whether the business operated by the applicant constitutes the actual business activities, and whether the counterparty country or region to the tax treaties does not levy any tax or grant tax exemption on relevant incomes or levy tax at an extremely low rate, will be taken into account, and it will be analyzed according to the actual circumstances of the specific cases. This circular further provides that applicants who intend to prove his or her status of the beneficial owner shall submit the relevant documents to the relevant tax bureau according to the
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Announcement on Issuing the Measures for the Administration of Non-Resident Taxpayers Enjoyment of the Treatment under Tax Agreements.
Tax on Indirect Transfer
On February 3, 2015, the SAT issued the Circular on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or Circular 7. Pursuant to Circular 7, an indirect transfer of assets, including equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises, may be recharacterized and treated as a direct transfer of PRC taxable assets, if such arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of avoiding payment of PRC enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax. When determining whether there is a reasonable commercial purpose of the transaction arrangement, features to be taken into consideration include, inter alia, whether the main value of the equity interest of the relevant offshore enterprise derives directly or indirectly from PRC taxable assets; whether the assets of the relevant offshore enterprise mainly consists of direct or indirect investment in China or if its income is mainly derived from China; and whether the offshore enterprise and its subsidiaries directly or indirectly holding PRC taxable assets have real commercial nature which is evidenced by their actual function and risk exposure. According to Circular 7, where the payor fails to withhold any or sufficient tax, the transferor shall declare and pay such tax to the tax authority by itself within the statutory time limit. Late payment of applicable tax will subject the transferor to default interest. Circular 7 does not apply to transactions of sale of shares by investors through a public stock exchange where such shares were acquired on a public stock exchange. On October 17, 2017, the SAT issued the Circular on Issues of Tax Withholding regarding Non-PRC Resident Enterprise Income Tax, or SAT Circular 37, which further elaborates the relevant implemental rules regarding the calculation, reporting and payment obligations of the withholding tax by the non-resident enterprises. Nonetheless, there remain uncertainties as to the interpretation and application of Circular 7. Circular 7 may be determined by the tax authorities to be applicable to our offshore transactions or sale of our shares or those of our offshore subsidiaries where non-resident enterprises, being the transferors, were involved.
Regulations on Employment and Social Welfare
Employment
According to the Labor Law of the PRC, which was promulgated by the SCNPC on July 5, 1994, effective since January 1, 1995 and amended on August 27, 2009, and the Labor Contract Law of the PRC which was promulgated by the SCNPC on June 29, 2007 and amended on December 28, 2012, employers must execute written labor contracts with full-time employees. All employers must pay their employees with wages equal to at least the local minimum wage standards. In addition, an employer is obligated to sign an indefinite term labor contract with an employee if the employer continues to employ the employee after two consecutive fixed term labor contracts. Violations of the PRC Labor Contract Law and the PRC Labor Law may result in the imposition of fines and other administrative penalties. For serious violations, criminal liability may arise.
Social Insurance and Housing Fund
As required under the Regulation of Insurance for Labor Injury implemented on January 1, 2004 and amended in 2010, the Provisional Measures for Maternity Insurance of Employees of Corporations implemented on January 1, 1995, the Decisions on the Establishment of a Unified Program for Old-Aged Pension Insurance of the State Council issued on July 16, 1997, the Decisions on the Establishment of the Medical Insurance Program for Urban Workers of the State Council promulgated on December 14, 1998, the Unemployment Insurance Measures promulgated on January 22, 1999 and the Social Insurance Law of the PRC implemented on July 1, 2011, employers are required to provide their employees in the PRC with welfare benefits covering pension insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance, labor injury insurance and medical insurance. These payments are made to local administrative authorities. Any employer that fails to make social insurance
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contributions may be ordered to rectify the non-compliance and pay the required contributions within a prescribed time limit and be subject to a late fee. If the employer still fails to rectify the failure to make the relevant contributions within the prescribed time, it may be subject to a fine ranging from one to three times the amount overdue.
In accordance with the Regulations on the Management of Housing Fund which was promulgated by the State Council in 1999 and amended in 2002, employers must register at the designated administrative centers and open bank accounts for depositing employees housing funds. Employer and employee are also required to pay and deposit housing funds, with an amount no less than 5% of the monthly average salary of the employee in the preceding year in full and on time. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Doing Business in ChinaIncreases in labor costs in the PRC and enforcement of stricter labor laws and regulations may adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Employee Stock Incentive Plan
Pursuant to the Notice of Issues Related to the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plan of Overseas Listed Company, which was issued by the SAFE on February 15, 2012, employees, directors, supervisors, and other senior management who participate in any stock incentive plan of an publicly-listed overseas company and who are PRC citizens or non-PRC citizens residing in China for a continuous period of no less than one year, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with SAFE through a qualified domestic agent, which may be a PRC subsidiary of such overseas listed company, and complete certain other procedures.
In addition, the SAT has issued certain circulars concerning employee stock options and restricted shares. Under these circulars, employees working in the PRC who exercise stock options or are granted restricted shares will be subject to PRC individual income tax. The PRC subsidiaries of an overseas listed company are required to file documents related to employee stock options and restricted shares with relevant tax authorities and to withhold individual income taxes of employees who exercise their stock option or purchase restricted shares. If the employees fail to pay or the PRC subsidiaries fail to withhold income tax in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, the PRC subsidiaries may face sanctions imposed by the tax authorities or other PRC governmental authorities.
Regulations on M&A Regulations and Overseas Listings
On August 8, 2006, six PRC governmental and regulatory agencies, including the MOFCOM and the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, promulgated the Rules on Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, governing the mergers and acquisitions of domestic enterprises by foreign investors that became effective on September 8, 2006 and was revised on June 22, 2009. The M&A Rules, among other things, requires that if an overseas company established or controlled by PRC companies or individuals, or PRC Citizens, intends to acquire equity interests or assets of any other PRC domestic company affiliated with the PRC Citizens, such acquisition must be submitted to the MOFCOM for approval. The M&A Rules also requires that an offshore special vehicle, or a special purpose vehicle formed for overseas listing purposes and controlled directly or indirectly by the PRC companies or individuals, shall obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to overseas listing and trading of such special purpose vehicles securities on an overseas stock exchange.
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Directors and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth information regarding our directors and executive officers as of the date of this prospectus.
Directors and Executive Officers |
Age |
Position/Title |
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Xing Jin | 39 | Co-Founder, Director and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Tao Yu | 40 | Co-Founder and Chief Information Officer | ||
Min Yu | 35 | Director Appointee and Chief Financial Officer | ||
Hui Shao * | 47 | Director | ||
Huadong Wang | 33 | Director | ||
Zhijun Yu * | 52 | Director | ||
Marcelo Gigliani Uriarte * | 44 | Director | ||
Wei Zhou * | 33 | Director | ||
Xiao Liu | 33 | Chief Operating Officer | ||
Guanzhong Hu | 38 | Chief Marketing Officer | ||
Xuejian Li | 37 | Chief Technology Officer | ||
Guangwei Zhao | 39 | Chief Human Resource Officer |
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Mr. Min Yu has accepted appointment to be a director of our company, effective upon the SECs declaration of effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1, of which this prospectus is a part. |
* |
Each of Mr. Hui Shao, Mr. Zhijun Yu, Mr. Marcelo Gigliani Uriarte and Mr. Wei Zhou has tendered a written notice of resignation to our company, effective upon the SECs declaration of effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1, of which this prospectus is a part. |
Mr. Xing Jin is our co-founder and has served as our director and chief executive officer since our inception in March 2013. Prior to founding our company, Mr. Jin was the vice president and general manager of social operations of IM2.0 Interactive Group from 2011 to 2013. From 2009 to 2011, Mr. Jin served as a product operations director at Tenpay, an online payment service provider under Tencent Group (HKEx: 0700). Prior to that, Mr. Jin co-founded a social networking service community from 2007 to 2009, served as a senior product operations manager at Oak Pacific Interactive from 2004 to 2007, and served as a product development manager for Tom.com from 2001 to 2004. Mr. Jin received his bachelors degree in management information systems from Tianjin University in 2001.
Mr. Tao Yu is our co-founder and our chief information officer. Prior to our founding in 2013, Mr. Yu held a senior technology position at Beijing Ju Xin Chuang Ying Technology Co., Ltd., an information technology company that serves equity traders, from 2012 to 2013, and was in charge of the development of mobile applications and websites. Mr. Yu held technical positions in various technology companies between 2001 to 2012. Mr. Yu received his bachelors degree in computer science from Xidian University in 2001.
Mr. Min Yu will serve as our director starting from the SECs declaration of effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1, of which this prospectus is a part, and has served as our chief financial officer since October 2018. Prior to joining us, Mr. Yu served as the chief financial officer of EasyPnP Inc. from 2017 to 2018, and as the chief financial officer of 500.com Limited (NYSE:WBAI), an online sport lottery service provider in China, from 2014 to 2017. Mr. Yu also served as a vice president at the Hong Kong office of Deutsche Bank AG from 2010 to 2014 and worked at the Shanghai and Hong Kong office of Macquarie Capital
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Advisor from 2007 to 2010. Mr. Yu received a bachelors degree in finance and accounting from the University of Melbourne in 2007.
Mr. Hui Shao has served as our director since August 2014, and will resign our directorship upon the SECs declaration of effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1, of which this prospectus is a part. Mr. Shao has been an active investor and entrepreneur since 2003. Prior to 2003, Mr. Shao served as the vice president of Xiamen Guotou Beijing Securities (which later was reorganized into Qilu Securities Co., Ltd.) from 1998 to 2002. Mr. Shao served as the vice president of China International Futures Brokerage Co., Ltd. from 1994 to 1998. Mr. Shao received a bachelors degree in law from Northeast Normal University in 1993.
Mr. Huadong Wang has served as our director since August 2014. Mr. Wang worked at Matrix Partners China, a leading technology venture capital firm in China, since 2010 and has been a partner since 2014. Prior to joining Matrix Partners China, Mr. Wang served as a senior editor for Sohu.com, focusing mainly on report of new technology and startups, from 2008 to 2010. Mr. Wang served as an operation specialist covering the operation of online community at Yahoo China from 2007 to 2008. Mr. Wang received a bachelors degree in information management and information system from Northwestern Polytechnical University in 2007.
Mr. Zhijun Yu has served as our director since November 2016, and will resign our directorship upon the SECs declaration of effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1, of which this prospectus is a part. Mr. Yu has been an active individual investor since 2006. Prior to 2006, Mr. Yu severed as the general manager of Shanghai Acorn Biological Products Co., Ltd. from 2003 to 2006. Mr. Yu ran his own business from 1997 to 2003 and worked as an engineer for the Guangzhou Broadcasting Devices Center from 1987 to 1997. Mr. Yu received a bachelors degree in information technology from Xidian University in 1987.
Mr. Marcelo Gigliani has served as our director since December 2017, and will resign our directorship upon the SECs declaration of effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1, of which this prospectus is a part. Since 1999, Mr. Gigliani has been an investor at Apax Partners, where he currently serves as a managing partner of Apax Digital and a member of the Apax Digital Investment Committee. On behalf of the Apax Funds, he has led a number of deals in leading internet and software companies worldwide and has served as advisor and board director to multiple Apax Funds portfolio companies. Prior to joining Apax, Mr. Gigliani was a consultant for Mercer Management Consulting (currently known as Oliver Wyman), where he advised leading European media and communications companies in digital acceleration matters. Mr. Gigliani received a bachelors degree from Boston University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Mr. Wei Zhou has served as our director since August 2018, and will resign our directorship upon the SECs declaration of effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1, of which this prospectus is a part. Mr. Zhou has served as a vice president at Orchid Asia Group Investment Management Limited since 2012. From 2007 to 2012, Mr. Zhou served as auditor and then as assistant manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the auditing and advisory department. Mr. Zhou received his bachelors degree from Shanghai International Studies University in 2007 and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Ms. Xiao Liu has served as our chief operating officer since May 2015. Ms. Liu served as a senior investment manager at Fosun Kinzon Capital from 2014 to 2015 and a consultant at Boston Consulting Group in early 2014. Prior to that, Ms. Liu was an analyst at Taikang Asset Management from 2013 to 2014 and a project manager and consultant at Alliance PKU Management Consultants Ltd. from 2010 to 2013. Ms. Liu received her bachelors degree in law from Zhejiang University in 2008.
Mr. Guanzhong Hu has served as our chief marketing officer since September 2018. Prior to joining us, Mr. Hu served as the chief marketing officer of Chengdu Guoxiaomei Network Technology Co., Ltd., a company that operates unmanned convenience stores in China, from 2017 to 2018. Mr. Hu founded and served as the chief executive officer of various internet-based companies from 2014 to 2017. From 2009 to 2014, Mr. Hu was the spokesperson of taobao.com and founder of Juhuasuan . com , both of which operating under the Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA). Mr. Hu was a journalist with various finance-focused news service and media companies from 2003 to 2008. Mr. Hu received his bachelors degree in broadcast journalism from Zhejiang University in 2003.
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Mr. Xuejian Li joined us in 2015 and is our chief technology officer. Prior to joining us, Mr. Li served as the technology manager for Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU) from 2010 to 2015 and was in charge of the development of Baidus mobile apps, websites and other platforms. Prior to 2010, Mr. Li served as a senior technology manager for Beijing Lianzhong Interactive Network Inc., a developer and operator of online card and board games from 2008 to 2009, and was a research and development engineer at Yahoo China from 2007 to 2008. Mr. Li received a bachelors degree in computer science from Dalian University of Technology in 2004 and a masters degree in computer science from Beihang University in 2007.
Mr. Guangwei Zhao has served as our chief human resources officer since June 2018. Prior to joining us, Mr. Zhao served as the vice president of human resources at Chengdu Guoxiaomei Network Technology Co., Ltd. from 2017 to 2018. Mr. Zhao served as the chief executive officer of Hangzhou Dian Ya Dian Internet Technology Co., Ltd. from 2016 to 2017 and as its vice president of human resources from 2015 to 2016. Mr. Zhao held various management and senior human resources positions at companies across a number of industries from 2005 to 2015, including at Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA) from 2006 to 2012. Mr. Zhao received a college degree in tourism management from Sichuan Minzu College in 2003.
Board of Directors
Our board of directors will consist of [five] directors upon the SECs declaration of effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1, of which this prospectus is a part. A director is not required to hold any shares in our company by way of qualification. A director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or transaction, or proposed contract or transaction, with our company is required to declare the nature of his interest at a meeting of our directors. A director may vote with respect to any contract or transaction, or proposed contract or transaction, notwithstanding that he may be interested therein, and if he does so his vote shall be counted and he may be counted in the quorum at any meeting of our directors at which any such contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction is considered. Our directors may exercise all the powers of our company to issue debentures, debenture stock, bonds or other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of our company or of any third party. None of our non-executive directors has a service contract with us that provides for benefits upon termination of service.
Committees of the Board of Directors
We will establish three committees under the board of directors immediately upon the effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1, of which this prospectus is a part: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. We have adopted a charter for each of the three committees. Each committees members and functions are described below.
Audit Committee. Our audit committee will consist of , and Mr. Xing Jin. will be the chairman of our audit committee. We have determined that and each satisfies the independence requirements of Rule 5605(c)(2) of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules and meet the independence standards under Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended. We have determined that qualifies as an audit committee financial expert. Mr. Xing Jin does not satisfy the independence requirements of Rule 5605(c)(2) of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules, and he does not meet the independence standards under Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended. The audit committee will oversee our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the financial statements of our company. The audit committee will be responsible for, among other things:
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appointing the independent auditors and pre-approving all auditing and non-auditing services permitted to be performed by the independent auditors; |
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reviewing with the independent auditors any audit problems or difficulties and managements response; |
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discussing the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditors; |
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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; |
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reviewing and approving all proposed related party transactions; |
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meeting separately and periodically with management and the independent auditors; and |
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monitoring compliance with our code of business conduct and ethics, including reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our procedures to ensure proper compliance. |
Compensation Committee . Our compensation committee will consist of , and . will be the chairman of our compensation committee. We have determined that and each satisfies the independence requirements of Rule 5605(c)(2) of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. The compensation committee will assist 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 will be responsible for, among other things:
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reviewing and approving, or recommending to the board for its approval, the compensation for our chief executive officer and other executive officers; |
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reviewing and recommending to the board for determination with respect to the compensation of our non-employee directors; |
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reviewing periodically and approving any incentive compensation or equity plans, programs or similar arrangements; and |
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selecting compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser only after taking into consideration all factors relevant to that persons independence from management. |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee . Our nominating and corporate governance committee will consist of , and . will be the chairman of our nominating and corporate governance committee. and each satisfies the independence requirements of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. The nominating and corporate governance committee will assist 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 will be responsible for, among other things:
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selecting and recommending to the board nominees for election by the shareholders or appointment by the board; |
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reviewing annually with the board the current composition of the board with regards to characteristics such as independence, knowledge, skills, experience and diversity; |
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making recommendations on the frequency and structure of board meetings and monitoring the functioning of the committees of the board; and |
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advising the board periodically with regards 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 the board on all matters of corporate governance and on any remedial action to be taken. |
Duties of Directors
Under Cayman Islands law, our directors owe fiduciary duties to our company, including a duty of loyalty, a duty to act honestly, and a duty to act in what they consider in good faith to be in our best interests. Our directors must also exercise their powers only for a proper purpose. Our directors also owe to our company a duty to exercise skills they actually possess and such care and diligence that a reasonably prudent person could exercise in comparable circumstances. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the performance of his or her duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably be expected from a person of his or her knowledge
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and experience. However, English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, and the class rights vested thereunder in the holders of the shares. In certain limited exceptional circumstances, a shareholder may have the right to seek damages in our name if a duty owed by our directors is breached.
Our board of directors has all the powers necessary for managing, and for directing and supervising, our business affairs. The functions and powers of our board of directors include, among others:
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convening shareholders annual and extraordinary general meetings and reporting its work to shareholders at such meetings; |
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declaring dividends and distributions; |
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appointing officers and determining the term of office of the officers; |
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exercising the borrowing powers of our company and mortgaging the property of our company; and |
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approving the transfer of shares in our company, including the registration of such shares in our share register. |
Terms of Directors and Officers
Our directors may be elected by a resolution of our board of directors, or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. The service of our independent directors may be terminated by the director or by us with a 30-day advance written notice or such other shorter period of notice as mutually agreed. A director will also cease to be a director if, among other things, the director (i) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; (ii) dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind, (iii) resigns his office by notice in writing to our company, or (iv) without special leave of absence from our board, is absent from three consecutive board meetings and our directors resolve that his office be vacated.
Our officers are elected by and serve at the discretion of our board of directors.
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into employment agreements with each of our executive officers. Under these agreements, each of our executive officers is employed for a specified time period, which may be extended at the end of the initial term. We may terminate employment for cause, at any time, without additional renumeration, for certain acts of the executive officer, such as conviction or plea of guilty to a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude, dishonest acts to our detriment, gross negligence or wilful misconduct, or continued failure to perform agreed duties. We may also terminate an executive officers employment without cause upon a 60-day advance written notice. In such case of termination by us, we will provide severance payments to the executive officer as may be mutually agreed. The executive officer may resign at any time with a 60-day advance written notice.
Each executive officer has agreed to hold, both during and after the termination or expiry of his or her employment agreement, in strict confidence and not to use, except as required in the performance of his or her duties in connection with the employment or pursuant to applicable law, any of our confidential information or trade secrets, any confidential information or trade secrets of our clients or prospective clients, or the confidential or proprietary information of any third party received by us and for which we have confidential obligations. The executive officers have also agreed to disclose in confidence to us all inventions, designs and trade secrets which they conceive, develop or reduce to practice during the executive officers employment with us and to assign all right, title and interest in them to us, and assist us in obtaining and enforcing patents, copyrights and other legal rights for these inventions, designs and trade secrets.
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In addition, each executive officer has agreed to be bound by non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions during the term of his or her employment and typically for one year following the last date of employment. Specifically, each executive officer has agreed not to (i) approach our suppliers, clients, customers or contacts or other persons or entities introduced to the executive officer in his or her capacity as a representative of us for the purpose of doing business with such persons or entities that will harm our business relationships with these persons or entities; (ii) assume employment with or provide services to any of our competitors, or engage, whether as principal, partner, licensor or otherwise, any of our competitors, without our express consent; or (iii) seek directly or indirectly, to solicit the services of any of our employees who is employed by us on or after the date of the executive officers termination, or in the year preceding such termination, without our express consent.
We have also entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. Under these agreements, we agree 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.
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, we paid an aggregate of approximately RMB5.6 million (US$0.8 million) in cash to our executive officers, and we did not pay any compensation to our non-executive directors. We have not set aside or accrued any amount to provide pension, retirement or other similar benefits to our executive officers and directors. Our PRC subsidiary and VIE are required by law to make contributions equal to certain percentages of each employees salary for his or her pension insurance, medical insurance, unemployment insurance and other statutory benefits and a housing provident fund.
Second Amended and Restated 2018 Share Plan
Our board of directors approved a Second Amended and Restated 2018 Share Plan, or the Plan, in March 2019 to attract and retain the best available personnel, provide additional incentives to employees, directors and consultants and promote the success of our business. The Plan supercedes all of our previously adopted share incentive plans. Under the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares which may be issued pursuant to all awards under the Plan is 7,700,000 ordinary shares plus an annual increase of 2% of our total outstanding share capital as of December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year on the first day of each fiscal year, beginning in 2020, or such lesser number of Class A ordinary shares as determined by our board of directors, provide that the aggregate number of shares initially reserved and subsequently increased during the term of the Plan shall not be more than 10% of our total outstanding share capital on December 31 immediately preceding the most recent increase. As of the date of this prospectus, awards to purchase 5,073,510 ordinary shares under the Plan have been granted and outstanding, excluding awards that were forfeited or cancelled after the relevant grant dates. Upon completion of this offering, an option to purchase our ordinary shares granted under the Plan prior to the offering will entitle the holder to purchase an equivalent number of Class A ordinary shares.
The following paragraphs describe the principal terms of the Plan.
Types of awards . The Plan permits the awards of shares, options, restricted shares, restricted share units or any other type of awards approved by the plan administrator.
Plan administration . Our board of directors or one or more committees (as may be established by our board of directors) will administer the Plan. Our board of directors or the committees, as applicable, will determine the participants to receive awards, the type and number of awards to be granted to each participant, and the terms and conditions of each award.
Award agreement . Awards granted under the Plan are evidenced by an award agreement that sets forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each award, which may include the term of the award, the provisions applicable in the event that the grantees employment or service terminates, and our authority to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind the award.
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Eligibility . We may grant awards to the employees, directors and consultants of our company and our subsidiaries and such other individuals as approved by the plan administrator.
Vesting schedule . In general, the plan administrator determines the vesting schedule, which is specified in the relevant award agreement.
Exercise of options . The plan administrator determines the exercise price for each award, which is stated in the award agreement. The vested portion of option will expire if not exercised prior to the time as the plan administrator determines at the time of its grant. However, the maximum exercisable term is ten years from the date of a grant.
Transfer restrictions . Awards may not be transferred in any manner by the participant other than in accordance with the exceptions provided in the Plan or the corresponding award agreements, such as transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
Termination and amendment of the Plan . Unless terminated earlier or extended pursuant to its terms, the Plan has a term of ten years. Our board of directors has the authority to terminate, amend or modify the Plan. However, no termination, amendment or modification of the plan may adversely affect in any material way any awards previously granted unless agreed by the relevant grantee.
The following table summarizes, as of the date of this prospectus, the options granted under the Plan to several of our directors and executive officers, excluding awards that were forfeited or cancelled after the relevant grant dates.
Name |
Ordinary Shares
Underlying Options |
Exercise Price
(US$/Share) |
Date of Grant |
Date of Expiration |
||||||||
Xing Jin |
1,000,000 | $ | 0.10 | April 1, 2018 | March 31, 2028 | |||||||
Xiao Liu |
* | $ | 0.10 | April 21, 2015 | April 20, 2025 | |||||||
Xuejian Li |
* | $ | 0.10 | May 4, 2015 | May 3, 2025 | |||||||
Min Yu |
* | $ | 0.10 | October 8, 2018 | October 7, 2028 | |||||||
Guangwei Zhao |
* | $ | 0.10 | June 20, 2018 | June 19, 2028 | |||||||
Guanzhong Hu |
* | $ | 0.10 | September 16, 2018 | September 15, 2028 | |||||||
Total |
2,670,000 |
Notes:
* |
Less than one percent of our total outstanding shares on an as-converted basis. |
As of the date of this prospectus, other employees as a group held outstanding options to purchase 2,403,510 ordinary shares of our company, at a weighted average exercise price of US$0.1 per share.
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Except as specifically noted, the following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of the date of this prospectus by:
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each of our directors and executive officers; and |
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each person known to us to own beneficially 5% or more of each class of our voting securities. |
The calculations in the table below are based on 67,113,419 ordinary shares outstanding on an as-converted basis as of the date of this prospectus, and Class A ordinary shares and 12,000,000 Class B ordinary shares outstanding immediately after the completion of this offering, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we have included shares that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days, including through the exercise of any option, warrant or other right or the conversion of any other security. These shares, however, are not included in the computation of the percentage ownership of any other person.
Ordinary Shares Beneficially
Owned Prior to This Offering |
Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned After
This Offering |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A
ordinary shares |
% |
Class B
ordinary shares on an as-converted basis |
% |
Class A
ordinary shares |
Class B
ordinary shares |
% of total
ordinary shares on an as-converted basis |
% of
aggregate voting power |
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Directors and Executive Officers ** : |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Xing Jin (1) |
12,000,000 | 100.0 | % | | | | 12,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tao Yu |
| | * | * | * | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Min Yu |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hui Shao (2) |
| | 15,893,494 | 28.8 | % | 15,893,494 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Huadong Wang |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zhijun Yu |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marcelo Gigliani Uriarte |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wei Zhou |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Xiao Liu |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Guanzhong Hu |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Xuejian Li |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Guangwei Zhao |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group |
12,000,000 | 100.0 | % | 16,193,494 | 29.4 | % | 16,193,494 | 12,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Principal Shareholders: |
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ATCG Holdings Limited (2) |
| | 15,893,494 | 28.8 | % | 15,893,494 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beauty & Health Holdings Limited (1) |
12,000,000 | 100.0 | % | | | | 12,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Matrix Partners China III Hong Kong Limited (3) |
| | 11,963,367 | 21.7 | % | 11,963,367 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trustbridge Partners V, L.P. (4) |
| | 9,630,082 | 17.5 | % | 9,630,082 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Youthful Acquisition L.P. (5) |
| | 5,937,776 | 10.8 | % | 5,937,776 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Orchid Asia VII, L.P. (6) |
| | 5,112,142 | 9.3 | % | 5,112,142 | |
Notes:
* |
Less than 1% of our total outstanding ordinary shares on an as-converted basis. |
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** |
Each of Xing Jin, Tao Yu, Zhijun Yu, Xiao Liu, Min Yu, Guanzhong Hu, Xuejian Li, Guangwei Zhaos business address is 3/F, Wangjing SOHO-Tower 3A, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100102, Peoples Republic of China. The business address of Hui Shao is Suite 1902, Fuer Building, 9 Dongsanhuan Central Rd, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, Peoples Republic of China. The business address of Huadong Wang is Suite 2601, Taikang Financial Tower, 38 Dongsanhuan North Rd, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100026, Peoples Republic of China. The business address of Marcelo Gigliani Uriarte is Apax Digital, 601 Lexington Ave, 53 rd Floor, New York, NY 10022, USA. The business address of Wei Zhou is Unit 2103, 21/F, Tower 3, Jing An Kerry Center, No. 1228 Middle Yanan Road, Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China. |
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For each person and group included in this column, percentage of voting power is calculated by dividing the voting power beneficially owned by such person or group by the voting power of all of our Class A and Class B ordinary shares as a single class. Each holder of Class A ordinary shares is entitled to one vote per share and each holder of our Class B ordinary shares is entitled to votes per share on all matters submitted to them for a vote. Our Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders, except as may otherwise be required by law. Our Class B ordinary shares are convertible at any time by the holder thereof into Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis. |
(1) |
Represents 12,000,000 Existing Class A ordinary shares held by Beauty & Health Holdings Limited, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. Beauty & Health Holdings Limited is controlled by Xing Jin through a trust and of which Mr. Jin and his family members are the beneficiaries. The registered address of Beauty & Health Holdings Limited is Start Chambers, Wickhams Cay II, P.O. Box 2221, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. |
(2) |
Represents 10,990,940 Existing Class B ordinary shares and 4,902,554 Series C preferred shares held by ATCG Holdings Limited, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. ATCG Holdings Limited is controlled by Mr. Hui Shao through a trust and of which Mr. Shao and his family members are the beneficiaries. The registered address of ATCG Holdings Limited is Start Chambers, Wickhams Cay II, P.O. Box 2221, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. |
(3) |
Represents 8,000,000 Series A preferred shares, 2,095,238 Series B preferred shares, 924,640 Series D preferred shares, 579,994 Series D+ preferred shares and 363,495 Series E preferred shares held by Matrix Partners China III Hong Kong Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong. The registered office address of Matrix Partners China III Hong Kong Limited is Suites 3701-3710, 37/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong. Matrix Partners China III Hong Kong Limited is controlled by Matrix Partners China III, L.P., which holds 90% of its equity interest. The remaining 10% of the equity interest is held by Matrix Partners China III-A, L.P. Both Matrix Partners China III, L.P. and Matrix Partners China III-A, L.P. are managed by Matrix China III GP GP, Ltd. Timothy A. Barrows, David Ying Zhang, David Su and Yibo Shao are directors of Matrix China III GP GP, Ltd. and are deemed to have shared voting and investment power over the shares held by Matrix Partners China III, L.P. and Matrix Partners China III-A, L.P. The registered office address of Matrix Partners China III, L.P. and Matrix Partners China III-A, L.P is Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. |
(4) |
Represents 8,380,952 Series B preferred shares, 767,626 Series D preferred shares and 481,504 Series D+ preferred shares held by Trustbridge Partners V, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership. Trustbridge Partners V, L.P. is managed by an investment committee consisting of Messrs. Shujun Li, Feng Ge, David Ning Lin, Hongyan Guan and Xiaodong Liang, which by majority vote has the power to make investment or divestment decisions for Trustbridge Partners V, L.P. The registered address of Trustbridge Partners V, L.P. is P.O. Box 309 Ugland House, Grand Cayman KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. The business address of each of Messrs. Shujun Li, Feng Ge, David Ning Lin, Hongyan Guan and Xiaodong Liang is 2001, Agricultural Bank of China Tower, 50 Connaught Road Central, Central, Hong Kong. |
(5) |
Represents 5,640,887 Series D preferred shares and 296,889 Series D+ preferred shares held by Youthful Acquisition L.P., a Guernsey limited partnership. Youthful Acquisition L.P. is majority beneficially owned by two Guernsey limited partnerships, Apax Digital L.P. and Apax Digital Co-Investment L.P. Apax Digital GP L.P. Inc., a Guernsey limited partnership, is the general partner of each of Apax Digital L.P. and Apax Digital Co-Investment L.P. Apax Digital GP Co. Limited, a Guernsey company, is the general partner of Apax Digital GP L.P. Inc. The registered address of Youthful Acquisition L.P. is P.O. Box 656, East Wing, Trafalgar Court, Les Banques, St Peter Port, GY1 3PP, Guernsey. The registered address of each Apax entity is 3/F, Royal Bank Place, 1 Glategny Esplanade, St. Peter Port, GY1 2HJ, Guernsey. |
(6) |
Represents 2,012,329 Series D+ preferred shares held by Absolute fortune Limited and 3,099,813 Series E preferred shares held by GOLDEN HORIZON LIMITED. Orchid Asia VII, L.P. is exempted limited liability company formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The general partner of Orchid Asia VII, L.P. is Orchid Asia VII GP, Limited. The board of directors of Orchid Asia VII GP, Limited consists of Gabriel Li, Alric Lindsay, and Rayal Bodden. The registered address of Orchid Asia VII, L.P. is c/o Vistra (Cayman) Limited, P.O. Box 31119 Grand Pavilion, Hibiscus Way, 802 West Bay Road, Grand Cayman, KY1-1205, Cayman Islands. The registered address of Orchid Asia VI GP, Limited is Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. |
As of the date of this prospectus, none of our ordinary shares or preferred shares are held by record holders in the United States.
We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our company. See Description of Share CapitalHistory of Securities Issuances for historical changes in our shareholding structure.
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Contractual Arrangements with Our VIE and Its Shareholders
See Corporate History and Structure.
Private Placements
See Description of Share CapitalHistory of Securities Issuances.
Shareholders Agreement
See Description of Share CapitalHistory of Securities IssuancesShareholders Agreement.
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
See ManagementEmployment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements.
Share Incentive Plan
See ManagementSecond Amended and Restated 2018 Share Plan.
Transactions with Medical Cosmetology
We have taken a 70% non-controlling interest in SoYoung Medical Cosmetology (Beijing) Management Consulting Co., Ltd., or Medical Cosmetology, since May 2016. We provided reservation services to Medical Cosmetology in the amount of zero, RMB1.4 million and RMB1.1 million (US$0.2 million) in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
In the past, we have extended loans to Medical Cosmetology in the amounts of RMB15.3 million, RMB2.8 million, and RMB2.0 million (US$0.3 million) in 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively. Medical Cosmetology repaid RMB9.0 million in 2017 and RMB2.0 million (US$0.3 million) in 2018. As of December 31, 2016, December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2018, Medical Cosmetology had amounts due to us of RMB15.5 million, zero and zero, respectively. We had amounts due to Medical Cosmetology of RMB10.4 million, zero and RMB0.5 million (US$0.1 million) as of December 31, 2016, December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018, respectively. We had a loan impairment in the amount of RMB9.3 million in 2017, and an interest income of RMB0.1 million in 2016 related to Medical Cosmetology.
We invested RMB10.5 million in 2016 in Medical Cosmetology and shared loss of Medical Cosmetology in the amount of RMB6.7 million, RMB3.9 million and zero in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. In March 2019, Medical Cosmetology has completed its liquidation.
Transactions with Beijing Mevos
We have acquired a 11.11% interest in Beijing Mevos Management Consulting Company Limited, or Beijing Mevos, since September 2018. We incurred an expense of RMB0.7 million (US$0.1 million) to Beijing Mevos in 2018. As of December 31, 2018, Beijing Mevos had amounts due to us of RMB0.9 million (US$123.6 thousand) and we had amounts due to Beijing Mevos of RMB0.4 million (US$61.8 thousand). We invested RMB5.2 million (US$0.7 million) in 2018 in Beijing Mevos.
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We are a Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated with limited liability and our affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Law (2018 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, which we refer to as the Companies Law below, and the common law of the Cayman Islands.
As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized share capital is US$100,000 divided into 200,000,000 shares, par value of US$0.0005 each, of which (i) 12,000,000 shares are designated as Existing Class A ordinary shares; (ii) 144,177,521 shares are designated as Existing Class B ordinary shares; (iii) 8,000,000 shares are designated as Series A preferred shares; (iv) 10,476,190 shares are designated as Series B preferred shares; (v) 1,030,126 shares are designated as Series C-1 preferred shares; (vi) 4,902,554 shares are designated as Series C preferred shares; (vii) 9,750,676 shares are designated as Series D preferred shares; (viii) 3,497,954 shares are designated as Series D+ preferred shares; and (ix) 6,164,979 shares are designated as Series E preferred shares. As of the date of this prospectus, 23,290,940 ordinary shares and 43,822,479 preferred shares are issued and outstanding.
Immediately prior to the completion of this offering, all classes of our issued and outstanding preferred shares and ordinary shares will be re-designated as ordinary shares on a one-for-one-basis. Our authorized share capital immediately prior to the completion of this offering will be US$425,000 divided into 850,000,000 shares, comprising (i) 750,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0005 each, (ii) 20,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0005 each and (iii) 80,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.0005 each of such class or classes (however designated) as our board of directors may determine in accordance with our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. All of our shares issued and outstanding prior to the completion of the offering are and will be fully paid, and all of our shares to be issued in the offering will be issued as fully paid.
Our Post-Offering Memorandum and Articles
Our shareholders have adopted a ninth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, which will become effective and replace our current eighth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association in its entirety immediately prior to the completion of this offering. The following are summaries of material provisions of the post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that we have adopted and of the Companies Law, insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares.
Objects of Our Company . Under our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the objects of our company are unrestricted and we have the full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the law of the Cayman Islands.
Ordinary Shares . Our ordinary shares are issued in registered form and are issued when registered in our register of members. We may not issue shares to bearer. Our shareholders who are nonresidents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their shares.
Class of ordinary shares
Our ordinary shares are divided into Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Holders of our Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares will have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. Each Class A ordinary share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of our company, and each Class B ordinary share shall entitle the holder thereof to thirty (30) votes on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of our company.
Conversion . Each Class B ordinary share shall be convertible into one (1) Class A ordinary share at the option of the holder thereof at any time upon written notice to the Company, while Class A ordinary shares
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cannot be converted into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. Upon any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of any Class B ordinary share by a holder thereof to any person who is not the Founder or an Affiliate of the Founder (as such terms defined in our post-offering amended and restated articles of association), such Class B ordinary share shall be automatically and immediately converted into one Class A ordinary share.
Dividends . The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors or declared by our shareholders by ordinary resolution (provided that no dividend may be declared by our shareholders which exceeds the amount recommended by our directors). Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that dividends may be declared and paid out of our profits, realized or unrealized, or from any reserve set aside from profits which our board of directors determine is no longer needed. Dividends may also be declared and paid out of share premium account or any other fund or account which can be authorized for this purpose in accordance with the Companies Law. Under the laws of the Cayman Islands, our company may pay a dividend out of either profit or share premium account, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.
Voting Rights . Holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares shall, at all times, vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote by the members at any general meeting of the Company. Each Class A ordinary share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of our company, and each Class B ordinary share shall entitle the holder thereof to thirty (30) votes on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of our company. At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote at the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless a poll is (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded by the chairman of such meeting or any one shareholder present in person or by proxy.
An ordinary resolution to be passed at a meeting by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares which are cast at the meeting, while. a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of the votes attaching to the outstanding ordinary shares which are cast at the meeting. Both ordinary resolutions and special resolutions may also be passed by a unanimous written resolution signed by all the shareholders of our company, as permitted by the Companies Law and our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. A special resolution will be required for important matters such as a change of name or making changes to our post-offering memorandum and articles of association.
General Meetings of Shareholders . As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obliged by the Companies Law to call shareholders annual general meetings. Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that we may (but are not obliged to) in each year hold a general meeting as our annual general meeting in which case we shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it, and the annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by our directors.
Shareholders general meetings may be convened by the chairman of our board or a majority of our board of directors. Advance notice of at least ten (10) calendar days is required for the convening of our annual general shareholders meeting (if any) and any other general meeting of our shareholders. A quorum required for any general meeting of shareholders consists of one or more our shareholders, present in person or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative, holding shares which carry in aggregate not less than one-third of all votes attaching to all of our shares in issue and entitled to vote at such general meeting.
The Companies 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. However, these rights may be provided in a companys articles of association. Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that upon the requisition of any one or more of our shareholders who together
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hold shares which carry in aggregate not less than one-third of the total number of votes attaching to all issued and outstanding shares of our company entitled to vote at general meetings, our board will convene an extraordinary general meeting and put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting. However, our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association do not provide our shareholders with any right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by such shareholders.
Transfer of Ordinary Shares . Subject to the restrictions set out in our post-offering memorandum and articles of association as set out below, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in writing, and in any usual or common form or such other form approved by our board of directors and shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor, and if in respect of a nil or partly paid up share, or if so required by the directors, shall also be executed on behalf of the transferee.
Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share which is not fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our board of directors may also decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share unless:
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the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the ordinary shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; |
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the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of ordinary shares; |
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the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required; |
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in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the ordinary share is to be transferred does not exceed four; and |
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a fee of such maximum sum as the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC may determine to be payable or such lesser sum as our directors may from time to time require is paid to us in respect thereof. |
If our directors refuse to register a transfer they shall, within three calendar months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.
The registration of transfers may, on ten calendar days notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers, by electronic means or by any other means in accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, be suspended and the register closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine, provided, however, that the registration of transfers shall not be suspended nor the register closed for more than 30 days in any year as our board may determine.
Liquidation . On the winding up of our company, if the assets available for distribution amongst our shareholders shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up, subject to a deduction from those shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to our company for unpaid calls or otherwise. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them.
Calls on Shares and Forfeiture of Shares . Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 days prior to the specified time and place of payment. The shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.
Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Shares . We may issue shares on terms that such shares are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders of these shares, on such terms and in such
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manner as may be determined by our board of directors, or by a special resolution of our shareholders. Our Company may also repurchase any of our shares on such terms and in such manner as have been approved by our board of directors or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. Under the Companies Law, the redemption or repurchase of any share may be paid out of our Companys profits or out of the proceeds of a new issue of shares made for the purpose of such redemption or repurchase, or out of capital (including share premium account and capital redemption reserve) if our company can, immediately following such payment, pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. In addition, under the Companies Law no such share may be redeemed or repurchased (a) unless it is fully paid up, (b) if such redemption or repurchase would result in there being no shares outstanding or (c) if the company has commenced liquidation. In addition, our company may accept the surrender of any fully paid share for no consideration.
Variations of Rights of Shares . If at any time, our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any such class may (subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any class) only be materially adversely varied with the consent in writing of the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. For these purposes, our directors may treat all the classes or any two or more classes as forming one class if they consider that all such classes would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate classes. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not (subject to any rights or restrictions attached to the shares of that class) be deemed to be materially adversely varied by, inter alia, the creation, allotment or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with or subsequent to them or the redemption or purchase of any shares of any class by our company. The rights of the holders of shares shall not be deemed to be materially adversely varied by the creation or issue of shares with preferred or other rights including, without limitation, the creation of shares with enhanced or weighted voting rights.
Issuance of Additional Shares . Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum of association authorizes our board of directors to issue additional ordinary shares from time to time as our board of directors shall determine, to the extent of available authorized but unissued shares.
Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum of association also authorizes our board of directors to establish from time to time one or more series of preference shares and to determine, with respect to any series of preference shares, the terms and rights of that series, including:
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the designation of the series; |
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the number of shares of the series; |
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the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights; and |
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the rights and terms of redemption and liquidation preferences. |
Our board of directors may issue preference shares without action by our shareholders to the extent authorized but unissued. Issuance of these shares may dilute the voting power of holders of ordinary shares.
Inspection of Books and Records . Holders of our ordinary shares will have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our list of shareholders or our corporate records. See Where You Can Find Additional Information.
Anti-Takeover Provisions . Some provisions of our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that:
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authorize our board of directors to issue preference shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preference shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders; and |
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limit the ability of shareholders to requisition and convene general meetings of shareholders. |
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However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association for a proper purpose and for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company.
Exempted Company . We are an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Law. The Companies Law distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except that an exempted company:
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does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies; |
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is not required to open its register of members for inspection; |
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does not have to hold an annual general meeting; |
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may issue negotiable or bearer shares or shares with no par value; |
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may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance); |
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may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands; |
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may register as a limited duration company; and |
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may register as a segregated portfolio company. |
Limited liability means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of the company (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).
Differences in Corporate Law
The Companies Law is derived, to a large extent, from the older Companies Acts of England but does not follow recent English statutory enactments and accordingly there are significant differences between the Companies Law and the current Companies Act of England. In addition, the Companies Law differs from laws applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of certain significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Law applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements . The Companies Law permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes, (a) merger means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company, and (b) a consolidation means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a consolidated company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the consolidated company. In order to effect such a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which must then be authorized by (a) a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company, and (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent companys articles of association. The written plan of merger or consolidation must be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands together with a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a list of the assets and liabilities of each constituent company and an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the members and creditors of each constituent company and that notification of the merger or consolidation will be published in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation which is effected in compliance with these statutory procedures.
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A merger between a Cayman parent company and its Cayman subsidiary or subsidiaries does not require authorization by a resolution of shareholders of that Cayman subsidiary if a copy of the plan of merger is given to every member of that Cayman subsidiary to be merged unless that member agrees otherwise. For this purpose a company is a parent of a subsidiary if it holds issued shares that together represent at least ninety percent (90%) of the votes at a general meeting of the subsidiary.
The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest over a constituent company is required unless this requirement is waived by a court in the Cayman Islands.
Save in certain limited circumstances, a shareholder of a Cayman constituent company who dissents from the merger or consolidation is entitled to payment of the fair value of his shares (which, if not agreed between the parties, will be determined by the Cayman Islands court) upon dissenting to the merger or consolidation, provide the dissenting shareholder complies strictly with the procedures set out in the Companies Law. The exercise of dissenter rights will preclude the exercise by the dissenting shareholder of any other rights to which he or she might otherwise be entitled by virtue of holding shares, save for the right to seek relief on the grounds that the merger or consolidation is void or unlawful.
Separate from the statutory provisions relating to mergers and consolidations, the Companies Law also contains statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies by way of schemes of arrangement, provided that the arrangement is approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made, and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meetings, convened for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it determines that:
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the statutory provisions as to the required majority vote have been met; |
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the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question and the statutory majority are acting bona fide without coercion of the minority to promote interests adverse to those of the class; |
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the arrangement is such that may be reasonably approved by an intelligent and honest man of that class acting in respect of his interest; and |
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the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Law. |
The Companies Law also contains a statutory power of compulsory acquisition which may facilitate the squeeze out of dissentient minority shareholder upon a tender offer. When a tender offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares affected within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period commencing on the expiration of such four month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares to the offeror on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed in the case of an offer which has been so approved unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith or collusion.
If an arrangement and reconstruction by way of scheme of arrangement is thus approved and sanctioned, or if a tender offer is made and accepted, in accordance with the foregoing statutory procedures, a dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of Delaware corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.
Shareholders Suits . In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff to sue for a wrong done to us as a company, and as a general rule a derivative action may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However,
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based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands court can be expected to follow and apply the common law principles (namely the rule in Foss v. Harbottle and the exceptions thereto) so that a non-controlling shareholder may be permitted to commence a class action against or derivative actions in the name of the company to challenge actions where:
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a company acts or proposes to act illegally or ultra vires; |
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the act complained of, although not ultra vires, could only be effected duly if authorized by more than a simple majority vote that has not been obtained; and |
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those who control the company are perpetrating a fraud on the minority. |
Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability . Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a companys memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that we shall indemnify our officers and directors against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such directors or officer, other than by reason of such persons dishonesty, willful default or fraud, in or about the conduct of our companys business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such director or officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning our company or its affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere. This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation.
In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers that provide such persons with additional indemnification beyond that provided in our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Directors Fiduciary Duties . Under Delaware corporate law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty of loyalty requires that a director acts in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He must not use his corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, the director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.
As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands company is in the position of a fiduciary with respect to the company and therefore it is considered that he owes the following duties to the companya
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duty to act bona fide in the best interests of the company, a duty not to make a profit based on his position as director (unless the company permits him to do so), a duty not to put himself in a position where the interests of the company conflict with his personal interest or his duty to a third party, and a duty to exercise powers for the purpose for which such powers were intended. A director of a Cayman Islands company owes to the company a duty to act with skill and care. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the performance of his duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably be expected from a person of his knowledge and experience. However, English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands.
Shareholder Action by Written Consent . Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent by amendment to its certificate of incorporation. Cayman Islands law and our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that shareholders may approve corporate matters by way of a unanimous written resolution signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting without a meeting being held.
Shareholder Proposals . Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. A special meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings.
The Companies 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. However, these rights may be provided in a companys articles of association. Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association allow any one or more of our shareholders who together hold shares which carry in aggregate not less than one-third of the total number of votes attaching to all issued and outstanding shares of our company entitled to vote at general meetings to requisition an extraordinary general meeting of our shareholders, in which case our board is obliged to convene an extraordinary general meeting and to put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting. Other than this right to requisition a shareholders meeting, our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association do not provide our shareholders with any other right to put proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings. As an exempted Cayman Islands company, we are not obliged by law to call shareholders annual general meetings.
Cumulative Voting . Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporations certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholders voting power with respect to electing such director. There are no prohibitions in relation to cumulative voting under the laws of the Cayman Islands but our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded any less protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.
Removal of Directors . Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation with a classified board may be removed only for cause with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, subject to certain restrictions as contained therein, directors may be removed with or without cause, by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders.
Transactions with Interested Shareholders . The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute by amendment to its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an interested shareholder for three years following the date that such
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person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or a group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the targets outstanding voting share within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the targets board of directors.
Cayman Islands law has no comparable statute . As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, it does provide that such transactions must be entered into bona fide in the best interests of the company and not with the effect of constituting a fraud on the minority shareholders.
Dissolution; Winding up . Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporations outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board.
Under Cayman Islands law, a company may be wound up by either an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands or by a special resolution of its members or, if the company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of its members. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances including where it is, in the opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so.
Variation of Rights of Shares . Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our post-offering memorandum and articles of association, if our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any such class may (subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any class) be materially adversely varied with the consent in writing of the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.
Amendment of Governing Documents . Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporations governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under the Companies Law and our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may only be amended with a special resolution of our shareholders.
Rights of Non-resident or Foreign Shareholders . There are no limitations imposed by our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
History of Securities Issuances
The following is a summary of our securities issuances in the past three years.
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Ordinary Shares
On August 23, 2018, we re-designated 12,000,000 ordinary shares held by Beauty & Health Holdings Limited (formerly JINXING HOLDINGS LIMITED) into 12,000,000 Existing Class A ordinary shares, 10,990,940 ordinary shares held by ATCG Holdings Limited (formerly SHAOHUI HOLDINGS LIMITED) into 10,990,940 Existing Class B ordinary shares, and 300,000 ordinary shares held by One-of-a-kind Holdings Limited (formerly YUTAO HOLDINGS LIMITED) into 300,000 Existing Class B ordinary shares.
Preferred Shares
On December 20, 2017, we issued 5,640,887 Series D preferred shares to Youthful Acquisition L.P. for an aggregate consideration of US$35,000,000 and 2,417,523 Series D preferred shares to Green Stone Limited for an aggregate consideration of US$15,000,000. On January 9, 2018, we re-designated 1,692,266 ordinary shares held by SHAOHUI HOLDINGS LIMITED into 1,692,266 Series D preferred shares.
On February 9, 2018, we issued 127,238 Series D+ preferred shares to Green Stone Limited for an aggregate consideration of US$957,237 and 2,012,329 Series D+ preferred shares to ABSOLUTE FORTUNE LIMITED for an aggregate consideration of US$15,139,145. On February 28, 2018, we issued 481,504 Series D+ preferred shares to Trustbridge Partners V, L.P. for an aggregate consideration of US$3,622,450, 579,994 Series D+ preferred shares to Matrix Partners China III Hong Kong Limited for an aggregate consideration of US$4,363,406, and 296,889 Series D+ preferred shares to Youthful Acquisition L.P. for an aggregate consideration of US$2,233,553.
On August 23, 2018, we issued 170,632 Series E preferred shares to Matrix Partners China III Hong Kong Limited for an aggregate consideration of US$2,000,000, 1,962,267 Series E preferred shares to GOLDEN HORIZON LIMITED for an aggregate consideration of US$23,000,000, 825,638 Series E preferred shares to Bohai Spring, L.P. for an aggregate consideration of US$9,677,419, 619,229 Series E preferred shares to BOCI Financial Products Limited for an aggregate consideration of US$7,258,065, 325,801 Series E preferred shares to Deripi Limited for an aggregate consideration of US$3,818,758, 325,801 Series E preferred shares to BUCHKANA HOLDINGS LIMITED for an aggregate consideration of US$3,818,758, and 36,430 Series E preferred shares to Flarensi Holdings Limited for an aggregate consideration of US$427,000.
On the same date, we re-designated 192,863 ordinary shares held by Matrix Partners China III Hong Kong Limited, 1,137,546 ordinary shares held by GOLDEN HORIZON LIMITED, 220,170 ordinary shares held by Bohai Spring, L.P., 165,127 ordinary shares held by BOCI Financial Products Limited, 86,880 ordinary shares held by Deripi Limited, 86,880 ordinary shares held by BUCHKANA HOLDINGS LIMITED, and 9,715 ordinary shares held by Flarensi Holdings Limited into the equivalent numbers of Series E preferred shares, respectively.
Option Grants
We have granted options to purchase our ordinary shares to certain of our directors, executive officers and employees. See ManagementSecond Amended and Restated 2018 Share Plan.
Shareholders Agreement
We entered into a fourth amended and restated shareholders agreement on August 23, 2018 with our shareholders, which consist of holders of our ordinary shares and preferred shares.
The shareholders agreement provides for certain shareholders rights, including right of first refusal and co-sale rights, and contains provisions governing the board of directors and other corporate governance matters. Those special rights, as well as the corporate governance provisions, will automatically terminate upon the completion of a qualified initial public offering.
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Registration Rights
Pursuant to our fourth amended and restated shareholders agreement dated August 23, 2018, we have granted certain registration rights to our shareholders. Set forth below is a description of the registration rights granted under the agreement.
Demand Registration Rights
At any time after the earlier of (i) August 23, 2021, or (ii) the date that is six months after the closing of the initial public offering, holder(s) holding 10% or more of the total registrable securities then outstanding may request in writing that we effect a registration of the registrable securities. Upon such a request, we shall within ten business days give written notice of the proposed registration to all holders and shall thereafter use our best efforts to, as soon as practicable, cause the registrable securities specified in the request, together with any registrable securities of any holder who requests in writing to join such registration within ten business days after the delivery of our written notice, to be registered and/or qualified for sale and distribution in such jurisdiction as the initiating holders may request. We have the right to defer filing of a registration statement for a period of not more than 90 days after the receipt of the request of the initiating holders under certain conditions, but we cannot exercise the deferral right more than once in any 12-month period and we cannot register any other share during the foregoing 90-day period. We are not obligated to effect a demand registration if we have, within the six-month period prior to the date of a demand registration request, already effected a registration. We are not obligated to effect more than three demand registrations other than demand registration to be effected pursuant to registration statement on Form F-3, for which an unlimited number of demand registrations shall be permitted.
Registration on Form F-3 or Form S-3
If we qualify for registration on Form F-3 or Form S-3 (or any comparable or successor form), any holder has the right to request us to file an unlimited number of registration statements on Form F-3 or Form S-3(or any comparable or successor form). Promptly after receiving such requests, we shall give written notice of the proposed registration and as soon as practicable, we shall effect the registration of the qualified securities on Form F-3 or Form S-3 (or any comparable or successor form).
Piggyback Registration Rights
If we propose to file a registration statement for a public offering of our securities (except registration statement field in relation to demand registration, Form F-3 registration, Form S-3 registration or to any employee benefit plan or a corporate reorganization), we shall give each holder written notice of such registration at least 30 days prior to filing of such registration statement and, upon the written request of any holder given within 10 business days after delivery of such notice, we shall include in such registration any registrable securities thereby requested to be registered by such holder. If a holder decides not to include all or any of its registrable securities in such registration, such holder will continue to have the right to include any registrable securities in any subsequent registration statement as may be filed by us, subject to certain limitations. If the managing underwriters of any underwritten offering determine in good faith that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, the registrable securities shall allocate first to us, second to each of holders requesting for the inclusion of their registrable securities pursuant to the piggyback registration, subject to certain conditions.
Expenses of Registration
We will bear all registration expenses, other than underwriting discounts and selling commissions incurred in connection with any demand (subject to certain exceptions), piggyback or F-3 registration.
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Termination of Obligations
The registration rights set forth above shall terminate (i) on the date that is five years from the date of closing of a qualified initial public offering as defined in the fourth amended and restated shareholders agreement, or (ii) with respect to any holder, the date on which such holder may sell all of such holders registrable securities under Rule 144 of the Securities Act.
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
American Depositary Shares
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as depositary, will register and deliver the ADSs. Each ADS will represent ownership of Class A ordinary shares, deposited with Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch, as custodian for the depositary. Each ADS will also represent ownership of any other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the depositary. The depositarys corporate trust office at which the ADSs will be administered is located at 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005, USA. The principal executive office of the depositary is located at 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005, USA.
The Direct Registration System, or DRS, is a system administered by The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated ADSs, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary to the ADS holders entitled thereto.
We will not treat ADS holders as our shareholders and accordingly, you, as an ADS holder, will not have shareholder rights. Cayman Islands law governs shareholder rights. The depositary will be the holder of the shares underlying your ADSs. As a holder of ADSs, you will have ADS holder rights. A deposit agreement among us, the depositary and you, as an ADS holder, and the beneficial owners of ADSs sets out ADS holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. The laws of the State of New York govern the deposit agreement and the ADSs.
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of American Depositary Receipt. For directions on how to obtain copies of those documents, see Where You Can Find Additional Information.
Holding the ADSs
How will you hold your ADSs?
You may hold ADSs either (1) directly (a) by having an American Depositary Receipt, or ADR, which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in your name, or (b) by holding ADSs in DRS, or (2) indirectly through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold ADSs directly, you are an ADS holder. This description assumes you hold your ADSs directly. ADSs will be issued through DRS, unless you specifically request certificated ADRs. If you hold the ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of ADS holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.
Dividends and Other Distributions
How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the shares?
The depositary has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on shares or other deposited securities, after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of underlying securities that your ADSs represent as of the record date (which will be as close as practicable to the record date for our shares) set by the depositary with respect to the ADSs.
Cash . The depositary will convert or cause to be converted any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the shares or any net proceeds from the sale of any shares, rights, securities or other entitlements under the terms of the deposit agreement into U.S. dollars if it can do so on a practicable basis, and can transfer the U.S. dollars to the United States and will distribute promptly the amount thus received. If the depositary shall determine in its judgment that such conversions or transfers are not practical or lawful or if any government approval or license is needed and cannot be obtained at a reasonable cost within a reasonable period or otherwise sought, the deposit agreement allows the depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those ADS holders to whom it is possible to do so. It will hold or cause the custodian to hold the foreign currency it cannot convert for the account of the ADS holders who have not been paid and
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such funds will be held for the respective accounts of the ADS holders. It will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest for the respective accounts of the ADS holders. Before making a distribution, any taxes or other governmental charges, together with fees and expenses of the depositary, that must be paid, will be deducted. See Taxation. It will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round down fractional cents to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some or all of the value of the distribution.
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Shares . For any shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution, either (1) the depositary will distribute additional ADSs representing such shares or (2) existing ADSs as of the applicable record date will represent rights and interests in the additional shares distributed, to the extent reasonably practicable and permissible under law, in either case, net of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred by the depositary and taxes and/or other governmental charges. The depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. It will try to sell shares which would require it to deliver a fractional ADS and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed shares sufficient to pay its fees and expenses, and any taxes and governmental charges, in connection with that distribution. |
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Elective Distributions in Cash or Shares . If we offer holders of our shares the option to receive dividends in either cash or shares, the depositary, after consultation with us and having received timely notice as described in the deposit agreement of such elective distribution by us, has discretion to determine to what extent such elective distribution will be made available to you as a holder of the ADSs. We must timely first instruct the depositary to make such elective distribution available to you and furnish it with satisfactory evidence that it is legal to do so. The depositary could decide it is not legal or reasonably practicable to make such elective distribution available to you. In such case, the depositary shall, on the basis of the same determination as is made in respect of the shares for which no election is made, distribute either cash in the same way as it does in a cash distribution, or additional ADSs representing shares in the same way as it does in a share distribution. The depositary is not obligated to make available to you a method to receive the elective dividend in shares rather than in ADSs. There can be no assurance that you will be given the opportunity to receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of shares. |
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Rights to Purchase Additional Shares . If we offer holders of our shares any rights to subscribe for additional shares, the depositary shall having received timely notice as described in the deposit agreement of such distribution by us, consult with us, and we must determine whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make these rights available to you. We must first instruct the depositary to make such rights available to you and furnish the depositary with satisfactory evidence that it is legal to do so. If the depositary decides it is not legal or reasonably practicable to make the rights available but that it is lawful and reasonably practicable to sell the rights, the depositary will endeavor to sell the rights and in a riskless principal capacity or otherwise, at such place and upon such terms (including public or private sale) as it may deem proper distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. |
The depositary will allow rights that are not distributed or sold to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them.
If the depositary makes rights available to you, it will establish procedures to distribute such rights and enable you to exercise the rights upon your payment of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred by the depositary and taxes and/or other governmental charges. The Depositary shall not be obliged to make available to you a method to exercise such rights to subscribe for shares (rather than ADSs).
U.S. securities laws may restrict transfers and cancellation of the ADSs represented by shares purchased upon exercise of rights. For example, you may not be able to trade these ADSs freely in the United States. In this case, the depositary may deliver restricted depositary shares that have the same terms as the ADSs described in this section except for changes needed to put the necessary restrictions in place.
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There can be no assurance that you will be given the opportunity to exercise rights on the same terms and conditions as the holders of shares or be able to exercise such rights.
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Other Distributions . Subject to receipt of timely notice, as described in the deposit agreement, from us with the request to make any such distribution available to you, and provided the depositary has determined such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable and feasible and in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement, the depositary will distribute to you anything else we distribute on deposited securities by any means it may deem practicable, upon your payment of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred by the depositary and taxes and/or other governmental charges. If any of the conditions above are not met, the depositary will endeavor to sell, or cause to be sold, what we distributed and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash; or, if it is unable to sell such property, the depositary may dispose of such property in any way it deems reasonably practicable under the circumstances for nominal or no consideration, such that you may have no rights to or arising from such property. |
The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any ADS holders. We have no obligation to register ADSs, shares, rights or other securities under the Securities Act. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, shares, rights or anything else to ADS holders. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our shares or any value for them if we and/or the depositary determines that it is illegal or not practicable for us or the depositary to make them available to you.
Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation
How are ADSs issued?
The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposit shares or evidence of rights to receive shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of ADSs in the names you request and will deliver the ADSs to or upon the order of the person or persons entitled thereto.
Except for shares deposited by us in connection with this offering, no shares will be accepted for deposit during a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus. The 180 day lock up period is subject to adjustment under certain circumstances as described in the section entitled Shares Eligible for Future SalesLock-up Agreements.
How do ADS holders cancel an American Depositary Share?
You may turn in your ADSs at the depositarys corporate trust office or by providing appropriate instructions to your broker. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will deliver the shares and any other deposited securities underlying the ADSs to you or a person you designate at the office of the custodian. Or, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited securities at its corporate trust office, to the extent permitted by law.
How do ADS holders interchange between Certificated ADSs and Uncertificated ADSs?
You may surrender your ADR to the depositary for the purpose of exchanging your ADR for uncertificated ADSs. The depositary will cancel that ADR and will send you a statement confirming that you are the owner of uncertificated ADSs. Alternatively, upon receipt by the depositary of a proper instruction from a holder of uncertificated ADSs requesting the exchange of uncertificated ADSs for certificated ADSs, the depositary will execute and deliver to you an ADR evidencing those ADSs.
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Voting Rights
How do you vote?
You may instruct the depositary to vote the shares or other deposited securities underlying your ADSs at any meeting at which you are entitled to vote pursuant to any applicable law, the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association, and the provisions of or governing the deposited securities. Otherwise, you could exercise your right to vote directly if you withdraw the shares. However, you may not know about the meeting sufficiently enough in advance to withdraw the shares.
If we ask for your instructions and upon timely notice from us by regular, ordinary mail delivery, or by electronic transmission, as described in the deposit agreement, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming meeting at which you are entitled to vote pursuant to any applicable law, the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association, and the provisions of or governing the deposited securities, and arrange to deliver our voting materials to you. The materials will include or reproduce (a) such notice of meeting or solicitation of consents or proxies; (b) a statement that the ADS holders at the close of business on the ADS record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable law, the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association, and the provisions of or governing the deposited securities, to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the shares or other deposited securities represented by such holders ADSs; and (c) a brief statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given or deemed given in accordance with the second to last sentence of this paragraph if no instruction is received, to the depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us. Voting instructions may be given only in respect of a number of ADSs representing an integral number of shares or other deposited securities. For instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them in writing on or before the date specified. The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to applicable law and the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association, to vote or to have its agents vote the shares or other deposited securities (in person or by proxy) as you instruct. The depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as you instruct. If we timely requested the depositary to solicit your instructions but no instructions are received by the depositary from an owner with respect to any of the deposited securities represented by the ADSs of that owner on or before the date established by the depositary for such purpose, the depositary shall deem that owner to have instructed the depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us with respect to such deposited securities, and the depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to vote such deposited securities. However, no such instruction shall be deemed given and no such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter if we inform the depositary we do not wish such proxy given, substantial opposition exists or the matter materially and adversely affects the rights of holders of the Class A ordinary shares.
We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote the shares underlying your ADSs. In addition, there can be no assurance that ADS holders and beneficial owners generally, or any holder or beneficial owner in particular, will be given the opportunity to vote or cause the custodian to vote on the same terms and conditions as the holders of our shares.
The depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to vote and you may have no recourse if the shares underlying your ADSs are not voted as you requested.
In order to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to deposited securities, if we request the depositary to act, we will give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted at least 30 business days in advance of the meeting date.
Compliance with Regulations
Information Requests
Each ADS holder and beneficial owner shall (a) provide such information as we or the depositary may request pursuant to law, including, without limitation, relevant Cayman Islands law, any applicable law of the
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United States of America, our memorandum and articles of association, any resolutions of our Board of Directors adopted pursuant to such memorandum and articles of association, the requirements of any markets or exchanges upon which the shares, ADSs or ADRs are listed or traded, or to any requirements of any electronic book-entry system by which the ADSs or ADRs may be transferred, regarding the capacity in which they own or owned ADRs, the identity of any other persons then or previously interested in such ADRs and the nature of such interest, and any other applicable matters, and (b) be bound by and subject to applicable provisions of the laws of the Cayman Islands, our memorandum and articles of association, and the requirements of any markets or exchanges upon which the ADSs, ADRs or shares are listed or traded, or pursuant to any requirements of any electronic book-entry system by which the ADSs, ADRs or shares may be transferred, to the same extent as if such ADS holder or beneficial owner held shares directly, in each case irrespective of whether or not they are ADS holders or beneficial owners at the time such request is made.
Disclosure of Interests
Each ADS holder and beneficial owner shall comply with our requests pursuant to Cayman Islands law, the rules and requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC and any other stock exchange on which the shares are, or will be, registered, traded or listed or our memorandum and articles of association, which requests are made to provide information, inter alia, as to the capacity in which such ADS holder or beneficial owner owns ADS and regarding the identity of any other person interested in such ADS and the nature of such interest and various other matters, whether or not they are ADS holders or beneficial owners at the time of such requests.
Fees and Expenses
As an ADS holder, you will be required to pay the following service fees to the depositary bank and certain taxes and governmental charges (in addition to any applicable fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges payable on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs):
Service |
Fees |
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To any person to which ADSs are issued or to any person to which a distribution is made in respect of ADS distributions pursuant to stock dividends or other free distributions of stock, bonus distributions, stock splits or other distributions (except where converted to cash) |
Up to US$ per ADS issued | |
Cancellation of ADSs, including the case of termination of the deposit agreement |
Up to US$ per ADS cancelled | |
Distribution of cash dividends |
Up to US$ per ADS held | |
Distribution of cash entitlements (other than cash dividends) and/or cash proceeds from the sale of rights, securities and other entitlements |
Up to US$ per ADS held | |
Distribution of ADSs pursuant to exercise of rights. |
Up to US$ per ADS held | |
Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs |
Up to US$ per ADS held | |
Depositary services |
Up to US$ per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by the depositary bank |
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As an ADS holder, you will also be responsible to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the depositary bank and certain taxes and governmental charges (in addition to any applicable fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges payable on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs) such as:
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Fees for the transfer and registration of shares charged by the registrar and transfer agent for the shares in the Cayman Islands (i.e., upon deposit and withdrawal of shares). |
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Expenses incurred for converting foreign currency into U.S. dollars. |
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Expenses for cable, telex and fax transmissions and for delivery of securities. |
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Taxes and duties upon the transfer of securities, including any applicable stamp duties, any stock transfer charges or withholding taxes (i.e., when shares are deposited or withdrawn from deposit). |
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Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the delivery or servicing of shares on deposit. |
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Fees and expenses incurred in connection with complying with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to shares, deposited securities, ADSs and ADRs. |
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Any applicable fees and penalties thereon. |
The depositary fees payable upon the issuance and cancellation of ADSs are typically paid to the depositary bank by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) receiving the newly issued ADSs from the depositary bank and by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) delivering the ADSs to the depositary bank for cancellation. The brokers in turn charge these fees to their clients. Depositary fees payable in connection with distributions of cash or securities to ADS holders and the depositary services fee are charged by the depositary bank to the holders of record of ADSs as of the applicable ADS record date.
The depositary fees payable for cash distributions are generally deducted from the cash being distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. In the case of distributions other than cash (i.e., share dividends, rights), the depositary bank charges the applicable fee to the ADS record date holders concurrent with the distribution. In the case of ADSs registered in the name of the investor (whether certificated or uncertificated in direct registration), the depositary bank sends invoices to the applicable record date ADS holders. In the case of ADSs held in brokerage and custodian accounts (via DTC), the depositary bank generally collects its fees through the systems provided by DTC (whose nominee is the registered holder of the ADSs held in DTC) from the brokers and custodians holding ADSs in their DTC accounts. The brokers and custodians who hold their clients ADSs in DTC accounts in turn charge their clients accounts the amount of the fees paid to the depositary banks.
In the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees, the depositary bank may, under the terms of the deposit agreement, refuse the requested service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary fees from any distribution to be made to the ADS holder.
The depositary may make payments to us or reimburse us for certain costs and expenses, by making available a portion of the ADS fees collected in respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary bank agree from time to time.
Payment of Taxes
You will be responsible for any taxes or other governmental charges payable, or which become payable, on your ADSs or on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs. The depositary may refuse to register or transfer your ADSs or allow you to withdraw the deposited securities represented by your ADSs until such taxes or other charges are paid. It may apply payments owed to you or sell deposited securities represented by your ADSs to pay any taxes owed and you will remain liable for any deficiency. If the depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale and pay to you any net proceeds,
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or send to you any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes. You agree to indemnify us, the depositary, the custodian and each of our and their respective agents, directors, employees and affiliates for, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims with respect to taxes (including applicable interest and penalties thereon) arising from any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained for you. Your obligations under this paragraph shall survive any transfer of ADRs, any surrender of ADRs and withdrawal of deposited securities or the termination of the deposit agreement.
Reclassifications, Recapitalizations and Mergers
If we: |
Then: |
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Change the nominal or par value of our shares | The cash, shares or other securities received by the depositary will become deposited securities. | |
Reclassify, split up or consolidate any of the deposited securities | Each ADS will automatically represent its equal share of the new deposited securities. | |
Distribute securities on the shares that are not distributed to you, or recapitalize, reorganize, merge, liquidate, sell all or substantially all of our assets, or take any similar action | The depositary may distribute some or all of the cash, shares or other securities it received. It may also deliver new ADSs or ask you to surrender your outstanding ADRs in exchange for new ADRs identifying the new deposited securities. |
Amendment and Termination
How may the deposit agreement be amended?
We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the form of ADR without your consent for any reason. If an amendment adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and other governmental charges or expenses of the depositary for registration fees, facsimile costs, delivery charges or similar items, including expenses incurred in connection with foreign exchange control regulations and other charges specifically payable by ADS holders under the deposit agreement, or materially prejudices a substantial existing right of ADS holders, it will not become effective for outstanding ADSs until 30 days after the depositary notifies ADS holders of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, you are considered, by continuing to hold your ADSs, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the deposit agreement as amended . If any new laws are adopted which would require the deposit agreement to be amended in order to comply therewith, we and the depositary may amend the deposit agreement in accordance with such laws and such amendment may become effective before notice thereof is given to ADS holders.
How may the deposit agreement be terminated?
The depositary will terminate the deposit agreement if we ask it to do so, in which case the depositary will give notice to you at least 90 days prior to termination. The depositary may also terminate the deposit agreement if the depositary has told us that it would like to resign, or if we have removed the depositary, and in either case we have not appointed a new depositary within 90 days. In either such case, the depositary must notify you at least 30 days before termination.
After termination, the depositary and its agents will do the following under the deposit agreement but nothing else: collect distributions on the deposited securities, sell rights and other property and deliver shares and other deposited securities upon cancellation of ADSs after payment of any fees, charges, taxes or other governmental charges. Six months or more after the date of termination, the depositary may sell any remaining deposited securities by public or private sale. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement, for the pro rata benefit of the ADS holders that have not surrendered their ADSs. It will not invest the money and has no liability for interest. After
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such sale, the depositarys only obligations will be to account for the money and other cash. After termination, we shall be discharged from all obligations under the deposit agreement except for our obligations to the depositary thereunder.
Books of Depositary
The depositary will maintain ADS holder records at its depositary office. You may inspect such records at such office during regular business hours but solely for the purpose of communicating with other holders in the interest of business matters relating to the Company, the ADRs and the deposit agreement.
The depositary will maintain facilities in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York to record and process the issuance, cancellation, combination, split-up and transfer of ADRs.
These facilities may be closed at any time or from time to time when such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the depositary in connection with the performance of its duties under the deposit agreement or at our reasonable written request.
Limitations on Obligations and Liability
Limits on our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary and the Custodian; Limits on Liability to Holders of ADSs
The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary and the custodian. It also limits our liability and the liability of the depositary. The depositary and the custodian:
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are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without gross negligence or willful misconduct; |
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are not liable if any of us or our respective controlling persons or agents are prevented or forbidden from, or subjected to any civil or criminal penalty or restraint on account of, or delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing required by the terms of the deposit agreement and any ADR, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any state thereof, the Cayman Islands or any other country, or of any other governmental authority or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or on account of the possible criminal or civil penalties or restraint, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of our memorandum and articles of association or any provision of or governing any deposited securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control (including, without limitation, nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and computer failure); |
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are not liable by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the deposit agreement or in our memorandum and articles of association or provisions of or governing deposited securities; |
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are not liable for any action or inaction of the depositary, the custodian or us or their or our respective controlling persons or agents in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, any person presenting shares for deposit or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information; |
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are not liable for the inability of any holder of ADSs to benefit from any distribution on deposited securities that is not made available to holders of ADSs under the terms of the deposit agreement; |
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are not liable for any special, consequential, indirect or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement, or otherwise; |
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may rely upon any documents we believe in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party; |
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disclaim any liability for any action or inaction or inaction of any of us or our respective controlling persons or agents in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting shares for deposit, holders and beneficial owners (or authorized representatives) of ADSs, or any person believed in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information; and |
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disclaim any liability for inability of any holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit made available to holders of deposited securities but not made available to holders of ADS. |
The depositary and any of its agents also disclaim any liability (i) for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote, the manner in which any vote is cast or the effect of any vote or failure to determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable or for allowing any rights to lapse in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement, (ii) the failure or timeliness of any notice from us, the content of any information submitted to it by us for distribution to you or for any inaccuracy of any translation thereof, (iii) any investment risk associated with the acquisition of an interest in the deposited securities, the validity or worth of the deposited securities, the credit-worthiness of any third party, (iv) for any tax consequences that may result from ownership of ADSs, shares or deposited securities, or (v) for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the depositary performed its obligations without gross negligence or willful misconduct while it acted as depositary.
In the deposit agreement, we agree to indemnify the depositary under certain circumstances.
Jurisdiction and Arbitration
The laws of the State of New York govern the deposit agreement and the ADSs and we have agreed with the depositary that the federal or state courts in the City of New York shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any dispute arising from or in connection with the deposit agreement and that the depositary will have the right to refer any claim or dispute arising from the relationship created by the deposit agreement to arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration provisions of the deposit agreement do not preclude you from pursuing claims under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act in federal courts.
Jury Trial Waiver
The deposit agreement provides that each party to the deposit agreement (including each holder, beneficial owner and holder of interest in the ADRs) irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to trial by jury in any lawsuit or proceedings against us or the depositary arising out of or relating to our shares, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including any claim under U.S. federal securities laws. If we or the depositary opposed a jury trial demand based on the waiver, the court would determine whether the waiver was enforceable based on the facts and circumstances of the case in accordance with the applicable law.
Requirements for Depositary Actions
Before the depositary will issue, deliver or register a transfer of an ADS, split-up, subdivide or combine ADSs, make a distribution on an ADS, or permit withdrawal of shares, the depositary may require:
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payment of stock transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and transfer or registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any shares or other deposited securities and payment of the applicable fees, expenses and charges of the depositary; |
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satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or any other matters contemplated in the deposit agreement; and |
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compliance with (A) any laws or governmental regulations relating to the execution and delivery of ADRs or ADSs or to the withdrawal or delivery of deposited securities and (B) such reasonable regulations and procedures as the depositary may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement and applicable laws, including presentation of transfer documents. |
The depositary may refuse to issue and deliver ADSs or register transfers of ADSs generally when the register of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary or we determine that it is necessary or advisable to do so.
Your Right to Receive the Shares Underlying Your ADSs
You have the right to cancel your ADSs and withdraw the underlying shares at any time except:
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when temporary delays arise because: (1) the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer books; (2) the transfer of shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders meeting; or (3) we are paying a dividend on our shares; |
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when you owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges; |
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when it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations that apply to ADSs or to the withdrawal of shares or other deposited securities, or |
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other circumstances specifically contemplated by Section I.A.(l) of the General Instructions to Form F-6 (as such General Instructions may be amended from time to time); or |
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for any other reason if the depositary or we determine, in good faith, that it is necessary or advisable to prohibit withdrawals. |
The depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the deposit agreement any shares or other deposited securities required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such shares.
This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.
Direct Registration System
In the deposit agreement, all parties to the deposit agreement acknowledge that the DRS and Profile Modification System, or Profile, will apply to uncertificated ADSs upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated ADSs, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary to the ADS holders entitled thereto. Profile is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an ADS holder, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of those ADSs to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those ADSs to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the depositary of prior authorization from the ADS holder to register such transfer.
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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALES
Upon completion of this offering, we will have ADSs outstanding, representing approximately % of our outstanding ordinary shares, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option. All of the ADSs sold in this offering will be freely transferable by persons other than by our affiliates without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act. Sales of substantial amounts of our ADSs in the public market could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our ADSs. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our ordinary shares or the ADSs. We have applied to list the ADSs on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, but we cannot assure you that a regular trading market will develop in the ADSs. We do not expect that a trading market will develop for our ordinary shares not represented by the ADSs.
Lock-up Agreements
We, [our directors and executive officers, our existing shareholders and option holders] have agreed, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, subject to certain exceptions, not to offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, our ordinary shares or ADSs or securities that are substantially similar to our ordinary shares or ADSs (including by entering into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership interests), whether any of these transactions are to be settled by delivery of ADSs, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing restrictions also apply to any ADSs acquired by our directors and executive officers in the offering pursuant to the directed ADS program, if any. These parties collectively own all of our outstanding ordinary shares, without giving effect to this offering.
Other than this offering, we are not aware of any plans by any significant shareholders to dispose of significant numbers of our ADSs or ordinary shares. However, one or more existing shareholders or owners of securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for our ADSs or ordinary shares may dispose of significant numbers of our ADSs or ordinary shares in the future. We cannot predict what effect, if any, future sales of our ADSs or ordinary shares, or the availability of ADSs or ordinary shares for future sale, will have on the trading price of our ADSs from time to time. Sales of substantial amounts of our ADSs or ordinary shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the trading price of our ADSs.
Rule 144
All of our ordinary shares that will be outstanding upon the completion of this offering, other than those ordinary shares sold in this offering, are restricted securities as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act and may be sold publicly in the United States only if they are subject to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirement such as those provided by Rule 144 and Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act. In general, beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus, a person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who at the time of a sale is not, and has not been during the three months preceding the sale, an affiliate of ours and has beneficially owned our restricted securities for at least six months will be entitled to sell the restricted securities without registration under the Securities Act, subject only to the availability of current public information about us, and will be entitled to sell restricted securities beneficially owned for at least one year without restriction. Persons who are our affiliates and have beneficially owned our restricted securities for at least six months may sell a number of restricted securities within any three-month period that does not exceed the greater of the following:
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1% of the then outstanding ordinary shares of the same class, in the form of ADSs or otherwise, which immediately after this offering will equal Class A ordinary shares, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option; or |
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the average weekly trading volume of our ordinary shares of the same class, in the form of ADSs or otherwise, during the four calendar weeks preceding the date on which notice of the sale is filed with the SEC. |
Sales by our affiliates under Rule 144 are also subject to certain requirements relating to manner of sale, notice and the availability of current public information about us.
Rule 701
In general, under Rule 701 of the Securities Act as currently in effect, each of our employees, consultants or advisors who purchases our ordinary shares from us in connection with a compensatory stock plan or other written agreement executed prior to the completion of this offering is eligible to resell those ordinary shares in reliance on Rule 144, but without compliance with some of the restrictions, including the holding period, contained in Rule 144. However, the Rule 701 shares would remain subject to lock-up arrangements and would only become eligible for sale when the lock-up period expires.
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The following summary of the material Cayman Islands, PRC and U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this registration statement, all of which are subject to change. This summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, such as the tax consequences under U.S. state and local tax laws or under the tax laws of jurisdictions other than the Cayman Islands, China and the United States. To the extent that the discussion relates to matters of Cayman Islands tax law, it represents the opinion of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law, and to the extent it relates to PRC tax law, it represents the opinion of Han Kun Law Offices, our counsel as to PRC law.
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. The Cayman Islands is not party to any double tax treaties that are applicable to any payments made to or by our company. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
Payments of dividends and capital gains in respect of our ordinary shares or ADSs will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital gains to any holder of our ordinary shares or ADSs, nor will capital gains derived from the disposal of our ordinary shares or ADSs be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.
Our company has been incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability and, as such, has obtained an undertaking from the Governor in Cabinet of the Cayman Islands as to tax concessions under the Tax Concessions Law (2011 Revision). In accordance with the provision of Section 6 of The Tax Concessions Law (2011 Revision), the Governor in Cabinet undertakes with our company:
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that no law which is hereafter enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations shall apply to our company or its operations; and |
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in addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax shall be payable: |
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on or in respect of the shares, debentures or other obligations of our company; or |
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by way of the withholding, in whole or part, of any relevant payment as defined in Section 6(3) of the Tax Concessions Law (2011 Revision). |
These concessions shall be for a period of 20 years from March 14, 2018.
PRC Taxation
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside China with de facto management body within China is considered a resident enterprise. The implementation rules define the term de facto management body as the body that exercises full and substantial control and overall management over the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In April 2009, the State Administration of Taxation issued a circular, known as Circular 82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the de facto management body of a PRC-controlled enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in China. Although this circular only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners, the criteria set
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forth in the circular may reflect the State Administration of Taxations general position on how the de facto management body text should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises. According to Circular 82, an offshore incorporated enterprise controlled by a PRC enterprise or a PRC enterprise group will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having its de facto management body in China only if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in China; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprises financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in China; (iii) the enterprises primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions, are located or maintained in China; and (iv) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in China.
We believe that So-Young International Inc. is not a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. So-Young International Inc. is not controlled by a PRC enterprise or PRC enterprise group and we do not believe that So-Young International Inc. meets all of the conditions above. So-Young International Inc. is a company incorporated outside China. As a holding company, its key assets are its ownership interests in its subsidiaries, and its key assets are located, and its records (including the resolutions of its board of directors and the resolutions of its shareholders) are maintained, outside China. In addition, we are not aware of any offshore holding companies with a similar corporate structure as ours ever having been deemed a PRC resident enterprise by the PRC tax authorities. However, the tax resident 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. There can be no assurance that the PRC government will ultimately take a view that is consistent with ours.
If the PRC tax authorities determine that So-Young International Inc. 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, including the holders of our ADSs. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders (including our ADS holders) may be subject to a 10% PRC tax on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within China. It is unclear whether our non-PRC individual shareholders (including our ADS holders) 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 such dividends or gains, 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 non-PRC shareholders of So-Young International Inc. would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and China in the event that So-Young International Inc. is treated as a PRC resident enterprise. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Doing Business in ChinaIf we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders or ADS holders.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion is a summary of U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the ownership and disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares by a U.S. Holder (as defined below) that acquires our ADSs in this offering and holds our ADSs or ordinary shares as capital assets (generally, property held for investment) under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). This discussion is based upon existing U.S. federal tax law, which is subject to differing interpretations or change, possibly with retroactive effect. No ruling has been sought from the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) with respect to any U.S. federal income tax consequences described below, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position. This discussion, moreover, does not address the U.S. federal estate, gift, Medicare, and alternative minimum tax considerations, or any state, local and non-U.S. tax considerations, relating to the ownership or disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares. The following summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to particular investors in light of their individual circumstances or to persons in special tax situations such as:
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banks and other financial institutions; |
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insurance companies; |
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pension plans; |
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cooperatives; |
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regulated investment companies; |
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real estate investment trusts; |
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broker-dealers; |
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traders that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting; |
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certain former U.S. citizens or long-term residents; |
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tax-exempt entities (including private foundations); |
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individual retirement accounts or other tax-deferred accounts; |
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persons liable for alternative minimum tax; |
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persons who acquire their ADSs or ordinary shares pursuant to any employee share option or otherwise as compensation; |
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investors that will hold their ADSs or ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
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investors that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar; |
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persons that actually or constructively own 10% or more of our ADSs or ordinary shares (by vote or value); |
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persons required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to their ADSs or ordinary shares as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement; or |
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partnerships or other entities taxable as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or persons holding ADSs or ordinary shares through such entities. |
all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those discussed below.
Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the application of U.S. federal taxation to its particular circumstances, and the state, local, non-U.S. and other tax considerations of the ownership and disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares.
General
For purposes of this discussion, a U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of our ADSs or ordinary shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
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a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created in, or organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
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an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or |
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a trust (A) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more U.S. persons who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) that has otherwise validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person under the Code. |
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If a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of our ADSs or ordinary shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships holding our ADSs or ordinary shares and their partners are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Holder of ADSs will generally be treated as the beneficial owner of the underlying shares represented by the ADSs. The remainder of this discussion assumes that a U.S. Holder of our ADSs will be treated in this manner. Accordingly, deposits or withdrawals of ordinary shares for ADSs will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations
A non-U.S. corporation, such as our company, will be classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year if either (i) 75% or more of its gross income for such year consists of certain types of passive income or (ii) 50% or more of the value of its assets (determined on the basis of a quarterly average) during such year is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income (the asset test). For this purpose, cash and assets readily convertible into cash are categorized as passive assets and the companys goodwill and other unbooked intangibles are taken into account. Passive income generally includes, among other things, dividends, interest, rents, royalties, and gains from the disposition of passive assets. We will be treated as owning a proportionate share of the assets and earning a proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more (by value) of the stock.
Although the law in this regard is not entirely clear, we treat our VIE (and its subsidiary) as being owned by us for U.S. federal income tax purposes because we control their management decisions and are entitled to substantially all of the economic benefits associated with them, and, as a result, we consolidate their results of operations in our consolidated U.S. GAAP financial statements. If it were determined, however, that we are not the owner of the VIE (and its subsidiaries) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we may be treated as a PFIC for the current taxable year and any subsequent taxable year.
Assuming that we are the owner of the VIE (and its subsidiary) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and based upon our current and projected income and assets, including the expected proceeds from this offering, and projections as to the market price of our ADSs immediately following this offering, we do not expect to be a PFIC for the current taxable year or the foreseeable future. However, no assurance can be given in this regard because the determination of whether we are or will become a PFIC is a factual determination made annually that will depend, in part, upon the composition of our income and assets. Furthermore, fluctuations in the market price of our ADSs may cause us to be classified as a PFIC for the current or future taxable years because the value of our assets for purposes of the asset test, including the value of our goodwill and other unbooked intangibles, may be determined by reference to the market price of our ADSs from time to time (which may be volatile). In estimating the value of our goodwill and other unbooked intangibles, we have taken into account our anticipated market capitalization immediately following the close of this offering. Among other matters, if our market capitalization is less than anticipated or subsequently declines, we may be or become a PFIC for the current or future taxable years. The composition of our income and assets may also be affected by how, and how quickly, we use our liquid assets and the cash raised in this offering. Under circumstances where our revenue from activities that produce passive income significantly increases relative to our revenue from activities that produce non-passive income, or where we determine not to deploy significant amounts of cash for active purposes, our risk of becoming classified as a PFIC may substantially increase.
If we are a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares, we generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years during which such U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares.
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The discussion below under Dividends and Sale or Other Disposition is written on the basis that we are not and will not be or become classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The U.S. federal income tax rules that apply generally if we are treated as a PFIC are discussed below under Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules .
Dividends
Any cash distributions paid on our ADSs or ordinary shares (including the amount of any PRC tax withheld) out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles, will generally be includible in the gross income of a U.S. Holder as dividend income on the day actually or constructively received by the U.S. Holder, in the case of ordinary shares, or by the depositary, in the case of ADSs. Because we do not intend to determine our earnings and profits on the basis of U.S. federal income tax principles, any distribution we pay will generally be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends received on our ADSs or ordinary shares will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations in respect of dividends received from U.S. corporations.
Individuals and other non-corporate U.S. Holders will be subject to tax on any such dividends at the lower capital gain tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income, provided that certain conditions are satisfied, including that (1) our ADSs or ordinary shares on which the dividends are paid are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, or, in the event that we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the PRC tax law, we are eligible for the benefit of the U.S.-PRC income tax treaty (the Treaty), (2) we are neither a PFIC nor treated as such with respect to a U.S. Holder (as discussed below) for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid and the preceding taxable year, and (3) certain holding period requirements are met. We intend to apply to list the ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Market. Provided the listing is approved on the Nasdaq Global Market, which is an established securities market in the United States, the ADSs are expected to be readily tradable. Since we do not expect that our ordinary shares will be listed on an established securities market, it is unclear whether dividends that we pay on our ordinary shares that are not represented by ADSs will meet the conditions required for the reduced tax rate. There can be no assurance that our ADSs will continue to be considered readily tradable on an established securities market in later years. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower rate for dividends paid with respect to our ADSs or ordinary shares.
For U.S. foreign tax credit purposes, dividends paid on our ADSs or ordinary shares generally will be treated as income from foreign sources and generally will constitute passive category income. In the event that we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, a U.S. Holder may be subject to PRC withholding taxes on dividends paid on our ADSs or ordinary shares (see TaxationPRC Taxation). Depending on the U.S. Holders particular facts and circumstances and subject to a number of complex conditions and limitations, PRC withholding taxes on dividends that are non-refundable under the Treaty may be treated as foreign taxes eligible for credit against a U.S. Holders U.S. federal income tax liability. A U.S. Holder who does not elect to claim a foreign tax credit for foreign tax withheld may instead claim a deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in respect of such withholding, but only for a year in which such holder elects to do so for all creditable foreign income taxes. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex and U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances.
Sale or Other Disposition
A U.S. Holder will generally recognize gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the disposition and the holders adjusted tax basis in such ADSs or ordinary shares. The gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss. Any capital gain or loss will be long term if the ADSs or ordinary shares have been held for more than one year. Non-corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals) generally will be subject to United States federal income tax
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on long-term capital gain at preferential rates. The deductibility of a capital loss may be subject to limitations. Any such gain or loss that the U.S. Holder recognizes will generally be treated as U.S. source income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes, which will generally limit the availability of foreign tax credits. However, in the event we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, we may be eligible for the benefits of the Treaty. In such event, if PRC tax were to be imposed on any gain from the disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares, a U.S. Holder that is eligible for the benefits of the Treaty may elect to treat such gain as PRC source income. If a U.S. Holder is not eligible for the benefits of the Treaty or fails to make the election to treat any gain as foreign source, then such U.S. Holder may not be able to use the foreign tax credit arising from any PRC tax imposed on the disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares unless such credit can be applied (subject to applicable limitations) against United States federal income tax due on other income derived from foreign sources in the same income category (generally, the passive category). Each U.S. Holder is advised to consult its tax advisor regarding the tax consequences if a foreign tax is imposed on a disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares, including the availability of the foreign tax credit under its particular circumstances.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
If we are classified as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares, and unless the U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election (as described below), the U.S. Holder will generally be subject to special tax rules on (i) any excess distribution that we make to the U.S. Holder (which generally means any distribution paid during a taxable year to a U.S. Holder that is greater than 125 percent of the average annual distributions paid in the three preceding taxable years or, if shorter, the U.S. Holders holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares), and (ii) any gain realized on the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares. Under the PFIC rules:
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the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holders holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares; |
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the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable years in the U.S. Holders holding period prior to the first taxable year in which we are classified as a PFIC (each, a pre-PFIC year), will be taxable as ordinary income; |
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the amount allocated to each prior taxable year, other than a pre-PFIC year, will be subject to tax at the highest tax rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that year; and |
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the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the tax attributable to each prior taxable year, other than a pre-PFIC year. |
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares and any of our subsidiaries, our VIE or the subsidiaries of our VIE is also a PFIC, such U.S. Holder would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of the lower-tier PFIC for purposes of the application of these rules. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries, our VIE or any of the subsidiaries of our VIE.
As an alternative to the foregoing rules, a U.S. Holder of marketable stock (as defined below) in a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election with respect to such stock. If a U.S. Holder makes this election with respect to our ADSs, the holder will generally (i) include as ordinary income for each taxable year that we are a PFIC the excess, if any, of the fair market value of ADSs held at the end of the taxable year over the adjusted tax basis of such ADSs and (ii) deduct as an ordinary loss the excess, if any, of the adjusted tax basis of the ADSs over the fair market value of such ADSs held at the end of the taxable year, but such deduction will only be allowed to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. The U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in the ADSs would be adjusted to reflect any income or loss resulting from the mark-to-market election. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election in respect of our ADSs and we cease to be classified as a PFIC, the holder will not be required to take into account the gain or loss described above
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during any period that we are not classified as a PFIC. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election, any gain such U.S. Holder recognizes upon the sale or other disposition of our ADSs in a year when we are a PFIC will be treated as ordinary income and any loss will be treated as ordinary loss, but such loss will only be treated as ordinary loss to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election.
The mark-to-market election is available only for marketable stock, which is stock that is regularly traded on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in applicable United States Treasury regulations. Our ADSs, but not our ordinary shares, will be treated as traded on a qualified exchange or other market upon their listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. We anticipate that our ADSs should qualify as being regularly traded, but no assurances may be given in this regard.
Because a mark-to-market election cannot technically be made for any lower-tier PFICs that we may own, a U.S. Holder may continue to be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to such U.S. Holders indirect interest in any investments held by us that are treated as an equity interest in a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
We do not intend to provide information necessary for U.S. Holders to make qualified electing fund elections which, if available, would result in tax treatment different from (and generally less adverse than) the general tax treatment for PFICs described above.
If a U.S. Holder owns our ADSs or ordinary shares during any taxable year that we are a PFIC, the holder must generally file an annual IRS Form 8621. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of our ADSs or ordinary shares if we are or become a PFIC.
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Under the terms and subject to the conditions in an underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus, the underwriters named below, for whom Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. is acting as the representative, have severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to them, severally, the number of ADSs indicated below:
Name |
Number of
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Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. |
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China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities Limited |
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Total |
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The underwriters and the representative are collectively referred to as the underwriters and the representative, respectively. The underwriters are offering the ADSs subject to their acceptance of the ADSs from us and subject to prior sale. The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the ADSs offered by this prospectus are subject to the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and to certain other conditions. The underwriters are obligated, severally and not jointly, to take and pay for all of the ADSs offered by this prospectus if any such ADSs are taken. However, the underwriters are not required to take or pay for the ADSs covered by the underwriters over-allotment option described below.
The underwriters initially propose to offer part of the ADSs directly to the public at the public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus and part to certain dealers. After the initial offering of the ADSs, the offering price and other selling terms may from time to time be varied by the representative.
Certain of the underwriters are expected to make offers and sales both inside and outside the United States through their respective selling agents. Any offers or sales in the United States will be conducted by broker-dealers registered with the SEC. China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities Limited, one of the underwriters of this offering, is not a broker-dealer registered with the SEC. Therefore, to the extent China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities Limited intends to make any offers or sales of ADSs in the United States, it will do so only through one or more SEC-registered broker-dealers in compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations.
We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days from the date of the final prospectus, to purchase up to additional ADSs at the public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus less underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, made in connection with the offering of the ADSs offered by this prospectus. To the extent the option is exercised, each underwriter will become obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase about the same percentage of the additional ADSs as the number listed next to the underwriters name in the preceding table bears to the total number of ADSs listed next to the names of all underwriters in the preceding table.
The following table shows the per ADS and total public offering price, underwriting discounts and commissions, and proceeds before expenses to us. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters option to purchase up to an additional ADSs.
Total | ||||||||||||
Per
ADS |
No
Exercise |
Full
Exercise |
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Public offering price |
US$ | US$ | US$ | |||||||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid by us |
US$ | US$ | US$ | |||||||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us |
US$ | US$ | US$ |
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The estimated offering expenses payable by us, exclusive of the underwriting discounts and commissions, are approximately US$ . We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for expense relating to clearance of this offering with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority up to US$ .
The underwriters have informed us that they do not intend sales to discretionary accounts to exceed 5% of the total number of ADSs offered by them.
The address of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. is 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, United States. The address of China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities Limited is 29th Floor, One International Finance Centre, 1 Harbour View Street, Central, Hong Kong.
Our ADSs have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the trading symbol SY.
We and [all directors and officers and the holders of all of our outstanding shares and share options] have agreed that, without the prior written consent of the representative, subject to certain exceptions, we and they will not, during the period ending 180 days after the date of this prospectus, or the restricted period:
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offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any ordinary shares or ADSs or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for ordinary shares or ADSs; |
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file any registration statement with the SEC relating to the offering of any ordinary shares, ADSs or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for ordinary shares or ADSs (other than a registration statement on Form S-8); or |
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enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the ordinary shares or ADSs, |
whether any such transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of ordinary shares, ADSs, or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. In addition, we and each such person agrees that, without the prior written consent of the representative on behalf of the underwriters, we or such other person will not, during the restricted period, make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any ordinary shares, ADSs, or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for ordinary shares or ADSs.
The restrictions described in the immediately preceding paragraph do not apply to:
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the sale of shares to the underwriters; |
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ordinary shares or ADSs acquired in this offering, or transactions relating to ordinary shares, ADSs or other securities acquired in open market transactions after this offering, provided that, in each case, no public filing shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such transfers; |
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the issuance by the Company of ordinary shares upon the exercise of an option or a warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date of this prospectus of which the underwriters have been advised in writing; |
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bona fide gifts, or by operation of law, such as pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or in connection with a divorce settlement, or through will or intestacy, provided that the donee agrees to be bound in writing by the terms of the lock-up and such transfer does not effect any public filing; |
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transfers to any trust for the benefit of such party or any immediate family member of such party or to any entity beneficially owned and controlled by such party, provided that the trustee of the trust or the transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the terms of the lock-up, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value and does not effect any public filing regarding such transfer; |
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if the party is a partnership, limited liability company or corporation, to limited partners, or shareholders or affiliates of such party, provided that the transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the terms of the lock-up, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value and does not effect any public filing regarding such transfer; |
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any transfer to us or our subsidiaries in connection with the vesting, settlement or exercise of equity awards; |
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any transfer to us in connection with the repurchase of securities by us issued pursuant to equity awards, provided that such repurchase of securities is in connection with the termination of the applicable partys employment or other service relationship with us; |
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any transfer pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction that is approved by our board of directors and made to all holders of our capital stock involving a change of control; or |
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the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of ordinary shares or ADSs, provided that (i) such plan does not provide for the transfer of ordinary shares or ADSs during the restricted period and (ii) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required or voluntarily made regarding the establishment of such plan, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of ordinary shares or ADSs may be made under such plan during the restricted period. |
The representative, in its sole discretion, may release the ordinary shares, ADSs and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements described above in whole or in part at any time. Subject to compliance with the notification requirements under FINRA Rule 5131 applicable to lock-up agreements with our directors or officers, if the representative, in its sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up agreement for an officer or director of us and provides us with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, we agree to announce the impending release or waiver by issuing a press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Currently, there are no agreements, understandings or intentions, tacit or explicit, to release any of the securities from the lock-up agreements prior to the expiration of the corresponding period.
In order to facilitate the offering of the ADSs, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the ADSs. Specifically, the underwriters may sell more ADSs than they are obligated to purchase under the underwriting agreement, creating a short position. A short sale is covered if the short position is no greater than the number of ADSs available for purchase by the underwriters under the over- allotment option. The underwriters can close out a covered short sale by exercising the over-allotment option or purchasing ADSs in the open market. In determining the source of ADSs to close out a covered short sale, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the open market price of ADSs compared to the price available under the over-allotment option. The underwriters may also sell ADSs in excess of the over-allotment option, creating a naked short position. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing ADSs in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the ADSs in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. As an additional means of facilitating this offering, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, ADSs in the open market to stabilize the price of the ADSs. These activities may raise or maintain the market price of the ADSs above independent market levels or prevent or retard a decline in the market price of the ADSs. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time.
We and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
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A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on websites maintained by one or more underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering. The representative may agree to allocate a number of ADSs to underwriters for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the representative to underwriters that may make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.
The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory and investment banking services for us, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers and may at any time hold long and short positions in such securities and instruments. Such investment and securities activities may involve our securities and instruments. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long or short positions in such securities and instruments.
Pricing of the Offering
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our ordinary shares or ADSs. The initial public offering price was determined by negotiations between us and the representative. Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price were our future prospects and those of our industry in general, our sales, earnings and certain other financial and operating information in recent periods, and the price-earnings ratios, price-sales ratios, market prices of securities, and certain financial and operating information of companies engaged in activities similar to ours, the general condition of the securities markets at the time of this offering, the recent market prices of, and demand for, publicly traded ordinary share of generally comparable companies, and other factors deemed relevant by the representative and us. Neither we nor the underwriters can assure investors that an active trading market will develop for the ADSs, or that the ADSs will trade in the public market at or above the initial public offering price.
Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of ADSs
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on websites maintained by one or more underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering. The representative may agree to allocate a number of ADSs to underwriters for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the representative to underwriters that may make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, ADSs may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who resell ADSs to online brokerage account holders. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on any underwriters or selling group members website and any information contained in any other website maintained by any underwriter or selling group member is not part of the prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or any underwriter or selling group member in its capacity as underwriter or selling group member and should not be relied upon by investors.
Selling Restrictions
No action may be taken in any jurisdiction other than the United States that would permit a public offering of the ADSs or the possession, circulation or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for
187
that purpose is required. Accordingly, the ADSs may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither the prospectus nor any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the ADSs may be distributed or published in or from any country or jurisdiction except under circumstances that will result in compliance with any applicable laws, rules and regulations of any such country or jurisdiction.
Australia. This document has not been lodged with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission and is only directed to certain categories of exempt persons. Accordingly, if you receive this document in Australia:
a) | you confirm and warrant that you are either: |
i) |
sophisticated investor under section 708(8)(a) or (b) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) of Australia, or the Corporations Act; |
ii) |
sophisticated investor under section 708(8)(c) or (d) of the Corporations Act and that you have provided an accountants certificate to the company which complies with the requirements of section 708(8)(c)(i) or (ii) of the Corporations Act and related regulations before the offer has been made; |
iii) |
person associated with the company under section 708(12) of the Corporations Act; or |
iv) |
professional investor within the meaning of section 708(11)(a) or (b) of the Corporations Act; |
and to the extent that you are unable to confirm or warrant that you are an exempt sophisticated investor, associated person or professional investor under the Corporations Act, any offer made to you under this document is void and incapable of acceptance;
b) | you warrant and agree that you will not offer any of the ADSs issued to you pursuant to this document for resale in Australia within 12 months of those ADSs being issued unless any such resale offer is exempt from the requirement to issue a disclosure document under section 708 of the Corporations Act. |
Canada. The ADSs may be sold in Canada only to purchasers resident or located in the Provinces of Ontario, Québec, Alberta and British Columbia, purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the ADSs must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchasers province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchasers province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts, or NI 33-105, the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Cayman Islands. This prospectus does not constitute an invitation or offer to the public in the Cayman Islands of the ADSs, whether by way of sale or subscription. The underwriters have not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, any ADSs in the Cayman Islands.
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European Economic Area. In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State) an offer to the public of any shares which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus may not be made in that Relevant Member State unless the prospectus has been approved by the competent authority in such Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that an offer to the public in that Relevant Member State of any shares may be made at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive, if they have been implemented in that Relevant Member State:
|
to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive; |
|
to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters or the underwriters nominated by us for any such offer; |
|
in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive. |
provided that no such offer of the shares shall require us or any of the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of this provision, and your representation below, the expression an offer to the public in relation to any shares in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase any shares, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State and the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC (including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State) and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State and the expression 2010 PD Amending Directive means Directive 2010/73/EU.
Hong Kong. The ADSs may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (1) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (2) to professional investors within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (3) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a prospectus within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the ADSs may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to ADSs which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to professional investors within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
Japan. The ADSs have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan, and ADSs will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to any exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.
Peoples Republic of China. This prospectus has not been and will not be circulated or distributed in the PRC, and ADSs may not be offered or sold, and will not be offered or sold to any person for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, to any resident of the PRC except pursuant to applicable laws and regulations of the PRC.
189
Singapore. This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of our ADSs may not be circulated or distributed, nor may our ADSs be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore, or SFA, (2) to a relevant person or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (3) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to compliance with conditions set forth in the SFA.
Where our ADSs are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor as defined in Section 4A of the SFA) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor; shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the ADSs under Section 275 of the SFA, except: (1) to an institutional investor (for corporations under Section 274 of the SFA) or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer that is made on terms that such shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or such rights and interest in that trust are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction, whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets, and further for corporations, in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; or (3) where the transfer is by operation of law.
United Arab Emirates. This prospectus is not intended to constitute an offer, sale or delivery of shares or other securities under the laws of the United Arab Emirates, or the UAE. The ADSs and the underlying shares have not been and will not be registered under Federal Law No. 4 of 2000 Concerning the Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority and the Emirates Security and Commodity Exchange, or with the UAE Central Bank, the Dubai Financial Market, the Abu Dhabi Securities Market or with any other UAE exchange.
The offering, the ADSs, the underlying shares and interests therein have not been approved or licensed by the UAE Central Bank or any other relevant licensing authorities in the UAE, and do not constitute a public offer of securities in the UAE in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law, Federal Law No. 8 of 1984 (as amended) or otherwise.
In relation to its use in the UAE, this prospectus is strictly private and confidential and is being distributed to a limited number of investors and must not be provided to any person other than the original recipient, and may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose. The interests in the ADSs and the underlying shares may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly to the public in the UAE.
United Kingdom. Each underwriter has represented and agreed that: (a) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, or the FSMA, received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the ADSs in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us; and (b) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the ADSs in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
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EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS OFFERING
Set forth below is an itemization of the total expenses, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, that we expect to incur in connection with this offering. With the exception of the SEC registration fee, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, filing fee, and the Nasdaq application and listing fee, all amounts are estimates.
SEC Registration Fee |
US$ | |||
FINRA Filing Fee |
||||
Nasdaq Market Entry and Listing Fee |
||||
Printing and Engraving Expenses |
||||
Legal Fees and Expenses |
||||
Accounting Fees and Expenses |
||||
Miscellaneous |
||||
|
|
|||
Total |
US$ | |||
|
|
191
We are being represented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP with respect to certain legal matters as to United States federal securities and New York State law. The underwriters are being represented by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP with respect to certain legal matters as to United States federal securities and New York State law. The validity of the Class A ordinary shares represented by the ADSs offered in this offering will be passed upon for us by Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP. Certain legal matters as to PRC law will be passed upon for us by Han Kun Law Offices and for the underwriters by CM Law Firm. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP may rely upon Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP with respect to matters governed by Cayman Islands law and Han Kun Law Offices with respect to matters governed by PRC law. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP may rely upon CM Law Firm with respect to matters governed by PRC law.
192
The financial statements as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018 included in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The registered business address of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP is 6/F DBS Bank Tower, 1318, Lu Jia Zui Ring Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, the Peoples Republic of China.
193
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement, including relevant exhibits, with the SEC on Form F-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by the ADSs to be sold in this offering. We have also filed a related registration statement on Form F-6 with the SEC to register the ADSs. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement on Form F-1, does not contain all of the information contained in the registration statement. You should read our registration statements and their exhibits and schedules for further information with respect to us and our ADSs.
Immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form F-1 of which this prospectus forms a part, we will become subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we will be required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. All information filed with the SEC can be obtained over the internet at the SECs website at www.sec.gov or inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 or visit the SEC website for further information on the operation of the public reference rooms.
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, 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. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act.
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SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
I NDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F-2 | ||||
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 |
F-3 | |||
F-6 | ||||
F-8 | ||||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 |
F-10 | |||
F-12 |
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of So-Young International Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of So-Young International Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income/(loss), of changes in shareholders deficit and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, including 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, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018 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 Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys 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 of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
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/ PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP
Beijing, the Peoples Republic of China
March 14, 2019
We have served as the Companys auditor since 2018.
F-2
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
As of December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||||||||
Note 2(e) | Note 2(e) | |||||||||||||||||||
Pro forma (Note 19) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
440,859 | 563,383 | 81,941 | 563,383 | 81,941 | |||||||||||||||
Trade receivables |
6,583 | 10,473 | 1,523 | 10,473 | 1,523 | |||||||||||||||
Receivables from online payment platforms |
6,857 | 9,970 | 1,450 | 9,970 | 1,450 | |||||||||||||||
Amounts due from related parties |
| 850 | 124 | 850 | 124 | |||||||||||||||
Term deposits and short-term investments |
81,258 | 643,539 | 93,599 | 643,539 | 93,599 | |||||||||||||||
Prepayment and other current assets |
16,881 | 50,236 | 7,305 | 50,236 | 7,305 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total current assets |
552,438 | 1,278,451 | 185,942 | 1,278,451 | 185,942 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Non-current assets: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term investments |
5,663 | 14,813 | 2,154 | 14,813 | 2,154 | |||||||||||||||
Property and equipment, net |
979 | 3,253 | 473 | 3,253 | 473 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred tax assets |
9,110 | 30,894 | 4,493 | 30,894 | 4,493 | |||||||||||||||
Prepayment for long-term investment |
| 11,500 | 1,672 | 11,500 | 1,672 | |||||||||||||||
Other non-current assets |
195 | 1,625 | 236 | 1,625 | 236 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total non-current assets |
15,947 | 62,085 | 9,028 | 62,085 | 9,028 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total assets |
568,385 | 1,340,536 | 194,970 | 1,340,536 | 194,970 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities (including amounts of the consolidated VIE and its subsidiaries without recourse to the primary beneficiaries of RMB118,076 and RMB266,028 as of December 31, 2017 and 2018; respectively) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Taxes payable |
10,505 | 41,552 | 6,043 | 41,552 | 6,043 | |||||||||||||||
Contract liabilities |
46,008 | 116,967 | 17,012 | 116,967 | 17,012 | |||||||||||||||
Salary and welfare payables |
42,317 | 71,486 | 10,397 | 71,486 | 10,397 | |||||||||||||||
Amounts due to related parties |
| 925 | 135 | 925 | 135 | |||||||||||||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
42,097 | 71,226 | 10,359 | 71,226 | 10,359 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
140,927 | 302,156 | 43,946 | 302,156 | 43,946 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total liabilities |
140,927 | 302,156 | 43,946 | 302,156 | 43,946 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-3
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
As of December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||||||||
Note 2(e) | Note 2(e) | |||||||||||||||||||
Pro forma (Note 19) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 15) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Mezzanine equity: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 8,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively; and none (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
27,503 | 30,440 | 4,427 | | | |||||||||||||||
Series B convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 10,476,190 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively; and none (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
89,058 | 99,075 | 14,410 | | | |||||||||||||||
Series C-1 convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 1,030,126 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively; and none (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
16,087 | 17,769 | 2,584 | | | |||||||||||||||
Series C convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 4,902,554 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively; and none (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
146,208 | 161,101 | 23,431 | | | |||||||||||||||
Series D convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 8,058,410 and 9,750,676 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively; and none (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
315,565 | 422,035 | 61,382 | | | |||||||||||||||
Series D+ convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; nil and 3,497,954 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively ; and none (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
| 178,035 | 25,894 | | | |||||||||||||||
Series E convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; nil and 6,164,979 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively; and none (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
| 487,494 | 70,903 | | | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total mezzanine equity |
594,421 | 1,395,949 | 203,031 | | | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-4
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
As of December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||||||||
Note 2(e) | Note 2(e) | |||||||||||||||||||
Pro forma (Note 19) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shareholders (deficit)/equity: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Ordinary shares (US$ 0.0005 par value, 67,532,720 and nil shares authorized as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively; 26,882,387 and nil shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively; and none (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
83 | | | | | |||||||||||||||
Class A ordinary shares (US$ 0.0005 par value, nil and 12,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively; and 12,000,000 (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
| 37 | 5 | 37 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
Class B ordinary shares (US$ 0.0005 par value, nil and 144,177,521 shares authorized as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively; nil and 11,290,940 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively; and 55,113,419 (unaudited) outstanding on a pro-forma basis as of December 31, 2018) |
| 35 | 5 | 185 | 27 | |||||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
| | | 1,395,799 | 203,009 | |||||||||||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(169,005 | ) | (394,039 | ) | (57,311 | ) | (394,039 | ) | (57,311 | ) | ||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
1,959 | 36,398 | 5,294 | 36,398 | 5,294 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total shareholders (deficit)/equity |
(166,963 | ) | (357,569 | ) | (52,007 | ) | 1,038,380 | 151,024 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholders (deficit)/equity |
568,385 | 1,340,536 | 194,970 | 1,340,536 | 194,970 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-5
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)/INCOME
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2018 | |||||||||||||
RMB | RMB |
RMB |
US$ Note 2(e) |
|||||||||||||
Revenues |
||||||||||||||||
Information services |
19,869 | 143,613 | 415,119 | 60,377 | ||||||||||||
Reservation services |
29,221 | 115,692 | 202,107 | 29,395 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total revenues |
49,090 | 259,305 | 617,226 | 89,772 | ||||||||||||
Cost of revenues |
(25,192 | ) | (44,799 | ) | (91,563 | ) | (13,317 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Gross profit |
23,898 | 214,506 | 525,663 | 76,455 | ||||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses |
(62,206 | ) | (127,462 | ) | (306,360 | ) | (44,558 | ) | ||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
(18,043 | ) | (29,725 | ) | (75,442 | ) | (10,973 | ) | ||||||||
Research and development expenses |
(17,932 | ) | (32,557 | ) | (94,726 | ) | (13,777 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total operating expenses |
(98,181 | ) | (189,744 | ) | (476,528 | ) | (69,308 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
(Loss)/Income from operations |
(74,283 | ) | 24,762 | 49,135 | 7,147 | |||||||||||
Other income/(expenses): |
||||||||||||||||
Investment income |
1,736 | 2,265 | 5,256 | 764 | ||||||||||||
Interest income |
507 | 176 | 10,881 | 1,583 | ||||||||||||
Exchange (losses)/gains |
(2,143 | ) | 2,090 | (8,008 | ) | (1,165 | ) | |||||||||
Share of losses of equity method investee |
(6,650 | ) | (3,850 | ) | | | ||||||||||
Others, net |
(203 | ) | (12,222 | ) | 990 | 144 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
(Loss)/Income before tax |
(81,036 | ) | 13,221 | 58,254 | 8,473 | |||||||||||
Income tax benefit/(expense) |
| 3,981 | (3,171 | ) | (461 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net (loss)/income |
(81,036 | ) | 17,202 | 55,083 | 8,012 | |||||||||||
Accretions of convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
(21,487 | ) | (28,521 | ) | (104,211 | ) | (15,157 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company |
(102,523 | ) | (11,319 | ) | (49,128 | ) | (7,145 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net (loss)/income |
(81,036 | ) | 17,202 | 55,083 | 8,012 | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive income/(loss): |
||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
2,323 | (2,203 | ) | 34,439 | 5,009 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total other comprehensive income/(loss) |
2,323 | (2,203 | ) | 34,439 | 5,009 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total comprehensive (loss)/income |
(78,713 | ) | 14,999 | 89,522 | 13,021 | |||||||||||
Accretions of convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
(21,487 | ) | (28,521 | ) | (104,211 | ) | (15,157 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Comprehensive loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company |
(100,200 | ) | (13,522 | ) | (14,689 | ) | (2,136 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-6
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)/INCOME (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2018 | |||||||||||||
RMB | RMB |
RMB |
US$ Note 2(e) |
|||||||||||||
Net loss per ordinary share |
||||||||||||||||
Basic |
(3.81 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (2.00 | ) | (0.29 | ) | ||||||||
Diluted |
(3.81 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (2.00 | ) | (0.29 | ) | ||||||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing loss per share, basic* |
26,882,387 | 26,882,387 | 24,555,427 | 24,555,427 | ||||||||||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing loss per share, diluted* |
26,882,387 | 26,882,387 | 24,555,427 | 24,555,427 | ||||||||||||
Share-based compensation expenses included in: |
||||||||||||||||
Cost of revenues |
(96 | ) | (89 | ) | (1,423 | ) | (207 | ) | ||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses |
(262 | ) | (490 | ) | (1,018 | ) | (148 | ) | ||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
(1,158 | ) | (1,675 | ) | (10,112 | ) | (1,471 | ) | ||||||||
Research and development expenses** |
(168 | ) | (405 | ) | (13,306 | ) | (1,935 | ) |
* |
Both Class A and Class B ordinary shares are included in the calculation of the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding, basic and diluted. |
** |
The amount for the year ended December 31, 2018 included share-based compensation expenses of RMB11,587 related to the Series E preferred shares re-designation. Please refer to Note 11 for details. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-7
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS DEFICIT
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
Ordinary shares | Class A ordinary shares | Class B ordinary shares |
Additional
paid-in capital |
Accumulated
deficit |
Accumulated
other comprehensive income |
Total
shareholders deficit |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount RMB | Shares | Amount RMB | Shares | Amount RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2015 |
26,882,387 | 83 | | | | | | (59,506 | ) | 1,839 | (57,584 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | | | | | (81,036 | ) | | (81,036 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation expenses |
| | | | | | 1,684 | | | 1,684 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accretions of convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
| | | | | | (1,684 | ) | (19,803 | ) | | (21,487 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
| | | | | | | | 2,323 | 2,323 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2016 |
26,882,387 | 83 | | | | | | (160,345 | ) | 4,162 | (156,100 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| | | | | | | 17,202 | | 17,202 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation expenses |
| | | | | | 2,659 | | | 2,659 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accretions of convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
| | | | | | (2,659 | ) | (25,862 | ) | | (28,521 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
| | | | | | | | (2,203 | ) | (2,203 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2017 |
26,882,387 | 83 | | | | | | (169,005 | ) | 1,959 | (166,963 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| | | | | | | 55,083 | | 55,083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation expenses |
| | | | | | 14,272 | | | 14,272 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-8
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS DEFICIT (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
Ordinary shares | Class A ordinary shares | Class B ordinary shares |
Additional
paid-in capital |
Accumulated
deficit |
Accumulated
other comprehensive income |
Total
shareholders deficit |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount RMB | Shares | Amount RMB | Shares | Amount RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accretions of convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
| | | | | | (14,272 | ) | (89,939 | ) | | (104,211 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
| | | | | | | | 34,439 | 34,439 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Re-designation of ordinary shares into Series D convertible redeemable preferred shares (see Note 11) |
(1,692,266 | ) | (5 | ) | | | | | | (64,801 | ) | | (64,806 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Re-designation of ordinary shares into Series E convertible redeemable preferred shares (see Note 11) |
(1,899,181 | ) | (6 | ) | | | | | | (125,377 | ) | | (125,383 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Re-designation of ordinary shares into Class A ordinary shares (see Note 11) |
(12,000,000 | ) | (37 | ) | 12,000,000 | 37 | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Re-designation of ordinary shares into Class B ordinary shares (see Note 11) |
(11,290,940 | ) | (35 | ) | | | 11,290,940 | 35 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2018 |
| | 12,000,000 | 37 | 11,290,940 | 35 | | (394,039 | ) | 36,398 | (357,569 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-9
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2018 | |||||||||||||
RMB | RMB |
RMB |
US$ | |||||||||||||
Note 2(e) | ||||||||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||||||||||
Net (loss)/income |
(81,036 | ) | 17,202 | 55,083 | 8,012 | |||||||||||
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of intangible assets |
564 | 619 | 1,666 | 242 | ||||||||||||
Impairment loss of amounts due from related parties (see Note 16) |
| 9,265 | | | ||||||||||||
Loss on disposal of property and equipment |
60 | | 124 | 18 | ||||||||||||
Amortization of non-cash business resources contributed by certain shareholder (see Note 12) |
7,461 | 5,692 | | | ||||||||||||
Share-based compensation expenses |
1,684 | 2,659 | 25,859 | 3,761 | ||||||||||||
Share of losses of equity method investee |
6,650 | 3,850 | | | ||||||||||||
Exchange losses/(gains) |
2,143 | (2,090 | ) | 8,008 | 1,165 | |||||||||||
Deferred income tax |
| (9,110 | ) | (21,784 | ) | (3,168 | ) | |||||||||
Accrued investment income of short-term investments |
(1,530 | ) | (1,728 | ) | (747 | ) | (109 | ) | ||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||
Trade receivables |
(50 | ) | (6,533 | ) | (3,890 | ) | (566 | ) | ||||||||
Receivables from online payment platforms |
(2,637 | ) | (4,220 | ) | (3,113 | ) | (453 | ) | ||||||||
Prepayment and other current assets |
(2,514 | ) | (10,981 | ) | (33,355 | ) | (4,851 | ) | ||||||||
Other non-current assets |
| (58 | ) | | | |||||||||||
Contract liabilities |
(1,362 | ) | 41,372 | 70,959 | 10,321 | |||||||||||
Taxes payable |
1,112 | 9,152 | 31,675 | 4,607 | ||||||||||||
Salary and welfare payables |
12,898 | 21,594 | 29,169 | 4,242 | ||||||||||||
Amount due from/to related parties |
| | 75 | 11 | ||||||||||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
15,801 | 14,192 | 39,256 | 5,709 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from operating activities |
(40,756 | ) | 90,877 | 198,985 | 28,941 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
||||||||||||||||
Purchase of property and equipment and intangible assets |
(891 | ) | (222 | ) | (6,408 | ) | (932 | ) | ||||||||
Purchase of short-term investments and term deposits |
(121,100 | ) | (27,600 | ) | (1,130,177 | ) | (164,377 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments and term deposits |
30,000 | 40,700 | 587,576 | 85,459 | ||||||||||||
Cash paid for long-term investments, including prepayment for new investment |
(1,100 | ) | (12,063 | ) | (20,650 | ) | (3,003 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment |
82 | 17 | 287 | 42 | ||||||||||||
Loans advances to related party (see Note16) |
(15,336 | ) | (2,800 | ) | (2,000 | ) | (291 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds from repayment of the loans advances to related party (see Note16) |
| 9,000 | 2,000 | 291 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities |
(108,345 | ) | 7,032 | (569,372 | ) | (82,811 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-10
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2018 | |||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
Note 2(e) | ||||||||||||||||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of convertible redeemable preferred shares, net of issuance cost |
122,690 | 324,671 |
|
485,414 |
|
|
70,601 |
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
122,690 | 324,671 | 485,414 | 70,601 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
180 | (114 | ) | 7,497 | 1,090 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(26,231 | ) | 422,466 | 122,524 | 17,821 | |||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
44,624 | 18,393 | 440,859 | 64,120 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |
18,393 | 440,859 | 563,383 | 81,941 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: |
||||||||||||||||
Cash paid for income taxes |
| (7 | ) | (243 | ) | (35 | ) | |||||||||
Non-cash investing and financing activities: |
||||||||||||||||
Accretions of convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
21,487 | 28,521 | 104,211 | 15,157 | ||||||||||||
Amortization of non-cash business resources contributed by certain shareholder (see Note 12) |
13,186 | | | | ||||||||||||
Non-cash consideration for investment in Shanghai Xingying Medical Technology Co., Ltd (Xingying) (see Note 5(b)) |
3,000 | | | | ||||||||||||
Payable for issuance cost of convertible redeemable preferred shares |
| 10,127 | | | ||||||||||||
Issuance of preferred shares by re-designation of ordinary shares (see Note 11) |
| | 201,776 | 29,347 | ||||||||||||
Cancellation of ordinary shares and deemed dividend upon the re-designation of ordinary shares (see Note 11) |
| | 190,189 | 27,662 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-11
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
1. Operations and Reorganization
(a) Principal activities and reorganization
So-Young International Inc., (the Company or So-Young), is a leading online platform on consumption healthcare services focusing on discretionary medical treatments. The Company, through its consolidated subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entity (VIE) and the subsidiaries of the VIE (collectively referred to as the Group) is primarily engaged in the operation of the platform that enables users to both discover reliable content and share their own experience on medical aesthetics procedures, and leads users to reserve treatment services from medical aesthetic service providers for offline treatment in the Peoples Republic of China (the PRC or China) and internationally.
As of December 31, 2018, the Companys major subsidiaries, consolidated VIE and the subsidiaries of the VIE are as follows:
Place and year of
incorporation |
Percentage of
direct or indirect economic ownership |
Principal activities |
||||||||
Subsidiaries |
||||||||||
So-Young Hong Kong Limited (So-Young HK) |
|
Hong Kong, 2014 |
|
|
100 |
% |
Investment holding |
|||
So-Young High Tech Korea Co., Ltd. |
|
Korea, 2014 |
|
|
100 |
% |
Technology advisory services |
|||
Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (So-Young Wanwei) |
the PRC, 2014 | 100 | % |
Management consulting services |
||||||
So-Young (China) Network Technology Co., Ltd. |
the PRC, 2018 | 100 | % |
Management consulting services |
||||||
VIE |
||||||||||
Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. (Beijing So-Young) |
|
the PRC, 2013 |
|
|
100 |
% |
Internet information and technology advisory services |
|||
VIEs Subsidiaries |
||||||||||
Beijing So-Young Souyang Investment and Management Co., Ltd. |
the PRC, 2016 | 100 | % |
Management consulting services |
||||||
Beijing Meifenbao Technology Co., Ltd. |
the PRC, 2016 | 100 | % |
Technology advisory services |
||||||
Beijing So-Young Qingyang Medical Instrument Co., Ltd. |
the PRC, 2017 | 100 | % |
Sales of medical equipment |
||||||
Beijing Shengshi Meiyan Culture Co., Ltd. |
the PRC, 2018 | 100 | % |
Internet culture services |
Reorganization
In April 2014, the Group initiated its reorganization (Reorganization) as detailed below.
Beijing So-Young was established in November 2013 under the laws of the PRC by the three shareholders to carry out the Groups principal business.
F-12
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
1. Operations and Reorganization (Continued)
(a) Principal activities and reorganization (continued)
In April 2014, the Company was set up by the same three shareholders of Beijing So-Young as a holding company incorporated in Cayman Islands. The Company had 100,000,000 authorized shares with a par value of US$0.0005 each at the date of incorporation.
In May, 2014, So-Young HK was incorporated in Hong Kong as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. In July, 2014, So-Young Wanwei was incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of So-Young HK in the PRC.
On August 22, 2014, the Reorganization was completed and approved by the board of directors as below:
(1) The Company, through So-Young Wanwei (the WFOE), entered into a series of contractual arrangements with Beijing So-Young (the VIE) and its shareholders as detailed in Note 1(b) to enable the Company to obtain control over the VIE.
(2) Concurrently, the Company reserved 3,200,000 ordinary shares for granting options to the eligible directors, employees and consultants. The Company issued 8,000,000 Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares at US$0.4 per share to the new investor.
Basis of presentation for the Reorganization
The Companys shareholding structure immediately after the Reorganization was the same as the capital structure of Beijing So-Young immediately prior to the Reorganization. Concurrently, Beijing So-Young became the consolidated VIE of the Group. The Company determined that the Reorganization lacked substance and should be treated as a non-substantive merger with no change in the basis of assets and liabilities of Beijing So-Young. The consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and cash flows as if the current group structure had been in existence for all the years presented, or since their respective dates of incorporation.
(b) VIE arrangements between the Companys PRC subsidiaries
Upon the completion of the Reorganization, the Company, through the WFOE, entered into the following contractual arrangements with the VIE and its shareholders that enabled the Company to (1) have power to direct the activities that most significantly affects the economic performance of the VIE, and (2) receive the economic benefits of the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. Accordingly, the WFOE was considered the primary beneficiary of the VIE and had consolidated the VIEs financial results of operations, assets and liabilities in the Companys consolidated financial statements.
i) Contracts that give the Company effective control of the VIE
Exclusive Call Option Agreement. Pursuant to the exclusive call option agreement among the WFOE, the VIE and the VIEs shareholders, each of the shareholders of the VIE irrevocably granted the WFOE an exclusive option to purchase, or have its designated person to purchase, at its discretion, to the extent permitted under PRC law, all or part of their equity interests in the VIE, and the purchase price shall be RMB 0.01 or the lowest price permitted by applicable the PRC law. The shareholders of the VIE undertakes that, without the prior written
F-13
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
1. Operations and Reorganization (Continued)
(b) VIE arrangements between the Companys PRC subsidiaries (continued)
i) Contracts that give the Company effective control of the VIE (continued)
consent of the WFOE or the Company, they shall not increase or decrease the registered capital, dispose of its assets, incur any debts or guarantee liabilities, enter into any material purchase agreements, conduct any merger, acquisition or investments, amend its articles of association or provide any loans to third parties, distribute any dividends to shareholders. This agreement will remain effective for a 10-year term and then be renewed for another 10 years at the WFOEs discretion.
Powers of Attorney. Pursuant to the powers of attorney, each shareholder of the VIE irrevocably authorized the WFOE to act on the behalf of such shareholder with respect to all matters concerning the shareholding of the shares in the VIE, including without limitation, attending shareholders meetings of the VIE, exercising all the shareholders rights and shareholders voting rights, and designating and appointing the legal representative, directors, supervisors, general managers and other senior management members of the VIE.
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement. Pursuant to the equity interest pledge agreements, the shareholders pledge 100% of their equity interest in the VIE to the WFOE to guarantee the performance by the VIE and its shareholders of their obligations under the exclusive business cooperation agreement, the exclusive call option agreements and the power of attorney. If events of default defined therein occur, upon giving written notice to the shareholders, the WFOE may exercise the right to enforce the pledge to the extent permitted by the PRC laws, unless the event of default has been successfully resolved to the satisfaction of the WFOE. The shareholders of the VIE agree that, without the WFOEs prior written consent, during the term of the equity interest pledge agreement, they will not place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the equity interest in the VIE or any portion thereof.
Spousal Consent Letter. The spouse of each shareholder of the VIE has each signed a spousal consent letter. Under the spousal consent letter, the signing spouse unconditionally and irrevocably approved the execution by her spouse of the power of attorney, equity interest pledge agreement and exclusive option agreement, and that her spouse may perform, amend or terminate such agreements without her consent. The signing spouse confirms she will not assert any rights over the equity interests in the VIE held by her spouse. In addition, in the event that the spouse obtains any equity interest in the VIE held by her spouse for any reason, she agrees to be bound by and sign any legal documents substantially similar to the contractual arrangements entered into by her spouse, as may be amended from time to time.
ii) Contracts that enable the Company to receive substantially all of the economic benefits from the VIE
Exclusive business cooperation agreements. The VIE has entered into an exclusive technical development, consultation and service agreement with the WFOE, pursuant to which the WFOE provides exclusive services to the VIE. In exchange, the VIE pays a service fee to the WFOE, the amount of which shall be determined, to the extent permitted by applicable PRC laws as proposed by the WFOE, resulting in a transfer of substantially all of the profits from the VIE to the WFOE. The VIE has incurred RMB nil, RMB 18,868 and RMB 194,811 service fee to the WFOE for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Management therefore concludes that the Company, through the above contractual arrangements, has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs economic performance, bears the risks of
F-14
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
1. Operations and Reorganization (Continued)
(b) VIE arrangements between the Companys PRC subsidiaries (continued)
ii) Contracts that enable the Company to receive substantially all of the economic benefits from the VIE (continued)
and enjoys the rewards normally associated with ownership of the VIE, and therefore the Company is the ultimate primary beneficiary of the VIE. Consequently, the financial results of the VIE were included in the Groups consolidated financial statements.
iii) Risks in relation to VIE structure
The Company believes that the contractual arrangements between the WFOE and its VIE and its respective shareholders are in compliance with PRC laws and regulations and are legally enforceable. However, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit the WFOEs ability to enforce the contractual arrangements. If the legal structure and contractual arrangements were found to be in violation of the PRC laws and regulations, the PRC government could:
|
revoke the business and operating licenses of the Companys PRC subsidiaries and the VIE; |
|
discontinue or restrict the operations of any related-party transactions between the Companys PRC subsidiaries and the VIE; |
|
limit the Groups business expansion in China; |
|
impose fines or other requirements with which the Companys PRC subsidiaries and the VIE may not be able to comply; |
|
take other regulatory or enforcement actions against the Group that could be harmful to the Groups business; or |
|
require the Company or the Companys PRC subsidiaries or the VIE to restructure the relevant ownership structure or operations. |
The Companys ability to conduct its business may be negatively affected if the PRC government were to carry out any of the aforementioned actions. As a result, the Company may not be able to consolidate its VIE in its consolidated financial statements as it may lose the ability to exert effective control over the VIE and its shareholders and it may lose the ability to receive economic benefits from the VIE.
The VIE shareholders are beneficiary owners of Beijing So-Young and also the beneficiary owners of the Company. The interests of the VIE shareholders as the beneficiary owners of the VIE may differ from the interests of the Company as a whole. The Company cannot assert that when conflicts of interest arise, the VIE shareholders will act in the best interests of the Company or that conflicts of interests will be resolved in the Companys favor. Currently, the Company does not have existing arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest the VIE shareholders may encounter in their capacity as beneficial owners and directors of the VIE, on the one hand, and as beneficial owners and directors of the Company, on the other hand. The Company relies on the VIE shareholders, as directors and executive officers of the Company, to fulfill their fiduciary duties and abide by laws of the PRC and Cayman Islands and act in the best interest of the Company. If the Company cannot resolve any conflicts of interest or disputes between the Company and the VIE shareholders, the Company would have to rely on legal proceedings, which could result in disruption of its business, and there is substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.
F-15
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
1. Operations and Reorganization (Continued)
(b) VIE arrangements between the Companys PRC subsidiaries (continued)
iii) Risks in relation to VIE structure (continued)
The current shareholders of Beijing So-Young have no current interest in seeking to act contrary to the contractual arrangements. However, to further protect the investors interest from any risk that shareholders of Beijing So-Young may act contrary to the contractual arrangements, the Company, through So-Young Wanwei, entered into an irrevocable power of attorney with all of the shareholders of Beijing So-Young. Through the power of attorney, all shareholders of Beijing So-Young have entrusted So-Young Wanwei as its proxy to exercise their rights as the shareholders of Beijing So-Young with respect to an aggregate of 100% of the equity interests in Beijing So-Young.
The Ministry of Commerce of the Peoples Republic of China, or MOFCOM, published a discussion draft of the proposed Foreign Investment Law in January 2015, or the 2015 Draft FIL. Among other things, the 2015 Draft FIL adopts the principle of substance over form in determining whether an entity is a domestic enterprise or a foreign-invested enterprise, or a FIE, by introducing the concept of de facto control. Specifically, entities established in China but controlled by foreign investors will be treated as FIEs, whereas an entity set up in a foreign jurisdiction would nonetheless be, upon market entry clearance by the MOFCOM, treated as a PRC domestic investor provided that the entity is controlled by PRC entities and/or citizens. In this context, control is broadly defined in the 2015 Draft FIL to cover the scenario of having the power to exert decisive influence, via contractual or trust arrangements, over the subject entitys operations, financial matters or other key aspects of business operations. The Group is currently operating under the variable interest entity structure, or VIE structure, may be deemed as FIEs according to the 2015 Draft FIL and thus subject to the foreign investment restrictions in the PRC.
On December 26, 2018, the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress of the PRC published a discussion draft of the proposed Foreign Enterprise Investment Law, or the 2018 Draft FEIL, the updated version of which was reviewed and discussed by the National Peoples Congress of the PRC on March 11, 2019. The 2018 Draft FEIL does not explicitly stipulate contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment, nor does it include the concept of de facto control. However, the draft law contains a catch-all provision under the definition of foreign investment that will include investments made by foreign investors in China through means stipulated by laws or administrative regulations or other methods prescribed by the State Council. Based on the 2018 Draft FEIL, it is likely that prospective laws, administrative regulations or provisions of the State Council may deem contractual arrangements as a way of foreign investment.
There is substantial uncertainty with respect to the final content, interpretation, adoption timeline and effective date of the 2015 Draft FIL and/or the 2018 Draft FEIL. In the event that the Groups variable interest entity contractual arrangements under which the Group operates its business were not treated as a domestic investment and its operations are classified in the restricted or prohibited industry in the negative list under the 2015 Draft FIL or the 2018 Draft FEIL when officially enacted, the Group might be required to obtain market entry clearance. If the restrictions and prohibitions on FIE included in the Draft FIE Law are enacted and enforced in their current form, the Groups ability to use the contractual arrangements with its VIE and the Groups ability to conduct business through the VIE could be severely limited.
F-16
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
1. Operations and Reorganization (Continued)
(b) VIE arrangements between the Companys PRC subsidiaries (continued)
iii) Risks in relation to VIE structure (continued)
The following consolidated financial information of the VIE and its subsidiaries taken as a whole as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 was included in the consolidated financial statements of the Group. Transactions between the VIE and its subsidiaries are eliminated in the financial information presented below:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2017 | 2018 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
112,082 | 228,228 | ||||||
Trade receivables |
6,583 | 10,473 | ||||||
Receivables from online payment platforms |
6,857 | 9,970 | ||||||
Short-term investments |
81,258 | 61,239 | ||||||
Amounts due from related parties |
108 | 1,350 | ||||||
Prepayment and other current assets |
16,722 | 44,889 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current assets |
223,610 | 356,149 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Non-current assets: |
||||||||
Long-term investments |
5,663 | 14,813 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net |
595 | 1,989 | ||||||
Deferred tax assets |
9,110 | 27,303 | ||||||
Prepayment for long-term investment |
| 11,500 | ||||||
Other non-current assets |
195 | 1,603 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total non-current assets |
15,563 | 57,208 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total assets |
239,173 | 413,357 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Taxes payable |
9,128 | 34,932 | ||||||
Contract liabilities |
46,008 | 116,967 | ||||||
Salary and welfare payables |
31,844 | 44,761 | ||||||
Amounts due to related parties |
26,221 | 51,240 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
31,096 | 69,368 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current liabilities |
144,297 | 317,268 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Amounts due to related parties |
136,462 | 137,140 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total non-current liabilities |
136,462 | 137,140 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities |
280,759 | 454,408 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Total revenues |
49,090 | 259,305 | 617,226 | |||||||||
Net (loss)/income |
(39,165 | ) | 10,446 | (2,372 | ) |
F-17
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
1. Operations and Reorganization (Continued)
(b) VIE arrangements between the Companys PRC subsidiaries (continued)
iii) Risks in relation to VIE structure (continued)
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Net cash flows (used in)/generated from operating activities |
(5,952 | ) | 91,448 | 122,783 | ||||||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities |
(104,884 | ) | 5,923 | (6,637 | ) | |||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
123,000 | | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
12,164 | 97,371 | 116,146 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
In accordance with various contractual agreements, the Company has the power to direct the activities of the VIE and can have assets transferred out of the VIE. Therefore, the Company considers that there are no assets in the respective VIE that can be used only to settle obligations of the respective VIE, except for the registered capital of the VIE amounting to approximately RMB3,547 and RMB3,547 as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively. As the respective VIE and its subsidiaries are incorporated as limited liability companies under the PRC Company Law, creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company for the liabilities of the respective VIE. There is currently no contractual arrangement that would require the Company to provide additional financial support to the VIE. As the Group is conducting certain businesses in the PRC through the VIE, the Group may provide additional financial support on a discretionary basis in the future, which could expose the Group to a loss.
There is no VIE in the Group where the Company or any subsidiary has a variable interest but is not the primary beneficiary.
Liquidity
The Group incurred net losses of RMB81,036 for the year ended December 31, 2016 and had net profits of RMB17,202 and RMB55,083 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively. Net cash used in operating activities was RMB40,756 for the year ended December 31, 2016. Net cash generated from operating activities was RMB90,877 and RMB198,985 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively. Accumulated deficit was RMB169,005 and RMB394,039 as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively. The Group assesses its liquidity by its ability to generate cash from operating activities and attract investors investments.
Historically, the Group has relied principally on both operational sources of cash and non-operational sources of financing from investors to fund its operations and business development. The Groups ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on managements ability to successfully execute its business plan, which includes increasing revenues while controlling operating expenses, as well as, generating operational cash flows and continuing to gain support from outside sources of financing. The Group has been continuously receiving financing support from outside investors through the issuance of convertible redeemable preferred shares. Refer to Note 12 for details of the Groups preferred shares financing activities. As of December 31, 2018, the Groups cash and cash equivalent was RMB563,383.
F-18
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
1. Operations and Reorganization (Continued)
(b) VIE arrangements between the Companys PRC subsidiaries (continued)
iii) Risks in relation to VIE structure (continued)
Based on the cash flows projection from operations and financing activities and existing balance of cash and cash equivalents, management is of the opinion that the Group has sufficient funds for sustainable operations and it will be able to meet its payment obligations from operations for the next twelve months from the issuance of the consolidated financial statements. Based on the above considerations, the Groups consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplate the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities during the normal course of operations.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a) Basis of presentation and consolidation
The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). Significant accounting policies followed by the Group in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements are summarized below.
(b) Principles of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries, the VIE and subsidiaries of the VIE for which the Company are the primary beneficiary.
Subsidiaries are those entities in which the Company, directly or indirectly, controls more than one half of the voting power, has the power 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 the board of directors, or has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the investee under a statute or agreement among the shareholders or equity holders.
A consolidated VIE is an entity in which the Company, or its subsidiary, through contractual arrangements, has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entitys economic performance, 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.
All transactions and balances among the Company, its subsidiaries, the consolidated VIE and subsidiaries of the VIE have been eliminated upon consolidation.
(c) Use of estimates
The preparation of the Groups consolidated financial statements in conformity with the U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent liabilities at the balance sheet date and reported revenues and expenses during the reported years in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.
Significant accounting estimates include, but are not limited to, assessment for the impairment of long-lived assets, valuation allowance of deferred tax assets, determination of the fair value of convertible redeemable
F-19
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
(c) Use of estimates (continued)
preferred shares, valuation and recognition of share-based compensation expenses and provision for loss contingencies. Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences may be material to the consolidated financial statements.
(d) Functional currency and foreign currency translation
The Group uses Renminbi (RMB) as its reporting currency. The functional currency of the Company and its overseas subsidiaries which incorporated in the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong is United States dollars (US$ or USD). The functional currency of the Companys subsidiary incorporated in Korea is Korea Won. The functional currency of the Groups PRC entities is RMB.
In the consolidated financial statements, the financial information of the Company and other entities located outside of the PRC have been translated into RMB. Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rates on the balance sheet date, equity amounts are translated at historical exchange rates, and revenues, expenses, gains and losses are translated using the average rate for the period. Translation adjustments are reported as foreign currency translation adjustments, and are shown as a component of other comprehensive income/(loss) in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income.
Foreign currency transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency using the applicable exchange rates at the balance sheet dates. Net gains and losses resulting from foreign exchange transactions are included in exchange (losses)/gains in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income.
(e) Convenience translation
Translations of balances in the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income and consolidated statements of cash flows from RMB into USD as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018 are solely for the convenience of the reader and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00 = RMB6.8755, representing the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board on December 31, 2018. No representation is made that the RMB amounts represent or could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into USD at that rate on December 31, 2018, or at any other rate.
(f) Fair value measurements
Fair value reflects the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, the Group considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and it considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability.
F-20
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
(f) Fair value measurements (continued)
The Group applies a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instruments categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Accounting guidance specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques, which is based on whether the inputs into the valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. The hierarchy is as follows:
Level 1Valuation techniques in which all significant inputs are unadjusted quoted prices from active markets for assets or liabilities that are identical to the assets or liabilities being measured.
Level 2Valuation techniques in which significant inputs include quoted prices from active markets for assets or liabilities that are similar to the assets or liabilities being measured and/or quoted prices for assets or liabilities that are identical or similar to the assets or liabilities being measured from markets that are not active. Also, model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets are Level 2 valuation techniques.
Level 3Valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. Unobservable inputs are valuation technique inputs that reflect the Groups own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.
Accounting guidance also describes three main approaches to measure the fair value of assets and liabilities: (1) market approach; (2) income approach and (3) cost approach. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated from market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts to a single present value amount. The measurement is based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts. The cost approach is based on the amount that would currently be required to replace an asset.
When available, the Group uses quoted market prices to determine the fair value of an asset or liability. If quoted market prices are not available, the Group will measure fair value using valuation techniques that use, when possible, current market-based or independently sourced market parameters, such as interest rates and currency rates.
Financial assets and liabilities of the Group primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents, term deposits and short-term investments, trade receivables, amounts due from/to related parties and receivables from online payment platforms. As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, the carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, term deposits, trade receivables, amounts due from/to related parties and receivables from online platforms are approximated to the fair values due to their short-term nature.
(g) Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and demand deposits which have original maturities of three months or less and are readily convertible to known amount of cash.
(h) Term deposits
Term deposits represent time deposits placed with banks with original maturities of more than three months. Interest earned is recorded as interest income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income
F-21
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
(h) Term deposits (continued)
during the years presented. The Groups term deposits were nil and RMB276,587 as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
(i) Investments
Short-term investments include investments in financial instruments with a variable interest rate indexed to time float. In accordance with ASC 825Financial Instruments, for investments in financial instruments with a variable interest rate indexed to time float, the Group elected the fair value method at the date of initial recognition and carried these investments at fair value. Changes in the fair value are reflected in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income as other income/(expenses).
The Companys long-term investments consist of investments in privately-held companies.
In accordance with ASC 323 Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures, the Group applies the equity method of accounting to equity investments in common stock, over which it has significant influence but does not own majority equity interest or control.
For investments in entities over which the Company does not have significant influence, or investments in shares that are not ordinary shares or in-substance ordinary shares and that do not have readily determinable fair value, the Group accounted for at cost less impairment prior to January 1, 2018. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01 Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which requires all equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through non-operating income (other than those accounted for under equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee). Effective January 1, 2018 with the adoption of ASU 2016-01, the Group has elected to use the measurement alternative to account for these equity investments, and therefore carries these investments at cost adjusted for changes from observable transactions for identical or similar investments of the same investee, less impairment. In addition, the existing impairment model has been replaced with a new one-step qualitative impairment model.
Management regularly evaluates the equity investments for impairment based on performance and financial position of the investees as well as other evidence of market value. Such evaluation includes, but not limited to, reviewing the investees cash position, recent financing, projected and historical financial performance, cash flow forecasts and financing needs. An impairment loss is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income equal to the excess of the investments cost over its fair value at the balance sheet date of the reporting year for which the assessment is made. The fair value would then become the new cost basis of investment.
No impairment losses were recognized for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
F-22
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
(j) Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment, if any. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range as follows:
Computers and electrical equipment | 3 years | |
Office equipment and furniture | 5 years | |
Medical equipment | 4 years | |
Leasehold improvements | shorter of remaining lease period or estimated useful life |
Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. The gain or loss on the disposal of property and equipment is the difference between the net sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the relevant assets and is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income.
(k) Impairment of long-lived assets
Long-lived assets are evaluated 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 value of an asset may not be fully recoverable or that the useful life is shorter than the Group had originally estimated. When these events occur, the Group evaluates the impairment for the long-lived assets by comparing the carrying value of the assets to an estimate of future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the assets, the Group recognizes an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying value of the assets over the fair value of the assets. No impairment charge was recognized for any of the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
(l) Revenue recognition
The Group adopted ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606) for all years presented. According to ASC 606, revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Group expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. We determine revenue recognition through the following steps:
|
identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer; |
|
identification of the performance obligations in the contract; |
|
determination of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; |
|
allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and |
|
recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy a performance obligation. |
The following is a description of the accounting policy for the principal revenue streams of the Group.
i) | Information services |
The Group generates revenue from offering information services primarily to help medical aesthetic service providers better introduce their services, and increase their customer base. The Group helps the
F-23
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
(l) Revenue recognition (continued)
i) | Information services (continued) |
service providers introduce their services through information display in main entrance banners and pop ups to increase exposure on the platform. The Group also places content of participating service providers on social platforms in the forms of pictures, videos or links.
The Group generates its information service revenue primarily i) at a fixed fee per each days content display, ii) based on a contractual rate per unit of output, such as per click, etc., iii) at a fixed fee per each article posted on the Groups social media accounts. These information services may be sold in combination as a bundled arrangement or separately on a stand-alone basis.
Service providers can choose to sign up arrangements through the Groups online information service system or sign up off-line arrangements. Advance payment is required when signing up the arrangements. In the case of signing up on-line arrangements, the service providers are required to purchase So Young tokens (the Token) in the service provider account as the information service is priced in Tokens on the on-line platform. Tokens are the virtual currency of the Companys platform. The Token will be locked in the individual service provider account when a service provider places an order on-line and will be deducted from the service provider account when service is performed. On a recurring basis, the Group offers free Tokens to service providers as certain percentage of purchased Tokens. The free Tokens have the same purchase power as the purchased Tokens, which represent an advance payment from customers. Tokens are interchangeable and not tied directly to any specific revenue transaction because the Tokens are fungible. As such, the Group values the Tokens based on an average pricing method to determine the transaction price for the specific information services provided to the service provider. The Tokens are not transferable or refundable and are generally consumed in three months after purchased or given for free. The value of expired Tokens has been immaterial. In the case of signing up off-line arrangements, the service providers are required to make cash advance payment for each individual contract. Contract consideration is determined and fixed in cash at the inception of contract.
Revenue for the information services above is recognized in the period when information service is delivered as evidenced in a manner satisfying the types of engagements selected by the service providers, such as display of content, clicks on content, and/or post of articles on the Groups platform. Arrangements involving multiple performance obligations primarily consist of combinations of the above information services. For arrangements that include a combination of these services, the Company develops an estimate of the standalone selling price for these services in order to allocate any potential discount to all performance obligations in the arrangement. The Company believes the use of its estimation approach and allocation of the transaction price on a relative standalone selling price basis to each performance obligation results in revenue recognition in a manner consistent with the underlying economics of the transaction and the allocation principle included in ASC 606.
The Group also provides other services, which are also presented under information service, primarily comprising (i) service fee received from financial institutions for sales facilitation ii) service fee for training courses provided to service providers iii) service fee for offline event organization, etc. Revenue is recognized when these services are rendered. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the revenue derived from other services was not significant.
Barter transactions
The Company entered agreements with service providers whereby the Company provided information service as the consideration for sharing advertising space purchased by the service providers from other
F-24
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
(l) Revenue recognition (continued)
i) | Information services (continued) |
third party providers. In general, the service provider would share certain percentage of the purchased advertising space with the Company. In exchange, the Company would provide the Tokens with the same value of the shared advertising space to the service provider based on the service providers purchase price with the third party and the shared percentage of the advertising space. Revenue from the barter transactions is recognized when information service is provided as discussed above and the expense related to the shared advertising space is recognized over the duration of display. The Group uses the fair value of the goods or services received when measuring the non-cash consideration for information service revenue earned. The Group will only measure the non-cash consideration indirectly by reference to the standalone selling price of the goods or services surrendered if the fair value of the goods or services received is not reasonably estimable. The Group recognized revenue from barter transactions amounted to nil, RMB856 and RMB15,066 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. The expense recognized from barter transaction for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 were nil, RMB1,886 and RMB19,672, respectively.
ii) | Reservation services |
The Group earns reservation service fees primarily from medical aesthetic service providers when a medical or beauty treatment is performed for the platform users through reservation from the Groups platform. Such fees are generally determined as an agreed percentage of the value of service actually provided by service providers. As per the Groups agreements with service providers, it collects reservation service fees for all services provided to a user during the life time as long as the user was brought to the particular service provider through the Groups platform. This includes the situations where the user visits the service provider directly without online ordering, chooses treatment services at site that is different from the online reservation, adds more services during the time of visit, and visits the service provider for other treatments in the future. The service providers are obligated to report the completed transactions in above situations with the platform users to the Group. In the event that the service providers fail to report such transaction to the Group on time, the Group would charge the service providers a penalty in addition to the commission.
In order to list available services and related prices on the Groups online marketplace, service providers are required to sign an agreement with the Group and pay a non-refundable upfront fee to the Group. However, the agreement does not have binding effect as the service provider can cancel the agreement without any penalty. Although the upfront fee is not a material amount, it provides the service provider a renewal right to make optional purchase of the Groups reservation service. The agreement is in substance a day-to-day contract with performance obligation of facilitating each successful sales of service provided by service providers to the platform users. That is, each facilitation is a distinct performance obligation.
Commissions for the reservation service are in the form of a fixed fee per transaction or an agreed percentage of the value of service actually provided by the service providers. The consideration for each sales facilitation service is determined when the contract is placed. Following ASC 606-10-32-40, the Company recognizes revenue for each completed transaction based on the value of service actually provided by the service providers as reservation service fee relates specifically to the facilitation for that transaction.
The Group does not control the underlying service provided by the service providers before they are provided to users, as the Group is not responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide the service to users
F-25
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
(l) Revenue recognition (continued)
ii) | Reservation services (continued) |
and has no inventory risk before the service is provided. In addition, the Group has no discretion in establishing prices of the service provided by service providers. Commission revenues are recognized on a net basis at the point of a successful transaction, which is when the user accepts the service.
The Group provides various incentives to the users to reserve service on the marketplace. These incentive programs mainly include loyalty program (So-Young points) and coupons, which are both redeemed mainly to reduce the transaction price. The Company has considered the guidance under ASC 606 to account for these incentives and determined to record them as a reduction to the revenue upon redemption.
(m) Cost of revenues
Costs of revenues consist primarily of payroll costs, share-based compensation expenses, event organization costs, servers and bandwidth costs, depreciation expenses, payment processing fee paid to third party online platform, tax related surcharges, rental expenses and other direct costs related to the operation of business. These costs are charged to the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income as incurred.
(n) Sales and marketing expenses
Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of marketing expenses, user acquisition activities expenses, payroll costs, share-based compensation expenses, and rental expenses related to the Groups sales and marketing departments. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, advertising expenses were RMB35,733, RMB54,047 and RMB168,088, respectively.
(o) General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses consist of payroll costs, share-based compensation expenses and related expenses for employees involved in general corporate functions, including accounting, finance, tax, legal and human resources; and costs associated with use by these functions of facilities and equipment, such as depreciation expenses, rental, professional service fees and other general corporate related expenses.
(p) Research and development expenses
Research and development expenses mainly consist of payroll costs, share-based compensation expenses, rental expenses incurred associated with research and development departments.
For those platforms of applications, the Group expenses all costs incurred for the preliminary project stage and post implementation-operation stage of development, and costs associated with repair or maintenance of the existing platform. Costs incurred in the application development stage are capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life. Since the amount of the Groups research and development expenses qualifying for capitalization has been immaterial, as a result, all website and software development costs have been expensed in Research and development expenses as incurred.
F-26
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
(q) Share-based compensation
Share based compensation expenses arise from share based awards, including share options for the purchase of ordinary shares. The Group applies ASC 718, CompensationStock Compensation, or ASC 718, to account for the options granted to certain directors, executives and employees. In accordance with ASC 718, the Group determines grants of options to directors, employees and consultant are classified as equity awards and are measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the awards and are recognized as an expense, over the requisite service period. The Group accounts for forfeitures in the period they occur as a reduction to expense.
(r) Employee benefits
PRC Contribution Plan
Full time employees of the Group in the PRC participate in a government mandated defined contribution plan, pursuant to which certain pension benefits, medical care, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to the employees. Chinese labor regulations require that the PRC subsidiaries and the VIE of the Group make contributions to the government for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees salaries, up to a maximum amount specified by the local government. The Group has no legal obligation for the benefits beyond the contributions made. The total amounts of such employee benefit expenses, which were expensed as incurred, were approximately RMB13,844, RMB29,583 and RMB40,717 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
(s) Taxation
Income taxes
Current income taxes are provided on the basis of income/(loss) for financial reporting purposes, adjusted for income and expense items which are not assessable or deductible for income tax purposes, in accordance with the regulations of the relevant tax jurisdictions. Deferred income taxes are provided using the liability method. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences by applying enacted statutory rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. The tax base of an asset or liability is the amount attributed to that asset or liability for tax purposes. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income in the period of change. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the amount of deferred tax assets if it is considered more likely than not that some portion of, or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
Uncertain tax positions
In order to assess uncertain tax positions, the Group applies a more-likely-than not threshold and a two-step approach for the tax position measurement and financial statement recognition. Under the two-step approach, the first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. The Group recognizes interest and penalties, if any, under accrued expenses and other current liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets and under other expenses in its consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income. The Group did not have any significant unrecognized uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 nor did the Group recognize any related interest and penalties.
F-27
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
(t) Related parties
Parties are considered to be related if one party 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. Parties are also considered to be related if they are subject to common control or common significant influence. Related parties may be individual or corporation entities.
(u) Net loss per share
Net loss per share is computed in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings per Share. The two-class method is used for computing earnings per share in the event the Group has net income available for distribution. Under the two-class method, net income is allocated between ordinary shares and other participating securities based on their participating rights. Class A ordinary share and Class B ordinary share have the same rights in dividend. Therefore, basic and diluted loss per share are the same for both classes of ordinary shares. The Companys convertible redeemable preferred shares may be considered as participating securities because they are entitled to receive dividends or distributions on an as if converted basis if the Group has net income available for distribution under certain circumstances. Net losses are not allocated to other participating securities as they are not obligated to share the losses based on their contractual terms.
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders, considering the accretions of convertible redeemable preferred shares, by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. Diluted net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders, as adjusted for the effect of dilutive ordinary equivalent shares, if any, by the weighted average number of ordinary and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the years. Ordinary equivalent shares consist of ordinary shares issuable upon the conversion of the convertible redeemable preferred shares using as if converted method and ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of share options using the treasury stock method. Ordinary equivalent shares are not included in the denominator of the diluted net loss per share calculation when inclusion of such share would be anti-dilutive.
(v) Statutory reserves
The Companys subsidiaries, the VIE and subsidiaries of the VIE established in the PRC are required to make appropriations to certain non-distributable reserve funds. In accordance with Chinas Company Laws, the Companys VIE and its subsidiaries registered as Chinese domestic company make appropriations from their after-tax profit (as determined under the accounting principles generally acceptable in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC GAAP)) to non-distributable reserve funds including (i) statutory surplus fund and (ii) discretionary surplus fund. The appropriation to the statutory surplus fund must be 10% of the annual after-tax profits calculated in accordance with PRC GAAP. Appropriation is not required if the statutory surplus fund has reached 50% of the registered capital of the respective company. Appropriation to the discretionary surplus fund is made at the discretion of the respective company.
Pursuant to the laws applicable to Chinas Foreign Investment Enterprises, the Companys subsidiaries registered as wholly-owned foreign investment enterprise in China make appropriations from their annual after-tax profit (as determined under PRC GAAP) to reserve funds including (i) general reserve fund, (ii) enterprise expansion fund and (iii) staff bonus and welfare fund. The appropriation to the general reserve fund must be at least 10% of the after tax profits calculated in accordance with PRC GAAP. Appropriation is not required if the general reserve fund has reached 50% of the registered capital of the respective company. Appropriations to the other two reserve funds are at the respective companies discretion.
F-28
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
(v) Statutory reserves (continued)
The Group did not make any appropriation to its statutory surpluses fund, discretionary surplus fund, general reserve fund, enterprise expansion fund or the staff bonus and welfare fund for the years reported, as the PRC entities reported accumulated losses under PRC GAAP.
(w) Comprehensive (loss)/income
Comprehensive (loss)/income consists of two components, net (loss)/income and other comprehensive income/(loss). Other comprehensive income/(loss) refers to gains and losses that are recorded as an element of shareholders (deficit)/equity but are excluded from net (loss)/income. The Groups other comprehensive income/(loss) consists of foreign currency translation adjustment from its subsidiaries not using the RMB as their functional currency.
(x) Segment reporting
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise engaging in business activities for which separate financial information is available that is regularly evaluated by the Groups chief operating decision makers (CODM). Based on the criteria established by ASC 280 Segment Reporting, the Groups CODM has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer, who reviews consolidated results of the Group when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance.
The Groups CODM reviews consolidated results including revenue and operating (loss)/income at a consolidated level. This resulted in only one operating and reportable segment in the Group.
The Groups long-lived assets are substantially all located in the PRC and substantially all the Groups revenues are derived from within the PRC, therefore, no geographical segments are presented.
(y) Recently issued accounting pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (together with subsequent amendments ASC 842), which requires lessees to recognize assets and liabilities for all leases with lease terms of more than 12 months on the balance sheet. Under the new guidance, the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee will depend on its classification as a finance or operating lease. The ASC 842 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted on a modified retrospective basis. We expect to avail ourselves of all of the practical expedients afforded under ASC 842, except for the practical expedient of Hindsight. The practical expedients we are electing include: the package of practical expedients, comparative period, land easements, and short-term leases, etc. Based on our assessment to date, we expect that the adoption of the standard will result in the recognition of right-of-use (ROU) assets and lease liabilities for operating leases of approximately RMB206,904 and RMB205,380, respectively, at January 1, 2019, with the most significant impact from recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities related to our office space operating leases. We expect that the adoption of ASC 842 will not have a material effect on our results of operations but expect that some existing operating lease commitments will be recognized as operating lease obligations and ROU assets in the consolidated balance sheets as a result of adoption.
F-29
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
(y) Recently issued accounting pronouncements (continued)
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13 (ASU 2016-13), Financial InstrumentsCredit Losses, which introduces new guidance for credit losses on instruments within its scope. The new guidance introduces an approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including, but not limited to, trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and net investments in leases. The new guidance also modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities and requires the entities to determine whether all or a portion of the unrealized loss on an available-for-sale debt security is a credit loss. The standard also indicates that entities may not use the length of time a security has been in an unrealized loss position as a factor in concluding whether a credit loss exists. The ASU 2016-13 is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Group is in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance.
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, CompensationStock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to nonemployee share-based payment accounting (ASU 2018-07). The amendments in this update expand the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year and early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than an entitys adoption date of ASC 606. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting this accounting standard update.
3. Concentration and Risks
(a) Foreign currency exchange rate risk
In July 2005, the PRC government changed its decades-old policy of pegging the value of RMB to USD and RMB appreciated more than 20% against the USD over the following three years. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted and the exchange rate between RMB and USD remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, RMB has fluctuated against USD, at times significantly and unpredictably. The appreciation of the RMB against the US$ was approximately 5.8% between December 31, 2016 and 2017. The depreciation of the RMB against the US$ was approximately 5.0% between December 31, 2017 and 2018. It is difficult to predict how market forces or the PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the USD in the future.
(b) Credit and concentration risk
The Groups credit risk primarily arises from cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, receivables from online payment platforms, term deposits and short-term investments. The carrying amounts of these financial instruments represent the maximum amount of loss due to credit risk.
The Group places its cash and cash equivalents, term deposits and short-term investments in the reputable financial institutions with high credit quality.
Trade receivables are typically unsecured and are derived from revenue earned directly from customers. No single customer represented 10% or more of the Groups revenues for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017
F-30
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
3. Concentration and Risks (Continued)
(b) Credit and concentration risk (continued)
and 2018. The Group establishes allowance for doubtful accounts primarily based on the aging of the receivables and factors surrounding the credit risk of specific third-party customers. The Group has not experienced any significant recoverability issue with respect to its trade receivables.
4. Prepayment and Other Current Assets
The following is a summary of prepayment and other current assets:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2017 | 2018 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Prepayments for services |
12,749 | 22,465 | ||||||
Prepaid rental and other deposits |
2,659 | 22,120 | ||||||
Interest receivable |
| 2,426 | ||||||
VAT receivables |
1,167 | 2,118 | ||||||
Staff advances |
173 | 656 | ||||||
Others |
133 | 451 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
16,881 | 50,236 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
5. Investments
(a) Short-term Investments
The Companys short-term investments are comprised of investments in wealth management products issued by financial institutions, which contain a variable interest rate. To estimate the fair value of short-term investments, the Company refers to the quoted rate of return provided by financial institutions at the end of each year using discounted cash flow method. The Company classifies the valuation techniques that use these inputs as level 2 of fair value measurement.
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the Group recognized investment income related to short-term investments of RMB1,736, RMB2,265 and RMB5,256 in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income, respectively.
F-31
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
5. Investments (Continued)
(b) Long-term Investments
The Groups equity investments are reported in long-term investments in the consolidated balance sheets.
The Groups long-term investments consisted of the follows:
Equity
investments without readily determinable fair values |
Equity method
investments |
Total | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2017 |
4,000 | 3,850 | 7,850 | |||||||||
Additions |
1,663 | | 1,663 | |||||||||
Share of losses of equity method investee |
| (3,850 | ) | (3,850 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2017 |
5,663 | | 5,663 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2018 |
5,663 | | 5,663 | |||||||||
Additions |
9,150 | | 9,150 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2018 |
14,813 | | 14,813 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity investments without readily determinable fair values
In October 2016, the Group completed its investment in Xingying, and obtained its 10% equity interest with certain substantial preferential rights. Total consideration for the investment in Xingying was RMB4,000 with a combination of RMB1,000 in cash and RMB3,000 in the form of information services. Investment was accounted for under the cost method as the investment is not ordinary share or in-substance ordinary share and had no readily determinable fair value.
In October 2017, the Group invested in First BCC Plastic Surgery Hospital (First BCC) by purchasing 1% of its equity interest, with a total cash consideration of RMB 1,663. The investment was accounted for under the cost method as the Group had no significant influence over the investee and had no readily determinable fair value.
Effective January 1, 2018, with the adoption of ASU 2016-01, the Group elects to use the measurement alternative to account for these equity investments without readily determinable fair value and therefore carries these investments at cost adjusted for changes from observable transactions for identical or similar investments of the same investee, less impairment. No initial adoption adjustment was recorded for these instruments since the guidance is required to be applied prospectively for securities measured using the measurement alternative. There is no adjustment to the cost of the equity investments in Xingying and First BCC for the year ended December 31, 2018.
In October 2018, the Group invested in Chengdu Zhisu Medical Management Company Limited by purchasing 16% of its equity interest with certain substantial preferential rights. The total cash consideration for the investment was RMB4,000 in cash. The investment was accounted for under the measurement alternative defined as cost less impairments, adjusted by observable price changes in accordance with ASU 2016-01 as the shares invested by the Company are not considered as in-substance common stock and the shares do not have readily determinable fair values.
F-32
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
5. Investments (Continued)
(b) Long-term Investments (continued)
Equity investments without readily determinable fair values (continued)
In November 2018, the Group invested in Beijing Mevos Management Consulting Company Limited (Beijing Mevos) by purchasing 11.11% of its equity interest with certain substantial preferential rights. The total cash consideration for the investment was RMB5,150 in cash. The investment was accounted for under the measurement alternative defined as cost less impairments, adjusted by observable price changes in accordance with ASU 2016-01 as the shares invested by the Company are not considered as in-substance common stock and the shares do not have readily determinable fair values.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, there is no adjustment to the cost of equity investments accounted for using measurement alternative.
As of December 31, 2018, the aggregate carrying value of the equity investments accounted for using measurement alternative was RMB14,813.
As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, no impairment was recognized on the above investments.
In December 2018, the Group made a prepayment of RMB11,500 as part of the investment consideration in Beijing Yicai Healthcare Consulting Limited. The Group will purchase 35% of its equity interest with total cash consideration of RMB17,500. This prepayment was recorded in Prepayment for long-term investment in the consolidated balance sheets as the transaction was not closed as of December 31, 2018.
Equity method investments
The Company and an investor set up So-Young Medical Cosmetology (Beijing) Management Consulting Co., Ltd. (Medical Cosmetology) in May 2016. The Company owns 70% equity interest in Medical Cosmetology. The Company determined that Medical Cosmetology was not a variable interest entity under ASC Topic 810, Consolidation (ASC 810) and evaluated for consolidation under the voting interest model. Because of substantive participating rights of the 30% equity investor, including the approval of material operating decisions, such as appointment of key management and determination of key managements compensation, the Group does not have unilateral control over this investment. Therefore, the Group does not consolidate Medical Cosmetology but accounts for it using equity method in accordance with ASC 323, InvestmentsEquity Method and Joint Ventures.
As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, the carrying value of the equity investment accounted for using equity method has been reduced to nil and nil, respectively, by recognizing its share of losses of the investee.
F-33
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
5. Investments (Continued)
(b) Long-term Investments (continued)
Equity method investments (continued)
In accordance with Rule 4-08(g) of Regulation S-X, the Group summarized condensed financial information of Medical Cosmetology as follows. Medical Cosmetology terminated the operation in 2018 and is in the process of liquidation.
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Total revenues |
6,818 | 33,035 | 17,042 | |||||||||
Gross profit |
2,970 | 20,948 | 10,893 | |||||||||
Loss from operations |
(9,321 | ) | (11,852 | ) | (5,778 | ) | ||||||
Net loss |
(9,526 | ) | (14,631 | ) | (2,108 | ) |
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2017 | 2018 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Current assets |
10,888 | 2,216 | ||||||
Non-current assets |
3,318 | | ||||||
Current liabilities |
23,311 | 13,429 | ||||||
Total shareholders deficit |
(9,105 | ) | (11,213 | ) |
6. Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment, net as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 are as follows:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2017 | 2018 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Leasehold improvements |
257 | 1,662 | ||||||
Computers and electrical equipment |
1,929 | 1,633 | ||||||
Medical equipment |
| 1,465 | ||||||
Office equipment and furniture |
227 | 115 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
2,413 | 4,875 | ||||||
Less: Accumulated depreciation |
(1,434 | ) | (1,622 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net book value |
979 | 3,253 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
Depreciation expenses recognized for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 were RMB564, RMB619 and RMB1,595, respectively.
7. Taxation
(a) Value-added tax (VAT)
The Groups subsidiary, consolidated VIE and VIEs subsidiaries incorporated in China are subject to statutory VAT rate of 6% for services rendered.
F-34
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
7. Taxation (Continued)
(a) Value-added tax (VAT) (continued)
The Group is also subject to urban construction tax at the rate of 7%, education surcharges at the rate of 3%, local education surcharges at the rate of 2% and other surcharges on VAT payments to the tax authorities according to the PRC tax law, which are recorded in the cost of revenues in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income.
(b) Income tax
Composition of income tax
The following table presents the composition of income tax (benefit)/expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018:
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Current income tax expense |
| 5,129 | 24,955 | |||||||||
Deferred tax benefit |
| (9,110 | ) | (21,784 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Income tax (benefit)/expenses |
| (3,981 | ) | 3,171 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cayman Islands
Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands, the Company is not subject to tax on income or capital gain. Additionally, upon payments of dividends by the Company in the Cayman Islands to their shareholders, no Cayman Islands withholding tax will be imposed.
Hong Kong
Subsidiaries in Hong Kong are subject to 16.5% income tax rate for 2016, 2017. Under the current Hong Kong Inland Revenue Ordinance, from the year of assessment 2018/2019 onwards, the subsidiaries in Hong Kong are subject to profits tax at the rate of 8.25% on assessable profits up to HK$2,000, and 16.5% on any part of assessable profits over HK$2,000. The payments of dividends by these companies to their shareholders are not subject to any Hong Kong withholding tax.
China
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or EIT Law, the standard enterprise income tax rate (EIT rate) is 25%. Entities qualifying as High and New Technology Enterprises (HNTEs) enjoy a preferential tax rate of 15% subject to a requirement that they re-apply for HNTE status every three years.
Beijing So-Young was entitled to be HNTE and subject to a preferential tax rate of 15% in 2017, however the entity failed to meet the criteria for qualification as HNTE in 2018, therefore, it was subject to the income tax rate of 25% in 2018. So-Young Wanwei was entitled as HNTE in 2018 and eligible for a preferential EIT rate of 15%, for the three-year period from 2018 to 2020, so long as it meets the HNTE criteria.
All other PRC incorporated entities of the Group were subject to a 25% income tax rate for all the years presented.
F-35
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
7. Taxation (Continued)
(b) Income tax (continued)
In general, all of the tax returns of the Companys PRC entities in China remain subject to examination by the tax authorities for up to five years from the date of filing. The Company may also be subject to the examination of the tax filings in other jurisdictions, which are not material to the consolidated financial statements.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the differences between the statutory income tax rate and the Groups income tax (benefit)/expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018:
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Income tax (benefit)/expenses at PRC statutory income tax rate 25% |
(20,259 | ) | 3,305 | 14,563 | ||||||||
Permanent differences (1) |
865 | (355 | ) | (4,592 | ) | |||||||
Tax rate difference from tax holiday and statutory rate in other jurisdictions |
8,453 | (5,432 | ) | (2,100 | ) | |||||||
Change in valuation allowance |
10,941 | (1,499 | ) | (4,700 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Income tax (benefit)/expense |
| (3,981 | ) | 3,171 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) The permanent differences mainly consisted of additional deduction for research and development expenditures and non-deductible expenses.
The per share effect of the tax holidays are as follows:
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Net gain per share effect basic |
| 0.40 | 0.22 | |||||||||
Net gain per share diluted |
| 0.40 |
|
0.22
|
|
(c) Deferred tax assets and liabilities
The following table presents the tax impact of significant temporary differences that give rise to the deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2017 and 2018:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2017 | 2018 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Deferred tax assets |
||||||||
Net operating tax loss carry forwards |
7,246 | 6,150 | ||||||
Advertising and promotion expenses in excess of deduction limit |
10,285 | 24,504 | ||||||
Payroll and expense accrued |
5,647 | 9,410 | ||||||
Loss on equity investment |
2,625 | 2,625 | ||||||
Impairment of amount due to related parties |
2,101 | 2,101 | ||||||
Donation |
426 | 121 | ||||||
Others |
1,223 | 1,726 | ||||||
Less: valuation allowance |
(20,443 | ) | (15,743 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total deferred tax assets, net |
9,110 | 30,894 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-36
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
7. Taxation (Continued)
(c) Deferred tax assets and liabilities (continued)
The following table sets forth the movement of the valuation allowances for deferred tax assets for the years presented:
For the Year Ended
December 31, |
||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, |
(11,001 | ) | (21,942 | ) | (20,443 | ) | ||||||
Change of valuation allowance |
(10,941 | ) | 1,499 | 4,700 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Balance as of December 31, |
(21,942 | ) | (20,443 | ) | (15,743 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
In 2016, the Group did not believe that sufficient positive evidence exists to conclude that the recoverability of deferred tax assets of certain entities of the Group is more likely than not to be realized. As a result, the Group had provided full valuation allowances on the related deferred tax assets.
The decrease of valuation allowance in 2017 was mainly due to the utilization of prior year tax loss carry forward of Beijing So-Young.
The decrease of valuation allowance in 2018 was mainly related to the deferred tax assets recognized from net operating losses of So-Young Wanwei. So-Young Wanwei has been generating taxable income in 2017 and 2018 and the Company has projected it will generate sufficient taxable income in future years to utilize prior year tax losses due to continued growth. As such, the Company believes that it is more likely than not that it will be able to realize the deferred tax assets, and the Company has reversed respective valuation allowance as of December 31, 2018 accordingly.
The tax losses of the Group expire over different time intervals depending on local jurisdiction. Certain entitys expiration period for tax losses has been extended from five years to ten years due to new tax legislation released in 2018. As of December 31, 2018, certain entities of the Group had net operating tax loss carry forwards, if not utilized, would expire as follows:
RMB | ||||
Loss expiring in 2019 |
| |||
Loss expiring in 2020 |
| |||
Loss expiring in 2021 |
117 | |||
Loss expiring in 2022 |
4,009 | |||
Loss expiring in 2023 |
8,748 | |||
Loss expiring in 2024 |
| |||
Loss expiring in 2025 |
| |||
Loss expiring in 2026 |
16,126 | |||
Loss expiring in 2027 |
| |||
Loss expiring in 2028 |
| |||
|
|
|||
29,000 | ||||
|
|
F-37
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
7. Taxation (Continued)
(d) Withholding income tax
The EIT Law also imposes a withholding income tax of 10% on dividends distributed by a FIE to its immediate holding company outside of China, if such immediate holding company is considered as a non-resident enterprise without any establishment or place within China or if the received dividends have no connection with the establishment or place of such immediate holding company within China, unless such immediate holding companys jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a different withholding arrangement. Such withholding income tax was exempted under the Previous EIT Law. The Cayman Islands, where the Company incorporated, does not have such tax treaty with China. According to the arrangement between Mainland China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion in August 2006, dividends paid by a FIE in China to its immediate holding company in Hong Kong will be subject to withholding tax at a rate that may be lowered to 5% (if the foreign investor owns directly at least 25% of the shares of the FIE). The State Administration of Taxation (SAT) further promulgated Circular 601 on October 27, 2009, which provides that tax treaty benefits will be denied to conduit or shell companies without business substance and that a beneficial ownership analysis will be used based on a substance-over-form principle to determine whether or not to grant the tax treaty benefits.
To the extent that subsidiaries and the VIE and subsidiaries of the VIE of the Group have undistributed earnings, the Company will accrue appropriate expected withholding tax associated with repatriation of such undistributed earnings. As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, the Company did not record any withholding tax as the PRC entities were still in accumulated deficit position.
8. Taxes Payable
The following is a summary of taxes payable as of December 31, 2017 and 2018:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2017 | 2018 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Enterprise income taxes payable |
5,122 | 29,834 | ||||||
Withholding individual income taxes for employees |
1,822 | 5,811 | ||||||
VAT payable |
3,216 | 5,285 | ||||||
Others |
345 | 622 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
10,505 | 41,552 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
9. Contract Balances
The following table provides information about trade receivables, contract assets, and contracts liabilities with customers:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2017 | 2018 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Trade receivables |
6,583 | 10,473 | ||||||
Contract assets |
| | ||||||
Contract liabilities |
46,008 | 116,967 |
F-38
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
9. Contract Balances (Continued)
As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, there were no contract assets recorded in the Groups consolidated balance sheet. Trade receivables are recorded when the right to consideration becomes unconditional.
Contract liabilities relate to the payments received for information service in advance of performance under the contract. As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, contract liabilities were RMB46,008 and RMB116,967, respectively. The Groups information service is provided in a relatively short period, as such the contract liabilities are generally recognized as revenue within three months.
Revenue recognized that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 is RMB 323, RMB 4,636, and RMB46,008, respectively.
As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, the Group does not have unsatisfied performance obligations with the related contract of duration over one year.
10. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
The following is a summary of accrued expenses and other current liabilities as of December 31, 2017 and 2018:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2017 | 2018 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Advance payment from platform user |
11,170 | 21,876 | ||||||
Accrued service expenses |
19,181 | 19,098 | ||||||
Payment collected on behalf of and payable to service providers |
5,570 | 13,342 | ||||||
Deposits payable to service providers |
1,999 | 8,607 | ||||||
Accrued rental expense |
| 4,715 | ||||||
Accrued litigation liabilities (see Note 15(b)) |
2,500 | 1,853 | ||||||
Others |
1,677 | 1,735 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
42,097 | 71,226 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
11. Ordinary Shares
As of December 31, 2016 and 2017, 100,000,000 shares were authorized, 26,882,387 ordinary shares were issued and outstanding, respectively. The holder of ordinary shares issued and outstanding shall have one (1) vote for each ordinary share held by such holder.
In January 2018, the shareholders of the Company agreed to increase the authorized shares to 200,000,000 shares, including 165,840,454 ordinary shares and 34,159,546 preferred shares.
In January 2018, the Company re-designated 1,692,266 ordinary shares held by SHAOHUI HOLDINGS LIMITED, which was controlled by an individual investor, to Series D preferred shares, which were then transferred to new investors for a total amount of US$9,975 at US$5.89 per share. The Company did not receive any proceeds from this transaction.
F-39
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
11. Ordinary Shares (Continued)
In August 2018, the Company re-designated 1,399,181 ordinary shares held by SHAOHUI HOLDINGS LIMITED, which was controlled by an individual investor, to Series E preferred shares, which were then transferred to new investors for a total amount of US$14,760 at US$10.55 per share. The Company did not receive any proceeds from this transaction.
The Company considered that such re-designation, in substance, was the same as a repurchase and cancellation of the ordinary shares and simultaneously an issuance of the preferred shares. Therefore the Company recorded 1) difference between the fair value and the par value of the ordinary shares of against additional paid-in capital or by increasing accumulated deficit once additional paid-in capital has been exhausted; and 2) difference between the fair value of the preferred shares and ordinary shares, as deemed distribution to shareholder, against retained earnings, or in the absence of retained earnings, by charging against additional paid-in capital or by increasing the accumulated deficit once additional paid-in capital has been exhausted.
In August 2018, the Company re-designated 500,000 ordinary shares held by YUTAO HOLDINGS LIMITED, wholly owned by one founder who is also an employee of the Company, to Series E preferred shares, which were then transferred to new investors for a total amount of US$5,275 at US$10.55 per share. The Company did not receive any proceeds from this transaction.
The Company considered that such re-designation, in substance, was the same as a repurchase and cancellation of the ordinary shares and simultaneously an issuance of the preferred shares. Therefore the Company recorded 1) difference between the fair value and the par value of the ordinary shares against additional paid-in capital or by increasing accumulated deficit once additional paid-in capital has been exhausted; and 2) difference between the fair value of the preferred shares and ordinary shares, amounted to RMB11,587, as share based compensation expenses in the Companys consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income for the year ended December 31, 2018.
In August 2018, the Company established the dual class ordinary share structure with different voting rights. The Company re-designated 12,000,000 ordinary shares held by Beauty & Health Holdings Limited (formerly known as JINXING HOLDINGS LIMITED) as Class A ordinary shares at a nominal or par value of US$0.0005 each. In addition, the Company re-designated 300,000 ordinary shares held by One-of-a-kind Holdings Limited (formerly known as YUTAO HOLDINGS LIMITED) and 10,990,940 ordinary shares held by ATCG Holdings Limited (formerly known as SHAOHUI HOLDINGS LIMITED) as Class B ordinary shares at a nominal or par value of US$0.0005 each. Holders of Class A ordinary shares are entitled to ten votes per share, while the holders of Class B ordinary shares are entitled to one vote per share.
As of December 31, 2018, 12,000,000 Class A ordinary shares were authorized, issued and outstanding; 144,177,521 Class B ordinary shares were authorized, 11,290,940 Class B ordinary shares were issued and outstanding, respectively.
F-40
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
12. Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
The following table summarizes the issuances of convertible redeemable preferred shares (collectively, Preferred Shares).
Name |
Issuance Date |
Original
Issuance Price per Share US$ |
Number of
Shares |
|||||||
Series A Preferred Shares |
August 22, 2014 | $0.40 | 8,000,000 | |||||||
Series B Preferred Shares |
January 16, 2015 | $1.05 | 10,476,190 | |||||||
Series C-1 Preferred Shares |
January 18, 2016 | $2.00 | 1,030,126 | |||||||
Series C Preferred Shares |
March 31, 2016 | $3.88 | 4,902,554 | |||||||
Series D Preferred Shares |
December 20, 2017 and
January 9, 2018 |
$5.89-$6.20 | 9,750,676 | |||||||
Series D+ Preferred Shares |
February 9, 2018 and
February 28, 2018 |
$7.52 | 3,497,954 | |||||||
Series E Preferred Shares |
August 23, 2018 | $10.55-$11.72 | 6,164,979 |
The key terms of the Preferred Shares are as follows:
Conversion right
The Preferred Shares are convertible, at the option of the holders, into the Companys ordinary shares before August 23, 2018 or Class B ordinary shares after the establishment of dual class share structure on August 23, 2018 at an initial conversion ratio of 1:1 at any time after the original issuance date. In the event that the Company issues additional ordinary shares at a price lower than the then-applicable conversion price for the Preferred Shares, the conversion price of the Preferred Shares shall be adjusted. The conversion prices are also subject to adjustments upon certain dilution events. In addition, the Preferred Shares are automatically convertible into such number of Class B ordinary shares of the Company as shall be determined by reference to the then effective and applicable conversion ratio upon the closing of a qualified Initial Public Offering (IPO) as defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Redemption right
Series A Preferred Shares were redeemable at any time and from time to time on or after the earlier date of the occurrence of (i) the Company fails to consummate a Qualified IPO or a Trade Sale as defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association within four (4) years following the Series A Preferred Share issuance date, or (ii) the occurrence of certain redemption event as defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The redemption price shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the issue price of Series A Preferred Share plus interest calculated at a ten percent (10%) compound interest rate.
Series B Preferred Shares were redeemable at any time and from time to time on or after the earlier date of the occurrence of (i) the Company fails to consummate a Qualified IPO or a Trade Sale as defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association within sixty (60) months following the Series B Preferred Share issuance date, or (ii) the occurrence of certain redemption event as defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The redemption price shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the issue price of Series B Preferred Share plus interest calculated at a ten percent (10%) compound interest rate.
F-41
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
12. Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares (Continued)
Redemption right (continued)
Series C-1 Preferred Shares were redeemable at any time and from time to time on or after the earlier date of the occurrence of (i) the Company fails to consummate a Qualified IPO or a Trade Sale as defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association within sixty (60) months following the Series C-1 Preferred Share issuance date, or (ii) the occurrence of certain redemption event as defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The redemption price shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the issue price of Series C-1 Preferred Share plus interest calculated at a ten percent (10%) compound interest rate.
Series C Preferred Shares were redeemable at any time and from time to time on or after the earlier date of the occurrence of (i) the Company fails to consummate a Qualified IPO or a Trade Sale as defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association within sixty (60) months following the Series C Preferred Share issuance date, or (ii) the occurrence of certain redemption event as defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The redemption price shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the issue price of Series C Preferred Share plus interest calculated at a ten percent (10%) compound interest rate.
Series D Preferred Shares were redeemable at any time and from time to time on or after the earlier date of the occurrence of (i) the Company fails to consummate a Qualified IPO or a Trade Sale as defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association prior to the December 31, 2021, or (ii) the occurrence of certain redemption event as defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The redemption price shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the issue price of Series D Preferred Share plus interest calculated at a ten percent (10%) compound interest rate.
The redemption date for existing Preferred Shares was modified to December 31, 2021 to be aligned to the redemption date of the Series D Preferred Shares.
Series D + Preferred Shares were redeemable at any time and from time to time on or after the earlier date of the occurrence of (i) the Company fails to consummate a Qualified IPO or a Trade Sale as defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association prior to the December 31, 2021, or (ii) the occurrence of certain redemption event as defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The redemption price shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the issue price of Series D+ Preferred Share plus interest calculated at a ten percent (10%) compound interest rate.
Series E Preferred Shares were redeemable at any time and from time to time on or after the earlier date of the occurrence of (i) the Company fails to consummate a Qualified IPO or a Trade Sale as defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association prior to the December 31, 2021, or (ii) the occurrence of certain redemption event as defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The redemption price shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the issue price of Series E Preferred Share plus interest calculated at a ten percent (10%) compound interest rate.
Voting Right
According to the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, except as otherwise required by law or as set forth herein, the holder of each Class B ordinary share issued and outstanding shall have one (1) vote for each Ordinary Share held by such holder, and the holder of each series of Preferred Shares shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of Class B ordinary shares into which such series of Preferred
F-42
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
12. Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares (Continued)
Voting Right (continued)
Shares could be converted at the record date for determination of the members entitled to vote on such matters, or, if no such record date is established, at the date such vote is taken or any written consent of members is solicited, such votes to be counted together with all other shares of the Company having general voting power and not counted separately as a class.
Dividend
The Directors may from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and distributions on shares of the Company outstanding and authorize payment of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. Such dividends shall be payable and accrue when, as and if declared by the Board and shall be on non-accumulative basis. No dividend or distribution shall be payable except out of the profits of the Company, realized or unrealized, or out of the Share Premium Account or as otherwise permitted by the Statute.
The order of distribution or payment shall be made from senior shares to junior shares. That is from the holders of Series E Preferred Shares to holders of Series A Preferred Shares, except the holders of Series C-1 and Series C Preferred Shares, who do not have dividends rights. No distribution to junior Preferred Shares until full payment of the amount distributable or payable on the senior Preferred Shares, which is greater of (i) 10% of each Preferred Share original issue price per annum; or (ii) the dividends such holder would have received as if converted to Class B ordinary shares.
Liquidation
In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, winding up or deemed liquidation of the Company, amount equal to one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the each Preferred Share Original Issue Price (in each case as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus all dividends declared and unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) per each Preferred Share, then held by such holder. If the assets of the Company shall be insufficient to make payment of the foregoing amounts in full on holders of such Preferred Shares, then such assets shall be distributed among the holders of this category Preferred Shares ratably in proportion to the full amounts to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon.
The order of distribution or payment shall be made from senior shares to junior shares. That is from the holders of Series E Preferred Shares to holders of Series A Preferred Shares, except the holders of Series C-1 Preferred Shares, who dont have preferential liquidation right. No distribution to junior Preferred Shares until full payment of the amount distributable or payable on the senior Preferred Shares. After distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Preferred Shares, the remaining assets of the Company available for distribution to Members shall be distributed ratably among the holders of outstanding Ordinary Shares and the holders of outstanding Preferred Shares in proportion to the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares held by them (with outstanding Preferred Shares treated on an as- converted basis).
Deemed liquidation events include: i) any consolidation, amalgamation or merger of the Company or any other restructure which results in the change in control; ii) a sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Group; iii) the exclusive licensing of all or substantially all of the Groups intellectual property to third party.
F-43
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
12. Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares (Continued)
Liquidation (continued)
Accounting of Preferred SharesSeries A, Series B, Series C, Series D, Series D+ and Series E
The Company has classified the Preferred Shares in the mezzanine equity of the consolidated balance sheets as they are contingently redeemable at the options of the holders. In addition, the Company records accretions of the Preferred Shares to the redemption value from the issuance dates to the earliest redemption dates. The accretions using the effective interest method, are recorded against retained earnings, or in the absence of retained earnings, by charging against additional paid-in capital. Once additional paid-in capital has been exhausted, additional charges are recorded by increasing the accumulated deficit. Each issuance of the Preferred Shares is recognized at the respective fair value at the date of issuance net of issuance costs. The issuance costs for Series A, Series B, Series C, Series D, Series D+ and Series E Preferred Shares were RMB190, RMB3,082, RMB nil, RMB12,221, RMB4,197 and RMB7,407, respectively.
The Company has determined that there was no beneficial conversion feature attributable to the Preferred Shares because the initial effective conversion prices of these Preferred Shares were higher than the fair value of the Companys common shares determined by the Company taking into account independent valuations.
Series C-1 Preferred Share financing
In January 2016 (the Series C-1 Financing Closing Date), pursuant to a share purchase agreement with Chinese Rose Investment Limited (Chinese Rose) and a business cooperation agreement entered into by and between an affiliate of Chinese Rose and Beijing So-Young, the Company issued 1,030,126 Series C-1 Preferred Shares in exchange for certain strategic business resources such as providing marketing support to the Company for a period of time according to the business cooperation agreement. Such strategic business resources were recognized as expenses amounting to RMB7,461, RMB5,692 and RMB nil for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The Group accounted for the issuance of Series C-1 Preferred Shares in exchange for the above-mentioned business resources as stock-based compensation with non-employee in accordance with ASC 505-50. As such business resources are required to be provided over a period of time but the Series C-1 Preferred Shares granted to Chinese Rose were fully vested and nonforfeitable on the Series C-1 financing closing date, the Group recognized the prepaid expense and the corresponding mezzanine classified Preferred Shares based on the fair value of Series C-1 Preferred Shares on the date that the Group and Chinese Rose entered into the share subscription agreement, net of issuance cost. The prepaid expense was subsequently amortized over the business resources providing period at the same manner as if the Group paid cash to a vendor in exchange for these business resources over the contractual period. The issuance costs for Series C-1 Preferred Shares were RMB309.
F-44
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
12. Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares (Continued)
The Companys Preferred Shares activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 are summarized below:
Balance as
of January 1, 2016 |
Issuance of
Preferred Shares |
Accretions
of Preferred Shares to Redemption value |
Balance as of
December 31, 2016 |
|||||||||||||
Series A Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
8,000,000 | | | 8,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
22,340 | | 2,437 | 24,777 | ||||||||||||
Series B Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
10,476,190 | | | 10,476,190 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
71,344 | | 8,337 | 79,681 | ||||||||||||
Series C-1 Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
| 1,030,126 | | 1,030,126 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
| 13,186 | 1,332 | 14,518 | ||||||||||||
Series C Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
| 4,902,554 | | 4,902,554 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
| 122,999 | 9,381 | 132,380 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total number of Preferred Shares |
18,476,190 | 5,932,680 | | 24,408,870 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total amount of Preferred Shares (RMB) |
93,684 | 136,185 | 21,487 | 251,356 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Companys Preferred Shares activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 are summarized below:
Balance as
of January 1, 2017 |
Issuance of
Preferred Shares |
Accretions
of Preferred Shares to Redemption value |
Balance as of
December 31, 2017 |
|||||||||||||
Series A Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
8,000,000 | | | 8,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
24,777 | | 2,726 | 27,503 | ||||||||||||
Series B Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
10,476,190 | | | 10,476,190 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
79,681 | | 9,377 | 89,058 | ||||||||||||
Series C-1 Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
1,030,126 | | | 1,030,126 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
14,518 | | 1,569 | 16,087 | ||||||||||||
Series C Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
4,902,554 | | | 4,902,554 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
132,380 | | 13,828 | 146,208 | ||||||||||||
Series D Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
| 8,058,410 | | 8,058,410 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
| 314,544 | 1,021 | 315,565 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total number of Preferred Shares |
24,408,870 | 8,058,410 | | 32,467,280 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total amount of Preferred Shares (RMB) |
251,356 | 314,544 | 28,521 | 594,421 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-45
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
12. Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares (Continued)
The Companys Preferred Shares activities for the year ended December 31, 2018 are summarized below:
Balance as
of January 1, 2018 |
Issuance of
Preferred Shares |
Accretions
of Preferred Shares to Redemption value |
Balance as of
December 31, 2018 |
|||||||||||||
Series A Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
8,000,000 | | | 8,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
27,503 | | 2,937 | 30,440 | ||||||||||||
Series B Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
10,476,190 | | | 10,476,190 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
89,058 | | 10,017 | 99,075 | ||||||||||||
Series C-1 Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
1,030,126 | | | 1,030,126 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
16,087 | | 1,682 | 17,769 | ||||||||||||
Series C Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
4,902,554 | | | 4,902,554 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
146,208 | | 14,893 | 161,101 | ||||||||||||
Series D Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
8,058,410 | 1,692,266 | | 9,750,676 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
315,565 | 64,806 | 41,664 | 422,035 | ||||||||||||
Series D+ Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
| 3,497,954 | | 3,497,954 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
| 162,184 | 15,851 | 178,035 | ||||||||||||
Series E Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
| 6,164,979 | | 6,164,979 | ||||||||||||
Amount (RMB) |
| 470,327 | 17,167 | 487,494 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total number of Preferred Shares |
32,467,280 | 11,355,199 | | 43,822,479 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total amount of Preferred Shares (RMB) |
594,421 | 697,317 | 104,211 | 1,395,949 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13. Share-based Compensation
(a) Description of share option plan
In April 2014, the Company established a share incentive plan (2014 Incentive Plan). The maximum number of shares that may be issued under 2014 Incentive Plan shall be 3,200,000. In January 2015, the maximum number of shares that may be issued under 2014 Incentive Plan were amended to be 5,117,613. The options are generally scheduled to be vested over four years and expire in four years.
On April 1, 2018, the board of directors of the Company approved 2018 share incentive plan (the 2018 Plan) to replace the 2014 Incentive Plan, under which, the Company has agreed to authorize up to 7,111,447 ordinary shares for the issuance of employee share options to the eligible directors, employees and consultants of the Company.
F-46
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
13. Share-based Compensation (Continued)
(a) Description of share option plan (continued)
Upon the approval of the 2018 Plan, the Group modified the expiration term of the options granted under the 2014 Incentive Plan from 4 years to 10 years. In accordance with ASC 718, CompensationStock Compensation, this resulted in a probable-to-probable (Type 1) modification. The Group recognized the portion of incremental value for those vested share options as expenses immediately; the portion of the incremental value for unvested share options will be recognized as expenses over the remaining vesting periods. The total incremental value for the modification is not significant.
(b) Valuation
The Group uses binomial option pricing model to determine fair value of the share-based awards. There was no option granted for the year ended December 31, 2017. The fair value of each option granted for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2018 is estimated on the date of grant using the binomial option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2018 | |||||||
Expected volatility |
51.52%-53.54 | % | 47.40%-50.18 | % | ||||
Expected dividends yield |
| | ||||||
Expected multiples |
2.2 | 2.2-2.8 | ||||||
Risk-free interest rate |
1.57%-1.62 | % | 2.59%-2.93 | % | ||||
Expected term (in years) |
4 | 10 | ||||||
Fair value of underlying ordinary share (USD) |
1.42-1.44 | 4.71-10.19 |
The expected volatility at the grant date and each option valuation date was estimated based on the annualized standard deviation of the daily return embedded in historical share prices of comparable peer companies with a time horizon close to the expected expiry of the term of the options. The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its capital stock, and the Group does not anticipate any dividend payments in the foreseeable future. Expected term is the contract life of the options. The Group estimated the risk free interest rate based on the yield to maturity of U.S. treasury bonds denominated in USD at the option valuation date.
F-47
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
13. Share-based Compensation (Continued)
(c) Share options activities
The following table presents a summary of the Companys options activities for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018:
Number of
options |
Weighted Average
Exercise Price |
Weighted Average
Remaining Contractual Life |
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value |
|||||||||||||
(in thousands) | US$ | Years |
US$
(in thousands) |
|||||||||||||
Outstanding as of January 1, 2016 |
2,297 | 0.1 | 2.90 | 2,346 | ||||||||||||
Granted |
1,032 | 0.1 | ||||||||||||||
Forfeited |
(391 | ) | 0.1 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Outstanding as of December 31, 2016 |
2,938 | 0.1 | 2.48 | 3,947 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Outstanding as of January 1, 2017 |
2,938 | 0.1 | 2.48 | 3,947 | ||||||||||||
Forfeited |
(143 | ) | 0.1 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Outstanding as of December 31, 2017 |
2,795 | 0.1 | 1.43 | 7,710 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Outstanding as of January 1, 2018 |
2,795 | 0.1 | 1.43 | 7,710 | ||||||||||||
Granted |
2,635 | 0.1 | ||||||||||||||
Forfeited |
(1,139 | ) | 0.1 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Outstanding as of December 31, 2018 |
4,291 | 0.1 | 8.17 | 43,312 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2016 |
762 | 0.1 | 1.73 | 1,024 | ||||||||||||
Vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2017 |
1,471 | 0.1 | 1.07 | 4,059 | ||||||||||||
Vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2018 |
1,321 | 0.1 | 6.35 | 13,333 |
The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2018 was US$1.34 and US$5.39 per option, respectively. No options were granted for the year ended December 31, 2017.
No options were exercised for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
It is the Companys policy to issue new shares upon exercise of share options. The number of shares available for future grant under the Companys 2018 Plan was 2,820,087 at December 31, 2018.
As of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the total unrecognized compensation expenses related to the options were RMB9,447, RMB5,841 and RMB78,666, respectively. These amounts are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.32 years, 1.59 years and 3.44 years, respectively.
F-48
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
14. Net Loss Per Share
Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share have been calculated in accordance with ASC 260 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018:
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Numerator: |
||||||||||||
Net (loss)/income |
(81,036 | ) | 17,202 |
|
55,083
|
|
||||||
Accretions of Preferred Shares to redemption value |
(21,487 | ) | (28,521 | ) | (104,211 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders |
(102,523 | ) | (11,319 | ) | (49,128 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Denominator: |
||||||||||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding, basic |
26,882,387 | 26,882,387 | 24,555,427 | |||||||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding, diluted |
26,882,387 | 26,882,387 | 24,555,427 | |||||||||
Net loss per ordinary share, basic |
(3.81 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (2.00 | ) | ||||||
Net loss per ordinary share, diluted |
(3.81 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (2.00 | ) |
Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share are computed using the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. Both Class A and Class B ordinary shares are included in the calculation of the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding, basic and diluted.
The following ordinary shares equivalents were excluded from the computation to eliminate any antidilutive effect:
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
Preferred Share |
23,135,253 | 24,651,726 | 39,388,581 | |||||||||
Share option |
1,754,386 | 2,317,841 | 2,587,743 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
24,889,639 | 26,969,567 | 41,976,324 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
15. Commitments and Contingencies
(a) Commitments
The Group leases office space under non-cancelable operating lease agreements, which expire at various dates through May 2024. As of December 31, 2018, future minimum lease payment under non-cancelable operating lease agreements was as follows:
As of December 31,
2018 |
||||
RMB | ||||
2019 |
47,966 | |||
2020 |
49,567 | |||
2021 |
45,309 | |||
2022 |
45,615 | |||
2023 and after |
79,340 | |||
|
|
|||
Total |
267,797 | |||
|
|
F-49
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
15. Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)
(a) Commitments (continued)
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the Group incurred rental expenses in the amounts of approximately RMB4,382, RMB6,234 and RMB22,454, respectively.
(b) Litigation
From time to time, the Group is involved in claims and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. Based on currently available information, management does not believe that the ultimate outcome of any unresolved matters, individually and in the aggregate, is reasonably possible to have a material adverse effect on the Groups financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties and the Groups view of these matters may change in the future. The Group records a liability when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The Group reviews the need for any such liability on a regular basis. The Groups accrued expense for litigation liabilities were RMB2,500 and RMB1,853 as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively, and the Group recognized RMB963, RMB4,209 and RMB3,204 litigation expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. The litigations are mainly in connection with infringement of intellectual property right, including rights of reputation and image rights.
16. Related Party Transactions
During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, other than disclosed elsewhere, the Company had the following material related party transactions:
Name of Entity or Individual |
Relationships with the Group |
|
Medical Cosmetology and its consolidated VIEs (Medical Cosmetology Group) | An investee of the Group | |
Beijing Mevos | An investee of the Group |
(a) The Group entered into the following transactions with related parties
(i) Provision of reservation service
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Medical Cosmetology Group |
| 1,445 | 1,148 |
(ii) Loan advances to the related party
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Medical Cosmetology Group |
15,336 | 2,800 | 2,000 |
F-50
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
16. Related Party Transactions (Continued)
(a) The Group entered into the following transactions with related parties (continued)
(iii) Repayment of the loan advances to the related party
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Medical Cosmetology Group |
| 9,000 | 2,000 |
(iv) Interest income
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Medical Cosmetology Group |
129 | | |
(v) Impairment of loan advances to the related party (1)
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Medical Cosmetology Group |
| 9,265 | |
(vi) Expense occurred to the related party
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Beijing Mevos |
| | 708 |
(b) The Group had the following balances with the major related parties:
(i) Amounts due from related parties (2)
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2017 | 2018 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Beijing Mevos |
| 850 |
(ii) Amounts due to related parties
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2017 | 2018 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Medical Cosmetology Group |
| 500 | ||||||
Beijing Mevos |
| 425 |
F-51
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
16. Related Party Transactions (Continued)
(b) The Group had the following balances with the major related parties (continued):
(1) |
As of December 31, 2017, the amounts due from Medical Cosmetology Group was fully impaired due to significant loss of Medical Cosmetology Group. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the impairment loss recognized as Others, net in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income is RMB9,265. |
(2) |
The balance as of December 31, 2018 represents the advance payments to Beijing Mevos for purchase advertising resources in relation to the Groups operating business. |
17. Segment Information
The Groups organizational structure is based on a number of factors that the CODM uses to evaluate, view and run its business operations which include, but not limited to, customer base, products and technology. The Groups operating segments are based on such organizational structure and information reviewed by the Groups CODM to evaluate the operating segment results. The Group has internal reporting of revenue, cost and expenses by nature as a whole. Hence, the Group has only one operating segment. Key revenues streams are as below:
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||
Information services |
19,869 | 143,613 | 415,119 | |||||||||
Reservation services |
29,221 | 115,692 | 202,107 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
49,090 | 259,305 | 617,226 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Substantially all revenues are derived from China based on the geographical locations where services are provided to customers. In addition, the Groups long-lived assets are substantially all located in China, and the amount of long-lived assets attributable to any individual other country is not material. Therefore, no geographical segments are presented.
18. Subsequent Events
a) | The Group had evaluated subsequent events through March 14, 2019, the date the financial statements were available to be issued. |
On January 10, 2019, the board of directors of the Company approved the Amended and Restated 2018 Share Plan (the Amended 2018 Plan) to replace the 2018 Plan. Those employees who have been granted shares under 2018 Plan were required to re-sign the shares agreement under the Amended 2018 Plan.
Upon adoption of the Amended 2018 Plan, terms are modified that the vested options cannot be exercised until the completion of the Companys IPO (modified condition). In accordance with ASC 718, CompensationStock Compensation, this resulted in a probable-to-improbable (Type II) modification as IPO is one condition that the Company anticipates will not be satisfied until occurrence. For Type II modifications, no incremental fair value would be recognized. If the original service condition is satisfied, the awards original grant-date fair value is recognized as an expense, over the requisite service period, regardless of whether the modified conditions are satisfied.
F-52
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
18. Subsequent Events (Continued)
b) | Subsequent event (unaudited) |
On March 27, 2019, written resolutions were passed by the board of directors of the Company and its shareholders, pursuant to which, below major matters have been approved:
(1) | Immediately prior to the completion of the Companys IPO, the Company will conduct a conversion and re-designation of its capital structure that all of the currently issued and outstanding Preferred Shares will be converted and re-designated on a one-for-one basis into existing Class B Ordinary Shares, following by that all the currently issued and outstanding 12,000,000 existing Class A ordinary shares will be re-designated into Class B ordinary shares and all of the issued and outstanding existing Class B ordinary shares will be re-designated into Class A ordinary shares simultaneously. Mr. Xing Jin, the co-founder, chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer, will own all of then issued Class B ordinary shares. Holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares have the same rights except for voting rights and conversion rights. Each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote, and each Class B ordinary share is entitled to thirty votes and is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holders thereof. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. |
(2) | The Company has adopted the Second Amended and Restated 2018 Share Plan (the Second Amended 2018 Plan) which supersedes all of the Companys previously adopted share incentive plans, for the purpose of granting share-based compensation awards to employees, directors and consultants to incentivize their performance and align their interests with the Company. Under the Second Amended 2018 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares that may be issued pursuant to all awards is 7,700,000 ordinary shares plus an annual increase of 2% of the total outstanding share capital of the Company as of December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year on the first day of each fiscal year, beginning in 2020, or such lesser number of Class A ordinary shares as determined by the board of directors of the Company, provide that the aggregate number of shares initially reserved and subsequently increased during the term of the Second Amended 2018 Plan shall not be more than 10% of the total outstanding share capital of the Company on December 31 immediately preceding the most recent increase. As of the date of this prospectus, options to purchase 5,073,510 ordinary shares are granted and outstanding under the Second Amended 2018 Plan. |
19. Unaudited Pro Forma Balance Sheet and Earnings Per Share
Immediately prior to the completion of a planned qualified initial public offering of the Company, the Preferred Shares of the Company shall be automatically converted into Class B ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis.
The unaudited pro-forma balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 presents an adjusted financial position assuming the Series A, B, C-1, C, D, D+ and E Preferred Shares had been converted into Class B ordinary shares as of December 31, 2018 at the conversion ratio of one for one.
F-53
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
19. Unaudited Pro Forma Balance Sheet and Earnings Per Share (Continued)
Unaudited pro-forma basic and diluted net income per share were computed to give effect to the automatic conversion of the Series A, B, C-1, C, D, D+ and E Preferred Shares using the if converted method as though the conversion had occurred as of the beginning of the year or the original date of issuance, if later. Both Class A and Class B ordinary shares are included in the calculation of unaudited pro-forma basic and diluted net income per share.
For the Year Ended
December 31, 2018 |
||||
Numerator (RMB): |
||||
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company |
(49,128 | ) | ||
Pro-forma effect of conversion of Preferred Shares |
104,211 | |||
|
|
|||
Pro-forma net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Companybasic and diluted |
55,083 | |||
|
|
|||
Denominator: |
||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding |
24,555,427 | |||
Pro-forma effect of conversion of Preferred Shares |
39,388,581 | |||
|
|
|||
Denominator for pro-forma basic net income per share |
63,944,008 | |||
|
|
|||
Dilutive ordinary share options |
2,587,743 | |||
|
|
|||
Denominator for pro-forma diluted net income per share |
66,531,751 | |||
|
|
|||
Pro-forma net income per share: |
||||
Pro-forma basic net income per share attributable to the Companys ordinary shareholders |
0.86 | |||
Pro-forma diluted net income per share attributable to the Companys ordinary shareholders |
0.83 |
20. Restricted Net Assets
Relevant PRC laws and regulations permit payments of dividends by the Groups entities incorporated in the PRC only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, the Companys entities in the PRC are required to annually appropriate 10% of their net after-tax income to the statutory general reserve fund prior to payment of any dividends, unless such reserve funds have reached 50% of their respective registered capital. Due to restrictions on distribution of share capital from Groups PRC entities and these entities accumulated losses, total restrictions placed on distribution of the Groups PRC subsidiaries net assets was RMB67,500 and RMB109,000 as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively. Even though the Company currently does not require any dividends, loans or advances from the PRC entities for working capital and other funding purposes, the Company may in the future require additional cash resources from them due to changes in business conditions, to fund future acquisitions and development, or merely to declare and pay dividends or distributions to its shareholders. Except for the above, there is no other restriction on use of proceeds generated by the Groups subsidiaries, the VIE and its subsidiaries to satisfy any obligations of the Company.
21. Additional InformationParent Company Only Condensed Financial Information
The Company performed a test on the restricted net assets of subsidiaries and VIE in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-X Rule 4-08 (e) (3), General Notes to Financial Statements
F-54
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
21. Additional InformationParent Company Only Condensed Financial Information (Continued)
and concluded that the condensed financial information of the Company is required to be presented. The Company did not have significant capital and other commitments, or guarantees as of December 31, 2018.
(a) |
Condensed balance sheets of So-Young International Inc. |
As of December 31, | ||||||||||||
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB |
RMB |
US$ |
||||||||||
Note 2(e) |
||||||||||||
Assets |
||||||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
325,993 | 31,379 | 4,564 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total current assets |
325,993 | 31,379 | 4,564 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Non-current assets: |
||||||||||||
Amounts due from subsidiaries and VIE |
101,465 | 1,007,001 | 146,460 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total non-current assets |
101,465 | 1,007,001 | 146,460 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total assets |
427,458 | 1,038,380 | 151,024 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Mezzanine equity: |
||||||||||||
Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 8,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively) |
27,503 | 30,440 | 4,427 | |||||||||
Series B convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 10,476,190 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively) |
89,058 | 99,075 | 14,410 | |||||||||
Series C-1 convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 1,030,126 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively) |
16,087 | 17,769 | 2,584 | |||||||||
Series C convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 4,902,554 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively) |
146,208 | 161,101 | 23,431 | |||||||||
Series D convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; 8,058,410 and 9,750,676 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively) |
315,565 | 422,035 | 61,382 | |||||||||
Series D+ convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; nil and 3,497,954 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively) |
| 178,035 | 25,894 | |||||||||
Series E convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$ 0.0005 par value; nil and 6,164,979 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively) |
| 487,494 | 70,903 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total mezzanine equity |
594,421 | 1,395,949 | 203,031 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Shareholders deficit: |
||||||||||||
Ordinary shares (US$ 0.0005 par value, 67,532,720 and nil shares authorized as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively; 26,882,387 and nil shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively) |
83 | | | |||||||||
Class A ordinary shares (US$ 0.0005 par value, nil and 12,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively) |
| 37 | 5 |
F-55
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
21. Additional InformationParent Company Only Condensed Financial Information (Continued)
(a) |
Condensed balance sheets of So-Young International Inc. (continued) |
As of December 31, | ||||||||||||
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | ||||||||||
RMB |
RMB |
US$ |
||||||||||
Note 2(e) |
||||||||||||
Class B ordinary shares (US$ 0.0005 par value, nil and 144,177,521 shares authorized as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively; nil and 11,290,940 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively) |
| 35 | 5 | |||||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(169,005 | ) | (394,039 | ) | (57,311 | ) | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
1,959 | 36,398 | 5,294 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total shareholders deficit |
(166,963 | ) | (357,569 | ) | (52,007 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholders deficit |
427,458 | 1,038,380 | 151,024 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(b) |
Condensed statements of comprehensive (loss)/income of So-Young International Inc. |
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2018 | |||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
Note 2(e) | ||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
(45 | ) | (36 | ) | (2,162 | ) | (314 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
(Loss)/income from operations |
(45 | ) | (36 | ) | (2,162 | ) | (314 | ) | ||||||||
Share of (loss)/profit of subsidiaries and VIE |
(80,991 | ) | 17,238 | 57,245 | 8,326 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net (loss)/income |
(81,036 | ) | 17,202 | 55,083 | 8,012 | |||||||||||
Accretions of convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
(21,487 | ) | (28,521 | ) | (104,211 | ) | (15,157 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company |
(102,523 | ) | (11,319 | ) | (49,128 | ) | (7,145 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net (loss)/income |
(81,036 | ) | 17,202 | 55,083 | 8,012 | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive income/(loss): |
||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
2,323 | (2,203 | ) | 34,439 | 5,009 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total comprehensive (loss)/income |
(78,713 | ) | 14,999 | 89,522 | 13,021 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-56
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
21. Additional InformationParent Company Only Condensed Financial Information (Continued)
(c) |
Condensed statements of cash flows of So-Young International Inc. |
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2018 | |||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
Note 2(e) | ||||||||||||||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
(45 | ) | (36 | ) | (2,162 | ) | (314 | ) | ||||||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities |
(123,107 | ) | 462 | (791,666 | ) | (115,144 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
122,690 | 324,671 | 485,414 | 70,601 | ||||||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
180 | (114 | ) | 13,800 | 2,007 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(282 | ) | 324,983 | (294,614 | ) | (42,850 | ) | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
1,292 | 1,010 | 325,993 | 47,414 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |
1,010 | 325,993 | 31,379 | 4,564 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-57
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a companys articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences or committing a crime. Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that we shall indemnify each officer or director of our company against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such director or officer, other than by reason of such persons own dishonesty, willful default or fraud, in or about the conduct of our companys business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such director or officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning our company or its affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere.
Pursuant to the form of indemnification agreements filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Registration Statement, we will agree to indemnify our directors and officers against certain liabilities and expenses that they incur in connection with claims made by reason of their being a director or officer of our company.
The form of Underwriting Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement will also provide for indemnification of us and our officers and directors.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Item 7. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
During the past three years, we have issued the following securities which were not registered under the Securities Act. We believe that each of the following issuance was exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act regarding sales by an issuer in offshore transactions. No underwriters were involved in these issuances of securities.
Purchaser |
Date of Issuance |
Title and Number of
|
Consideration |
|||
Youthful Acquisition L.P. |
December 20, 2017 | 5,640,887 Series D preferred shares | US$35,000,000 | |||
Green Stone Limited |
December 20, 2017 | 2,417,523 Series D preferred shares | US$15,000,000 | |||
Shaohui Holdings Limited |
January 9, 2018 | 1,692,266 Series D preferred shares | Re-designation of 1,692,266 ordinary shares into 1,692,266 Series D preferred shares | |||
Green Stone Limited |
February 9, 2018 | 127,238 Series D+ preferred shares | US$957,237 |
II-1
Purchaser |
Date of Issuance |
Title and Number of
|
Consideration |
|||
ABSOLUTE FORTUNE LIMITED |
February 9, 2018 | 2,012,329 Series D+ preferred shares | US$15,139,145 | |||
Trustbridge Partners V, L.P. |
February 28, 2018 | 481,504 Series D+ preferred shares | US$3,622,450 | |||
Matrix Partners China III Hong Kong Limited |
February 28, 2018 |
579,994 Series D+ preferred shares |
US$4,363,406 |
|||
Youthful Acquisition L.P. |
February 28, 2018 | 296,889 Series D+ preferred shares | US$2,233,553 | |||
Matrix Partners China III Hong Kong Limited |
August 23, 2018 |
170,632 Series E preferred shares |
US$2,000,000 |
|||
GOLDEN HORIZON LIMITED |
August 23, 2018 | 1,962,267 Series E preferred shares | US$23,000,000 | |||
Bohai Spring, L.P. |
August 23, 2018 | 825,638 Series E preferred shares | US$9,677,419 | |||
BOCI Financial Products Limited |
August 23, 2018 | 619,229 Series E preferred shares | US$7,258,065 | |||
Deripi Limited |
August 23, 2018 | 325,801 Series E preferred shares | US$3,818,758 | |||
BUCHKANA HOLDINGS LIMITED |
August 23, 2018 |
325,801 Series E preferred shares |
US$3,818,758 |
|||
Flarensi Holdings Limited |
August 23, 2018 | 36,430 Series E preferred shares | US$427,000 | |||
Beauty & Health Holdings Limited (formerly known as JINXING HOLDINGS LIMITED) |
August 23, 2018 |
12,000,000 Existing Class A ordinary shares |
Re-designation of 12,000,000 ordinary shares into 12,000,000 Existing Class A ordinary shares |
|||
ATCG Holdings Limited (formerly known SHAOHUI HOLDINGS LIMITED) |
August 23, 2018 |
10,990,940 Existing Class B ordinary shares |
Re-designation of 10,990,940 ordinary shares into 10,990,940 Existing Class B ordinary shares |
|||
One-of-a-kind Holdings Limited (formerly known as YUTAO HOLDINGS LIMITED) |
August 23, 2018 |
300,000 Existing Class B ordinary shares |
Re-designation of 300,000 ordinary shares into 300,000 Existing Class B ordinary shares |
II-2
Purchaser |
Date of Issuance |
Title and Number of
|
Consideration |
|||
Matrix Partners China III Hong Kong Limited |
August 23, 2018 |
192,863 Series E preferred shares |
Re-designation of 192,863 ordinary shares into 192,863 Series E preferred shares |
|||
GOLDEN HORIZON LIMITED |
August 23, 2018 | 1,137,546 Series E preferred shares | Re-designation of 1,137,546 ordinary shares into 1,137,546 Series E preferred shares | |||
Bohai Spring, L.P. |
August 23, 2018 | 220,170 Series E preferred shares | Re-designation of 220,170 ordinary shares into 220,170 Series E preferred shares | |||
BOCI Financial Products Limited |
August 23, 2018 | 165,127 Series E preferred shares | Re-designation of 165,127 ordinary shares into 165,127 Series E preferred shares | |||
Deripi Limited |
August 23, 2018 | 86,880 Series E preferred shares | Re-designation of 83,880 ordinary shares into 86,880 Series E preferred shares | |||
BUCHKANA HOLDINGS LIMITED |
August 23, 2018 |
86,880 Series E preferred shares |
Re-designation of 86,880 ordinary shares into 86,880 Series E preferred shares |
|||
Flarensi Holdings Limited |
August 23, 2018 | 9,715 Series E preferred shares | Re-designation of 9,715 ordinary shares into 9,715 Series E preferred shares | |||
Directors, executive officers and employees and consultants of our company |
various dates |
Outstanding options to purchase 5,073,510 ordinary shares |
Post and future services to our company |
Item 8. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) Exhibits
See Exhibit Index beginning on page II-5 of this registration statement.
(b) Financial Statement Schedules
Schedules have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the notes thereto.
II-3
Item 9. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) | For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant under Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. |
(2) | For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
II-4
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
EXHIBIT INDEX
II-5
* |
To be filed by amendment. |
II-6
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-1 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Beijing, Peoples Republic of China, on April 8, 2019.
So-Young International Inc. | ||
By: |
/s/ Xing Jin |
|
Name: Xing Jin | ||
Title: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer |
II-7
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Xing Jin and Min Yu as attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to do any and all acts and all things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorney and agent may deem necessary or desirable to enable the registrant to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of ordinary shares of the registrant (the Shares), including, without limitation, the power and authority to sign the name of each of the undersigned in the capacities indicated below to the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (the Registration Statement) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to such Shares, to any and all amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement, whether such amendments or supplements are filed before or after the effective date of such Registration Statement, to any related Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in connection with such Registration Statement or any and all amendments thereto, whether such amendments are filed before or after the effective date of such Registration Statement; and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that such attorney and agent shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature |
Title |
Date |
||
/s/ Xing Jin |
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(principal executive officer) |
April 8, 2019 | ||
Name: Xing Jin
|
||||
/s/ Min Yu |
Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial and accounting officer) |
April 8, 2019 | ||
Name: Min Yu
|
||||
/s/ Hui Shao |
Director | April 8, 2019 | ||
Name: Hui Shao
|
||||
/s/ Huadong Wang |
Director | April 8, 2019 | ||
Name: Huadong Wang
|
||||
/s/ Zhijun Yu |
Director | April 8, 2019 | ||
Name: Zhijun Yu
|
||||
/s/ Marcelo Gigliani Uriarte |
Director | April 8, 2019 | ||
Name: Marcelo Gigliani Uriarte
|
||||
/s/ Wei Zhou |
Director | April 8, 2019 | ||
Name: Wei Zhou
|
II-8
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of So-Young International Inc., has signed this registration statement or amendment thereto in New York, New York, United States of America on April 8, 2019.
Authorized U.S. Representative | ||
By: |
/s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
|
Name: Donald J. Puglisi | ||
Title: Managing Director |
II-9
Exhibit 3.1
THE COMPANIES LAW (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
EIGHTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
So-Young International Inc.
(adopted by Special Resolution passed on
August 23, 2018 )
CAYMAN ISLANDS
THE COMPANIES LAW (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
EIGHTH AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
So-Young International Inc.
(adopted by Special Resolution passed on August 23, 2018)
1. |
The name of the Company is So-Young International Inc . |
2. |
The Registered Office of the Company shall be at the offices of Osiris International Cayman Limited, Suite #4-210, Governors Square, 23 Lime Tree Bay Avenue, PO Box 32311, Grand Cayman KY1-1209, Cayman Islands or at such other place as the Directors may from time to time decide. |
3. |
The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and shall include the following: |
(a) |
To act and to perform all the functions of a holding company in all of its branches and to co-ordinate the policy and administration of any subsidiary company or companies wherever incorporated or carrying on business or of any group of companies of which the Company or any subsidiary company is a member or which are in any manner controlled directly or indirectly by the Company. |
(b) | (i) |
To carry on the business of an investment company and to act as promoters and entrepreneurs and to carry on business as financiers, capitalists, concessionaires, merchants, brokers, traders, dealers, agents, importers and exporters and to undertake and carry on and execute all kinds of investment, financial, commercial, mercantile, trading and other operations. |
(ii) |
To carry on whether as principals, agents or otherwise howsoever the business of realtors, developers, consultants, estate agents or managers, builders, contractors, engineers, manufacturers, dealers in or vendors of all types of property including services. |
(c) |
To exercise and enforce all rights and powers conferred by or incidental to the ownership of any shares, stock, obligations or other securities including all such powers of veto or control as may be conferred by virtue of the holding by the Company of some special proportion of the issued or nominal amount thereof, to provide managerial and other executive, supervisory and consultant services for or in relation to any company in which the Company is interested upon such terms as may be thought fit. |
1
(d) |
To purchase or otherwise acquire, sell, exchange, surrender, lease, mortgage, charge, convert, turn to account, dispose of and deal with real and personal property and rights of all kinds and, in particular, mortgages, debentures, produce, concessions, options, contracts, patents, annuities, licenses, stocks, shares, bonds, policies, book debts, business concerns, undertakings, claims, privileges and causes in action of all kinds. |
(e) |
To subscribe for, conditionally or unconditionally, to underwrite, issue on commission or otherwise, take, hold, deal in and convert stocks, shares and securities of all kinds and to enter into partnership or into any arrangement for sharing profits, reciprocal concessions or cooperation with any person or company and to promote and aid in promoting, to constitute, form or organize any company, syndicate or partnership of any kind, for the purpose of acquiring and undertaking any property and liabilities of the Company or of advancing, directly or indirectly, the objects of the Company or for any other purpose which the Company may think expedient. |
(f) |
To stand surety for or to guarantee, support or secure the performance of all or any of the obligations of any person, firm or company whether or not related or affiliated to the Company in any manner and whether by personal covenant or by mortgage, charge or lien upon the whole or any part of the undertaking, property and assets of the Company, both present and future, including its uncalled capital or by any such method and whether or not the Company shall receive valuable consideration therefor. |
(g) |
To engage in or carry on any other lawful trade, business or enterprise which may at any time appear to the Directors of the Company capable of being conveniently carried on in conjunction with any of the aforementioned businesses or activities or which may appear to the Directors of the Company likely to be profitable to the Company. |
In the interpretation of this Memorandum of Association in general and of this Article 3 in particular, no object, business or power specified or mentioned shall be limited or restricted by reference to or inference from any other object, business or power, or the name of the Company, or by the juxtaposition of two or more objects, businesses or powers and that, in the event of any ambiguity in this article or elsewhere in this Memorandum of Association, the same shall be resolved by such interpretation and construction as will widen and enlarge and not restrict the objects, businesses and powers of and exercisable by the Company.
4. |
Except as prohibited or limited by the Companies Law (As Revised), as amended, supplemented, reissued or restated from time to time, the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object and shall have and be capable of from time to time and at all times exercising any and all of the powers at any time or from time to time exercisable by a natural person or body corporate in doing in any part of the world whether as principal, agent, contractor or otherwise whatever may be considered by it necessary for the attainment of its objects and whatever else may be considered by it as incidental or conducive thereto or consequential thereon, including the power to make any alterations or amendments to this Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company considered necessary or convenient in the manner set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, and the power to do any of the following acts or things, viz: |
2
to pay all expenses of and incidental to the promotion, formation and incorporation of the Company; to register the Company to do business in any other jurisdiction; to sell, lease or dispose of any property of the Company; to draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue promissory notes, debentures, bills of exchange, bills of lading, warrants, options and other negotiable or transferable instruments; to lend money or other assets and to act as guarantors; to borrow or raise money on the security of the undertaking or on all or any of the assets of the Company including uncalled capital or without security; to invest monies of the Company in such manner as the Directors determine; to promote other companies; to sell the undertaking of the Company for cash or any other consideration; to distribute assets in specie to Members of the Company; to make charitable or benevolent donations; to pay pensions or gratuities or provide other benefits in cash or kind to Directors, officers, employees, past or present, and their families; to purchase Directors and officers liability insurance and to carry on any trade or business and generally to do all acts and things which, in the opinion of the Company or the Directors, may be conveniently, profitably or usefully acquired and dealt with, carried on, executed or done by the Company in connection with the business aforesaid PROVIDED THAT the Company shall only carry on the businesses for which a license is required under the laws of the Cayman Islands when so licensed under the terms of such laws.
5. |
The liability of each Member is limited to the amount from time to time unpaid on such Members shares. |
6. |
The share capital of the Company is US$100,000 divided into 156,177,521 Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0005, 12,000,000 of which are designated Class A Ordinary Shares and 144,177,521 of which are designated Class B Ordinary Shares, and 43,822,479 Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0005, 8,000,000 of which are designated Series A Preferred Shares, 10,476,190 of which are designated Series B Preferred Shares, 1,030,126 of which are designated Series C-1 Preferred Shares, 4,902,554 of which are designated Series C Preferred Shares, 9,750,676 of which are designated Series D Preferred Shares, 3,497,954 of which are designated Series D+ Preferred Shares and 6,164,979 of which are designated Series E Preferred Shares, each with power for the Company insofar as is permitted by law, to redeem or purchase any of its shares and to increase or reduce the said capital subject to the provisions of the Companies Law (As Revised) and the Memorandum and Articles of Association and to issue any part of its capital, whether original, redeemed or increased with or without any preference, priority or special privilege or subject to any postponement of rights or to any conditions or restrictions and so that unless the conditions of issue shall otherwise expressly declare every issue of shares whether declared to be preference or otherwise shall be subject to the powers hereinbefore contained. |
3
7. |
If the Company is registered as exempted, its operations will be carried on subject to the provisions of Section 174 of the Companies Law (As Revised) and, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law (As Revised) and the Memorandum and Articles of Association, it shall have the power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. |
[ The remainder of this page has been left intentionally blank ]
4
THE COMPANIES LAW (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
EIGHTH AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
So-Young International Inc.
(adopted by Special Resolution passed on August 23, 2018)
Title |
Article No. | |||
General Matters |
1 3 | |||
Certificates for Shares |
4 5 | |||
Issue of Shares |
6 7 | |||
Transfer of Shares |
8 11 | |||
Redeemable Shares |
12 | |||
Variation of Rights of Shares |
13 14 | |||
Commission on Sale of Shares |
15 | |||
Conversion of Preferred Shares |
16 | |||
Adjustments to Conversion Price |
17 | |||
Notices of Record Date |
18 |
1
Title |
Article No. | |||
Redemption |
19 | |||
Protective Provisions |
20 | |||
Non-Recognition of Trusts |
21 | |||
Lien on Shares |
22 25 | |||
Call on Shares |
26 30 | |||
Forfeiture of Shares |
31 34 | |||
Registration of Empowering Instruments |
35 | |||
Transmission of Shares |
36 38 | |||
Amendment of Memorandum of Association, Alteration of Capital & Change of Location of Registered Office |
39 | |||
Closing Register of Members or Fixing Record Date |
40 42 | |||
General Meeting |
43 44 | |||
Notice of General Meetings |
45 46 | |||
Proceedings at General Meetings |
47 55 | |||
Votes of Members |
56 61 | |||
Proxies |
62 68 | |||
Directors |
69 77 |
2
Title |
Article No. | |||
Alternate Directors |
78 | |||
Powers and Duties of Directors |
79 83 | |||
Management |
84 | |||
Managing Directors |
85 86 | |||
Proceedings of Directors |
87 96 | |||
Vacation of Office of Director |
97 | |||
Appointment and Removal of Directors |
98 99 | |||
Presumption of Assent |
100 | |||
Seal |
101 | |||
Officers |
102 | |||
Dividends, Distributions and Reserve |
103 110 | |||
Capitalization |
111 | |||
Books of Account |
112 114 | |||
Audit |
115 121 | |||
Notices |
122 126 |
3
GENERAL MATTERS
1 |
In these Articles, Table A in the Schedule to the Statute does not apply and, unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith, |
Additional Ordinary Shares | has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 17 (a)(iii). | |
Affiliate | means, in respect of a Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) in the case of a natural Person, shall include, without limitation, such Persons spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law and father-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law, (b) in the case of a holder of Preferred Shares, shall include (i) any Person who holds Shares as a nominee for such holder of Preferred Shares, (ii) any shareholder of such holder of Preferred Shares, (iii) any entity or individual which has a direct and indirect interest in such holder of Preferred Shares (including, if applicable, any general partner or limited partner) or any fund manager thereof; (iv) any Person that directly or indirectly Controls, is Controlled by, under common Control with, or is managed by such holder of Preferred Shares, its shareholder, the general partner or the fund manager of such holder of Preferred Shares or its shareholder, (v) the relatives of any individual referred to in (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, and (vi) any trust Controlled by or held for the benefit of such individuals. For the avoidance of doubt, any of the holders of Preferred Shares shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Group Company. | |
Apax | means Youthful Acquisition L.P., a limited partnership organized under the laws of the Island of Guernsey, acting by its general partner, Youthful GP Co. Limited. | |
as converted basis | shall mean means the basis on which as if the holders of the Shares (other than Class B Ordinary Shares) had converted all their issued Shares into Class B Ordinary Shares at the relevant time; | |
Applicable Conversion Price | means, in respect of Series A Shares, the then-effective Series A Conversion Price; in respect of Series B Shares, the then-effective Series B Conversion Price; in respect of Series C-1 Shares, the then-effective Series C-1 Conversion Price; in respect of Series C Shares, the then-effective Series C Conversion Price; in respect of Series D Shares, the then-effective Series D Conversion Price, in respect of Series D+ Shares, the then-effective Series D+ Conversion Price, in respect of Series E Shares, the then-effective Series E Conversion Price, as the case may be. |
5
Articles | means these Articles as originally adopted or as from time to time altered by a Special Resolution and in accordance with Article 20. | |
Auditors | means the persons for the time being performing the duties of auditors of the Company. | |
Board of Directors | means the board of directors of the Company. | |
BOCI | means Bohai Spring, L.P. and BOCI Financial Products Limited, collectively. | |
Business Day or business day | means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday or a day on which banks are required to be closed in the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the United States, Hong Kong, Russia or the PRC. | |
BVI Holdcos | means the Key Parties Holdcos and ATCG Holdings Limited (formerly known as SHAOHUI HOLDINGS LIMITED), a company duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of British Virgin Islands and wholly owned by Mitochondria Holding Limited . | |
CDH | means Green Stone Limited, a company limited by shares organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands. | |
CEO | means the chief executive officer of the Company. | |
Class A Ordinary Shares | means the class A ordinary shares of S$0.0005 par value per share in the capital of the Company having the rights attaching to it as set out in this Revised M&A. |
6
Class B Ordinary Shares | means the class B ordinary shares of S$0.0005 par value per share in the capital of the Company having the rights attaching to it as set out in this Revised M&A. | |
Closing | has the meaning ascribed to it in Share Subscription Agreement. | |
Company | means So-Young International Inc. | |
Compensation Committee | has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 93. | |
Control | with respect to any third-party, shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and shall be deemed to exist for any Person (a) when such Person holds at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities of such third party and no other party owns a greater number of outstanding voting securities of such third party, (b) over other members of such partys immediate family. Immediate family members include, without limitation, a persons spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law and father-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law, or (c) when such party has the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct the business, management and policies, or control the composition of a majority of the board of directors of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. The terms Controlling and Controlled have meanings correlative to the foregoing. | |
Convertible Securities | has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 17(a)(ii). | |
debenture | means debenture stock, mortgages, bonds and any other such securities of the Company whether constituting a charge on the assets of the Company or not. | |
Domestic Co. | means Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. (北京新氧科技有限公司). | |
Deemed Liquidation Event | has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 128(f). | |
Directors | means the members of the Board of Directors of the Company for the time being. |
7
Government Authority | means any nation or government or any province or state or any other political subdivision thereof, and any entity, authority or body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including any government authority, agency, department, board, commission or instrumentality or any political subdivision thereof, any court, tribunal or arbitrator, and any self-regulatory organization. | |
Group Companies | means the Company, the HK Co., the Korea Co., the PRC Subsidiary, Domestic Co. and their respective Subsidiaries from time to time. | |
HK Co. | means So-Young Hong Kong Limited. | |
Hong Kong | means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China. | |
IAS | means the applicable International Accounting Standards published by the International Accounting Standards Board from time to time. | |
Investors | means collectively, (i) Matrix; (ii) Trustbridge Partners V, L.P.; (iii) Chinese Rose Investment Limited, (iv) ATCG Holdings Limited (formerly known as Shaohui Holdings Limited), (v) Apax, (vi) CDH, (vii) Orchid, (viii) Orchid II, (ix) BOCI, (x) RCIF and their successors, affiliates, assignees and transferees, and each an Investor . | |
Investor Directors | has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 69, and each, an Investor Director . | |
Junior Shares | means all classes and series of shares that are junior in rights and preferences to the Preferred Shares, including the Ordinary Shares. | |
Key Parties | means JIN Xing (金星) (PRC Identity Card Number 230903197906130315) and YU Tao (于涛) (PRC Identity Card Number 120225197811082677). Key Party means any of them. | |
Key Parties Holdcos | means Beauty & Health Holdings Limited, formerly known as JINXING HOLDINGS LIMITED, a company duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of British Virgin Islands and wholly owned by Mr. JIN Xing and One-of-a-kind Holdings Limited, formerly known as YUTAO HOLDINGS LIMITED, a company duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of British Virgin Islands and wholly owned by Mr. YU Tao. Key Partys Holdco. means any of them. |
8
Korea Co. | means SO-YOUNG HIGH TECH KOREA CO., LTD. (新氧科技韩国株式会社). | |
law | means all national, state, provincial, local, municipal, and other laws, statutes, constitutions, ordinances, codes, edicts, decrees, injunctions, stipulations, judgments, orders, rulings, rules, regulations, assessments, writs, and requirements, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority. | |
Liquidation Event | has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 128. | |
Majority Investor Directors | shall mean no less than 50% of the all the Investor Directors. | |
Majority Ordinary Shareholders |
means the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares. | |
Majority Preferred Shareholders | means the Majority Series A Preferred Shareholders, the Majority Series B Preferred Shareholders, the Majority Series C Preferred Shareholders, the Majority Series D Preferred Shareholders, the Majority Series D+ Preferred Shareholders and the Majority Series E Preferred Shareholders. | |
Majority Series A Preferred Shareholders |
means the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Series A Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting as a single class on an as-converted basis. | |
Majority Series B Preferred Shareholders |
means the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Series B Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting as a single class on an as-converted basis. | |
Majority Series C Preferred Shareholders |
means the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Series C Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting as a single class on an as-converted basis. |
9
Majority Series D Preferred Shareholders |
means the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Series D Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting as a single class on an as-converted basis. | |
Majority Series D+ Preferred Shareholders |
means the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Series D+ Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting as a single class on an as-converted basis. | |
Majority Series E Preferred Shareholders |
means the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Series E Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting as a single class on an as-converted basis. | |
Matrix | means Matrix Partners China III Hong Kong Limited. | |
Member | means a duly registered holder from time to time of the shares in the capital of the Company. | |
Memorandum of Association | means the Eighth Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, as amended from time to time in accordance with Article 20. | |
month | means calendar month. | |
Mr. Shao | means SHAO Hui (邵珲) (PRC Identity Card Number 310115197202283219). | |
Options | has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 17(a)(i). | |
ordinary resolution | a Members resolution passed either (i) as a written resolution signed by all Members entitled to vote, or (ii) at a meeting by Members holding not less than fifty percent (50%) of voting power of the issued and outstanding Shares, calculated on a fully converted basis (which Members, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as an ordinary resolution has been duly given), subject to Article 20. | |
Ordinary Share Directors | has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 69. | |
Ordinary Share Equivalents | mean any rights, options, or warrants to purchase or exercisable for Class B Ordinary Shares, or securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for said equity securities, including, without limitation, the Preference Shares. |
10
Ordinary Shares | means the Class A Ordinary Shares and the Class B Ordinary Shares of the Company, par value of US$0.0005 per share, and an Ordinary Share means any of them. | |
Ordinary Shareholders | shall mean the holders of the Ordinary Shares of the Company other than the Investors or their assignees, and each an Ordinary Shareholder . | |
Orchid | means Absolute Fortune Limited, a company duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of Cayman Island. | |
Orchid II | means GOLDEN HORIZON LIMITED. | |
paid-up | means paid-up and/or credited as paid-up. | |
Person | means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, proprietorship, association, limited liability company, firm, trust, estate or other enterprise or entity. | |
PRC | means the Peoples Republic of China, excluding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and the Islands of Taiwan. | |
PRC Subsidiary | means Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (北京新氧万维科技咨询有限公司). | |
Preferred Shares | means, collectively, the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series D Preferred Shares, the Series D+ Preferred Shares, the Series E Preferred Shares and/or other preferred shares of the company that may be issued from time to time. | |
Preferred Shareholders | shall mean the holders of the Preferred Shares of the Company. |
11
Qualified IPO | means a firm commitment underwritten public offering of the Ordinary Shares of the Company (or depositary receipts or depositary shares thereof) on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the Shanghai Stock Exchange or the Shenzhen Stock Exchange or another internationally recognized stock exchange approved by the Majority Series A Preferred Shareholders, the Majority Series B Preferred Shareholders and the Majority Series D Preferred Shareholders, in any case, with an offering price per share that would result in a valuation of market capitalization of the Company immediately prior to such offering that is not less than (i) the implied valuation of the Company immediately after the Closing (i.e. US$870,000,000), plus (ii) an amount accruing there on at a compound annual rate of twenty percent (20%) of the implied valuation of the Company immediately after to the Closing, beginning on the Closing, and that results in gross cash proceeds to the Company of at least US$50,000,000. | |
RCIF | means Deripi Limited, Buchkana Holdings Limited and Flarensi Holdings Limited, collectively | |
Redemption Date | means the date on which the Preferred Shares shall be redeemed as stipulated in Article 19(a). | |
Redemption Notice | has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 19(a). | |
Registered Office | means the registered office for the time being of the Company. | |
Seal | means the common seal of the Company and includes every duplicate seal. | |
Secretary | includes an Assistant Secretary and any person appointed to perform the duties of Secretary of the Company. | |
Securities Act | means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. | |
Series A Conversion Price |
means the price at which Ordinary Shares shall be deliverable upon conversion of
the Series A Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 16. |
12
Series A Original Issue Date | means the date of the first sale and issuance of the Series A Preferred Shares. | |
Series A Original Issue Price | means the price per share of US$0.40 at which the Series A Preferred Shares were issued on the Series A Original Issue Date, subject to adjustments made for share splits, share subdivision, share combination and the like. | |
Series A Preferred Shareholders | means the Members who hold any Series A Preferred Shares. A Series A Preferred Shareholder means any of them. | |
Series A Preferred Shares | means the series A preferred shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0005 per share having the rights set forth in these Articles. | |
Series A Preferred Shares
Liquidation Preference |
has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 128(f). | |
Series A Redemption Price | means the redemption price as stipulated in Article 19(a). | |
Series B Conversion Price | means the price at which Ordinary Shares shall be deliverable upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 16. | |
Series B Original Issue Date | means the date of the first sale and issuance of the Series B Preferred Shares. | |
Series B Original Issue Price | means the price per share of US$1.05 at which the Series B Preferred Shares were issued on the Series B Original Issue Date, subject to adjustments made for share splits, share subdivision, share combination and the like. | |
Series B Preferred Shareholders | means the Members who hold any Series B Preferred Shares, and each a Series B Preferred Shareholder . | |
Series B Preferred Shares | means the series B preferred shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0005 per share having the rights set forth in these Articles. |
13
Series B Preferred Shares
Liquidation Preference |
has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 128(e). | |
Series B Redemption Price | means the redemption price as stipulated in Article 19(a). | |
Series C-1 Conversion Price | means the price at which Ordinary Shares shall be deliverable upon conversion of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 16. | |
Series C-1 Original Issue Date | means the date of the first sale and issuance of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares. | |
Series C-1 Original Issue Price | means the price per share of US$2.91 at which the Series C-1 Preferred Shares were issued on the Series C-1 Original Issue Date, subject to adjustments made for share splits, share subdivision, share combination and the like. | |
Series C-1 Preferred Shareholders | means the Members who hold any Series C-1 Preferred Shares, and each a Series C-1 Preferred Shareholder . | |
Series C-1 Preferred Shares | means the Series C-1 preferred shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0005 per share having the rights set forth in these Articles. | |
Series C-1 Redemption Price | means the redemption price as stipulated in Article 19(a). | |
Series C Conversion Price | means the price at which Ordinary Shares shall be deliverable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 16. | |
Series C Original Issue Date | means the date of the first sale and issuance of the Series C Preferred Shares. | |
Series C Original Issue Price | means the price per share of US$3.88 at which the Series C Preferred Shares were issued on the Series C Original Issue Date, subject to adjustments made for share splits, share subdivision, share combination and the like. | |
Series C Preferred Shares
Liquidation Preference |
has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 128(d). |
14
Series C Preferred Shareholders | means the Members who hold any Series C Preferred Shares, and each a Series C Preferred Shareholder . | |
Series C Preferred Shares | means the Series C preferred shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0005 per share having the rights set forth in these Articles. | |
Series C Redemption Price | means the redemption price as stipulated in Article 19(a). | |
Series D Conversion Price | means the price at which Ordinary Shares shall be deliverable upon conversion of the Series D Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 16. | |
Series D Original Issue Date | (i) in respect of Apax and CDH, means the date of the first sale and issuance of the Series D Preferred Shares held by Apax and CDH, and/or (ii) in respect of Matrix and TBP, means the date of the subsequent sales and issuance of the Series D Preferred Shares held by Matrix and TBP, as the case may be. | |
Series D Original Issue Price | (i) in respect of Apax and CDH, means the price per share of US$6.2047 at which the Series D Preferred Shares held by Apax and CDH were issued on the Series D Original Issue Date, (ii) in respect of Matrix and TBP, means the price per share of US$5.8945 at which the Series D Preferred Shares held by Matrix and TBP were issued on the Series D Original Issue Date subject to adjustments made for share splits, share subdivision, share combination and the like, as the case may be. | |
Series D Preferred Shareholders | means the Members who hold any Series D Preferred Shares, and each a Series D Preferred Shareholder . | |
Series D Preferred Shares | means the Series D preferred shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0005 per share having the rights set forth in these Articles. | |
Series D Preferred Shares
Liquidation Preference |
has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 128(c). |
15
Series D Redemption Price | means the redemption price as stipulated in Article 19(a). | |
Series D+ Conversion Price | means the price at which Ordinary Shares shall be deliverable upon conversion of the Series D+ Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 16. | |
Series D+ Original Issue Date | means the date of the first sale and issuance of the Series D+ Preferred Shares to the respective Member. | |
Series D+ Original Issue Price | means the price per share of US$7.5232 at which the Series D+ Preferred Shares were issued on the Series D+ Original Issue Date, subject to adjustments made for share splits, share subdivision, share combination and the like. | |
Series D+ Preferred Shareholders | means the Members who hold any Series D+ Preferred Shares, and each a Series D+ Preferred Shareholder . | |
Series D+ Preferred Shares | means the Series D+ preferred shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0005 per share having the rights set forth in these Articles. | |
Series D+ Preferred Shares
Liquidation Preference |
has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 128(b). | |
Series D+ Redemption Price | means the redemption price as stipulated in Article 19(a). | |
Series D Share Purchase Agreement | means the Series D Preferred Share Subscription and Purchase Agreement entered into by and among the Company, Apax, CDH, TBP, Matrix and other parties thereto dated December 7, 2017. | |
Series E Conversion Price | means the price at which Ordinary Shares shall be deliverable upon conversion of the Series E Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 16. | |
Series E Original Issue Date | means the date of the first sale and issuance of the Series E Preferred Shares. | |
Series E Original Issue Price | (i) in respect of the Series E Preferred Shares issued on the Series E Original Issue Date pursuant to Section 2.1(a) under Share Subscription Agreement, means the price per share of US$11.7211, (ii) in respect of the Series E Preferred Shares re-designated by the Ordinary Shares on the Series E Original Issue Date pursuant to Section 2.1(b) under Share Subscription Agreement, means the price per share of US$10.5490, subject to adjustments made for share splits, share subdivision, share combination and the like. |
16
Series E Preferred Shares Liquidation Preference | has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 128(a). | |
Series E Preferred Shareholders | means the Members who hold any Series E Preferred Shares, and each a Series E Preferred Shareholder . | |
Series E Preferred Shares | means the Series E preferred shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0005 per share having the rights set forth in these Articles. | |
Series E Redemption Price | means the redemption price as stipulated in Article 19(a). | |
Shares | mean all Preferred Shares and all Ordinary Shares now owned or subsequently acquired by any Member. | |
Share Premium Account | means the account of the Company which the Company is required by the Statute to maintain, to which all premiums over nominal or par value received by the Company in respect of issues of shares from time to time are credited. | |
Shareholders Agreement | means that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement by and among the Key Parties, Mr. Shao, the BVI Holdcos, the Group Companies and the Investors dated as of August 23, 2018. | |
Share Subscription Agreement | means that certain Series E Preferred Share Subscription and Purchase Agreement by and among the Key Parties, Mr. Shao, the BVI Holdcos, the Group Companies, holders of the Series E Preferred Shares, and other parties thereto as of August 23, 2018. | |
Special Resolution | means a Members resolution expressed to be a special resolution and passed either (i) as a written resolution signed by all Members entitled to vote, or (ii) at a meeting by Members holding not less than two thirds (2/3) of voting power of the issued and outstanding Shares, calculated on a fully converted basis (which Members, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given), subject to Article 20. |
17
Statute | means the Companies Law (2018 Revision) of the Cayman Islands and every statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force. | |
Subsidiary | means, with respect to any subject entity (the subject entity), (i) any company, partnership or other entity (x) more than fifty percent (50%) of whose shares or other interests entitled to vote in the election of directors or (y) more than a fifty percent (50%) interest in the profits or capital of such entity are owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the subject entity or through one or more Subsidiaries of the subject entity, (ii) any entity whose assets, or portions thereof, are consolidated with the net earnings of the subject entity and are recorded on the books of the subject entity for financial reporting purposes in accordance with the IAS or U.S. GAAP, or (iii) any entity with respect to which the subject entity has the power to otherwise direct the business and policies of that entity directly or indirectly through another Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the above, as applied to the Company, the term Subsidiary or subsidiary includes the HK Co., the Korea Co., the PRC Subsidiary and Domestic Co. | |
TBP | means Trustbridge Partners V, L.P. and its successors, permitted assignees and transferees. | |
Transaction Documents | shall mean the Share Subscription Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, this Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Series A Preferred Share Purchase Agreement entered into by and among the Company, Matrix, and other parties thereto dated August 22, 2014, the Series B Preferred Share Purchase Agreement entered into between the Company, TBP, Matrix and other parties thereto dated December 26, 2014, the Series C Preferred Share Purchase Agreement entered into by and among the Company, BVI Holdco, and other parties thereto by and among March 31, 2016, the Series C-1 Preferred Share Purchase Agreement entered into by and among the Company, China Rose Investment Limited and other parties thereto dated January 18, 2016, the Series D Share Purchase Agreement, the Series D+ Share Subscription Agreement date February 9, 2018, the exhibits attached to any of the foregoing and any other document, certificate, and agreement delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. |
18
U.S. GAAP | means the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. | |
written and in writing |
include all modes of representing or reproducing words in permanent legible
visible form. |
Words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice-versa.
Words importing the masculine gender include the feminine gender.
Words importing persons include corporations.
2 |
The business of the Company may be commenced as soon after incorporation as the Directors shall see fit, notwithstanding that only part of the shares may have been allotted. |
3 |
The Directors may pay, out of the capital or any other monies of the Company, all expenses incurred in or about the formation and establishment of the Company, including the expenses of registration. |
CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES
4 |
Certificates representing shares of the Company shall be in such form as shall be determined by the Directors. Such certificates may be under Seal. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified and shall specify the shares to which they relate. The name and address of the person to whom the shares represented thereby are issued, with the number of shares and date of issue, shall be entered in the register of Members of the Company. All certificates surrendered to the Company for transfer shall be cancelled and no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a like number of shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled. The Directors may authorize certificates to be issued with the seal and authorized signature(s) affixed by some method or system of mechanical process. |
5 |
Notwithstanding Article 4 of these Articles, if a share certificate be defaced, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on payment of a fee of one dollar (US$l.00) or such lesser sum and on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and the payment of the expenses incurred by the Company in investigating evidence, as the Directors may prescribe. |
19
ISSUE OF SHARES
6 |
Subject to the relevant provisions, if any, in the Memorandum of Association and these Articles and to any direction that may be given by the Company in general meeting and without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of existing shares, the Directors may allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of shares of the Company (including fractions of a share) with or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions, whether with regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise and to such persons, at such times and on such other terms as they think proper. In addition, if there are multiple classes of Shares in issue at any time, except the conversion of Class B Ordinary Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares, the Directors may (but subject to any variation of class rights provisions in these Articles) convert, re-designate or re-classify any class of Shares as belonging to another class of Shares. The Company shall not issue shares in bearer form. |
7 |
The Company shall maintain a register of its Members and every person whose name is entered as a Member in the register of Members shall be entitled without payment to receive within two (2) months after allotment or lodgment of transfer (or within such other period as the conditions of issue shall provide) one (1) certificate for all his shares or several certificates each for one or more of his shares upon payment of fifty cents (US$0.50) for every certificate after the first or such less sum as the Directors shall from time to time determine provided that in respect of a share or shares held jointly by several persons the Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate and delivery of a certificate for a share to one of the several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all such holders. |
TRANSFER OF SHARES
8 |
The instrument of transfer of any share shall be in writing and shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and the transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a share until the name of the transferee is entered in the register of Members in respect thereof. |
9 |
The Directors may in their absolute discretion decline to register any transfer of Shares with reasonable cause. The Directors shall register any transfer of Shares except where holders proposing or effecting the transfers of the Shares are subject to binding written agreements with the Company which restrict the transfer of the Shares held by such holders and such holders have not complied with the terms of such agreements or the restrictions have not been waived in accordance with their terms. If the Directors refuse to register a transfer they shall notify the transferee within five (5) Business Days of such refusal, providing a detailed explanation of the reason therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a transfer complies with the holders transfer obligations and restrictions set forth in agreements with the Company, the Directors shall register such transfer. |
20
10 |
The registration of transfers may be suspended at such time and for such periods as the Directors may from time to time determine, provided always that such registration shall not be suspended for more than thirty (30) days in any year. |
11 |
A. (1) Right Holders Right of First Refusal : |
(a) Restriction on Transfers . Subject to Article 11C, each Key Party or Ordinary Shareholder may not sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, encumber or otherwise dispose of its Shares to any Person, whether directly or indirectly, except in compliance with Article 11A(1) and Article 11A(2).
(b) Notice of Sale . If any Key Party or Ordinary Shareholder (the Selling Shareholder ) proposes to sell or transfer, directly or indirectly, any of its Shares (the Transfer Shares ), then the Selling Shareholder shall promptly give a written notice (the Transfer Notice ) to the Company and to each holder of the Preferred Shares (each a ROFR Rights Holder ), which Transfer Notice shall include (i) the number of Transfer Shares to be sold or transferred and the nature of such sale or transfer, (ii) the identity (identities) (including name(s) and address(es)) of the prospective transferee(s), and (iii) the consideration and the material terms and conditions upon which the proposed sale or transfer is to be made. The Transfer Notice shall certify that the Selling Shareholder has received a firm offer from the prospective transferee(s) and in good faith believes a binding agreement for the sale or transfer is obtainable on the terms set forth in the Transfer Notice. The Transfer Notice shall also include a copy of any written proposal, term sheet or letter of intent or other agreement relating to the proposed transfer.
(c) Notice of Purchase . Each ROFR Rights Holder shall be entitled to purchase all or any part of such ROFR Rights Holders pro rata share of the Transfer Shares at the price and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Transfer Notice by giving a written notice to the Selling Shareholder within twenty (20) Business Days after the date of the Transfer Notice (the First Refusal Period ) stating therein the number of Transfer Shares to be purchased. If a ROFR Rights Holder exercises such right and notifies the Selling Shareholder of the number of Transfer Shares to be purchased, then such ROFR Rights Holder shall complete the purchase of the Transfer Shares on the same terms and conditions as those set out in the Transfer Notice. A failure by a ROFR Rights Holder to respond within such prescribed period shall constitute a decision by such ROFR Rights Holder not to exercise its right to purchase such Transfer Shares. For purposes of this sub-article (c), each ROFR Rights Holders pro rata share of the Transfer Shares shall be equal to the number of Transfer Shares, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares (on an as-converted basis and excluding any Ordinary Shares issued to ROFR Rights Holders prior to or on the date of the Closing) held by such ROFR Rights Holder on the date of the Transfer Notice and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Ordinary Shares (on an as-converted basis and excluding any Ordinary Shares issued to ROFR Rights Holders prior to or on the date of the Closing) held on the date of the Transfer Notice by all the Ordinary Shareholders and the Preferred Shareholders.
21
(d) Second Transfer Notice; Over-Allotment . To the extent that any ROFR Rights Holder does not exercise its right of first refusal to the full extent to purchase such ROFR Rights Holders pro rata share of the Transfer Shares, the Selling Shareholder shall deliver written notice thereof (the Second Transfer Notice ), within two (2) days after the expiration of the First Refusal Period, to each ROFR Rights Holder that elected to the full extent to purchase such ROFR Rights Holders pro rata share of the Transfer Shares (the Exercising Holder ). Each Exercising Holder shall have five (5) Business Days from the date of the Second Transfer Notice (the Second Refusal Period ) to notify the Selling Shareholder of its desire to purchase more than its pro rata share of the Transfer Shares, stating the number of the additional Transfer Shares it proposes to purchase. Such notice may be made by telephone if followed by a written confirmation within two (2) Business Days from the date of verbal notice. If as a result thereof, such over-allotment exceeds the total number of the remaining Transfer Shares available for purchase, the over-purchasing Exercising Holders will be cut back or limited by the Selling Shareholder with respect to their over-allotment to that number of remaining Transfer Shares equal to the lesser of (i) the number of the additional Transfer Shares it proposes to purchase; (ii) the product obtained by multiplying (x) the number of the remaining Transfer Shares available for purchase by (y) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of Ordinary Shares (on an as-converted basis and excluding any Ordinary Shares issued to ROFR Rights Holders prior to or on the date of the Closing) held by such over-purchasing Exercising Holder and the denominator of which is the total number of Ordinary Shares (on an as-converted basis and excluding any Ordinary Shares issued to ROFR Rights Holders prior to or on the date of the Closing) held on the date of the Transfer Notice by all the Ordinary Shareholders and the Preferred Shareholders. Each over-purchasing Exercising Holder shall be obligated to purchase such number of additional Transfer Shares as determined by the Selling Shareholder pursuant to this sub-article (d) and the Selling Shareholder shall so notify such Exercising Holders within fifteen (15) Business Days from the date of the Second Transfer Notice.
(2) |
Co-Sale Rights Holders Right of Co-Sale : To the extent any ROFR Rights Holder does not exercise its respective rights of first refusal as to any or all of the Transfer Shares pursuant to Article 11A(1), such ROFR Rights Holder (hereinafter, the Co-Sale Rights Holder ) shall have the right but not the obligation, exercisable upon delivery of a written notice to the Selling Shareholder, with a copy to the Company, within twenty (20) Business Days following the expiration of the First Refusal Period (or if there is a re-allotment in accordance with Article 11 A(1)(d), the Second Refusal Period), to participate in the sale of any Transfer Shares to the extent of such Co-Sale Rights Holders Pro Rata Co-Sale Share (as defined below) at the price not less than the price in the Transfer Notice and upon the same terms and conditions indicated in the Transfer Notice. A failure by any Co-Sale Rights Holder to respond within such prescribed period shall constitute a decision by such Co-Sale Rights Holder not to exercise its right of co-sale as provided herein. To the extent one (1) or more of the Co-Sale Rights Holders exercise such right of co-sale in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth below, the number of Transfer Shares that the Selling Shareholder may sell in the transaction shall be correspondingly reduced. The foregoing co-sale right of each Co-Sale Rights Holder shall be subject to the following terms and conditions: |
22
(a) |
each Co-Sale Rights Holder may sell all or any part of its Pro Rata Share of the Transfer Shares. A Co-Sale Rights Holders Pro Rata Co-Sale Share of a specified quantity of the Transfer Shares shall mean that number of Ordinary Shares (or that number of Preferred Shares which, if converted at the then conversion ratio, would equal that number of Ordinary Shares) which equals the specified quantity of the Transfer Shares proposed to be transferred multiplied by a fraction equal to (i) the total number of Ordinary Shares (on an as converted basis) then held by such Co-Sale Rights Holder exercising co-sale rights pursuant to this Article 11A(2), divided by (ii) the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Selling Shareholder plus the total number of Ordinary Shares then held by all the Co-Sale Rights Holders exercising co-sale rights pursuant to this Article 11A(2), on an as converted basis. As used in this definition, the phrase on an as converted basis shall mean assuming conversion of all Preferred Shares but not assuming exercise or conversion of any other outstanding option, warrants, or other Convertible Securities. |
(b) |
each Co-Sale Rights Holder shall effect its participation in the sale by promptly delivering to the Selling Shareholder, with a copy to the Company, for transfer to the prospective purchaser share certificates in respect of all Shares to be sold by such Co-Sale Rights Holder and a transfer form signed by such Co-Sale Rights Holder, which indicates: |
(i) |
the number of Ordinary Shares which such Co-Sale Rights Holder elects to sell; |
(ii) |
that number of Preferred Shares which is at such time convertible into the number of Ordinary Shares that such Co-Sale Rights Holder elects to sell; or |
(iii) |
any combination of the foregoing; |
provided, however, that if the prospective purchaser objects to the delivery of Preferred Shares in lieu of Ordinary Shares, such Co-Sale Rights Holder shall convert such Preferred Shares into Ordinary Shares and deliver Ordinary Shares. The Company agrees to make any such conversion concurrent with the actual transfer of such shares to the purchaser.
23
(c) |
Procedure at Closing . The share certificate or certificates that such Co-Sale Rights Holder delivers to the Selling Shareholder pursuant to Article 11A(2)(b) shall be transferred to the prospective purchaser and the Register of Members of the Company shall be updated in consummation of the sale of the Remaining Transfer Shares pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the Transfer Notice, and the Selling Shareholder shall concurrently therewith remit to such Co-Sale Rights Holder that portion of the sale proceeds to which such Co-Sale Rights Holder is entitled by reason of its participation in such sale. To the extent that any prospective purchaser or purchasers prohibit such assignment or otherwise refuse to purchase shares or other securities from a Co-Sale Rights Holder exercising its rights of co-sale hereunder, the Selling Shareholder shall not sell any Remaining Transfer Shares to such prospective purchaser or purchasers unless and until, simultaneously with such sales, the Selling Shareholder shall purchase such shares or other securities from such Co-Sale Rights Holder. In selling their Shares pursuant to their co-sale right hereunder, the Co-Sale Rights Holders shall not be required to give any representations or warranties with respect to their Shares to be sold except to confirm that they have not transferred or encumbered such Shares. |
(d) |
Non-Exercise . To the extent the Co-Sale Rights Holders do not elect to participate in the sale of Transfer Shares pursuant to the Transfer Notice, the Selling Shareholder may, not later than ninety (90) days following delivery of the Transfer Notice to each Co-Sale Rights Holder, effect a transfer of the Transfer Shares covered by the Transfer Notice and not elected to be sold by the Co-Sale Rights Holders. Any proposed transfer on terms and conditions more favorable than those described in the Transfer Notice, as well as any subsequent proposed transfer of any Shares by the Selling Shareholder, shall be subject to the procedures described in Article 11A(1) and Article 11A(2). |
(3) |
Prohibited Transfer . |
(a) |
Prohibited Transfer . In the event a Selling Shareholder should sell any Transfer Shares in disregard or contravention of Article 11A or Article 11C (a Prohibited Transfer ), the ROFR Rights Holders and the Co-Sale Rights Holders (collectively, the Rights Holders ), in addition to such other remedies as may be available at law, in equity or hereunder, shall have the put option provided below, and such Selling Shareholder shall be bound by the applicable provisions of such option. |
(b) |
Put Right . Without prejudice to any other rights and remedies available to any Rights Holder, in the event of a Prohibited Transfer, each Rights Holder shall have the right to sell to the Selling Shareholder the type and number of Ordinary Shares (or that number of Preferred Shares which, if converted at the then conversion ratio, would equal that number of Ordinary Shares) which equals the specified quantity of the Transfer Shares proposed to be transferred multiplied by a fraction equal to (i) the total number of Ordinary Shares (on an as converted basis) then held by such Rights Holder exercising put rights pursuant to this Article 11A(3), divided by (ii) the total number of Ordinary Shares then held by all the Rights Holders exercising put rights pursuant to this Article 11A(3), on an as converted basis, and have the Prohibited Transfer been effected pursuant to and in compliance with the terms hereof. Such sale shall be made on the following terms and conditions: |
24
(i) |
The price per share at which the Shares are to be sold to the Selling Shareholder shall be equal to the price per share paid by the purchaser to the Selling Shareholder in the Prohibited Transfer. The Selling Shareholder shall also reimburse each Rights Holder for any and all reasonable fees and expenses, including legal fees and out-of-pocket expenses, incurred pursuant to the exercise or the attempted exercise of such Rights Holders rights under Article 11A. |
(ii) |
Each Rights Holder shall, if exercising the option created hereby, deliver to the Selling Shareholder within ninety (90) days after the later of the dates on which the Rights Holder (A) received notice of the Prohibited Transfer or (B) otherwise become aware of the Prohibited Transfer, a notice describing the type and the number of Shares to be transferred by such Rights Holder. |
(iii) |
The Selling Shareholder shall, promptly upon receipt of the notice described in Article 11A(3)(b)(ii) above from the Rights Holder(s) exercising the option created hereby, pay to the each such Rights Holder the aggregate purchase price for the Shares to be sold by such Rights Holder, and the amount of reimbursable fees and expenses, as specified in Article 11A(3)(b)(i), in cash or by other means acceptable to the Right Holder. |
(iv) |
Upon receipt of full payment of the amount due from the Selling Shareholder, the Rights Holder shall deliver to the Selling Shareholder the certificate or certificates representing Shares to be sold, together with a transfer form signed by the Rights Holder transferring such shares. |
(v) |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any attempt by a Selling Shareholder to transfer any of the Transfer Shares in violation of Article 11A or Article 11C shall be void, and the Company will not effect such a transfer nor will treat any alleged transferee as the holder of such shares without the written consent of the Majority Preferred Shareholders. |
B. |
Drag Along : |
(a) |
If at any time following the Series E Original Issue Date, there shall be: |
25
(i) |
an offer by a Person that is not an Affiliate of any Member to purchase all the Shares or voting rights in the Company; |
(ii) |
a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation in which the Company is not the surviving entity but the Shares or voting rights of the Company outstanding immediately prior to the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash, or otherwise; or |
(iii) |
a sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Companys properties and assets to any other Person, |
in each case, which is a transaction at arms length for an aggregate implied valuation of the Company of not less than US$870 million , if Mr. JIN Xing, the holders representing not less than two thirds (2/3) of the then outstanding Preferred Shares (collectively, the Drag Holders ) approve such transaction, at the request of the Drag Holders, then each remaining Member (each a Dragged Holder and collectively, the Dragged Holders ) shall sell, transfer, convey or assign its Shares (such sale, transfer, conveyance or assignment pursuant to this Article 11B, a Drag-Along Sale ) pursuant to, and so as to give effect to, such offer to purchase, merger or consolidation, sale or transfer, as the case may be. If the consideration offered is payable in securities or property other than cash (or evidence of cash indebtedness), the Board shall in good faith determine the fair market value of any such securities or property in cash, provided that any shareholder of Series A Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, the Series D+ Preferred Shares or the Series E Preferred Shares shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Board of fair market value made pursuant hereto, in which case the determination of fair market value shall be made by a valuer selected jointly by the Board and the challenging parties. The valuer shall prepare a report setting forth the basis of its calculating such fair market value, and the determination of such fair market value by the valuer shall, in the absence of manifest error, be final and conclusive. The costs of the valuer shall be borne solely by the Company. The valuer shall act as expert and not as an arbitrator. If the acquiring party is a privately-held entity and the holders of Preferred Shares receive in whole or in part non-publicly traded securities of such acquirer, then such non-publicly traded securities shall have liquidation preference(s), protective provision(s), voting right(s), dividend right(s), registration rights and preemptive rights that are substantially similar to those of the Preferred Shares, as applicable, as set forth in these Articles and the Shareholders Agreement.
(b) |
The restrictions on Transfers of Shares set forth in Article 11A(1), Article 11A (2) and Article 11C, shall not apply in connection with a sale pursuant to this Article 11B, or anything in the Articles to the contrary notwithstanding. |
(c) |
The Drag Holders may exercise the rights under this Article 11B by notifying in writing each Dragged Holder of the material terms and conditions of such proposed Drag-Along Sale at least twenty (20) days prior to the transfer of their Shares to the acquiring party. |
26
(d) |
Any transfer of Shares by the Dragged Holders shall be on the terms and conditions of the proposed transfer of Shares by the Drag Holders. Completion of the transfer of the Shares pursuant to this Article 11B shall take place on the Completion Date on which the Company shall, subject to receipt of the relevant executed transfer forms, make proper entries in the Register of Members of the Company and cancel the surrendered share certificates and issue any new share certificates in the name of the acquiring party (or as it may direct) as necessary to consummate the transactions in connection with the exercise by the Drag Holders of the rights under this Article 11B. Completion Date means the date proposed for completion of the transfer of the Drag Holders Shares unless otherwise provided herein. On the Completion Date, the Dragged Holders shall deliver executed share transfer forms for the Shares, together with the relevant share certificates (or a suitable indemnity for any lost share certificates) to the acquiring party, and the acquiring party shall pay the consideration due for their Shares. |
C. |
Restrictions on Transfers : |
Subject to Article 11A (1), Article 11A (2) and the provisions of any severance agreement that the Key Parties may enter into, each Key Party agrees that, without the prior written consent of the holders of not less than two thirds (2/3) of the then outstanding Series A Preferred Shares, the holders of not less than two thirds (2/3) of the then outstanding Series B Preferred Shares, the holders of not less than two thirds (2/3) of the then outstanding Series D Preferred Shares and the holders of not less than fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding Series E Preferred Shares it shall not, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any of its Shares in the Company or any of other Group Companies. The Members specifically agree that the restrictions with regard to the transfer of the Shares in the Company as described hereunder shall apply equally to transfer of the shares of each Key Partys Holdco, as if each of the provisions has been repeated hereunder with regard to transfer of the shares of each Key Partys Holdco., except that the reference to the Shares in the Company has been revised to refer to the shares in each Key Partys Holdco. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the transfer restriction shall not apply to (a) any sale or transfer of Shares to the Company pursuant to a repurchase right or right of first refusal held by the Company in the event of a termination of employment or consulting relationship; and (b) transfer of no more than ten percent (10%) of the Shares now or hereafter directly or indirectly held by the Key Parties, to the parents, children or spouses, or to trusts for the benefit of such Persons, of any holder of Shares for bona fide estate planning purposes (each transferee pursuant to the foregoing subsections (a) and (b) a Permitted Transferee ); provided that adequate documentation therefor is provided to the Preferred Shareholders to their satisfaction and that any such Permitted Transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the Memorandum of Association in place of the relevant transferor; provided, further, that such transferor shall remain liable for any breach by such Permitted Transferee of any provision hereunder.
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D. |
No Circumvention : |
The Parties agree that the transfer restrictions set forth in Article 11A and Article 11C shall not be capable of being avoided by the holding of Shares indirectly through any Person. Any transfer of any Shares (or other interest) of a Shareholder or an entity directly or indirectly holding equity interest in a Shareholder shall be treated as being a transfer of Shares held by that Shareholder (but shall be subject to the exceptions to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Memorandum and Articles of Association).
REDEEMABLE SHARES
12 (a) |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, these Articles, and the Memorandum of Association, shares may be issued on the terms that they are, or at the option of the Company or the holder are, to be redeemed on such terms and in such manner as the Company, before the issue of the shares, may by a Special Resolution determine. |
(b) |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, these Articles, and the Memorandum of Association, the Company may purchase its own shares (including fractions of a share), including any redeemable shares, provided that, except in the case of a purchase in accordance with Article 19, the manner of purchase has first been authorized by the Company in general meeting and may make payment therefor in any manner authorized by the Statute, including out of its capital. |
VARIATION OF RIGHTS OF SHARES
13 |
Subject to Article 20, if at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) may, whether or not the Company is being wound-up and except where these Articles or the Statute impose any stricter quorum, voting or procedural requirements in regard to the variation of rights attached to a specific class, be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the issued shares of that class with respect to Series A Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares, Series C-1 Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, Series D+ Preferred Shares, and 50% with respect to Series E Preferred Shares, or with the sanction of resolution of such Members holding not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the votes which could be cast by such holders (in person or by proxy) of the issued shares of that class with respect to Series A Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares, Series C-1 Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, Series D+ Preferred Shares, and 50% with respect to Series E Preferred Shares on a poll at a general meeting. |
28
The provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings shall apply to every such general meeting of the holders of one class of shares except that the necessary quorum shall be one (1) person holding or representing by proxy at least one-third (1/3) of the issued shares of the class and that any holder of shares of the class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll.
14 |
The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu therewith. |
COMMISSION ON SALE OF SHARES
15 |
The Company may in so far as the Statute from time to time permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe whether absolutely or conditionally for any shares of the Company. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the lodgment of fully or partly paid-up shares or a combination of any of the foregoing. The Company may also on any issue of shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful. |
CONVERSION OF SHARES
16 |
A. Conversion of Class A Ordinary Shares . |
(a) |
Voluntary Conversion. Each Class A Ordinary Share shall be convertible into one Class B Ordinary Share at the option of the holder thereof at any time upon written notice to the Company. |
(b) |
Automatic Conversion. Each Class A Ordinary Share shall automatically and immediately, without any further action from the holder thereof, convert into one Class B Ordinary Share upon (i) the termination by JIN Xing of his service or employment with any Group Company, or (ii) the Transfer of such Class A Ordinary Share by JIN Xing to any other Person, whichever occurs earlier. |
For the purposes of this Article 16A(b), the term Transfer shall mean any direct or indirect sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, mortgage, charge, hypothecation or other transfer or disposition of a Class A Ordinary Share, or any legal or beneficial interest in such Class A Ordinary Share, whether or not for value and whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law.
B. |
Conversion of Preferred Shares . |
29
The holders of the Preferred Shares have the following conversion rights described below with respect to the conversion of the Preferred Shares into Class B Ordinary Shares. The number of Class B Ordinary Shares to which a holder shall be entitled upon conversion of any Series A Preferred Share shall be the quotient of the Series A Original Issue Price divided by the then-effective Series A Conversion Price. The Series A Conversion Price shall initially equal the Series A Original Issue Price, and each shall be adjusted from time to time as provided in Article 17 below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series A Preferred Shares to Ordinary Shares shall be 1:1. The number of Class B Ordinary Shares to which a holder shall be entitled upon conversion of any Series B Preferred Share shall be the quotient of the Series B Original Issue Price divided by the then-effective Series B Conversion Price. The Series B Conversion Price shall initially equal the Series B Original Issue Price, and each shall be adjusted from time to time as provided in Article 17 below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series B Preferred Shares to Ordinary Shares shall be 1:1. The number of Class B Ordinary Shares to which a holder shall be entitled upon conversion of any Series C-1 Preferred Share shall be the quotient of the Series C-1 Original Issue Price divided by the then-effective Series C-1 Conversion Price. The Series C-1 Conversion Price shall initially equal the Series C-1 Original Issue Price, and each shall be adjusted from time to time as provided in Article 17 below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series C-1 Preferred Shares to Ordinary Shares shall be 1:1. The number of Class B Ordinary Shares to which a holder shall be entitled upon conversion of any Series C Preferred Share shall be the quotient of the Series C Original Issue Price divided by the then-effective Series C Conversion Price. The Series C Conversion Price shall initially equal the Series C Original Issue Price, and each shall be adjusted from time to time as provided in Article 17 below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series C Preferred Shares to Ordinary Shares shall be 1:1. The number of Class B Ordinary Shares to which a holder shall be entitled upon conversion of any Series D Preferred Share shall be the quotient of the Series D Original Issue Price divided by the then-effective Series D Conversion Price. The Series D Conversion Price shall initially equal the Series D Original Issue Price, and each shall be adjusted from time to time as provided in Article 17 below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series D Preferred Shares to Ordinary Shares shall be 1:1. The number of Class B Ordinary Shares to which a holder shall be entitled upon conversion of any Series D+ Preferred Share shall be the quotient of the Series D+ Original Issue Price divided by the then-effective Series D+ Conversion Price. The Series D+ Conversion Price shall initially equal the Series D+ Original Issue Price, and each shall be adjusted from time to time as provided in Article 17 below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series D+ Preferred Shares to Ordinary Shares shall be 1:1. The number of Class B Ordinary Shares to which a holder shall be entitled upon conversion of any Series E Preferred Share shall be the quotient of the Series E Original Issue Price divided by the then-effective Series E Conversion Price. The Series E Conversion Price shall initially equal the Series E Original Issue Price, and each shall be adjusted from time to time as provided in Article 17 below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series E Preferred Shares to Ordinary Shares shall be 1:1.
30
(a) |
Optional Conversion . Subject to and in compliance with the provisions of this Article 16B(a) and subject to complying with the requirements of the Statute: (A) any Series A Preferred Share may, at the option of the holder thereof and without the payment of any additional consideration, be converted at any time into fully-paid and nonassessable Class B Ordinary Shares based on the then-effective Series A Conversion Price; (B) any Series B Preferred Share may, at the option of the holder thereof and without the payment of any additional consideration, be converted at any time into fully-paid and nonassessable Class B Ordinary Shares based on the then-effective Series B Conversion Price; (C) any Series C-1 Preferred Share may, at the option of the holder thereof and without the payment of any additional consideration, be converted at any time into fully-paid and nonassessable Class B Ordinary Shares based on the then-effective Series C-1 Conversion Price; (D) any Series C Preferred Share may, at the option of the holder thereof and without the payment of any additional consideration, be converted at any time into fully-paid and nonassessable Class B Ordinary Shares based on the then-effective Series C Conversion Price; (E) any Series D Preferred Share may, at the option of the holder thereof and without the payment of any additional consideration, be converted at any time into fully-paid and nonassessable Class B Ordinary Shares based on the then-effective Series D Conversion Price; (F) any Series D+ Preferred Share may, at the option of the holder thereof and without the payment of any additional consideration, be converted at any time into fully-paid and nonassessable Class B Ordinary Shares based on the then-effective Series D+ Conversion Price; and (G) any Series E Preferred Share may, at the option of the holder thereof and without the payment of any additional consideration, be converted at any time into fully-paid and non-assessable Class B Ordinary Shares based on the then-effective Series E Conversion Price. |
(b) |
Automatic Conversion . Without any action being required by the holder of such share and whether or not the certificates representing such share are surrendered to the Company or its transfer agent, each Series A Preferred Share shall automatically be converted, based on the then-effective Series A Conversion Price and without the payment of any additional consideration, each Series B Preferred Share shall automatically be converted, based on the then-effective Series B Conversion Price and without the payment of any additional consideration, each Series C-1 Preferred Share shall automatically be converted, based on the then-effective Series C-1 Conversion Price and without the payment of any additional consideration, each Series C Preferred Share shall automatically be converted, based on the then-effective Series C Conversion Price and without the payment of any additional consideration, each Series D Preferred Share shall automatically be converted, based on the then-effective Series D Conversion Price and without the payment of any additional consideration, each Series D+ Preferred Share shall automatically be converted, based on the then-effective Series D+ Conversion Price and without the payment of any additional consideration, and each Series E Preferred Share shall automatically be converted, based on the then-effective Series E Conversion Price and without the payment of any additional consideration into Class B Ordinary Shares upon the closing of a Qualified IPO. |
Any conversion pursuant to this Article 16B(b) shall be referred to as an Automatic Conversion . |
31
(c) |
Mechanics of Conversion . No fractional Class B Ordinary Share shall be issued upon conversion of the Preferred Shares. In lieu of any fractional shares to which the holder would otherwise be entitled, the Company shall pay cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the then-effective Series A Conversion Price in the case of the conversion of Series A Preferred Shares, the then-effective Series B Conversion Price in the case of the conversion of Series B Preferred Shares, the then-effective Series C-1 Conversion Price in the case of the conversion of Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the then-effective Series C Conversion Price in the case of the conversion of Series C Preferred Shares, the then-effective Series D Conversion Price in the case of the conversion of Series D Preferred Shares, the then-effective Series D+ Conversion Price in the case of the conversion of Series D+ Preferred Shares, or the then-effective Series E Conversion Price in the case of the conversion of Series E Preferred Shares. Before any holder of Preferred Shares shall be entitled to convert the same into full Class B Ordinary Shares and to receive certificates therefor, the holder shall surrender the certificate or certificates for the applicable Preferred Shares, at the principal office of the Company or of any transfer agent for the Preferred Shares to be converted and shall give written notice to the Company at such office that the holder elects to convert the same. The Company shall promptly issue and deliver at such office to such holder of the Preferred Shares a certificate or certificates for, a copy of the Companys register of Member showing such holder of the Preferred Shares as a holder of the number of Class B Ordinary Shares to which the holder shall be entitled as aforesaid certified by the Companys share registrar and a check payable to the holder in the amount of any cash amounts payable as the result of a conversion into fractional Class B Ordinary Shares. The Preferred Shares converted into Class B Ordinary Shares shall be cancelled and shall not be reissued. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such surrender of the certificate or certificates for the Preferred Shares to be converted and the Register of Members is updated, and the person or persons entitled to receive the Class B Ordinary Shares issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such Class B Ordinary Shares on such date. For the avoidance of doubt, no conversion shall prejudice the right of a holder of Preferred Shares to receive dividends and other distributions declared but not paid as at the date of conversion on the Preferred Shares being converted. |
The Company may give effect to any conversion pursuant to the Articles by one or more of the following methods:
(i) |
If the total nominal par value of the Preferred Shares being converted is equal to the total nominal par value of the Class B Ordinary Shares into which such Preferred Shares convert such that each Preferred Share is convertible into one (1) Class B Ordinary Share and both the Preferred Share and the Class B Ordinary Share have the same par value, the Company may, by Special Resolution redesignate the Preferred Shares to Class B Ordinary Shares. On re-designation, each Preferred Share to be converted shall become an Class B Ordinary Share with the rights, privileges, terms and obligations of the class of Class B Ordinary Shares and the converted Class B Ordinary Shares shall thenceforth form part of the class of the Class B Ordinary Shares (and shall cease to form part of the class of Preferred Shares for all purposes). |
32
(ii) |
The Board may by resolution resolve to redeem the Preferred Shares for the purpose of this Article (and, for accounting and other purposes, may determine the value therefor) and in consideration therefor issue fully-paid Class B Ordinary Shares in relevant number. |
(iii) |
The Board may by resolution adopt any other method permitted by Statute including capitalizing reserves to pay up new Class B Ordinary Shares, or by making a fresh issue of Class B Ordinary Shares, except that if conversion is capable of being effected in the manner described in paragraph (i) above, the conversion shall be effected in that manner in preference to any other method permitted by law or the Articles. |
(d) |
Availability of Shares Issuable Upon Conversion . The Company shall at all times keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class B Ordinary Shares, free of liens of any kind, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Preferred Shares, such number of its Class B Ordinary Shares as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Preferred Shares, and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued Class B Ordinary Shares shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding Preferred Shares, in addition to such other remedies as shall be available to the holder of such Preferred Shares, the Company shall take such corporate action as may, in accordance with the Articles and the Statute, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued Class B Ordinary Shares to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes. |
(e) |
Cessation of Certain Rights on Conversion . Subject to Article 16B(c), on the date of conversion of any Series of Preferred Shares to Class B Ordinary Shares, the holder of the Preferred Shares to be converted shall cease to be entitled to any rights in respect of such Preferred Shares and accordingly his name shall be removed from the register of Members as the holder of such Preferred Shares and shall correspondingly be inserted onto the register of Members as the holder of the number of Class B Ordinary Shares into which such Preferred Shares converts. |
(f) |
Class B Ordinary Shares Resulting from Conversion . The Class B Ordinary Shares resulting from the conversion of the Preferred Shares: |
(i) |
shall be credited as fully paid and non-assessable; |
(ii) |
shall rank pari passu in all respects and form one class with the Class B Ordinary Shares then issued; and |
(iii) |
shall entitle the holder to all dividends payable on the Class B Ordinary Shares by reference to a record date after the date of conversion. |
ADJUSTMENTS TO CONVERSION PRICE
33
17 |
(a) Special Definitions. For purposes of this Article 17, the following definitions shall apply: |
(i) |
Options mean rights, options or warrants to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire either Ordinary Shares or Convertible Securities. |
(ii) |
Convertible Securities shall mean any notes, debentures, preferred shares or other securities or rights which are ultimately convertible into or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares. |
(iii) |
Additional Ordinary Shares (each an Additional Ordinary Share ) shall mean all Ordinary Share Equivalents (including reissued shares) issued (or, pursuant to Article 17(c), deemed to be issued) by the Company, other than: |
(A) |
Class B Ordinary Shares issued upon conversion of Preferred Shares; |
(B) |
in the aggregate up to 7,111,447 Class B Ordinary Shares (including any of such shares which are repurchased) issued or issuable to officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company pursuant to any equity plan or incentive arrangement approved by the Directors and in accordance with Article 20 hereof; and |
(C) |
those issued as a dividend or distribution on Preferred Shares or any event for which adjustment is made pursuant to Article 17(f), 17(g) or 17(h) hereof. |
(b) |
No Adjustment of Conversion Price . No adjustment in the Series A Conversion Price shall be made in respect of the issuance of Additional Ordinary Shares unless the consideration for any Additional Ordinary Share issued or deemed to be issued by the Company is less than the Series A Conversion Price in effect on the date of any immediately prior to such issue. No adjustment in the Series B Conversion Price shall be made in respect of the issuance of Additional Ordinary Shares unless the consideration for any Additional Ordinary Share issued or deemed to be issued by the Company is less than the Series B Conversion Price in effect on the date of any immediately prior to such issue. No adjustment in the Series C-1 Conversion Price shall be made in respect of the issuance of Additional Ordinary Shares unless the consideration for any Additional Ordinary Share issued or deemed to be issued by the Company is less than the Series C-1 Conversion Price in effect on the date of any immediately prior to such issue. No adjustment in the Series C Conversion Price shall be made in respect of the issuance of Additional Ordinary Shares unless the consideration for any Additional Ordinary Share issued or deemed to be issued by the Company is less than the Series C Conversion Price in effect on the date of any immediately prior to such issue. No adjustment in the Series D Conversion Price shall be made in respect of the issuance of Additional Ordinary Shares unless the consideration for any Additional Ordinary Share issued or deemed to be issued by the Company is less than the Series D Conversion Price in effect on the date of any immediately prior to such issue. No adjustment in the Series D+ Conversion Price shall be made in respect of the issuance of Additional Ordinary Shares unless the consideration for any Additional Ordinary Share issued or deemed to be issued by the Company is less than the Series D+ Conversion Price in effect on the date of any immediately prior to such issue. No adjustment in the Series E Conversion Price shall be made in respect of the issuance of Additional Ordinary Shares unless the consideration for any Additional Ordinary Share issued or deemed to be issued by the Company is less than the Series E Conversion Price in effect on the date of any immediately prior to such issue. |
34
(c) |
Deemed Issue of Additional Ordinary Shares . In the event the Company issues any Options or Convertible Securities or shall fix a record date for the determination of holders of any class of securities entitled to receive any such Options or Convertible Securities, then the maximum number (as set forth in the instrument relating thereto without regard to any provisions contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such number that would result in an adjustment pursuant to sub-article (ii) below) of Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Options or, in the case of Convertible Securities and Options therefor, the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, shall be deemed to be Additional Ordinary Shares issued as of the time of such issue or, in case such a record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date, provided , that Additional Ordinary Shares shall not be deemed to have been issued unless the consideration per share (determined pursuant to Article 17(e) hereof) of such Additional Ordinary Shares would be less than the Series A Conversion Price in the case of conversion of Series A Preferred Shares, the Series B Conversion Price in the case of conversion of Series B Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Conversion Price in the case of conversion of Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C Conversion Price in the case of conversion of Series C Preferred Shares, the Series D Conversion Price in the case of conversion of Series D Preferred Shares, the Series D+ Conversion Price in the case of conversion of Series D+ Preferred Shares, or the Series E Conversion Price in the case of conversion of Series E Preferred Shares in effect on the date of and immediately prior to such issue, or such record date, and provided , further that in any such case in which Additional Ordinary Shares are deemed to be issued: |
(i) |
no further adjustment in the Applicable Conversion Price shall be made upon the subsequent issue of Convertible Securities or Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of such Options or conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities; |
(ii) |
if such Options or Convertible Securities by their terms provide, with the passage of time or otherwise, for any increase or decrease in the consideration payable to the Company, or increase or decrease in the number of Ordinary Shares issuable, upon the exercise, conversion or exchange thereof, the Applicable Conversion Price computed upon the original issue thereof (or upon the occurrence of a record date with respect thereto), and any subsequent adjustments based thereon, shall, upon any such increase or decrease becoming effective, be recomputed to reflect such increase or decrease insofar as it affects such Options or the rights of conversion or exchange under such Convertible Securities; |
35
(iii) |
upon the expiration of any such Options or any rights of conversion or exchange under such Convertible Securities which shall not have been exercised, the Applicable Conversion Price computed upon the original issue thereof (or upon the occurrence of a record date with respect thereto), and any subsequent adjustments based thereon, shall, upon such expiration, be recomputed as if: |
(A) |
in the case of Convertible Securities or Options for Ordinary Shares, the only Additional Ordinary Shares issued were Ordinary Shares, if any, actually issued upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities and the consideration received therefor was the consideration actually received by the Company for the issue of all such Options, whether or not exercised, plus the consideration actually received by the Company upon such exercise, or for the issue of all such Convertible Securities which were actually converted or exchanged, plus the additional consideration, if any, actually received by the Company upon such conversion or exchange; and |
(B) |
in the case of Options for Convertible Securities, only the Convertible Securities, if any, actually issued upon the exercise thereof were issued at the time of issue of such Options, and the consideration received by the Company for the Additional Ordinary Shares deemed to have been then issued was the consideration actually received by the Company for the issue of all such Options, whether or not exercised, plus the consideration deemed to have been received by the Company upon the issue of the Convertible Securities with respect to which such Options were actually exercised; |
(iv) |
no re-adjustment pursuant to sub-article (ii) or (iii) above shall have the effect of increasing the Applicable Conversion Price to an amount which exceeds the lower of (i) the Applicable Conversion Price on the original adjustment date, or (ii) the Applicable Conversion Price that would have resulted from any issuance of Additional Ordinary Shares between the original adjustment date and such re-adjustment date; and |
(v) |
in the case of any Options which expire by their terms not more than thirty (30) days after the date of issue thereof, no adjustment of the Applicable Conversion Price shall be made until the expiration or exercise of all such Options, whereupon such adjustment shall be made in the manner provided in sub-article (iii) above. |
(d) |
Adjustment of the Applicable Conversion Price Upon Issuance of Additional Ordinary Shares . In the event of an issuance of Additional Ordinary Shares, at any time after the Series E Issuance Date, for a consideration per Ordinary Share received by the Company (net of any selling concessions, discounts or commissions) less than the Applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such issue, then and in such event, such Applicable Conversion Price shall be reduced, concurrently with such issue, to a price (calculated to the nearest one-hundredth of a cent) determined in accordance with the following formula: |
36
CP2 = CP1 * (A + B) / (A + C).
For purposes of the foregoing formula, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) |
CP2 shall mean the Applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately after such issue of Additional Shares; |
(2) |
CP1 shall mean the Applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such issue of Additional Ordinary Shares; |
(3) |
A shall mean the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately prior to such issue of Additional Ordinary Shares, treating for this purpose as outstanding all Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of Options outstanding immediately prior to such issue or upon conversion or exchange of equity securities (including the Preferred Shares) outstanding (assuming exercise of any outstanding Ordinary Share Equivalents therefor) immediately prior to such issue; |
(4) |
B shall mean the number of Ordinary Shares that would have been issued if such Additional Ordinary Shares had been issued at a price per share equal to CP1 (determined by dividing the aggregate consideration received by the Company in respect of such issue by CP1); and |
(5) |
C shall mean the number of such Additional Ordinary Shares issued in such transaction. |
(e) |
Determination of Consideration . For purposes of this Article 17, the consideration received by the Company for the issue of any Additional Ordinary Shares shall be computed as follows: |
(i) |
Cash and Property. Except as provided in sub-article (ii) below, such consideration shall: |
37
(A) |
insofar as it consists of cash, be computed at the aggregate amount of cash received by the Company, excluding amounts paid or payable for accrued interest or accrued dividends; |
(B) |
insofar as it consists of property other than cash, be computed at the fair value thereof at the time of such issue, as determined in good faith by the Directors; provided , however , that no value shall be attributed to any services performed by any employee, officer or director of the Company; and |
(C) |
in the event Additional Ordinary Shares are issued together with other shares or securities or other assets of the Company for consideration which covers both, be the proportion of such consideration so received with respect to such Additional Ordinary Shares, computed as provided in sub-articles (A) and (B) above, as determined in good faith by the Directors. |
(ii) |
Options and Convertible Securities. The consideration per share received by the Company for Additional Ordinary Shares deemed to have been issued pursuant to Article 17(c), relating to Options and Convertible Securities, shall be determined by dividing: |
(A) |
the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Company (net of any selling concessions, discounts or commissions) as consideration for the issue of such Options or Convertible Securities, plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration (as set forth in the instruments relating thereto, without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such consideration) payable to the Company upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, or in the case of Options for Convertible Securities, the exercise of such Options for Convertible Securities and the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, by |
(B) |
the maximum number of Ordinary Shares (as set forth in the instruments relating thereto, without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such number) issuable upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities. |
(f) |
Adjustments for Shares Dividends, Subdivisions, Combinations or Consolidations of Ordinary Shares . In the event the outstanding Ordinary Shares shall be subdivided (by share dividend, share split, or otherwise), into a greater number of Ordinary Shares, the Applicable Conversion Price then in effect shall, concurrently with the effectiveness of such subdivision, be proportionately decreased. In the event the outstanding Ordinary Shares shall be combined or consolidated, by reclassification or otherwise, into a lesser number of Ordinary Shares, the Applicable Conversion Price then in effect shall, concurrently with the effectiveness of such combination or consolidation, be proportionately increased. |
38
(g) |
Adjustments for Other Distributions . In the event the Company makes, or files a record date for the determination of holders of Ordinary Shares entitled to receive any distribution payable in securities or assets of the Company other than Ordinary Shares, then and in each such event, provision shall be made so that the holders of Preferred Shares shall receive upon conversion thereof, in addition to the number of Ordinary Shares receivable thereupon, the amount of securities or assets of the Company which they would have received had their Preferred Shares been converted into Ordinary Shares on the date of such event and had they thereafter, during the period from the date of such event to and including the date of conversion, retained such securities or assets receivable by them as aforesaid during such period, subject to all other adjustment called for during such period under this Article 17 with respect to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Shares. |
(h) |
Adjustments for Reclassification, Exchange and Substitution . If the Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares shall be changed into the same or a different number of shares of any other class or classes of shares, whether by capital reorganization, reclassification or otherwise (other than a subdivision or combination of shares provided for above), then and in each such event, the holder of each applicable Preferred Share shall have the right thereafter to convert such share into the kind and amount of shares and other securities and property receivable upon such reorganization or reclassification or other change by holders of the number of Ordinary Shares that would have been subject to receipt by the holders upon conversion of the applicable series of Preferred Shares immediately before that change, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein. |
(i) |
No Impairment . The Company shall not, by amendment of these Articles or its Memorandum of Association or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the Company but shall at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of Article 17 and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the Preferred Shares hereunder against impairment. |
(j) |
Certificate as to Adjustments . Upon the occurrence of each adjustment or re-adjustment of the Applicable Conversion Price pursuant to this Article 17, the Company shall, at its expense, promptly compute such adjustment or re-adjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and furnish to each holder of Preferred Shares a certificate setting forth such adjustment or re-adjustment and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or re-adjustment is based. The Company shall, upon the written request at any time of any holder of Preferred Shares, furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a like certificate setting forth (i) such adjustments and re-adjustments, (ii) the Applicable Conversion Price at the time in effect, and (iii) the number of Ordinary Shares and the amount, if any, of other property which at the time would be received upon the conversion of each series of Preferred Shares. |
39
(k) |
Miscellaneous . |
(i) |
All calculations under this Article 17 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one hundredth (1/100) of a share. Upon conversion of such number of Preferred Shares, the resultant aggregate number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to each holder of Preferred Shares if not a whole number (but part or fraction of an Ordinary Share), shall be rounded up to the nearest multiple of one (1) Ordinary Share such that the resultant aggregate number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to such holder of Preferred Shares shall be a whole number. |
(ii) |
The holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of each series of Preferred Shares shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Directors of fair value pursuant to this Article 17, in which case such determination of fair value shall be made by an independent appraiser selected jointly by the Directors and the challenging parties, the cost of such appraisal to be borne equally by the Company and the challenging parties. |
(iii) |
No adjustment in the Applicable Conversion Price need be made if such adjustment would result in a change in such Applicable Conversion Price of less than US$0.0005. Any adjustment of less than US$0.0005 which is not made shall be carried forward and shall be made at the time of and together with any subsequent adjustment which, on a cumulative basis, amounts to an adjustment of US$0.0005 or more in the Applicable Conversion Price. |
NOTICES OF RECORD DATE
18 |
In the event that the Company shall propose at any time: |
(a) |
to declare any dividend or distribution upon its Ordinary Shares, whether in cash, property, shares or other securities, whether or not a regular cash dividend and whether or not out of earnings or earned surplus; |
(b) |
to offer for subscription to the holders of any class or series of its shares on a pro-rata basis, any additional shares of shares of any class or series or other rights; |
(c) |
to effect any reclassification or recapitalization of its Ordinary Shares outstanding involving a change in the Ordinary Shares; or |
(d) |
to merge or consolidate with or into any other corporation, or sell, lease or convey all or substantially all its property or business, or to liquidate, dissolve or wind up, then, in connection with each such event, the Company shall send to the holders of the Preferred Shares: |
(i) |
at least twenty (20) days prior written notice specifying the date on which a record shall be taken for such dividend, distribution or subscription rights (and specifying the date on which the holders of Ordinary Shares shall be entitled thereto) or for determining rights to vote in respect of the matters referred to in (c) and (d) above; and |
40
(ii) |
in the case of the matters referred to in (c) and (d) above, at least twenty (20) days prior written notice specifying the date when the same shall take place (and specifying the date on which the holders of Ordinary Shares shall be entitled to exchange their Ordinary Shares for securities or other property deliverable upon the occurrence of such event). |
Each such written notice shall be delivered personally or given by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of the Preferred Shares at the address for each such holder as shown on the books of the Company.
REDEMPTION
19 |
(a) At any time and from time to time on or after the earlier date of the occurrence of the following (i) the Company fails to consummate a Qualified IPO or a Trade Sale (as defined in the Shareholders Agreement) prior to the December 31, 2021, or (ii) there is a material breach by any Group Company or any of the Key Parties of any of their respective representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings set forth in the Transaction Documents, each Preferred Share shall be redeemable at the option of each holder of the Preferred Shares, out of funds legally available therefor. Following receipt of the request for redemption from such holders, the Company shall within fifteen (15) business days give written notice (the Redemption Notice ) to each holder of record of a Preferred Share, at the address last shown on the records of the Company for such holder(s). Such notice shall indicate that the holders of a series of the Preferred Shares have elected redemption of all or a portion of such series of the Preferred Shares pursuant to the provisions of this Article 19, shall specify the scheduled redemption date (the Redemption Date ) which shall be not more than thirty (30) business days from the date of the Redemption Notice, and shall direct the holders of such shares to submit their share certificates to the Company on or before the scheduled Redemption Date. The redemption price shall be, with respect to the holders of Series A Preferred Shares, one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable Series A Original Issue Price (adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus an amount that would accrue on the Series A Original Issue Price at a compound rate of ten percent (10%) per annum during the period commencing from the date of Series A Original Issue Date and ending on the Redemption Date and in each case all dividends declared and unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) per Preferred Share then held by such holder (the Series A Redemption Price ), with respect to the holders of Series B Preferred Shares, one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable Series B Original Issue Price (adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus an amount that would accrue on the Series B Original Issue Price at a compound rate of ten percent (10%) per annum during the period commencing from the date of Series B Original Issue Date and ending on the Redemption Date and in each case all dividends declared and unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) per Preferred Share then held by such holder (the Series B Redemption Price ), with respect to the holders of Series C-1 Preferred Shares, one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable Series C-1 Original Issue Price (adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus an amount that would accrue on the Series C-1 Original Issue Price at a compound rate of ten percent (10%) per annum during the period commencing from the date of Series C-1 Original Issue Date and ending on the Redemption Date and in each case all dividends declared and unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) per Preferred Share then held by such holder (the Series C-1 Redemption Price ), with respect to the holders of Series C Preferred Shares, one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable Series C Original Issue Price (adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus an amount that would accrue on the Series C Original Issue Price at a compound rate of ten percent (10%) per annum during the period commencing from the date of Series C Original Issue Date and ending on the Redemption Date and in each case all dividends declared and unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) per Preferred Share then held by such holder (the Series C Redemption Price ), with respect to the holders of Series D Preferred Shares, one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable Series D Original Issue Price (adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus an amount that would accrue on the Series D Original Issue Price at a compound rate of ten percent (10%) per annum during the period commencing from the date of Series D Original Issue Date and ending on the Redemption Date and in each case all dividends declared and unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) per Preferred Share then held by such holder (the Series D Redemption Price ), with respect to the holders of Series D+ Preferred Shares, one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable Series D+ Original Issue Price (adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus an amount that would accrue on the Series D+ Original Issue Price at a compound rate of ten percent (10%) per annum during the period commencing from the date of Series D+ Original Issue Date and ending on the Redemption Date and in each case all dividends declared and unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) per Preferred Share then held by such holder (the Series D+ Redemption Price ), and with respect to the holders of Series E Preferred Shares, one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable Series E Original Issue Price (adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus an amount that would accrue on the Series E Original Issue Price at a compound rate of ten percent (10%) per annum during the period commencing from the date of Series E Original Issue Date and ending on the Redemption Date and in each case all dividends declared and unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) per Preferred Share then held by such holder (the Series E Redemption Price ). The closing (the Redemption Closing ) of the redemption of any series of the Preferred Shares pursuant to this Article 19(a) will take place within thirty (30) business days of the date of the Redemption Notice at the offices of the Company, or such earlier date or other place as the holders of a majority of that series of the Preferred Shares and the Company may mutually agree in writing. At the Redemption Closing, subject to applicable law, the Company will, from any source of assets or funds legally available therefore, redeem the Preferred Shares held by each holder by paying in cash therefore the Redemption Price against surrender by such holder at the Companys principal office of the certificate representing such share. From and after the Redemption Closing, if the Company makes the Redemption Price available to a holder of a Preferred Share, all rights of the holder of such Preferred Share (except the right to receive the Redemption Price therefore) will cease with respect to such Preferred Share, and such Preferred Share will not thereafter be transferred on the books of the Company or be deemed outstanding for any purpose whatsoever and the Register of Members shall be updated accordingly. |
41
(b) |
Insufficient Funds . If the Companys assets or funds which are legally available on the date that any redemption payment under this Article 19 is due are insufficient to pay in full all redemption payments to be paid at the Redemption Closing, (i) those assets or funds which are legally available shall be first used to the extent permitted by applicable law to pay all redemption payments due on such date ratably and on a pari passu basis as between each Preferred Shares in proportion to the full amounts to which such holders to which such redemption payments are due would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon; and (ii) the Company shall execute and deliver to each holder a promissory note for the full amount of the redemption payment due but not paid to such holder pursuant to sub-article (i) above; provided, that such promissory note shall be due and payable no later than the two (2) year anniversary of the Redemption Closing date, and the full amount due under such promissory note shall accrue interest daily (on the basis of a 365-day year) at a rate of fifteen percent (15%) per annum provided that if a promissory note is issued, the relevant Preferred Shares shall be cancelled. |
(c) |
Other Limited Redemption . If the Company is otherwise prohibited by applicable law from redeeming all Preferred Shares to be redeemed at the Redemption Closing, those assets or funds which are legally available shall be used to the extent permitted by applicable law, and pursuant to this Article 19, to pay all redemption payments due on such date ratably in proportion to the full amounts to which the holders to which such redemption payments are due would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon. Thereafter, all assets or funds of the Company that become legally available for the redemption of shares shall immediately be used to pay the redemption payment which the Company did not pay on the date that such redemption payments were due pursuant to this Article 19. |
(d) |
Un-redeemed Shares . Without limiting any rights of the holders of Preferred Shares which are set forth in these Articles, or are otherwise available under law, the balance of any shares subject to redemption hereunder with respect to which the Company has become obligated to pay the redemption payment but which it has not paid in full shall continue to have all the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional, and other special rights (including, without limitation, rights to accrue dividends) which such shares had prior to such date, until the redemption payment has been paid in full with respect to such shares, other than where a promissory note is issued in respect of such Preferred Shares. |
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PROTECTIVE PROVISIONS
20 |
Preferred Shareholder Protective Provisions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary and in addition to any other provisions in these Articles, so long as any Preferred Shares are outstanding, any action (whether by amendment of the Memorandum of Association or these Articles or otherwise, and whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) that effects or approves any of the following transactions involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall require the prior written approval of (A) the holders representing more than 2/3 of the Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting on an as-converted basis (the Preferred Majority ), with respect to actions (d), (e), (g), (m), (o), (s), (w) and (y); or (B) the Majority Investor Directors, with respect to any action listed below (other than in respect of those matters listed above). So long as any Preferred Shares are outstanding, any change to the rights or preference of Preferred Shares or any amendment to the memorandum and articles of the Company that adversely affects the rights of the holders of such Preferred Shares shall require the prior written approval of the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of such class of Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting as a single class on an as converted basis; provided, however, that, to the extent in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, any authorization, creation or issuance of any shares of any class, series or subseries having preferences superior to or on parity with such Preferred Shares shall not be deemed as adverse amendment or change to the rights or preference of such class of Preferred Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, where any act listed below requires a Special Resolution of the Members in accordance with the Statute, and if the Members vote in favour of such act but the approval of the Preferred Majority has not yet been obtained, the holders of the Preferred Shares who vote against such act at a meeting of the Members in aggregate shall have the voting rights equal to the aggregate voting power of all the Members who voted in favor of such act plus one (1). For purposes of this Article 20, all references to the Company shall refer to each Group Company and their respective Subsidiaries. |
(a) |
cease to conduct or carry on the business of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries substantially as now conducted or, in the case of a Subsidiary, as conducted at the time it became a Subsidiary of the Company, or change any part of its business activities; |
(b) |
sell or dispose of the whole or a substantial part of the undertaking, goodwill or the assets of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of RMB 10,000,000 accumulatively in a financial year; |
(c) |
any capital expenditure beyond the annual budget approved by the Board; |
(d) |
increase, reduce or cancel the authorized or issued share capital of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries or issue, allot, purchase or redeem any shares or securities convertible into or carrying a right of subscription in respect of shares or any share warrants or grant or issue any options (other than ESOPs), rights or warrants of which may require the issue of shares in the future or do any act which has the effect of diluting or reducing the effective shareholding of the holders of the Preferred Shares in the Company; |
43
(e) |
the declaration or payment of a dividend or other distributions on any securities of any Group Company; capitalization of the premiums of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries; |
(f) |
appoint or settle the terms of appointment of chairman, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer and chief technology officer of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries; |
(g) |
alter the size of the board of directors; |
(h) |
any creation, adoption or amendment of any bonus or profit sharing scheme or any employee share option or share participation scheme or any employee incentive scheme (together with the ESOP, the ESIP) of any Group Company, or any grant of any option under the ESIP or other incentive plan; |
(i) |
adopt the annual accounts or budgets of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries or the amendment of annual accounts or budgets previously adopted, or amendment of the accounting policies previously adopted or change the financial year of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; |
(j) |
appoint or change the auditors of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries; |
(k) |
any loan provided by any Group Company to any third party (including without limitation, the shareholder or director, officer or employee of any Group Company or their associates and affiliates); any loan which is in excess of RMB10,000,000 at any time; |
(l) |
approve or make adjustments or modifications to terms of any related party transaction in excess of RMB100,000 between any Group Company and any director or shareholder of any Group Company, including without limitation, directly or indirectly providing loans, indemnity or guarantee to any director or shareholder of any Group Company or providing indemnity or guarantee to any debts of any director or shareholder of any Group Company; |
(m) |
any material merger, amalgamation, or consolidation in excess of RMB20,000,000; |
(n) |
any series, create, or authorize the creation of, or issue or obligate itself to issue, any securities, or any debt securities in the amount of RMB1,000,000 or above; |
(o) |
borrow any money or obtain any financial facilities beyond the annual budget approved by the Board (including factoring, facility letters, undertakings, guarantees, indemnities, comfort letters, etc.) except pursuant to trade facilities obtained from banks or other financial institutions in the ordinary course of business; |
44
(p) |
provide any guarantee or lien for a third party, or create or issue any debenture constituting a pledge, lien or charge (whether by way of fixed or floating charge, mortgage or other security) on all or any of the undertaking, assets or rights of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries except for the purpose of securing borrowings from banks or other financial institutions in the ordinary course of business not exceeding RMB1,000,000 in respect of any one (1) transaction or in excess of RMB3,000,000 in any financial year; |
(q) |
sell, transfer, license, charge, encumber or otherwise dispose of any trademarks, patents, copyrights or other intellectual property owned by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries; |
(r) |
enter into arrangements for any public offering of the Companys or any of its Subsidiaries securities, including the selection of any underwriter, manager, arranger or counsel for such offering; the consolidation or merger with or into any other business entity or the sale of all or substantially all the assets of any Group Company or the license out of all or substantially all of any Group Company, intellectual property rights; |
(s) |
any change to the Memorandum and Articles of Association or other charter documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; |
(t) |
acquire any share capital or other securities of any body corporate; any purchase by any Group Company of equity securities of, any securities convertible into equity securities of, any other body corporate or enter into any joint venture agreements or the formation of any Subsidiary of the Company; |
(u) |
dispose of or dilute the Companys interest, directly or indirectly, in any of its Subsidiaries; |
(v) |
approve any transfer of shares in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; |
(w) |
any filing by or against any Group Company for the appointment of a receiver, administrator or other form of external manager, or the winding up, liquidation, bankruptcy or insolvency of any Group Company; |
(x) |
amend the Companys Memorandum or Articles of Association in a manner that adversely affects the rights of the holders of the Preferred Shares or amends or changes the rights, preferences, privileges or powers of, or the restrictions provided for, the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Shares; |
(y) |
take any action that reclassifies any outstanding shares into shares having preferences or priority as to dividends or assets senior to or on an parity with the preference of the holders of the Preferred Shares; or |
(z) |
adoption of or any material change in the business plan or annual and quarter budget of the Company. |
45
NON-RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS
21 |
No person shall be recognized by the Company as holding any share upon any trust and the Company shall not be bound by or be compelled in any way to recognize (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future, or partial interest in any share, or any interest in any fractional part of a share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by these Articles or the Statute) any other rights in respect of any share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the registered holder. |
LIEN ON SHARES
22 |
The Company shall have a first and paramount lien and charge on all shares (whether fully paid-up or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others) for all debts, liabilities or engagements to or with the Company (whether presently payable or not) by such Member or his estate, either alone or jointly with any other person, whether a Member or not, but the Directors may at any time declare any share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The registration of a transfer of any such share shall operate as a waiver of the Companys lien (if any) thereon. The Companys lien (if any) on a share shall extend to all dividends or other monies payable in respect thereof. |
23 |
The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors think fit, any shares on which the Company has a lien, but no sale shall be made unless a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, nor until the expiration of fourteen (14) days after a notice in writing stating and demanding payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable, has been given to the registered holder or holders for the time being of the share, or the person, of which the Company has notice, entitled thereto by reason of his death or bankruptcy. |
24 |
To give effect to any such sale, the Directors may authorize some person to transfer the shares sold to the purchaser thereof. The purchaser shall be registered as the holder of the shares comprised in any such transfer, and he shall not be bound by the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the sale. |
25 |
The proceeds of such sale shall be received by the Company and applied in payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable and the residue, if any, shall (subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the shares before the sale) be paid to the person entitled to the shares at the date of the sale. |
CALL ON SHARES
26 (a) |
The Directors may from time to time make calls upon the Members in respect of any monies unpaid on their shares (whether on account of the nominal value of the shares or by way of premium or otherwise) and not by the conditions of allotment thereof made payable at fixed terms, provided that no call shall be payable at less than one (1) month from the date fixed for the payment of the last preceding call, and each Member shall (subject to receiving at least fourteen (14) days notice specifying the time or times of payment) pay to the Company at the specified time or times the amount called on the shares. A call may be revoked or postponed as the Directors may determine. A call may be made payable by installments. |
46
(b) |
A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorizing such call was passed. |
(c) |
The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof. |
27 |
If a sum called in respect of a share is not paid before or on a day appointed for payment thereof, the persons from whom the sum is due shall pay interest on the sum from the day appointed for payment thereof to the time of actual payment at such rate not exceeding ten percent (10%) per annum as the Directors may determine, but the Directors shall be at liberty to waive payment of such interest either wholly or in part. |
28 |
Any sum which by the terms of issue of a share becomes payable on allotment or at any fixed date, whether on account of the nominal value of the share or by way of premium or otherwise, shall for the purposes of these Articles be deemed to be a call duly made, notified and payable on the date on which by the terms of issue the same becomes payable, and in the case of non-payment, all the relevant provisions of these Articles as to payment of interest forfeiture or otherwise shall apply as if such sum had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
29 |
The Directors may, on the issue of shares, differentiate between the holders as to the amount of calls or interest to be paid and the time of payment. |
30 (a) |
The Directors may, if they think fit, receive from any Member willing to advance the same, all or any part of the monies uncalled and unpaid upon any shares held by him, and upon all or any of the monies so advanced may (until the same would but for such advances, become payable) pay interest at such rate not exceeding (unless the Company in general meeting shall otherwise direct) seven percent (7%) per annum, as may be agreed upon between the Directors and the Member paying such sum in advance. |
(b) |
No such sum paid in advance of calls shall entitle the Member paying such sum to any portion of a dividend declared in respect of any period prior to the date upon which such sum would, but for such payment, become presently payable. |
FORFEITURE OF SHARES
31 (a) |
If a Member fails to pay any call or installment of a call or to make any payment required by the terms of issue on the day appointed for payment thereof, the Directors may, at any time thereafter during such time as any part of the call, installment or payment remains unpaid, give notice requiring payment of any part of the call, installment or payment that is unpaid, together with any interest which may have accrued and all expenses that have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment. Such notice shall name a day (not earlier than the expiration of fourteen (14) days from the date of giving of the notice) on or before which the payment required by the notice is to be made, and shall state that, in the event of non-payment at or before the time appointed the shares in respect of which such notice was given will be liable to be forfeited. |
47
(b) |
If the requirements of any such notice as aforesaid are not complied with, any share in respect of which the notice has been given may at any time thereafter, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors to that effect. Such forfeiture shall include all dividends declared in respect of the forfeited share and not actually paid before the forfeiture. |
(c) |
A forfeited share may be sold or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors think fit, and at any time before a sale or disposition, the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors see fit. |
32 |
A person whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Member in respect of the forfeited shares, but shall, notwithstanding, remain liable to pay to the Company all monies which, at the date of forfeiture, were payable by him to the Company in respect of the shares together with interest thereon, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all monies whenever payable in respect of the shares. |
33 |
A certificate in writing under the hand of one (1) Director or the Secretary of the Company that a share in the Company has been duly forfeited on a date stated in the declaration shall be conclusive evidence of the fact stated therein as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the share. The Company may receive the consideration given for the share on any sale or disposition thereof and may execute a transfer of the share in favor of the person to whom the share is sold or disposed of and he shall thereupon be registered as the holder of the share and shall not be bound by the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his title to the share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of the share. |
34 |
The provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the nominal value of the share or by way of premium as if the same had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
REGISTRATION OF EMPOWERING INSTRUMENTS
35 |
The Company shall be entitled to charge a fee not exceeding US$l.00 on the registration of every probate, letter of administration, certificate of death or marriage, power of attorney, notice in lieu of distringas, or other instrument. |
48
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
36 |
In case of the death of a Member, the survivor or survivors where the deceased was a joint holder, and the legal personal representatives of the deceased where he was the sole holder, shall be the only persons recognized by the Company as having any title to his interest in the shares, but nothing herein contained shall release the estate of any such deceased holder from any liability in respect of any shares which had been held by him solely or jointly with other persons. |
37 (a) |
Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other way than by transfer) may, upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Directors and subject as hereinafter provided, elect either to be registered himself as holder of the share or to make such transfer of the share to such other person nominated by him as the deceased or bankrupt person could have made and to have such person registered as the transferee thereof, but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the share by that Member before his death or bankruptcy, as the case may be. |
(b) |
If the person so becoming entitled shall elect to be registered himself as holder, he shall deliver or send to the Company a notice in writing signed by him stating that he so elects. |
38 |
A person becoming entitled to a share by reason of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of the holder (or in any other case than by transfer) shall be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the registered holder of the share, except that he shall not, before being registered as a Member in respect of the share, be entitled to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the Company; provided, however, that the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered himself or to transfer the share, and if the notice is not complied with within ninety (90) days, the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all dividends, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with. |
AMENDMENT OF MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION,
ALTERATION OF CAPITAL & CHANGE OF LOCATION OF REGISTERED OFFICE
39 (a) |
Subject to and in so far as permitted by the provisions of the Statute and these Articles in particular Article 20, the Company may from time to time by a Special Resolution alter or amend its Memorandum of Association with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein provided always that the Company may by an ordinary resolution: |
49
(i) |
increase the share capital by such sum to be divided into shares of such amount or without nominal or par value as the resolution shall prescribe and with such rights, priorities and privileges annexed thereto, as the Company in general meeting may determine; |
(ii) |
consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of larger amount than its existing shares; |
(iii) |
by subdivision of its existing shares or any of them divide the whole or any part of its share capital into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum of Association or into shares without nominal or par value; and |
(iv) |
cancel any shares that at the date of the passing of the resolution have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person. |
(b) |
All new shares created hereunder shall be subject to the same provisions with reference to the payment of calls, liens, transfer, transmission, forfeiture and otherwise as the shares in the original share capital. |
(c) |
Without prejudice to Article 12 hereof and subject to the provisions of the Statute and Article 20, the Company may by a Special Resolution reduce its share capital and any capital redemption reserve fund. |
(d) |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may by a resolution of the Directors change the location of its registered office. |
CLOSING REGISTER OF MEMBERS OR FIXING RECORD DATE
40 |
For the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Members or any adjournment thereof, or Members entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other proper purpose, the Directors may provide that the register of Members shall be closed for transfers for a stated period but not exceeding ten (10) days in any case. If the register of Members shall be so closed for the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Members, such register shall be so closed for at least ten (10) days immediately preceding such meeting and the record date for such determination shall be the date of the closure of the register of Members. |
41 |
In lieu of or apart from closing the register of Members, the Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Members and for the purpose of determining the Members entitled to receive payment of any dividend, the Directors may, at or within ninety (90) days prior to the date of declaration of such dividend fix a subsequent date as the record date for such determination. |
50
42 |
If the register of Members is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Members or Members entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Members. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of Members has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof. |
GENERAL MEETING
43 (a) |
Subject to Article 43(c) hereof, the Company shall within one (1) year of its incorporation and in each year of its existence thereafter hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting and shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. The annual general meeting of each year shall be held at such time and place as the Directors shall appoint. |
(b) |
At these meetings, the report of the Directors (if any) shall be presented. |
(c) |
If the Company is exempted as defined in the Statute, it may but shall not be obliged to hold an annual general meeting. |
44 (a) |
The Directors may whenever they think fit, and they shall on the requisition of Members of the Company holding at the date of the deposit of the requisition not less than one-tenth (1/10) of the paid-up capital of the Company as at the date of the deposit carries the right of voting at general meetings of the Company, proceed to convene a general meeting of the Company. |
(b) |
The requisition must state the objects of the meeting and must be signed by the requisitionists and deposited at the registered office of the Company and may consist of several documents in like form each signed by one or more requisitionists. |
(c) |
If the Directors do not within twenty-one (21) days from the date of the deposit of the requisition duly proceed to convene a general meeting, the requisitionists, or any of them representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting rights of all of them, may themselves convene a general meeting, but any meeting so convened shall not be held after the expiration of three (3) months after the expiration of the said twenty-one (21) days. |
(d) |
A general meeting convened as aforesaid by requisitionists shall be convened in the same manner as the general meetings convened by Directors. |
51
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
45 |
At least twenty (20) days notice shall be given for an annual general meeting or any other general meeting. Every notice shall be exclusive of the day on which it is given or deemed to be given and shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business and shall be given in the manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner as may be prescribed by the Company PROVIDED that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of Article 44 have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed: |
(a) |
in the case of a general meeting called as an annual general meeting by all the Members entitled to attend and vote thereat or their proxies; and |
(b) |
in the case of any other general meeting by a majority in number of the Members having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority together holding not less than seventy-five percent (75%) in nominal value or in the case of shares without nominal or par value seventy-five percent (75%) of the shares in issue, or their proxies. |
46 |
The non-receipt of notice of a meeting by any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting. |
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
47 (a) |
No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of Members is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business; Members holding at least a majority of the voting power of the Ordinary Shares then outstanding (other than Class B Ordinary Shares issued upon the conversion of any Preferred Shares) and the Members holding at least a majority of Preferred Shares, present in person or by proxy shall be a quorum provided always that if the Company has one (1) Member of record, the quorum shall be that one (1) Member present in person or by proxy. |
(b) |
A person may participate at a general meeting by telephone conference or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other. Participation by a person in a general meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. |
48 |
Subject to Article 20, a resolution (including a Special Resolution) in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by all the Members which for the time are entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings (or being corporations by their duly authorized representatives) shall be as valid and effective as if the same had been passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held. |
49 |
If within thirty (30) minutes from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of Members, shall be dissolved and in any other case, it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place or to such other time or such other place as the Directors may determine with notice delivered to all Members five (5) days prior to the adjourned meeting in accordance with the notice procedures under Articles 45, and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, the Members present shall be a quorum. |
52
50 |
The Chairman, if any, of the Board of Directors shall preside as Chairman at every general meeting of the Company, or if there is no such Chairman, or if he shall not be present within fifteen (15) minutes after the time appointed for the holding of the meeting, or is unwilling to act, the Directors present shall elect one (1) of their number to be Chairman of the meeting. |
51 |
If at any general meeting no Director is willing to act as Chairman or if no Director is present within fifteen (15) minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the Members present shall choose one of their number to be Chairman of the meeting. |
52 |
The Chairman may, with the consent of any general meeting duly constituted hereunder, and shall if so directed by the meeting, adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a general meeting is adjourned for thirty (30) days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting; save as aforesaid, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned general meeting. |
53 |
At any general meeting, a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll. |
54 |
Each poll shall be taken in such manner as the Chairman directs and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the general meeting. |
55 |
The Chairman of the general meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote under any circumstance. |
VOTES OF MEMBERS
56 |
Except as otherwise required by law or as set forth herein, the holder of each Class A Ordinary Share issued and outstanding shall have ten (10) votes for each Class A Ordinary Share held by such holder, the holder of each Class B Ordinary Share issued and outstanding shall have one (1) vote for each Class B Ordinary Share held by such holder, and the holder of each series of Preferred Shares shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of Class B Ordinary Shares into which such series of Preferred Shares could be converted at the record date for determination of the Members entitled to vote on such matters, or, if no such record date is established, at the date such vote is taken or any written consent of Members is solicited, such votes to be counted together with all other shares of the Company having general voting power and not counted separately as a class. Holders of the Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares shall be entitled to notice of any Members meeting in accordance with these Articles, and except as otherwise set forth in these Articles, shall vote together and not as separate classes. |
53
57 |
In the case of joint holders of record, the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and for this purpose, seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the register of Members. |
58 |
A Member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court, having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his committee, receiver, curator bonis, or other person in the nature of a committee, receiver or curator bonis appointed by that court, and any such committee, receiver, curator bonis or other persons may vote by proxy. |
59 |
No Member shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless he is registered as a Member of the Company on the record date for such meeting nor unless all calls or other sums presently payable by him in respect of shares in the Company have been paid. |
60 |
No objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter except at the general meeting or adjourned general meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered and every vote not disallowed at such general meeting shall be valid for all purposes. Any such objection made in due time shall be referred to the Chairman of the general meeting whose decision shall be final and conclusive. |
61 |
Votes may be given either personally or by proxy. |
PROXIES
62 |
The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and shall be executed under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorized in writing, or, if the appointor is a corporation, under the hand of an officer or attorney duly authorized in its behalf. A proxy need not be a Member of the Company. |
63 |
The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited at the registered office of the Company or at such other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting no later than the time for holding the meeting, or adjourned meeting, provided that the Chairman of the Meeting may at his discretion direct that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited upon receipt of facsimile or electronic mail confirmation from the appointor that the instrument of proxy duly signed is in the course of transmission to the Company. |
64 |
The instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form and may be expressed to be for a particular meeting or any adjournment thereof or generally until revoked. An instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to include the power to demand or join or concur in demanding a poll. |
54
65 |
A vote given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or insanity of the principal or revocation of the proxy or of the authority under which the proxy was executed, or the transfer of the share in respect of which the proxy is given, provided that no intimation in writing of such death, insanity, revocation or transfer as aforesaid shall have been received by the Company at the registered office before the commencement of the general meeting, or adjourned meeting at which it is sought to use the proxy. |
66 |
Any corporation which is a Member of record of the Company may in accordance with its articles of association or in the absence of such provision by resolution of its Directors or other governing body authorize such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any class of Members of the Company, and the person so authorized shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as the corporation could exercise if it was an individual Member of record of the Company. |
67 |
Shares of its own capital belonging to the Company or held by it in a fiduciary capacity shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time. |
68 |
Any Member may irrevocably appoint a proxy and in such case (i) such proxy shall be irrevocable in accordance with the terms of the instrument of appointment; (ii) the Member may not vote at any meeting at which the holder of such proxy votes; and (iii) the Company shall be obliged to recognize the holder of such proxy until such time as the Company is notified in writing that the proxy has been revoked in accordance with its terms. |
DIRECTORS
69 |
There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of seven (7) persons (exclusive of alternate Directors); provided, however, that, subject to Article 20, the Company may from time to time by Special Resolution increase or reduce the limit in the number of Directors. For so long as there is any Series A Preferred Share outstanding, subject to any agreement among the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares, the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares voting as a class shall be entitled to designate one (1) Director (the Series A Director ). For so long as there is any Series B Preferred Share outstanding and TBP holds any Series B Preferred Shares, TBP shall be entitled to designate one (1) Director (the Series B Director ). For so long as there is any Series C Preferred Share outstanding, subject to any agreement among the holders of the Series C Preferred Shares, the holders of the Series C Preferred Shares voting as a class shall be entitled to designate one (1) Director (the Series C Director ). For so long as there is any Series D Preferred Share outstanding, the Majority Series D Preferred Shareholders shall be entitled to designate one (1) Director (the Series D Director ), the Majority Series E Preferred Shareholders shall be entitled to designate one (1) Director (the Series E Director , together with the Series A Director, Series B Director, the Series C Investor and the Series D Director, the Investor Directors ). The holders of the Ordinary Shares (other than Ordinary Shares issued upon the conversion of Preferred Shares) voting as a single class shall be entitled to elect by a majority vote two (2) Directors (collectively the Ordinary Share Directors ). In addition, each of the Series A Investor, TBP, Apax, CDH, Orchid and BOCI shall respectively have the right to appoint an observer (the Investor Observer , and collectively, the Investor Observers ) to the Board of Directors and each committee thereof to attend board or board committee meetings of the Company or its affiliates in a non-voting observer capacity. The Company shall provide such observers copies of all notices and materials at the same time and in the same manner as the same are provided to the Directors. |
55
70 |
The remuneration to be paid to the Directors shall be such remuneration as the Directors shall determine. Such remuneration shall be deemed to accrue from day to day. The Company shall also reimburse the Investor Directors and the Investor Observers for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with Board duties and meetings including their reasonable traveling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in going to, attending and returning from meetings of the Directors, or any committee of the Directors, or general meetings of the Company, or otherwise in connection with the business of the Company, or to receive a fixed allowance in respect thereof as may be determined by the Directors from time to time, or a combination partly of one such method and partly the other. |
71 |
Subject to the prior written approval of the Members by Special Resolution, the Directors may by resolution award special remuneration to any Director of the Company undertaking any special work or services for, or undertaking any special mission on behalf of the Company other than his ordinary routine work as a Director. Any fees paid to a Director who is also counsel or solicitor to the Company, or otherwise serves it in a professional capacity, shall be in addition to his remuneration as a Director. |
72 |
A Director or alternate Director may hold any other office or place of profit in the Company (other than the office of Auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and on such terms as to remuneration and otherwise as the Directors may determine. |
73 |
A Director or alternate Director may act by himself or his firm in a professional capacity for the Company and he or his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director or alternate Director. |
74 |
A shareholding qualification for Directors may be fixed by the Company in general meeting, but unless and until so fixed, no shareholding qualification for Directors shall be required. |
75 |
A Director or alternate Director of the Company may be or become a director or other officer of or otherwise interested in any company promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as a shareholder or otherwise and no such Director or alternate Director shall be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by him as a director or officer of, or from his interest in, such other company. |
56
76 |
No person shall be disqualified from the office of Director or alternate Director or prevented by such office from contracting with the Company, either as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or any contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director or alternate Director shall be in any way interested be or be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director or alternate Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realized by any such contract or transaction by reason of such Director holding office or of the fiduciary relation thereby established. A Director (or his alternate Director in his absence) shall be at liberty to vote in respect of any contract or transaction in which he is so interested as aforesaid; provided , however , that the nature of the interest of any Director or alternate Director in any such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by him or the alternate Director appointed by him at or prior to its consideration and any vote thereon. |
77 |
A general notice or disclosure to the Directors or otherwise contained in the minutes of a Meeting or a written resolution of the Directors or any committee thereof that a Director or alternate Director is a Member of any specified firm or company and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction with such firm or company shall be sufficient disclosure under Article 76 and after such general notice it shall not be necessary to give special notice relating to any particular transaction. |
ALTERNATE DIRECTORS
78 |
A Director who expects to be unable to attend Directors Meetings because of absence, illness or otherwise may appoint any person to be an alternate Director to act in his stead and such appointee whilst he holds office as an alternate Director shall, in the event of absence therefrom of his appointor, be entitled to attend meetings of the Directors and to vote thereat and to do, in the place and stead of his appointor, any other act or thing which his appointor is permitted or required to do by virtue of his being a Director as if the alternate Director were the appointor, other than appointment of an alternate to himself, and he shall ipso facto vacate office if and when his appointor ceases to be a Director or removes the appointee from office. Any appointment or removal under this Article shall be effected by notice in writing under the hand of the Director making the same. |
POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS
79 |
The business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors (or a sole Director if only one is appointed). The Directors may pay all expenses incurred in promoting, registering and setting up the Company, and may exercise all such powers of the Company as are not, from time to time by the Statute, or by these Articles, or such regulations, as may be prescribed by the Company in a general meeting required to be exercised by the Company in general meetings PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no regulations made by the Company in general meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors which would have been valid if that regulation had not been made. |
57
80 |
All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable instruments and all receipts for monies paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed as the case may be in such manner as the Directors shall from time to time by resolution determine. |
81 |
The Directors shall cause minutes to be made in books provided for the purpose: |
(a) |
of all appointments of officers made by the Directors; |
(b) |
of the names of the Directors (including those represented thereat by an alternate or by proxy) present at each meeting of the Directors and of any committee of the Directors; |
(c) |
of all resolutions and proceedings at all meetings of the Company and of the Directors and of committees of Directors. |
The Company shall cause copies of all such minutes to be delivered to the holders of the Preferred Shares within thirty (30) days after the relevant meeting.
82 |
The Directors on behalf of the Company may pay a gratuity or pension or allowance on retirement to any Director who has held any other salaried office or place of profit with the Company or to his widow or dependants and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance. |
83 |
Subject to Article 20, the Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital or any part thereof and to issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. |
MANAGEMENT
84 (a) |
The Directors may from time to time and at any time provide for the management of the affairs of the Company in such manner as they shall think fit and the provisions contained in the next three (3) paragraphs shall be without prejudice to the general powers conferred by this paragraph. |
(b) |
The Directors may from time to time and at any time establish any committees, local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company and may appoint any persons to be members of such committees or local boards or any managers or agents and may fix their remuneration. |
58
(c) |
The Directors may from time to time and at any time delegate to any such committee, local board, manager or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in the Directors and may authorize the members for the time being of any such local board, or any of them to fill any vacancy therein and to act notwithstanding vacancies and any such appointment or delegation may be made on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Directors may think fit and the Directors may at any time remove any person so appointed and may annul or vary any such delegation, but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of any such annulment or variation shall be affected thereby. |
(d) |
Any such delegate as aforesaid may be authorized by the Directors to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities, and discretions for the time being vested in them. |
MANAGING DIRECTORS
85 |
Subject to Article 20, the Directors may, from time to time, appoint one or more of their body (but not an alternate Director) to the office of a Managing Director for such term and at such remuneration (whether by way of salary, or commission, or participation in profits, or a combination of any of the foregoing) as they may think fit but his appointment shall be subject to determination ipso facto if he ceases for any cause to be a Director and no alternate Director appointed by him can act in his stead as a Director or a Managing Director. |
86 |
The Directors may entrust to and confer upon a Managing Director any of the powers exercisable by them upon such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as they may think fit and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and may from time to time revoke, withdraw, alter or vary all or any of such powers. |
PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
87 |
Except as otherwise provided by these Articles, the Directors shall meet together for the despatch of business, convening, adjourning and otherwise regulating their meetings as they think fit, but no less frequent than once every quarter. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes of the Directors and alternate Directors present at a meeting at which there is a quorum, the vote of an alternate Director not being counted if his appointor be present at such meeting. Mr. JIN Xing, being a Director appointed by the holders of the Ordinary Shares, shall have seven (7) votes for any matter which is subject to Board approval, and each of the other Directors shall have one (1) vote for any matter which is subject to Board approval. |
88 |
A Director or alternate Director may, and the Secretary on the requisition of a Director or alternate Director shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Directors by at least fourteen (14) Business Days notice in writing to every Director and alternate Director, which notice shall set forth the general nature of the business to be considered unless notice is waived by all the Directors (or their alternates) either at, before or after the meeting is held and PROVIDED, FURTHER, if notice is given in person, by facsimile or electronic mail the same shall be deemed to have been given on the day it is delivered to the Directors or transmitting organization, as the case may be. The provisions of Article 45 shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to notices of meetings of Directors. |
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89 |
The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business shall be six (6) Directors, inclusive of the Majority Investor Directors, provided , however , that if such quorum cannot be obtained for a Board meeting after two (2) consecutive notices of Board meetings have been sent by the Company with the first notice providing not less than fourteen (14) days prior notice and the second notice providing not less than five (5) days prior notice, then any directors present shall constitute a quorum. A Director and his appointed alternate Director shall be considered only one (1) person for the purpose of quorum, PROVIDED, ALWAYS, that if there shall at any time be only a sole Director, the quorum shall be one. For the purposes of this Article, an alternate Director or proxy appointed by a Director shall be counted in a quorum at a meeting at which the Director appointing him is not present. |
90 |
The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in the Board of Directors, but if and so long as their number is reduced below the minimum number fixed by or pursuant to these Articles, the continuing Directors, notwithstanding that the number of Directors is reduced below the number fixed by or in accordance with these Articles as the quorum or that there is only one continuing Director, may act for the purpose of filling vacancies in the Board or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but not for any other purpose. |
91 |
The Directors may elect a Chairman of the Board of Directors and determine the period for which he is to hold office; but if no such Chairman is elected, or if at any meeting, the Chairman is not present within five (5) minutes after the time appointed for holding the same, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be the Chairman of the meeting. |
92 |
The Directors may delegate any of their powers to committees consisting of such member or members of the Board of Directors (including Alternate Directors in the absence of their appointors) as they think fit; any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the Directors. |
93 |
A committee may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper. Subject to Article 20, questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present, including the approval of the member appointed by the holders of the Preferred Shares. Subject to this provision, if and when the Board deems necessary, the Company shall establish and maintain a compensation committee (the Compensation Committee ), and the Investor Directors shall be the members of such Compensation Committee and shall be required to establish a quorum for any meeting or action to be taken by such committee. Subject to Article 20, the Compensation Committee shall propose the terms of the Companys share incentive plans and all grants of awards thereunder (including the ESOP) to the Board for approval and adoption by the Members and shall have the power and authority to (a) administer the Companys share incentive plans (including the ESOP) and to grant options thereunder, and (b) approve all management compensation levels and arrangements unless such rights are vested on the holders of the Preferred Shares under Article 20, and shall have such other powers and authorities as the Board shall delegate to it. |
60
94 |
All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of Directors (including any person acting as an alternate Director) shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director or alternate Director, or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and qualified to be a Director or alternate Director, as the case may be. |
95 |
Members of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or of such committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and participation in a meeting pursuant to this provision shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. A resolution in writing (in one or more counterparts), signed by all the Directors for the time being or all the members of a committee of Directors (an alternate Director being entitled to sign such resolution on behalf of his appointor) shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors or committee, as the case may be duly convened and held. |
96 | (a) | A Director may be represented at any meetings of the Board of Directors by a proxy appointed by him in which event the presence or vote of the proxy shall for all purposes be deemed to be that of the Director. |
(b) |
The provisions of Articles 62-65 shall mutatis mutandis apply to the appointment of proxies by Directors. |
VACATION OF OFFICE OF DIRECTOR
97 |
The office of a Director shall be vacated: |
(a) |
if he gives notice in writing to the Company that he resigns the office of Director; |
(b) |
if he absents himself (without being represented by proxy or an alternate Director appointed by him) from three (3) consecutive meetings of the Board of Directors without special leave of absence from the Directors, and they pass a resolution that he has by reason of such absence vacated office; |
(c) |
if he dies, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; |
(d) |
if he is found a lunatic or becomes of unsound mind; or |
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(e) |
if he is removed by a Member vote by the holders of the class of shares that originally appointed him, as set forth in Article 69. |
APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
98 |
The Directors of the Company may only be appointed as provided in Article 69. No Director designated or appointed pursuant to this Article may be removed from office unless (A) such removal is directed or approved of the Member which originally designated or appointed such Director, or (B) the Member(s) originally entitled to designate or appoint such Director pursuant to this Article is no longer so entitled to designate or appoint such Director. Any vacancy on the Board of Directors occurring because of the death, resignation or removal of a director shall be filled by the vote or written consent of the same Member or Members who nominated and elected such Director. |
99 |
In the absence of reasonable cause, a Director of the Company shall only be removed by the Members who nominated and elected him as provided in Article 69. |
PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT
100 |
A Director of the Company who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the Minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent from such action with the person acting as the Secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered mail to such person immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favor of such action. |
SEAL
101 (a) |
The Company may, if the Directors so determine, have a Seal which shall, subject to Article 101(c) below, only be used by the authority of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors authorized by the Directors in that behalf and every instrument to which the Seal has been affixed shall be signed by one (1) person who shall be either a Director or the Secretary or Secretary-Treasurer or some person appointed by the Directors for such purpose. |
(b) |
The Company may have a duplicate Seal or Seals each of which shall be a facsimile of the Seal of the Company and, if the Directors so determine, with the addition on its face of the name of every place where it is to be used. |
(c) |
A Director, Secretary or other officer or representative or attorney may without further authority of the Directors affix the Seal of the Company over his signature alone to any document of the Company required to be authenticated by him under Seal or to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere wheresoever. |
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OFFICERS
102 |
Subject to Article 20, the Company may have a chief executive officer, a president, a chief financial officer, a secretary or a secretary-treasurer appointed by the Directors who may also from time to time appoint such other officers as they consider necessary, all for such terms, at such remuneration and to perform such duties, and subject to such provisions as to disqualification and removal as the Directors from time to time prescribe. |
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND RESERVE
103 (a) |
Subject to the Statute and these Articles, in particular Article 87, the Directors may from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and distributions on shares of the Company outstanding and authorize payment of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor and in accordance with the provisions of this Article 103. |
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(b) |
Each holder of the Series E Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive dividends, out of any funds legally available therefor, prior and in preference to any declaration or payment of any dividend on the Junior Shares (including but not limited to Ordinary Shares), the Series D+ Preferred Shares, the Series D Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares and the Series A Preferred Shares, the greater of (i) the price carried at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum of the Series E Original Issue Price, for each such Series E Preferred Share held by such holder; or (ii) the dividends such holder would have received if such Series E Preferred Share had been converted into Class B Ordinary Shares immediately prior to the record date for such distribution, or if no such record date is established, the date such distribution is made. Such dividends shall be payable when, as and if declared by the Board and shall be on non-accumulative basis. Each holder of the Series D+ Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive dividends, out of any funds legally available therefor, prior and in preference to any declaration or payment of any dividend on the Junior Shares (including but not limited to Ordinary Shares), the Series D Preferred Share, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares and the Series A Preferred Shares, the greater of (i) the price carried at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum of the Series D+ Original Issue Price, for each such Series D+ Preferred Share held by such holder; or (ii) the dividends such holder would have received if such Series D+ Preferred Share had been converted into Class B Ordinary Shares immediately prior to the record date for such distribution, or if no such record date is established, the date such distribution is made. Such dividends shall be payable when, as and if declared by the Board and shall be on non-accumulative basis. Each holder of the Series D Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive dividends, out of any funds legally available therefor, prior and in preference to any declaration or payment of any dividend on the Junior Shares (including but not limited to Ordinary Shares), the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares and the Series A Preferred Shares, the greater of (i) the price carried at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum of the Series D Original Issue Price, for each such Series D Preferred Share held by such holder; or (ii) the dividends such holder would have received if such Series D Preferred Share had been converted into Class B Ordinary Shares immediately prior to the record date for such distribution, or if no such record date is established, the date such distribution is made. Such dividends shall be payable when, as and if declared by the Board and shall be on non-accumulative basis. Each holder of the Series B Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive dividends, out of any funds legally available therefor, prior and in preference to any declaration or payment of any dividend on the Junior Shares (including but not limited to Ordinary Shares) and the Series A Preferred Shares, the greater of (i) the price carried at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum of the Series B Original Issue Price, for each such Series B Preferred Share held by such holder; or (ii) the dividends such holder would have received if such Series B Preferred Share had been converted into Class B Ordinary Shares immediately prior to the record date for such distribution, or if no such record date is established, the date such distribution is made. Such dividends shall be payable when, as and if declared by the Board and shall be on non-accumulative basis. Each holder of the Series A Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive dividends, out of any funds legally available therefor, prior and in preference to any declaration or payment of any dividend on the Junior Shares (including but not limited to Ordinary Shares), the greater of (i) the price carried at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum of the Series A Original Issue Price, for each such Series A Preferred Share held by such holder; or (ii) the dividends such holder would have received if such Series A Preferred Share had been converted into Class B Ordinary Shares immediately prior to the record date for such distribution, or if no such record date is established, the date such distribution is made. Such dividends shall be payable and accrue when, as and if declared by the Board and shall be on non-accumulative basis. Unless and until any dividends or other distributions in like amount have been paid in full on the Preferred Shares (on an as-converted basis), the Company shall not declare, pay or set apart for payment, any dividend and other distributions on any Junior Shares or make any payment on account of, or set apart for payment, money for a sinking or other similar fund for, the purchase, redemption or other retirement of, any Junior Shares or any warrants, rights, calls or options exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into any Junior Shares, or make any distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly, and whether in cash, obligations or shares of the Company or other property. |
(c) |
[RESERVED] |
(d) |
No dividends (other than those payable solely in Ordinary Shares) shall be declared or paid on any Junior Shares during any previous or current fiscal year of the Company until all accrued dividends in the amounts set forth in subsections (b) above shall have been paid or declared and set apart during that fiscal year and unless and until a dividend in like amount as is declared or paid on such Junior Share has been declared or paid on each outstanding Preferred Share (on an as-converted to Ordinary Share basis). |
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104 |
The Directors may, before declaring any dividends or distributions, set aside such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall at the discretion of the Directors, be applicable for any purpose of the Company and pending such application may, at the like discretion, be employed in the business of the Company. |
105 |
No dividend or distribution shall be payable except out of the profits of the Company, realized or unrealized, or out of the Share Premium Account or as otherwise permitted by the Statute. |
106 |
Subject to the rights of persons, if any, entitled to shares with special rights as to dividends or distributions, if dividends or distributions are to be declared on a class of shares they shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid or credited as paid on the shares of such class outstanding on the record date for such dividend or distribution as determined in accordance with these Articles but no amount paid or credited as paid on a share in advance of calls shall be treated for the purpose of this Article as paid on the share. |
107 |
The Directors may deduct from any dividend or distribution payable to any Member all sums of money (if any) presently payable by him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise. |
108 |
Subject to Article 103(b), the Directors may declare that any dividend or distribution be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets and in particular of paid up shares, debentures, or debenture stock of any other company or in any one or more of such ways and where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Directors may settle the same as they think expedient and in particular, may issue fractional certificates and fix the value for distribution of such specific assets or any part thereof and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Members upon the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all Members and may vest any such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Directors. |
109 |
Any dividend, distribution, interest or other monies payable in cash in respect of shares may be paid by cheque or warrant sent through the post directed to the registered address of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the holder who is first named on the register of Members or to such person and to such address as such holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent. Any one of two (2) or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends, bonuses, or other monies payable in respect of the share held by them as joint holders. |
110 |
No dividend or distribution shall bear interest against the Company. |
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CAPITALIZATION
111 |
Subject to Article 20, the Company may upon the recommendation of the Directors by an ordinary resolution authorize the Directors to capitalize any sum standing to the credit of any of the Companys reserve accounts (including Share Premium Account and capital redemption reserve fund) or any sum standing to the credit of profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution and to appropriate such sum to Members in the proportions in which such sum would have been divisible amongst them had the same been a distribution of profits by way of dividend and to apply such sum on their behalf in paying up in full unissued shares for allotment and distribution credited as fully paid up to and amongst them in the proportion aforesaid. In such event the Directors shall do all acts and things required to give effect to such capitalization, with full power to the Directors to make such provisions as they think fit for the case of shares becoming distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements accrue to the Company rather than to the Members concerned). The Directors may authorize any person to enter on behalf of all of the Members interested into an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalization and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all concerned. |
BOOKS OF ACCOUNT
112 |
The Directors shall cause proper books of account to be kept with respect to: |
(a) |
all sums of money received and expended by the Company and the matters in respect of which the receipt or expenditure takes place; |
(b) |
all sales and purchases of goods by the Company; and |
(c) |
the assets and liabilities of the Company. |
Proper books shall not be deemed to be kept if such books of account are not kept as necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the Companys affairs and to explain its transactions.
113 |
The Directors shall from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Members not being Directors and no Member (not being a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by Statute or authorized by the Directors or by the Company in general meeting or in a written agreement binding on the Company. |
114 |
The Directors may from time to time cause to be prepared and to be laid before the Company in general meeting profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, group accounts (if any) and such other reports and accounts as may be required by law. |
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AUDIT
115 |
The Directors shall deliver to the holders of the Preferred Shares (i) annual audited consolidated financial statements within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year; (ii) monthly bank statements of each Group Company and monthly unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Group Companies within thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar month; (iii) quarterly unaudited consolidated financial statements within thirty (30) days after the end of each quarter; (iv) an annual consolidated budget within forty-five (45) days prior to the end of each fiscal year; and (v) such other information that the Company is required to provide to such holders under the Shareholders Agreement, within the time periods prescribed therein. All audits shall be performed in accordance with IAS or other accounting principle as approved by the holders of the Preferred Shares by a reputable accounting firm acceptable to the holders of the Preferred Shares. |
116 |
For so long as any holder of the Preferred Shares continues to hold the Preferred Shares (or Class B Ordinary Shares received upon conversion of the Preferred Shares), any holder of the Preferred Shares (or the Class B Ordinary Shares converted therefrom) or its appointee shall have the right of inspection (including the right of access, examine facilities, books, account, or records, and copy relevant documents of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries, to discuss the business, operations and conditions of each Group Company and their respective Subsidiaries with their respective directors, officers, employees, accounts, legal counsel and investment bankers). |
117 |
For so long as any holder of the Preferred Shares continues to hold the Preferred Shares (or Class B Ordinary Shares received upon conversion of the Preferred Shares), the Company shall provide each such holder with copies of (i) promptly after filing, all of the Companys annual and periodic reports made available to its Members as well as all public reports (including any periodic, interim, or extraordinary reports) filed with the Securities and Futures Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the China Securities and Regulatory Commission of the Peoples Republic of China , the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other stock exchange or securities regulatory authority, as applicable; and (ii) promptly upon request, current versions of investment documents and all documents relating to any subsequent financings by the Company, or otherwise affecting the Preferred Shares or the holders of the Preferred Shares, in each case with all amendments and restatements. This right shall survive the closing of a Qualified IPO of the Company. |
118 |
Subject to Article 20, the Company may at any annual general meeting appoint an Auditor or Auditors of the Company who shall hold office until the next annual general meeting and may fix his or their remuneration. |
119 |
Subject to Article 20, the Directors may before the first annual general meeting appoint an Auditor or Auditors of the Company who shall hold office until the first annual general meeting unless previously removed by an ordinary resolution of the Members in general meeting in which case the Members at that meeting may appoint Auditors. The Directors may fill any casual vacancy in the office of Auditor but while any such vacancy continues, the surviving or continuing Auditor or Auditors, if any, may act. The remuneration of any Auditor appointed by the Directors under this Article may be fixed by the Directors. |
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120 |
Every Auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and Officers of the Company such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the auditors. |
121 |
Auditors shall at the next annual general meeting following their appointment and at any other time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Members, make a report on the accounts of the Company in general meeting during their tenure of office. |
NOTICES
122 |
Notices shall be in writing and may be given by the Company to any Member either personally or by sending it by overnight or international courier, facsimile or electronic mail to him or to his address as shown in the register of Members. |
123 | (a) | Where a notice is sent by overnight or international courier, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre-paying and posting a letter containing the notice, with a confirmation of delivery, and to have been effected at the expiration of sixty (60) hours after the letter containing the same is sent by overnight or international courier as aforesaid. |
(b) |
Where a notice is sent by facsimile or electronic mail, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected on the day the same is sent as aforesaid. |
124 |
A notice may be given by the Company to the joint holders of record of a share by giving the notice to the joint holder first named on the register of Members in respect of the share. |
125 |
A notice may be given by the Company to the person or persons which the Company has been advised are entitled to a share or shares in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member by sending it through overnight or international courier as aforesaid in a pre-paid letter addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt, or by any like description at the address supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled, or at the option of the Company by giving the notice in any manner in which the same might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred. |
126 |
Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner hereinbefore authorized to: |
(a) |
every person shown as a Member in the register of Members as of the record date for such meeting except that in the case of joint holders the notice shall be sufficient if given to the joint holder first named in the register of Members; and |
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(b) |
every person upon whom the ownership of a share devolves by reason of his being a legal personal representative or a trustee in bankruptcy of a Member of record where the Member of record but for his death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting. |
No other person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings.
WINDING UP
127 |
Subject to these Articles, if the Company shall be wound up, the liquidator may, with the sanction of a Special Resolution of the Company and any other sanction required by the Statute, divide amongst the Members in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for such purpose set such value as he deems fair upon any property to be divided as aforesaid and may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the contributories as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any shares or other securities whereon there is any liability. |
LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE
128 |
Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and/or any Group Company, either voluntary or involuntary (each a Liquidation Event ), distributions to the Members of the Company shall be made in the following manner: |
(a) |
Before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any Junior Shares, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares, the holders of Series B Preferred Shares, the holders of Series C Preferred Shares, the holders of Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the holders of Series D Preferred Shares and the holders of Series D+ Preferred Shares, each holder of Series E Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, on parity with each other, an amount equal to one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the Series E Original Issue Price (in each case as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus all dividends declared and unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) per Series E Preferred Share, then held by such holder (the Series E Preferred Shares Liquidation Preference ). If, upon any such liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, the assets of the Company shall be insufficient to make payment of the foregoing amounts in full on all Series E Preferred Shares, then such assets shall be distributed among the holders of Series E Preferred Shares ratably in proportion to the full amounts to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon. |
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(b) |
After distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Series E Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Article 128, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any Junior Shares, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares, the holders of Series B Preferred Shares, the holders of Series C Preferred Shares, the holders of Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the holders of Series D Preferred Shares, each holder of Series D+ Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, on parity with each other, an amount equal to one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the Series D+ Original Issue Price (in each case as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus all dividends declared and unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) per Series D+ Preferred Share, then held by such holder (the Series D+ Preferred Shares Liquidation Preference ). If, upon any such liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, the assets of the Company shall be insufficient to make payment of the foregoing amounts in full on all Series D+ Preferred Shares, then such assets shall be distributed among the holders of Series D+ Preferred Shares ratably in proportion to the full amounts to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon. |
(c) |
After distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Series E Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Article 128 and the Series D+ Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraphs (b) of this Article 128, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any Junior Shares, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares, the holders of Series B Preferred Shares, the holders of Series C Preferred Shares and the holders of Series C-1 Preferred Shares, each holder of Series D Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, on parity with each other, an amount equal to one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the Series D Original Issue Price (in each case as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus all dividends declared and unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) per Series D Preferred Share, then held by such holder (the Series D Preferred Shares Liquidation Preference ). If, upon any such liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, the assets of the Company shall be insufficient to make payment of the foregoing amounts in full on all Series D Preferred Shares, then such assets shall be distributed among the holders of Series D Preferred Shares ratably in proportion to the full amounts to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon. |
(d) |
After distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Series E Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Article 128, the Series D+ Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Article 128 and Series D Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraphs (c) of this Article 128, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any Junior Shares, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares, the holders of Series B Preferred Shares and the holders of Series C-1 Preferred Shares, each holder of Series C Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, on parity with each other, an amount equal to one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the Series C Original Issue Price (in each case as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus all dividends declared and unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) per Series C Preferred Share, then held by such holder (the Series C Preferred Shares Liquidation Preference ). If, upon any such liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, the assets of the Company shall be insufficient to make payment of the foregoing amounts in full on all Series C Preferred Shares, then such assets shall be distributed among the holders of Series C Preferred Shares ratably in proportion to the full amounts to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon. |
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(e) |
After distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Series E Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Article 128, the Series D+ Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraphs (b) of this Article 128, Series D Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraphs (c) of this Article 128 and Series C Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraphs (d) of this Article 128, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any Junior Shares and the holders of Series A Preferred Shares, each holder of Series B Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, on parity with each other, an amount equal to one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the Series B Original Issue Price (in each case as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus all dividends declared and unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) per Series B Preferred Share, then held by such holder (the Series B Preferred Shares Liquidation Preference ). If, upon any such liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, the assets of the Company shall be insufficient to make payment of the foregoing amounts in full on all Series B Preferred Shares, then such assets shall be distributed among the holders of Series B Preferred Shares ratably in proportion to the full amounts to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon. |
(f) |
After distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Series E Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Article 128, the Series D+ Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraphs (b) of this Article 128, Series D Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraphs (c) of this Article 128, Series C Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraphs (d) of this Article 128, and Series B Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraphs (e) of this Article 128, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any Junior Shares, each holder of Series A Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, on parity with each other, an amount equal to one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the Series A Original Issue Price (in each case as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus all dividends declared and unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) per Series A Preferred Share, then held by such holder (the Series A Preferred Shares Liquidation Preference ). If, upon any such liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, the assets of the Company shall be insufficient to make payment of the foregoing amounts in full on all Series A Preferred Shares, then such assets shall be distributed among the holders of Series A Preferred Shares ratably in proportion to the full amounts to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon. |
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(g) |
After distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraphs (a) , (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of this Article 128, the remaining assets of the Company available for distribution to Members shall be distributed ratably among the holders of outstanding Ordinary Shares and the holders of outstanding Preferred Shares in proportion to the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares held by them (with outstanding Preferred Shares treated on an as- converted basis). |
(h) |
Liquidation on Sale or Merger . The following events shall be treated as a liquidation under this Article 128 unless waived by Majority Series A Preferred Shareholders, voting together as a single group on an as-converted basis, by Majority Series B Preferred Shareholders, voting together as a single group on an as-converted basis, by Majority Series C Preferred Shareholders, voting together as a single group on an as-converted basis, by Majority Series D Preferred Shareholders, voting together as a single group on an as-converted basis, and by Majority Series E Preferred Shareholders, voting together as a single group on an as-converted basis (each, a Deemed Liquidation Event ): |
(1) |
any consolidation, amalgamation or merger of the Company and/or any Group Company with or into any other Person or other corporate reorganization, in which the Members of the Company or shareholders of such Group Company immediately prior to such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or reorganization, own less than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of Company or any other Group Company immediately after such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or reorganization, or any transaction or series of related transactions to which the Company is a party in which in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the Companys or any other Group Companys voting power is transferred, but excluding any transaction effected solely for tax purposes or to change the Companys domicile or any other Group Companys domicile; |
(2) |
the sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of a majority of the outstanding share capital of any Group Company to one Person or a group of Persons acting in concert, under circumstances in which the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding share capital of any Group Company immediately prior to such transaction beneficially own less than a majority in voting power of the outstanding share capital of the surviving entity or the acquiring Person immediately following such transaction; |
(3) |
a sale, lease, transfer or other disposition, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by any Group Company of all or substantially all of the assets of any Group Company; or |
(4) |
the exclusive licensing of all or substantially all of the Group Companies intellectual property to a third party; |
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and upon any such event, any proceeds resulting to the Members of the Company therefrom shall be distributed in accordance with the terms of paragraph (a) through (d) of this Article 128.
(i) |
In the event the Company proposes to distribute assets other than cash in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the value of the assets to be distributed to the holder of the Preferred Shares and Ordinary Shares shall be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, or by a liquidator if one is appointed. Any securities not subject to investment letter or similar restrictions on free marketability shall be valued as follows: |
(i) |
if traded on a securities exchange, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the securitys closing prices on such exchange over the thirty (30) day period ending one (1) day prior to the distribution; |
(ii) |
if traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing bid prices over the thirty (30) day period ending three (3) days prior to the distribution; and |
(iii) |
if there is no active public market, the value shall be the fair market value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. |
(j) |
The method of valuation of securities subject to investment letter or other restrictions on free marketability shall be adjusted to make an appropriate discount from the market value determined as above in sub-article (i), (ii) or (iii) to reflect the fair market value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, or by a liquidator if one is appointed. The holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Board of Directors of fair market value pursuant to this Article 128(i), in which case the determination of fair market value shall be made by an independent appraiser selected jointly by the Board of Directors and the challenging parties, the cost of such appraisal to be borne equally by the Company and the challenging parties. |
INDEMNITY
129 |
The Directors and officers for the time being of the Company and any trustee for the time being acting in relation to any of the affairs of the Company and their respective heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company from and against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses which they or any of them shall or may incur or sustain by reason of any act done or omitted in or about the execution of their duty in their respective offices or trusts, except such (if any) as they shall incur or sustain by or through their own willful neglect or default and no such Director, officer or trustee shall be answerable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of any other Director, officer or trustee or for joining in any receipt for the sake of conformity or for the solvency or honesty of any banker or other persons with whom any monies or effects belonging to the Company may be lodged or deposited for safe custody or for any insufficiency of any security upon which any monies of the Company may be invested or for any other loss or damage due to any such cause as aforesaid or which may happen in or about the execution of his office or trust unless the same shall happen through the willful neglect or default of such Director, officer or trustee. |
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FINANCIAL YEAR
130 |
Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on December 31 in each year and, following the year of incorporation, shall begin on January 1 in each year. |
AMENDMENTS OF ARTICLES
131 |
Subject to the Statute and to any quorum, voting or procedural requirements expressly imposed by these Articles in regard to the variation of rights attached to a specific class of shares of the Company, the Company may at any time and from time to time by a Special Resolution, change the name of the Company or alter or amend these Articles or the Memorandum of Association, in whole or in part. |
TRANSFER BY WAY OF CONTINUATION
132 |
If the Company is exempted as defined in the Statute, it shall, subject to the provisions of the Statute and with the approval of a Special Resolution, have the power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. |
NO PUBLIC DOCUMENT
133 |
None of the documents of the Company, including its Memorandum of Association, these Articles, or any register of Members, Directors, transfers or changes, will be exhibited as a public document in the Cayman Islands. |
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Exhibit 3.2
THE COMPANIES LAW (2018 REVISION)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
NINTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
(adopted by a Special Resolution passed on March 27, 2019 and effective immediately prior to the completion of the initial public offering of the Companys American Depositary Shares representing its Class A Ordinary Shares)
1. |
The name of the Company is So-Young International Inc. |
2. |
The Registered Office of the Company will be situated at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited at PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands, or at such other location within the Cayman Islands as the Directors may from time to time determine. |
3. |
The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the Companies Law or any other law of the Cayman Islands. |
4. |
The Company shall have and be capable of exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question of corporate benefit as provided by the Companies Law. |
5. |
The Company will not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of the business of the Company carried on outside the Cayman Islands; provided that nothing in this section shall be construed as to prevent the Company effecting and concluding contracts in the Cayman Islands, and exercising in the Cayman Islands all of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands. |
6. |
The liability of each Shareholder is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the Shares held by such Shareholder. |
7. |
The authorised share capital of the Company is US$425,000 divided into 850,000,000 shares comprising of (i) 750,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.0005 each, (ii) 20,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.0005 each and (iii) 80,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.0005 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors may determine in accordance with Article 9 of the Articles. Subject to the Companies Law and the Articles, the Company shall have power to redeem or purchase any of its Shares and to increase or reduce its authorised share capital and to sub-divide or consolidate the said Shares or any of them and to issue all or any part of its capital whether original, redeemed, increased or reduced with or without any preference, priority, special privilege or other rights or subject to any postponement of rights or to any conditions or restrictions whatsoever and so that unless the conditions of issue shall otherwise expressly provide every issue of shares whether stated to be ordinary, preference or otherwise shall be subject to the powers on the part of the Company hereinbefore provided. |
8. |
The Company has the power contained in the Companies Law to deregister in the Cayman Islands and be registered by way of continuation in some other jurisdiction. |
9. |
Capitalised terms that are not defined in this Memorandum of Association bear the same meanings as those given in the Articles of Association of the Company. |
THE COMPANIES LAW (2018 REVISION)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
NINTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
(adopted by a Special Resolution passed on March 27, 2019 and effective immediately prior to the completion of the initial public offering of the Companys American Depositary Shares representing its Class A Ordinary Shares)
TABLE A
The regulations contained or incorporated in Table A in the First Schedule of the Companies Law shall not apply to the Company and the following Articles shall comprise the Articles of Association of the Company.
INTERPRETATION
1. |
In these Articles the following defined terms will have the meanings ascribed to them, if not inconsistent with the subject or context: |
ADS | means an American Depositary Share representing Class A Ordinary Shares; | |
Affiliate |
means in respect of a Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person, and (i) in the case of a natural person, shall include, without limitation, such persons spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, a trust for the benefit of any of the foregoing, and a corporation, partnership or any other entity wholly or jointly owned by any of the foregoing, and (ii) in the case of an entity, shall include a partnership, a corporation or any other entity or any natural person which directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such entity. The term control shall mean the ownership, directly or indirectly, of shares possessing more than fifty per cent (50%) of the voting power of the corporation, partnership or other entity (other than, in the case of a corporation, securities having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency), or having the power to control the management or elect a majority of members to the board of directors or equivalent decision-making body of such corporation, partnership or other entity; | |
Articles |
means these articles of association of the Company, as amended or substituted from time to time; | |
Board and Board of Directors and Directors |
means the directors of the Company for the time being, or as the case may be, the directors assembled as a board or as a committee thereof; | |
Chairman |
means the chairman of the Board of Directors; | |
Class or Classes |
means any class or classes of Shares as may from time to time be issued by the Company; | |
Class A Ordinary Share |
means a Class A Ordinary Share of a par value of US$0.0005 in the capital of the Company and having the rights provided for in these Articles; |
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Class B Ordinary Share |
means a Class B Ordinary Share of a par value of US$0.0005 in the capital of the Company and having the rights provided for in these Articles; | |
Commission |
means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America or any other federal agency for the time being administering the Securities Act; | |
Company |
means So-Young International Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company; | |
Companies Law |
means the Companies Law (2018 Revision) of the Cayman Islands and any statutory amendment or re-enactment thereof; | |
Companys Website |
means the main corporate/investor relations website of the Company, the address or domain name of which has been disclosed in any registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission in connection with its initial public offering of ADSs, or which has otherwise been notified to Shareholders; | |
Designated Stock Exchange |
means the stock exchange in the United States on which any Shares and ADSs are listed for trading; | |
Designated Stock Exchange Rules |
means the relevant code, rules and regulations, as amended, from time to time, applicable as a result of the original and continued listing of any Shares or ADSs on the Designated Stock Exchange; | |
electronic |
has the meaning given to it in the Electronic Transactions Law and any amendment thereto or re-enactments thereof for the time being in force and includes every other law incorporated therewith or substituted therefor; | |
electronic communication |
means electronic posting to the Companys Website, transmission to any number, address or internet website or other electronic delivery methods as otherwise decided and approved by not less than two-thirds of the vote of the Board; | |
Electronic Transactions Law |
means the Electronic Transactions Law (2003 Revision) of the Cayman Islands and any statutory amendment or re-enactment thereof; | |
electronic record |
has the meaning given to it in the Electronic Transactions Law and any amendment thereto or re-enactments thereof for the time being in force and includes every other law incorporated therewith or substituted therefor; | |
Founder |
means Xing Jin; | |
Memorandum of Association |
means the memorandum of association of the Company, as amended or substituted from time to time; | |
Ordinary Resolution |
means a resolution:
(a) passed by a simple majority of the votes cast by such Shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy or, in the case of corporations, by their duly authorised representatives, at a general meeting of the Company held in accordance with these Articles; or
(b) approved in writing by all of the Shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the Shareholders and the effective date of the resolution so adopted shall be the date on which the instrument, or the last of such instruments, if more than one, is executed; |
|
Ordinary Share |
means a Class A Ordinary Share or a Class B Ordinary Share; | |
paid up |
means paid up as to the par value in respect of the issue of any Shares and includes credited as paid up; | |
Person |
means any natural person, firm, company, joint venture, partnership, corporation, association or other entity (whether or not having a separate legal personality) or any of them as the context so requires; |
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Register |
means the register of Members of the Company maintained in accordance with the Companies Law; | |
Registered Office |
means the registered office of the Company as required by the Companies Law; | |
Seal |
means the common seal of the Company (if adopted) including any facsimile thereof; | |
Secretary |
means any Person appointed by the Directors to perform any of the duties of the secretary of the Company; | |
Securities Act |
means the Securities Act of 1933 of the United States of America, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time; | |
Share |
means a share in the capital of the Company. All references to Shares herein shall be deemed to be Shares of any or all Classes as the context may require. For the avoidance of doubt in these Articles the expression Share shall include a fraction of a Share; | |
Shareholder or Member |
means a Person who is registered as the holder of one or more Shares in the Register; | |
Share Premium Account |
means the share premium account established in accordance with these Articles and the Companies Law; | |
signed |
means bearing a signature or representation of a signature affixed by mechanical means or an electronic symbol or process attached to or logically associated with an electronic communication and executed or adopted by a Person with the intent to sign the electronic communication; | |
Special Resolution |
means a special resolution of the Company passed in accordance with the Companies Law, being a resolution:
(a) passed by not less than two-thirds of the votes cast by such Shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy or, in the case of corporations, by their duly authorised representatives, at a general meeting of the Company of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given; or
(b) approved in writing by all of the Shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the Shareholders and the effective date of the special resolution so adopted shall be the date on which the instrument or the last of such instruments, if more than one, is executed; |
|
Treasury Share |
means a Share held in the name of the Company as a treasury share in accordance with the Companies Law; and | |
United States |
means the United States of America, its territories, its possessions and all areas subject to its jurisdiction. |
2. |
In these Articles, save where the context requires otherwise: |
(a) |
words importing the singular number shall include the plural number and vice versa; |
(b) |
words importing the masculine gender only shall include the feminine gender and any Person as the context may require; |
4
(c) |
the word may shall be construed as permissive and the word shall shall be construed as imperative; |
(d) |
reference to a dollar or dollars (or US$) and to a cent or cents is reference to dollars and cents of the United States of America; |
(e) |
reference to a statutory enactment shall include reference to any amendment or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force; |
(f) |
reference to any determination by the Directors shall be construed as a determination by the Directors in their sole and absolute discretion and shall be applicable either generally or in any particular case; |
(g) |
reference to in writing shall be construed as written or represented by any means reproducible in writing, including any form of print, lithograph, email, facsimile, photograph or telex or represented by any other substitute or format for storage or transmission for writing including in the form of an electronic record or partly one and partly another; |
(h) |
any requirements as to delivery under the Articles include delivery in the form of an electronic record or an electronic communication; |
(i) |
any requirements as to execution or signature under the Articles, including the execution of the Articles themselves, can be satisfied in the form of an electronic signature as defined in the Electronic Transaction Law; and |
(j) |
Sections 8 and 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Law shall not apply. |
3. |
Subject to the last two preceding Articles, any words defined in the Companies Law shall, if not inconsistent with the subject or context, bear the same meaning in these Articles. |
PRELIMINARY
4. |
The business of the Company may be conducted as the Directors see fit. |
5. |
The Registered Office shall be at such address in the Cayman Islands as the Directors may from time to time determine. The Company may in addition establish and maintain such other offices and places of business and agencies in such places as the Directors may from time to time determine. |
6. |
The expenses incurred in the formation of the Company and in connection with the offer for subscription and issue of Shares shall be paid by the Company. Such expenses may be amortised over such period as the Directors may determine and the amount so paid shall be charged against income and/or capital in the accounts of the Company as the Directors shall determine. |
7. |
The Directors shall keep, or cause to be kept, the Register at such place as the Directors may from time to time determine and, in the absence of any such determination, the Register shall be kept at the Registered Office. |
SHARES
8. |
Subject to these Articles, all Shares for the time being unissued shall be under the control of the Directors who may, in their absolute discretion and without the approval of the Members, cause the Company to: |
(a) |
issue, allot and dispose of Shares (including, without limitation, preferred shares) (whether in certificated form or non-certificated form) to such Persons, in such manner, on such terms and having such rights and being subject to such restrictions as they may from time to time determine; |
(b) |
grant rights over Shares or other securities to be issued in one or more classes or series as they deem necessary or appropriate and determine the designations, powers, preferences, privileges and other rights attaching to such Shares or securities, including dividend rights, voting rights, conversion rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the powers, preferences, privileges and rights associated with the then issued and outstanding Shares, at such times and on such other terms as they think proper; and |
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(c) |
grant options with respect to Shares and issue warrants or similar instruments with respect thereto. |
9. |
The Directors may authorise the division of Shares into any number of Classes and the different Classes shall be authorised, established and designated (or re-designated as the case may be) and the variations in the relative rights (including, without limitation, voting, dividend and redemption rights), restrictions, preferences, privileges and payment obligations as between the different Classes (if any) may be fixed and determined by the Directors or by a Special Resolution. The Directors may issue Shares with such preferred or other rights, all or any of which may be greater than the rights of Ordinary Shares, at such time and on such terms as they may think appropriate. Notwithstanding Article 17, the Directors may issue from time to time, out of the authorised share capital of the Company (other than the authorised but unissued Ordinary Shares), series of preferred shares in their absolute discretion and without approval of the Members; provided, however, before any preferred shares of any such series are issued, the Directors shall by resolution of Directors determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series, including: |
(a) |
the designation of such series, the number of preferred shares to constitute such series and the subscription price thereof if different from the par value thereof; |
(b) |
whether the preferred shares of such series shall have voting rights, in addition to any voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights, which may be general or limited; |
(c) |
the dividends, if any, payable on such series, whether any such dividends shall be cumulative, and, if so, from what dates, the conditions and dates upon which such dividends shall be payable, and the preference or relation which such dividends shall bear to the dividends payable on any shares of any other class or any other series of shares; |
(d) |
whether the preferred shares of such series shall be subject to redemption by the Company, and, if so, the times, prices and other conditions of such redemption; |
(e) |
whether the preferred shares of such series shall have any rights to receive any part of the assets available for distribution amongst the Members upon the liquidation of the Company, and, if so, the terms of such liquidation preference, and the relation which such liquidation preference shall bear to the entitlements of the holders of shares of any other class or any other series of shares; |
(f) |
whether the preferred shares of such series shall be subject to the operation of a retirement or sinking fund and, if so, the extent to and manner in which any such retirement or sinking fund shall be applied to the purchase or redemption of the preferred shares of such series for retirement or other corporate purposes and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof; |
(g) |
whether the preferred shares of such series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or any other series of preferred shares or any other securities and, if so, the price or prices or the rate or rates of conversion or exchange and the method, if any, of adjusting the same, and any other terms and conditions of conversion or exchange; |
(h) |
the limitations and restrictions, if any, to be effective while any preferred shares of such series are outstanding upon the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions on, and upon the purchase, redemption or other acquisition by the Company of, the existing shares or shares of any other class of shares or any other series of preferred shares; |
(i) |
the conditions or restrictions, if any, upon the creation of indebtedness of the Company or upon the issue of any additional shares, including additional shares of such series or of any other class of shares or any other series of preferred shares; and |
(j) |
any other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof; |
6
and, for such purposes, the Directors may reserve an appropriate number of Shares for the time being unissued. The Company shall not issue Shares to bearer.
10. |
The Company may insofar as may be permitted by law, pay a commission to any Person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe whether absolutely or conditionally for any Shares. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the lodgment of fully or partly paid-up Shares or partly in one way and partly in the other. The Company may also pay such brokerage as may be lawful on any issue of Shares. |
11. |
The Directors may refuse to accept any application for Shares, and may accept any application in whole or in part, for any reason or for no reason. |
CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES AND CLASS B ORDINARY SHARES
12. |
Holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares shall at all times vote together as one class on all resolutions submitted to a vote by the Members. Each Class A Ordinary Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of the Company, and each Class B ordinary share shall entitle the holder thereof to thirty (30) votes on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of the Company. |
13. |
Each Class B Ordinary Share is convertible into one (1) Class A Ordinary Share at any time at the option of the holder thereof. The right to convert shall be exercisable by the holder of the Class B Ordinary Share delivering a written notice to the Company that such holder elects to convert a specified number of Class B Ordinary Shares into Class A Ordinary Shares. In no event shall Class A Ordinary Shares be convertible into Class B Ordinary Shares. |
14. |
Any conversion of Class B Ordinary Shares into Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to these Articles shall be effected by means of the re-designation of each relevant Class B Ordinary Share as a Class A Ordinary Share. Such conversion shall become effective (i) in the case of any conversion effected pursuant to Article 13, forthwith upon the receipt by the Company of the written notice delivered to the Company as described in Article 13 (or at such later date as may be specified in such notice), or (ii) in the case of any automatic conversion effected pursuant to Article 15, forthwith upon occurrence of the event specified in Article 15 which triggers such automatic conversion, and the Company shall make entries in the Register to record the re-designation of the relevant Class B Ordinary Shares as Class A Ordinary Shares at the relevant time. |
15. |
Upon any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of any Class B Ordinary Share by a Shareholder to any person who is not the Founder or an Affiliate of the Founder, such Class B Ordinary Share shall be automatically and immediately converted into one Class A Ordinary Share. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) a sale, transfer, assignment or disposition shall be effective upon the Companys registration of such sale, transfer, assignment or disposition in its Register; and (ii) the creation of any pledge, charge, encumbrance or other third party right of whatever description on any Class B Ordinary Shares to secure a holders contractual or legal obligations shall not be deemed as a sale, transfer, assignment or disposition unless and until any such pledge, charge, encumbrance or other third party right is enforced and results in the third party holding legal title to the relevant Class B Ordinary Shares, in which case all the related Class B Ordinary Shares shall be automatically converted into the same number of Class A Ordinary Shares. For purpose of this Article 15, beneficial ownership shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
16. |
Save and except for voting rights and conversion rights as set out in Articles 12 to 16 (inclusive), the Class A Ordinary Shares and the Class B Ordinary Shares shall rank pari passu with one another and shall have the same rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions. |
7
MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS
17. |
Whenever the capital of the Company is divided into different Classes the rights attached to any such Class may, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any Class, only be materially adversely varied with the consent in writing of the holders of two-thirds of the issued Shares of that Class or with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the Shares of that Class. To every such separate meeting all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings of the Company or to the proceedings thereat shall, mutatis mutandis , apply, except that the necessary quorum shall be one or more Persons holding or representing by proxy at least one-third in nominal or par value amount of the issued Shares of the relevant Class (but so that if at any adjourned meeting of such holders a quorum as above defined is not present, those Shareholders who are present shall form a quorum) and that, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to the Shares of that Class, every Shareholder of the Class shall on a poll have one vote for each Share of the Class held by him. For the purposes of this Article the Directors may treat all the Classes or any two or more Classes as forming one Class if they consider that all such Classes would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate Classes. |
18. |
The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any Class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to the Shares of that Class, be deemed to be materially adversely varied by, inter alia, the creation, allotment or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu with or subsequent to them or the redemption or purchase of any Shares of any Class by the Company. The rights of the holders of Shares shall not be deemed to be materially adversely varied by the creation or issue of Shares with preferred or other rights including, without limitation, the creation of Shares with enhanced or weighted voting rights. |
CERTIFICATES
19. |
Every Person whose name is entered as a Member in the Register may, without payment and upon its written request, request a certificate within two calendar months after allotment or lodgement of transfer (or within such other period as the conditions of issue shall provide) in the form determined by the Directors. All certificates shall specify the Share or Shares held by that Person, provided that in respect of a Share or Shares held jointly by several Persons the Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate, and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all. All certificates for Shares shall be delivered personally or sent through the post addressed to the Member entitled thereto at the Members registered address as appearing in the Register. |
20. |
Every share certificate of the Company shall bear legends required under the applicable laws, including the Securities Act. |
21. |
Any two or more certificates representing Shares of any one Class held by any Member may at the Members request be cancelled and a single new certificate for such Shares issued in lieu on payment (if the Directors shall so require) of one dollar (US$1.00) or such smaller sum as the Directors shall determine. |
22. |
If a share certificate shall be damaged or defaced or alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, a new certificate representing the same Shares may be issued to the relevant Member upon request, subject to delivery up of the old certificate or (if alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed) compliance with such conditions as to evidence and indemnity and the payment of out-of-pocket expenses of the Company in connection with the request as the Directors may think fit. |
23. |
In the event that Shares are held jointly by several Persons, any request may be made by any one of the joint holders and if so made shall be binding on all of the joint holders. |
FRACTIONAL SHARES
24. |
The Directors may issue fractions of a Share and, if so issued, a fraction of a Share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect to nominal or par value, premium, contributions, calls or otherwise), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights (including, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, voting and participation rights) and other attributes of a whole Share. If more than one fraction of a Share of the same Class is issued to or acquired by the same Shareholder such fractions shall be accumulated. |
LIEN
25. |
The Company has a first and paramount lien on every Share (whether or not fully paid) for all amounts (whether presently payable or not) payable at a fixed time or called in respect of that Share. The Company also has a first and paramount lien on every Share registered in the name of a Person indebted or under liability to the Company (whether he is the sole registered holder of a Share or one of two or more joint holders) for all amounts owing by him or his estate to the Company (whether or not presently payable). The Directors may at any time declare a Share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The Companys lien on a Share extends to any amount payable in respect of it, including but not limited to dividends. |
8
26. |
The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors in their absolute discretion think fit, any Share on which the Company has a lien, but no sale shall be made unless an amount in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable nor until the expiration of fourteen calendar days after a notice in writing, demanding payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable, has been given to the registered holder for the time being of the Share, or the Persons entitled thereto by reason of his death or bankruptcy. |
27. |
For giving effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise a Person to transfer the Shares sold to the purchaser thereof. The purchaser shall be registered as the holder of the Shares comprised in any such transfer and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the sale. |
28. |
The proceeds of the sale after deduction of expenses, fees and commissions incurred by the Company shall be received by the Company and applied in payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable, and the residue shall (subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the Shares prior to the sale) be paid to the Person entitled to the Shares immediately prior to the sale. |
CALLS ON SHARES
29. |
Subject to the terms of the allotment, the Directors may from time to time make calls upon the Shareholders in respect of any moneys unpaid on their Shares, and each Shareholder shall (subject to receiving at least fourteen calendar days notice specifying the time or times of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times so specified the amount called on such Shares. A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising such call was passed. |
30. |
The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay calls in respect thereof. |
31. |
If a sum called in respect of a Share is not paid before or on the day appointed for payment thereof, the Person from whom the sum is due shall pay interest upon the sum at the rate of eight percent per annum from the day appointed for the payment thereof to the time of the actual payment, but the Directors shall be at liberty to waive payment of that interest wholly or in part. |
32. |
The provisions of these Articles as to the liability of joint holders and as to payment of interest shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the amount of the Share, or by way of premium, as if the same had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
33. |
The Directors may make arrangements with respect to the issue of partly paid Shares for a difference between the Shareholders, or the particular Shares, in the amount of calls to be paid and in the times of payment. |
34. |
The Directors may, if they think fit, receive from any Shareholder willing to advance the same all or any part of the moneys uncalled and unpaid upon any partly paid Shares held by him, and upon all or any of the moneys so advanced may (until the same would, but for such advance, become presently payable) pay interest at such rate (not exceeding without the sanction of an Ordinary Resolution, eight percent per annum) as may be agreed upon between the Shareholder paying the sum in advance and the Directors. No such sum paid in advance of calls shall entitle the Member paying such sum to any portion of a dividend declared in respect of any period prior to the date upon which such sum would, but for such payment, become presently payable. |
FORFEITURE OF SHARES
35. |
If a Shareholder fails to pay any call or instalment of a call in respect of partly paid Shares on the day appointed for payment, the Directors may, at any time thereafter during such time as any part of such call or instalment remains unpaid, serve a notice on him requiring payment of so much of the call or instalment as is unpaid, together with any interest which may have accrued. |
9
36. |
The notice shall name a further day (not earlier than the expiration of fourteen calendar days from the date of the notice) on or before which the payment required by the notice is to be made, and shall state that in the event of non-payment at or before the time appointed, the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. |
37. |
If the requirements of any such notice as aforesaid are not complied with, any Share in respect of which the notice has been given may at any time thereafter, before the payment required by notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors to that effect. |
38. |
A forfeited Share may be sold or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors think fit, and at any time before a sale or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit. |
39. |
A Person whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Shareholder in respect of the forfeited Shares, but shall, notwithstanding, remain liable to pay to the Company all moneys which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to the Company in respect of the Shares forfeited, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company receives payment in full of the amount unpaid on the Shares forfeited. |
40. |
A certificate in writing under the hand of a Director that a Share has been duly forfeited on a date stated in the certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the facts in the declaration as against all Persons claiming to be entitled to the Share. |
41. |
The Company may receive the consideration, if any, given for a Share on any sale or disposition thereof pursuant to the provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture and may execute a transfer of the Share in favour of the Person to whom the Share is sold or disposed of and that Person shall be registered as the holder of the Share and shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the disposition or sale. |
42. |
The provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which by the terms of issue of a Share becomes due and payable, whether on account of the amount of the Share, or by way of premium, as if the same had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
TRANSFER OF SHARES
43. |
The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing and in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, approve and be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and if in respect of a nil or partly paid up Share, or if so required by the Directors, shall also be executed on behalf of the transferee and shall be accompanied by the certificate (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer. The transferor shall be deemed to remain a Shareholder until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register in respect of the relevant Shares. |
44. | (a) | The Directors may in their absolute discretion decline to register any transfer of Shares which is not fully paid up or on which the Company has a lien. |
(b) |
The Directors may also decline to register any transfer of any Share unless: |
(i) |
the instrument of transfer is lodged with the Company, accompanied by the certificate for the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; |
(ii) |
the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one Class of Shares; |
(iii) |
the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required; |
(iv) |
in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the Share is to be transferred does not exceed four; and |
10
(v) |
a fee of such maximum sum as the Designated Stock Exchange may determine to be payable, or such lesser sum as the Board of Directors may from time to time require, is paid to the Company in respect thereof. |
45. |
The registration of transfers may, on ten calendar days notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers, by electronic means or by any other means in accordance with the Designated Stock Exchange Rules, be suspended and the Register closed at such times and for such periods as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, from time to time determine, provided always that such registration of transfer shall not be suspended nor the Register closed for more than thirty calendar days in any calendar year. |
46. |
All instruments of transfer that are registered shall be retained by the Company. If the Directors refuse to register a transfer of any Shares, they shall within three calendar months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company send notice of the refusal to each of the transferor and the transferee. |
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
47. |
The legal personal representative of a deceased sole holder of a Share shall be the only Person recognised by the Company as having any title to the Share. In the case of a Share registered in the name of two or more holders, the survivors or survivor, or the legal personal representatives of the deceased survivor, shall be the only Person recognised by the Company as having any title to the Share. |
48. |
Any Person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder shall, upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Directors, have the right either to be registered as a Shareholder in respect of the Share or, instead of being registered himself, to make such transfer of the Share as the deceased or bankrupt Person could have made; but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the deceased or bankrupt Person before the death or bankruptcy. |
49. |
A Person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder shall be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the registered Shareholder, except that he shall not, before being registered as a Shareholder in respect of the Share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the Company, provided however, that the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such Person to elect either to be registered himself or to transfer the Share, and if the notice is not complied with within ninety calendar days, the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all dividends, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with. |
REGISTRATION OF EMPOWERING INSTRUMENTS
50. |
The Company shall be entitled to charge a fee not exceeding one dollar (US$1.00) on the registration of every probate, letters of administration, certificate of death or marriage, power of attorney, notice in lieu of distringas, or other instrument. |
ALTERATION OF SHARE CAPITAL
51. |
The Company may from time to time by Ordinary Resolution increase the share capital by such sum, to be divided into Shares of such Classes and amount, as the resolution shall prescribe. |
52. |
The Company may by Ordinary Resolution: |
(a) |
increase its share capital by new Shares of such amount as it thinks expedient; |
(b) |
consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of a larger amount than its existing Shares; |
(c) |
subdivide its Shares, or any of them, into Shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the Memorandum, provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced Share shall be the same as it was in case of the Share from which the reduced Share is derived; and |
11
(d) |
cancel any Shares that, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any Person and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled. |
53. |
The Company may by Special Resolution reduce its share capital and any capital redemption reserve in any manner authorised by law. |
REDEMPTION, PURCHASE AND SURRENDER OF SHARES
54. |
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and these Articles, the Company may: |
(a) |
issue Shares that are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Shareholder or the Company. The redemption of Shares shall be effected in such manner and upon such terms as may be determined, before the issue of such Shares, by either the Board or by the Shareholders by Special Resolution; |
(b) |
purchase its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) on such terms and in such manner and terms as have been approved by the Board or by the Members by Ordinary Resolution, or are otherwise authorised by these Articles; and |
(c) |
make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner permitted by the Companies Law, including out of capital. |
55. |
The purchase of any Share shall not oblige the Company to purchase any other Share other than as may be required pursuant to applicable law and any other contractual obligations of the Company. |
56. |
The holder of the Shares being purchased shall be bound to deliver up to the Company the certificate(s) (if any) thereof for cancellation and thereupon the Company shall pay to him the purchase or redemption monies or consideration in respect thereof. |
57. |
The Directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any fully paid Share. |
TREASURY SHARES
58. |
The Directors may, prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of any Share, determine that such Share shall be held as a Treasury Share. |
59. |
The Directors may determine to cancel a Treasury Share or transfer a Treasury Share on such terms as they think proper (including, without limitation, for nil consideration). |
GENERAL MEETINGS
60. |
All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings. |
61. | (a) | The Company may (but shall not be obliged to) in each calendar year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting and shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. The annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by the Directors. |
(b) |
At these meetings the report of the Directors (if any) shall be presented. |
62. | (a) | The Chairman or a majority of the Directors may call general meetings, and they shall on a Shareholders requisition forthwith proceed to convene an extraordinary general meeting of the Company. |
(b) |
A Shareholders requisition is a requisition of Members holding at the date of deposit of the requisition Shares which carry in aggregate not less than one-third (1/3) of all votes attaching to all issued and outstanding Shares of the Company that as at the date of the deposit carry the right to vote at general meetings of the Company. |
12
(c) |
The requisition must state the objects of the meeting and must be signed by the requisitionists and deposited at the Registered Office, and may consist of several documents in like form each signed by one or more requisitionists. |
(d) |
If there are no Directors as at the date of the deposit of the Shareholders requisition, or if the Directors do not within twenty-one calendar days from the date of the deposit of the requisition duly proceed to convene a general meeting to be held within a further twenty-one calendar days, the requisitionists, or any of them representing more than one-half of the total voting rights of all of them, may themselves convene a general meeting, but any meeting so convened shall not be held after the expiration of three calendar months after the expiration of the said twenty-one calendar days. |
(e) |
A general meeting convened as aforesaid by requisitionists shall be convened in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which general meetings are to be convened by Directors. |
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
63. |
At least ten (10) calendar days notice shall be given for any general meeting. Every notice shall be exclusive of the day on which it is given or deemed to be given and of the day for which it is given and shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business and shall be given in the manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner if any as may be prescribed by the Company, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of these Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed: |
(a) |
in the case of an annual general meeting, by all the Shareholders (or their proxies) entitled to attend and vote thereat; and |
(b) |
in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by holders of two-thirds (2/3rd ) of the total voting rights, present in person or by proxy or, in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative or proxy. |
64. |
The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to or the non-receipt of a notice of a meeting by any Shareholder shall not invalidate the proceedings at any meeting. |
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
65. |
No business except for the appointment of a chairman for the meeting shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of Shareholders is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. One or more Shareholders holding Shares which carry in aggregate (or representing by proxy) not less than one-third of all votes attaching to all Shares in issue and entitled to vote at such general meeting, present in person or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative, shall be a quorum for all purposes. |
66. |
If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting shall be dissolved. |
67. |
If the Directors wish to make this facility available for a specific general meeting or all general meetings of the Company, participation in any general meeting of the Company may be by means of a telephone or similar communication equipment by way of which all Persons participating in such meeting can communicate with each other and such participation shall be deemed to constitute presence in person at the meeting. |
68. |
The Chairman, if any, shall preside as chairman at every general meeting of the Company. |
69. |
If there is no such Chairman, or if at any meeting he is not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting or is unwilling to act as chairman of the meeting, any Director or Person nominated by the Directors shall preside as chairman of that meeting, failing which the Shareholders present in person or by proxy shall choose any Person present to be chairman of that meeting. |
13
70. |
The chairman of any general meeting at which a quorum is present may with the consent of the meeting (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a meeting, or adjourned meeting, is adjourned for fourteen calendar days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Save as aforesaid it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting. |
71. |
The Directors may cancel or postpone any duly convened general meeting at any time prior to such meeting, except for general meetings requisitioned by the Shareholders in accordance with these Articles, for any reason or for no reason, upon notice in writing to Shareholders. A postponement may be for a stated period of any length or indefinitely as the Directors may determine. |
72. |
At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless a poll is (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded by the chairman of the meeting or any Shareholder present in person or by proxy, and unless a poll is so demanded, a declaration by the chairman of the meeting that a resolution has, on a show of hands, been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect in the book of the proceedings of the Company, shall be conclusive evidence of the fact, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of, or against, that resolution. |
73. |
If a poll is duly demanded it shall be taken in such manner as the chairman of the meeting directs, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded. |
74. |
All questions submitted to a meeting shall be decided by an Ordinary Resolution except where a greater majority is required by these Articles or by the Companies Law. In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded, shall be entitled to a second or casting vote. |
75. |
A poll demanded on the election of a chairman of the meeting or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at such time as the chairman of the meeting directs. |
VOTES OF SHAREHOLDERS
76. |
Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Share, on a show of hands every Shareholder present in person or by proxy (or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative or proxy) shall, at a general meeting of the Company, each have one vote and on a poll every Shareholder present in person or by proxy (or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative or proxy) shall have one (1) vote for each Class A Ordinary Share and thirty (30) votes for each Class B Ordinary Share of which he is the holder. |
77. |
In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior who tenders a vote whether in person or by proxy (or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative or proxy) shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the Register. |
78. |
Shares carrying the right to vote that are held by a Shareholder of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction in lunacy, may be voted, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his committee, or other Person in the nature of a committee appointed by that court, and any such committee or other Person may vote in respect of such Shares by proxy. |
79. |
No Shareholder shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting of the Company unless all calls, if any, or other sums presently payable by him in respect of Shares carrying the right to vote held by him have been paid. |
80. |
On a poll votes may be given either personally or by proxy. |
81. |
Each Shareholder, other than a recognised clearing house (or its nominee(s)) or depositary (or its nominee(s)), may only appoint one proxy on a show of hand. The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing or, if the appointor is a corporation, either under Seal or under the hand of an officer or attorney duly authorised. A proxy need not be a Shareholder. |
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82. |
An instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may approve. |
83. |
The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited at the Registered Office or at such other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting, or in any instrument of proxy sent out by the Company: |
(a) |
not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote; or |
(b) |
in the case of a poll taken more than 48 hours after it is demanded, be deposited as aforesaid after the poll has been demanded and not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll; or |
(c) |
where the poll is not taken forthwith but is taken not more than 48 hours after it was demanded be delivered at the meeting at which the poll was demanded to the chairman of the meeting or to the secretary or to any Director; |
provided that the Directors may in the notice convening the meeting, or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, direct that the instrument appointing a proxy may be deposited at such other time (no later than the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting) at the Registered Office or at such other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting, or in any instrument of proxy sent out by the Company. The chairman of the meeting may in any event at his discretion direct that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited. An instrument of proxy that is not deposited in the manner permitted shall be invalid.
84. |
The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll. |
85. |
A resolution in writing signed by all the Shareholders for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings of the Company (or being corporations by their duly authorised representatives) shall be as valid and effective as if the same had been passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held. |
CORPORATIONS ACTING BY REPRESENTATIVES AT MEETINGS
86. |
Any corporation which is a Shareholder or a Director may by resolution of its directors or other governing body authorise such Person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any meeting of holders of a Class or of the Directors or of a committee of Directors, and the Person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as that corporation could exercise if it were an individual Shareholder or Director. |
DEPOSITARY AND CLEARING HOUSES
87. |
If a recognised clearing house (or its nominee(s)) or depositary (or its nominee(s)) is a Member of the Company it may, by resolution of its directors or other governing body or by power of attorney, authorise such Person(s) as it thinks fit to act as its representative(s) at any general meeting of the Company or of any Class of Shareholders provided that, if more than one Person is so authorised, the authorisation shall specify the number and Class of Shares in respect of which each such Person is so authorised. A Person so authorised pursuant to this Article shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the recognised clearing house (or its nominee(s)) or depositary (or its nominee(s)) which he represents as that recognised clearing house (or its nominee(s)) or depositary (or its nominee(s)) could exercise if it were an individual Member holding the number and Class of Shares specified in such authorisation, including the right to vote individually on a show of hands. |
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DIRECTORS
88. | (a) | Unless otherwise determined by the Company in general meeting, the number of Directors shall not be less than three (3) Directors, the exact number of Directors to be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. |
(b) |
The Board of Directors shall elect and appoint a Chairman by a majority of the Directors then in office. The period for which the Chairman will hold office will also be determined by a majority of all of the Directors then in office. The Chairman shall preside as chairman at every meeting of the Board of Directors. To the extent the Chairman is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the same, the attending Directors may choose one of their number to be the chairman of the meeting. |
(c) |
The Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a Director. |
(d) |
The Board may, by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the remaining Directors present and voting at a Board meeting, appoint any person as a Director, to fill a casual vacancy on the Board or as an addition to the existing Board. |
(e) |
An appointment of a Director may be on terms that the Director shall automatically retire from office (unless he has sooner vacated office) at the next or a subsequent annual general meeting or upon any specified event or after any specified period in a written agreement between the Company and the Director, if any; but no such term shall be implied in the absence of express provision. Each Director whose term of office expires shall be eligible for re-election at a meeting of the Shareholders or re-appointment by the Board. |
(f) |
A Director may be removed from office by Ordinary Resolution, notwithstanding anything in these Articles or in any agreement between the Company and such Director (but without prejudice to any claim for damages under such agreement). |
(g) |
A vacancy on the Board created by the removal of a Director under the previous clause may be filled by Ordinary Resolution or by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the remaining Directors present and voting at a Board meeting. The notice of any meeting at which a resolution to remove a Director shall be proposed or voted upon must contain a statement of the intention to remove that Director and such notice must be served on that Director not less than ten (10) calendar days before the meeting. Such Director is entitled to attend the meeting and be heard on the motion for his removal. |
89. |
The Board may, from time to time, and except as required by applicable law or Designated Stock Exchange Rules, adopt, institute, amend, modify or revoke the corporate governance policies or initiatives of the Company and determine on various corporate governance related matters of the Company as the Board shall determine by resolution of Directors from time to time. |
90. |
A Director shall not be required to hold any Shares in the Company by way of qualification. A Director who is not a Member of the Company shall nevertheless be entitled to attend and speak at general meetings. |
91. |
The remuneration of the Directors may be determined by the Directors or by Ordinary Resolution. |
92. |
The Directors shall be entitled to be paid their travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in going to, attending and returning from meetings of the Directors, or any committee of the Directors, or general meetings of the Company, or otherwise in connection with the business of the Company, or to receive such fixed allowance in respect thereof as may be determined by the Directors from time to time, or a combination partly of one such method and partly the other. |
ALTERNATE DIRECTOR OR PROXY
93. |
Any Director may in writing appoint another Person to be his alternate and, save to the extent provided otherwise in the form of appointment, such alternate shall have authority to sign written resolutions on behalf of the appointing Director, but shall not be required to sign such written resolutions where they have been signed by the appointing director, and to act in such Directors place at any meeting of the Directors at which the appointing Director is unable to be present. Every such alternate shall be entitled to attend and vote at meetings of the Directors as a Director when the Director appointing him is not personally present and where he is a Director to have a separate vote on behalf of the Director he is representing in addition to his own vote. A Director may at any time in writing revoke the appointment of an alternate appointed by him. Such alternate shall be deemed for all purposes to be a Director of the Company and shall not be deemed to be the agent of the Director appointing him. The remuneration of such alternate shall be payable out of the remuneration of the Director appointing him and the proportion thereof shall be agreed between them. |
16
94. |
Any Director may appoint any Person, whether or not a Director, to be the proxy of that Director to attend and vote on his behalf, in accordance with instructions given by that Director, or in the absence of such instructions at the discretion of the proxy, at a meeting or meetings of the Directors which that Director is unable to attend personally. The instrument appointing the proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointing Director and shall be in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may approve, and must be lodged with the chairman of the meeting of the Directors at which such proxy is to be used, or first used, prior to the commencement of the meeting. |
POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS
95. |
Subject to the Companies Law, these Articles and to any resolutions passed in a general meeting, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors, who may pay all expenses incurred in setting up and registering the Company and may exercise all powers of the Company. No resolution passed by the Company in general meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors that would have been valid if that resolution had not been passed. |
96. |
Subject to these Articles, the Directors may from time to time appoint any natural person or corporation, whether or not a Director to hold such office in the Company as the Directors may think necessary for the administration of the Company, including but not limited to, chief executive officer, one or more other executive officers, president, one or more vice presidents, treasurer, assistant treasurer, manager or controller, and for such term and at such remuneration (whether by way of salary or commission or participation in profits or partly in one way and partly in another), and with such powers and duties as the Directors may think fit. Any natural person or corporation so appointed by the Directors may be removed by the Directors. The Directors may also appoint one or more of their number to the office of managing director upon like terms, but any such appointment shall ipso facto terminate if any managing director ceases for any cause to be a Director, or if the Company by Ordinary Resolution resolves that his tenure of office be terminated. |
97. |
The Directors may appoint any natural person or corporation to be a Secretary (and if need be an assistant Secretary or assistant Secretaries) who shall hold office for such term, at such remuneration and upon such conditions and with such powers as they think fit. Any Secretary or assistant Secretary so appointed by the Directors may be removed by the Directors or by the Company by Ordinary Resolution. |
98. |
The Directors may delegate any of their powers to committees consisting of such member or members of their body as they think fit; any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the Directors. |
99. |
The Directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney (whether under Seal or under hand) or otherwise appoint any company, firm or Person or body of Persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or attorneys or authorised signatory (any such person being an Attorney or Authorised Signatory, respectively) of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretion (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under these Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of Persons dealing with any such Attorney or Authorised Signatory as the Directors may think fit, and may also authorise any such Attorney or Authorised Signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretion vested in him. |
100. |
The Directors may from time to time provide for the management of the affairs of the Company in such manner as they shall think fit and the provisions contained in the three next following Articles shall not limit the general powers conferred by this Article. |
17
101. |
The Directors from time to time and at any time may establish any committees, local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company and may appoint any natural person or corporation to be a member of such committees or local boards and may appoint any managers or agents of the Company and may fix the remuneration of any such natural person or corporation. |
102. |
The Directors from time to time and at any time may delegate to any such committee, local board, manager or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in the Directors and may authorise the members for the time being of any such local board, or any of them to fill any vacancies therein and to act notwithstanding vacancies and any such appointment or delegation may be made on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Directors may think fit and the Directors may at any time remove any natural person or corporation so appointed and may annul or vary any such delegation, but no Person dealing in good faith and without notice of any such annulment or variation shall be affected thereby. |
103. |
Any such delegates as aforesaid may be authorised by the Directors to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities, and discretion for the time being vested in them. |
BORROWING POWERS OF DIRECTORS
104. |
The Directors may from time to time at their discretion exercise all the powers of the Company to issue debentures, debenture stock, bonds and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. |
THE SEAL
105. |
The Seal shall not be affixed to any instrument except by the authority of a resolution of the Directors provided always that such authority may be given prior to or after the affixing of the Seal and if given after may be in general form confirming a number of affixings of the Seal. The Seal shall be affixed in the presence of a Director or a Secretary (or an assistant Secretary) or in the presence of any one or more Persons as the Directors may appoint for the purpose and every Person as aforesaid shall sign every instrument to which the Seal is so affixed in their presence. |
106. |
The Company may maintain a facsimile of the Seal in such countries or places as the Directors may appoint and such facsimile Seal shall not be affixed to any instrument except by the authority of a resolution of the Directors provided always that such authority may be given prior to or after the affixing of such facsimile Seal and if given after may be in general form confirming a number of affixings of such facsimile Seal. The facsimile Seal shall be affixed in the presence of such Person or Persons as the Directors shall for this purpose appoint and such Person or Persons as aforesaid shall sign every instrument to which the facsimile Seal is so affixed in their presence and such affixing of the facsimile Seal and signing as aforesaid shall have the same meaning and effect as if the Seal had been affixed in the presence of and the instrument signed by a Director or a Secretary (or an assistant Secretary) or in the presence of any one or more Persons as the Directors may appoint for the purpose. |
107. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Secretary or any assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix the Seal, or the facsimile Seal, to any instrument for the purposes of attesting authenticity of the matter contained therein but which does not create any obligation binding on the Company. |
DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
108. |
The office of Director shall be vacated, if the Director: |
(a) |
becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; |
(b) |
dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; |
(c) |
resigns his office by notice in writing to the Company; |
(d) |
without special leave of absence from the Board, is absent from meetings of the Board for three consecutive meetings and the Board resolves that his office be vacated; or |
(e) |
is removed from office pursuant to any other provision of these Articles. |
18
PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
109. |
The Directors may meet together (either within or outside of the Cayman Islands) for the despatch of business, adjourn, and otherwise regulate their meetings and proceedings as they think fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. At any meeting of the Directors, each Director present in person or represented by his proxy or alternate shall be entitled to one vote. In case of an equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote. A Director may, and a Secretary or assistant Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Directors. |
110. |
A Director may participate in any meeting of the Directors, or of any committee appointed by the Directors of which such Director is a member, by means of telephone or similar communication equipment by way of which all Persons participating in such meeting can communicate with each other and such participation shall be deemed to constitute presence in person at the meeting. |
111. |
The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Board may be fixed by the Directors, and unless so fixed, the quorum shall be a majority of Directors then in office. A Director represented by proxy or by an alternate Director at any meeting shall be deemed to be present for the purposes of determining whether or not a quorum is present. |
112. |
A Director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction with the Company shall declare the nature of his interest at a meeting of the Directors. A general notice given to the Directors by any Director to the effect that he is a member of any specified company or firm and is to be regarded as interested in any contract or transaction which may thereafter be made with that company or firm shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of interest in regard to any contract so made or transaction so consummated. A Director may vote in respect of any contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction notwithstanding that he may be interested therein and if he does so his vote shall be counted and he may be counted in the quorum at any meeting of the Directors at which any such contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction shall come before the meeting for consideration. |
113. |
A Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office of auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and on such terms (as to remuneration and otherwise) as the Directors may determine and no Director or intending Director shall be disqualified by his office from contracting with the Company either with regard to his tenure of any such other office or place of profit or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director is in any way interested be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by any such contract or arrangement by reason of such Director holding that office or of the fiduciary relation thereby established. A Director, notwithstanding his interest, may be counted in the quorum present at any meeting of the Directors whereat he or any other Director is appointed to hold any such office or place of profit under the Company or whereat the terms of any such appointment are arranged and he may vote on any such appointment or arrangement. |
114. |
Any Director may act by himself or through his firm in a professional capacity for the Company, and he or his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director; provided that nothing herein contained shall authorise a Director or his firm to act as auditor to the Company. |
115. |
The Directors shall cause minutes to be made for the purpose of recording: |
(a) |
all appointments of officers made by the Directors; |
(b) |
the names of the Directors present at each meeting of the Directors and of any committee of the Directors; and |
(c) |
all resolutions and proceedings at all meetings of the Company, and of the Directors and of committees of Directors. |
19
116. |
When the chairman of a meeting of the Directors signs the minutes of such meeting the same shall be deemed to have been duly held notwithstanding that all the Directors have not actually come together or that there may have been a technical defect in the proceedings. |
117. |
A resolution in writing signed by all the Directors or all the members of a committee of Directors entitled to receive notice of a meeting of Directors or committee of Directors, as the case may be (an alternate Director, subject as provided otherwise in the terms of appointment of the alternate Director, being entitled to sign such a resolution on behalf of his appointer), shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a duly called and constituted meeting of Directors or committee of Directors, as the case may be. When signed a resolution may consist of several documents each signed by one or more of the Directors or his duly appointed alternate. |
118. |
The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body but if and for so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to these Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors, the continuing Directors may act for the purpose of increasing the number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose. |
119. |
Subject to any regulations imposed on it by the Directors, a committee appointed by the Directors may elect a chairman of its meetings. If no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the committee members present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
120. |
A committee appointed by the Directors may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper. Subject to any regulations imposed on it by the Directors, questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of the committee members present and in case of an equality of votes the chairman shall have a second or casting vote. |
121. |
All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of Directors, or by any Person acting as a Director, shall notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any such Director or Person acting as aforesaid, or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such Person had been duly appointed and was qualified to be a Director. |
PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT
122. |
A Director who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which an action on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent from such action with the person acting as the chairman or secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered post to such person immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favour of such action. |
DIVIDENDS
123. |
Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Shares, the Directors may from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and other distributions on Shares in issue and authorise payment of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. |
124. |
Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Shares, the Company by Ordinary Resolution may declare dividends, but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Directors. |
125. |
The Directors may, before recommending or declaring any dividend, set aside out of the funds legally available for distribution such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall, in the absolute discretion of the Directors, be applicable for meeting contingencies or for equalising dividends or for any other purpose to which those funds may be properly applied, and pending such application may in the absolute discretion of the Directors, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments (other than Shares of the Company) as the Directors may from time to time think fit. |
20
126. |
Any dividend payable in cash to the holder of Shares may be paid in any manner determined by the Directors. If paid by cheque it will be sent by mail addressed to the holder at his address in the Register, or addressed to such person and at such addresses as the holder may direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall, unless the holder or joint holders otherwise direct, be made payable to the order of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the order of the holder whose name stands first on the Register in respect of such Shares, and shall be sent at his or their risk and payment of the cheque or warrant by the bank on which it is drawn shall constitute a good discharge to the Company. |
127. |
The Directors may determine that a dividend shall be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets (which may consist of the shares or securities of any other company) and may settle all questions concerning such distribution. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Directors may fix the value of such specific assets, may determine that cash payment shall be made to some Shareholders in lieu of specific assets and may vest any such specific assets in trustees on such terms as the Directors think fit. |
128. |
Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Shares, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the Shares, but if and for so long as nothing is paid up on any of the Shares dividends may be declared and paid according to the par value of the Shares. No amount paid on a Share in advance of calls shall, while carrying interest, be treated for the purposes of this Article as paid on the Share. |
129. |
If several Persons are registered as joint holders of any Share, any of them may give effective receipts for any dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of the Share. |
130. |
No dividend shall bear interest against the Company. |
131. |
Any dividend unclaimed after a period of six calendar years from the date of declaration of such dividend may be forfeited by the Board of Directors and, if so forfeited, shall revert to the Company. |
ACCOUNTS, AUDIT AND ANNUAL RETURN AND DECLARATION
132. |
The books of account relating to the Companys affairs shall be kept in such manner as may be determined from time to time by the Directors. |
133. |
The books of account shall be kept at such place or places as the Directors think fit, and shall always be open to the inspection of the Directors. |
134. |
The Directors may from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Shareholders not being Directors, and no Shareholder (not being a Director) shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by law or authorised by the Directors or by Ordinary Resolution. |
135. |
The accounts relating to the Companys affairs shall be audited in such manner and with such financial year end as may be determined from time to time by the Directors or failing any determination as aforesaid shall not be audited. |
136. |
The Directors may appoint an auditor of the Company who shall hold office until removed from office by a resolution of the Directors and may fix his or their remuneration. |
137. |
Every auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and officers of the Company such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the auditors. |
138. |
The auditors shall, if so required by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment, and at any time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Members. |
139. |
The Directors in each calendar year shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, an annual return and declaration setting forth the particulars required by the Companies Law and deliver a copy thereof to the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands. |
21
CAPITALISATION OF RESERVES
140. |
Subject to the Companies Law, the Directors may: |
(a) |
resolve to capitalise an amount standing to the credit of reserves (including a Share Premium Account, capital redemption reserve and profit and loss account), which is available for distribution; |
(b) |
appropriate the sum resolved to be capitalised to the Shareholders in proportion to the nominal amount of Shares (whether or not fully paid) held by them respectively and apply that sum on their behalf in or towards: |
(i) |
paying up the amounts (if any) for the time being unpaid on Shares held by them respectively, or |
(ii) |
paying up in full unissued Shares or debentures of a nominal amount equal to that sum, |
and allot the Shares or debentures, credited as fully paid, to the Shareholders (or as they may direct) in those proportions, or partly in one way and partly in the other, but the Share Premium Account, the capital redemption reserve and profits which are not available for distribution may, for the purposes of this Article, only be applied in paying up unissued Shares to be allotted to Shareholders credited as fully paid;
(c) |
make any arrangements they think fit to resolve a difficulty arising in the distribution of a capitalised reserve and in particular, without limitation, where Shares or debentures become distributable in fractions the Directors may deal with the fractions as they think fit; |
(d) |
authorise a Person to enter (on behalf of all the Shareholders concerned) into an agreement with the Company providing for either: |
(i) |
the allotment to the Shareholders respectively, credited as fully paid, of Shares or debentures to which they may be entitled on the capitalisation, or |
(ii) |
the payment by the Company on behalf of the Shareholders (by the application of their respective proportions of the reserves resolved to be capitalised) of the amounts or part of the amounts remaining unpaid on their existing Shares, |
and any such agreement made under this authority being effective and binding on all those Shareholders; and
(e) |
generally do all acts and things required to give effect to the resolution. |
141. |
Notwithstanding any provisions in these Articles, the Directors may resolve to capitalise an amount standing to the credit of reserves (including the share premium account, capital redemption reserve and profit and loss account) or otherwise available for distribution by applying such sum in paying up in full unissued Shares to be allotted and issued to: |
(a) |
employees (including Directors) or service providers of the Company or its Affiliates upon exercise or vesting of any options or awards granted under any share incentive scheme or employee benefit scheme or other arrangement which relates to such persons that has been adopted or approved by the Directors or the Members; |
(b) |
any trustee of any trust or administrator of any share incentive scheme or employee benefit scheme to whom shares are to be allotted and issued by the Company in connection with the operation of any share incentive scheme or employee benefit scheme or other arrangement which relates to such persons that has been adopted or approved by the Directors or Members; or |
(c) |
any depositary of the Company for the purposes of the issue, allotment and delivery by the depositary of ADSs to employees (including Directors) or service providers of the Company or its Affiliates upon exercise or vesting of any options or awards granted under any share incentive scheme or employee benefit scheme or other arrangement which relates to such persons that has been adopted or approved by the Directors or the Members. |
22
SHARE PREMIUM ACCOUNT
142. |
The Directors shall in accordance with the Companies Law establish a Share Premium Account and shall carry to the credit of such account from time to time a sum equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any Share. |
143. |
There shall be debited to any Share Premium Account on the redemption or purchase of a Share the difference between the nominal value of such Share and the redemption or purchase price provided always that at the discretion of the Directors such sum may be paid out of the profits of the Company or, if permitted by the Companies Law, out of capital. |
NOTICES
144. |
Except as otherwise provided in these Articles, any notice or document may be served by the Company or by the Person entitled to give notice to any Shareholder either personally, or by posting it by airmail or a recognised courier service in a prepaid letter addressed to such Shareholder at his address as appearing in the Register, or by electronic mail to any electronic mail address such Shareholder may have specified in writing for the purpose of such service of notices, or by facsimile to any facsimile number such Shareholder may have specified in writing for the purpose of such service of notices, or by placing it on the Companys Website should the Directors deem it appropriate. In the case of joint holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to that one of the joint holders whose name stands first in the Register in respect of the joint holding, and notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all the joint holders. |
145. |
Notices sent from one country to another shall be sent or forwarded by prepaid airmail or a recognised courier service. |
146. |
Any Shareholder present, either personally or by proxy, at any meeting of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have received due notice of such meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which such meeting was convened. |
147. |
Any notice or other document, if served by: |
(a) |
post, shall be deemed to have been served five calendar days after the time when the letter containing the same is posted; |
(b) |
facsimile, shall be deemed to have been served upon production by the transmitting facsimile machine of a report confirming transmission of the facsimile in full to the facsimile number of the recipient; |
(c) |
recognised courier service, shall be deemed to have been served 48 hours after the time when the letter containing the same is delivered to the courier service; or |
(d) |
electronic means, shall be deemed to have been served immediately (i) upon the time of the transmission to the electronic mail address supplied by the Shareholder to the Company or (ii) upon the time of its placement on the Companys Website. |
In proving service by post or courier service it shall be sufficient to prove that the letter containing the notice or documents was properly addressed and duly posted or delivered to the courier service.
148. |
Any notice or document delivered or sent by post to or left at the registered address of any Shareholder in accordance with the terms of these Articles shall notwithstanding that such Shareholder be then dead or bankrupt, and whether or not the Company has notice of his death or bankruptcy, be deemed to have been duly served in respect of any Share registered in the name of such Shareholder as sole or joint holder, unless his name shall at the time of the service of the notice or document have been removed from the Register as the holder of the Share, and such service shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service of such notice or document on all Persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under him) in the Share. |
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149. |
Notice of every general meeting of the Company shall be given to: |
(a) |
all Shareholders holding Shares with the right to receive notice and who have supplied to the Company an address for the giving of notices to them; and |
(b) |
every Person entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder, who but for his death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting. |
No other Person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings.
INFORMATION
150. |
Subject to the relevant laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Company, no Member shall be entitled to require discovery of any information in respect of any detail of the Companys trading or any information which is or may be in the nature of a trade secret or secret process which may relate to the conduct of the business of the Company and which in the opinion of the Board would not be in the interests of the Members of the Company to communicate to the public. |
151. |
Subject to due compliance with the relevant laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Company, the Board shall be entitled to release or disclose any information in its possession, custody or control regarding the Company or its affairs to any of its Members including, without limitation, information contained in the Register and transfer books of the Company. |
INDEMNITY
152. |
Every Director (including for the purposes of this Article any alternate Director appointed pursuant to the provisions of these Articles), Secretary, assistant Secretary, or other officer for the time being and from time to time of the Company (but not including the Companys auditors) and the personal representatives of the same (each an Indemnified Person) shall be indemnified and secured harmless against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such Indemnified Person, other than by reason of such Indemnified Persons own dishonesty, wilful default or fraud, in or about the conduct of the Companys business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such Indemnified Person in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning the Company or its affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere. |
153. |
No Indemnified Person shall be liable: |
(a) |
for the acts, receipts, neglects, defaults or omissions of any other Director or officer or agent of the Company; or |
(b) |
for any loss on account of defect of title to any property of the Company; or |
(c) |
on account of the insufficiency of any security in or upon which any money of the Company shall be invested; or |
(d) |
for any loss incurred through any bank, broker or other similar Person; or |
(e) |
for any loss occasioned by any negligence, default, breach of duty, breach of trust, error of judgement or oversight on such Indemnified Persons part; or |
(f) |
for any loss, damage or misfortune whatsoever which may happen in or arise from the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities, or discretions of such Indemnified Persons office or in relation thereto; |
unless the same shall happen through such Indemnified Persons own dishonesty, willful default or fraud.
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FINANCIAL YEAR
154. |
Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on December 31 st in each calendar year and shall begin on January 1 st in each calendar year. |
NON-RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS
155. |
No Person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any Share upon any trust and the Company shall not, unless required by law, be bound by or be compelled in any way to recognise (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share or (except only as otherwise provided by these Articles or as the Companies Law requires) any other right in respect of any Share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in each Shareholder registered in the Register. |
WINDING UP
156. |
If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, with the sanction of a Special Resolution of the Company and any other sanction required by the Companies Law, divide amongst the Members in specie or in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for that purpose value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any asset upon which there is a liability. |
157. |
If the Company shall be wound up, and the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the share capital, such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them. If in a winding up the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up subject to a deduction from those Shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to the Company for unpaid calls or otherwise. This Article is without prejudice to the rights of the holders of Shares issued upon special terms and conditions. |
AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
158. |
Subject to the Companies Law, the Company may at any time and from time to time by Special Resolution alter or amend these Articles in whole or in part. |
CLOSING OF REGISTER OR FIXING RECORD DATE
159. |
For the purpose of determining those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at any meeting of Shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination as to who is a Shareholder for any other purpose, the Directors may provide that the Register shall be closed for transfers for a stated period which shall not exceed in any case thirty calendar days in any calendar year. |
160. |
In lieu of or apart from closing the Register, the Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of the Shareholders and for the purpose of determining those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of any dividend the Directors may, at or within ninety calendar days prior to the date of declaration of such dividend, fix a subsequent date as the record date for such determination. |
161. |
If the Register is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of those Shareholders entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of Shareholders or those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is posted or the date on which the resolution of the Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Shareholders. When a determination of those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of Shareholders has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof. |
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REGISTRATION BY WAY OF CONTINUATION
162. |
The Company may by Special Resolution resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands or such other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing. In furtherance of a resolution adopted pursuant to this Article, the Directors may cause an application to be made to the Registrar of Companies to deregister the Company in the Cayman Islands or such other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing and may cause all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company. |
DISCLOSURE
163. |
The Directors, or any service providers (including the officers, the Secretary and the Registered Office provider of the Company) specifically authorised by the Directors, shall be entitled to disclose to any regulatory or judicial authority any information regarding the affairs of the Company including without limitation information contained in the Register and books of the Company. |
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Exhibit 4.4
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
by and among
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
TRUSTBRIDGE PARTNERS V, L.P.
MATRIX PARTNERS CHINA III HONG KONG LIMITED
CHINESE ROSE INVESTMENT LIMITED
ATCG HOLDINGS LIMITED
YOUTHFUL ACQUISITION L.P.
GREEN STONE LIMITED
ABSOLUTE FORTUNE LIMITED
GOLDEN HORIZON LIMITED
BOHAI SPRING, L.P.
BOCI FINANCIAL PRODUCTS LIMITED
DERIPI LIMITED
BUCHKANA HOLDINGS LIMITED
FLARENSI HOLDINGS LIMITED
and
THE OTHER PARTIES NAMED HEREIN
August 23, 2018
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
This FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT (this Agreement ) is entered into on August 23, 2018, by and among:
A. So-Young International Inc . , a Cayman Islands exempted company whose registered address is at the offices of Osiris International Cayman Limited, Suite #4-210, Governors Square, 23 Lime Tree Bay Avenue, PO Box 32311, Grand Cayman KY1-1209,Cayman Islands (the Company );
B. So-Young Hong Kong Limited , a Hong Kong company whose registered address is at Room C, 21/F,CMA Building, No.64 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong (the HK Co. );
C. SO-YOUNG HIGH TECH KOREA CO., LTD. (新氧科技韩国株式会社), a Korea company whose registered address is at 601-26, Midopa Guanghuamun B/D, 47 Sejongdaero 23Gil, Jongro Gu, Seoul, Korea (the Korea Co. );
D. Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consultin g Co., Ltd. (北京新氧万维科技咨询有限公司)., a wholly-foreign owned enterprise established under the laws of the PRC whose registered address is at Room A079, Floor 2, No.88, Xiangshan Road, Haidian District, Beijing City, the PRC (the PRC Subsidiary );
E. Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. (北京新氧科技有限公司),a company established under the laws of the PRC, whose registered address is at Room 201,Yuncaihuilin Hotel, Kang Jia Gou 168, Jianguo East Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, the PRC ( Domestic Co. , together with the PRC Subsidiary, the PRC Companies and each, a PRC Company );
F. The Persons as set forth on Schedule A-1 (each a Key Party and together, the Key Parties );
G. The entities as set forth on Schedule A-2 (each a Key Partys Holdco. and together, the Key Parties Holdcos );
H. The Person as set forth on Schedule A-3 ( Mr. Shao );
I. The entity as set forth on Schedule A-4 (together with the Key Parties Holdcos, collectively, the BVI Holdcos and each a BVI Holdco. );
J. ATCG Holdings Limited, limited liability company organized under the Laws of the British Virgin Islands (together with its permitted Affiliate, assignee and transferee, YOUYI );
K. Other entities set forth on Schedule A-5 (together with YOUYI, solely as to the 4,902,554 Series C Preferred Shares held by it, the Investors , and each an Investor ).
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Each of the foregoing parties is referred to herein individually as a Party and collectively as the Parties .
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company, Orchid, Apax, CDH, Matrix, TBP and certain other parties are parties to that certain Series D+ Preferred Share Subscription Agreement dated as of February 9, 2018 (the Series D+ Share Subscription Agreement ) and that Third Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement dated February 9, 2018 (the Prior Shareholders Agreement );
WHEREAS, (i) Matrix, Orchid II, BOCI and RCIF have agreed to purchase from the Company, and the Company has agreed to sell to Matrix, Orchid II, BOCI and RCIF, and (ii) Matrix, Orchid II, BOCI and RCIF have agreed to purchase from ATCG Holdings Limited and One-of-a-kind Holdings Limited, and ATCG Holdings Limited and One-of-a-kind Holdings Limited have agreed to sell to Matrix, Orchid II, BOCI and RCIF, an aggregate number of 6,164,979 Series E Preferred Shares of the Company on the terms and conditions set forth in the Series E Preferred Share Subscription and Purchase Agreement dated August 23, 2018 (the Series E Share Subscription Agreement ), by and among, the Group Companies, the Key Parties, the Key Parties Holdcos, Mr. Shao, ATCG Holdings Limited and the holders of the Series E Preferred Shares. This Agreement is the Shareholders Agreement as defined in the Series E Share Subscription Agreement.
WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Series E Share Subscription Agreement, the Parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement for the governance, management and operations of the Group Companies and for the rights and obligations between and among the Preferred Shareholders and the Company.
The parties hereby agree to amend and restate the Prior Shareholders Agreement by entering into this Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein, which shall amend, restate, supersede and replace in its entirety the Prior Shareholders Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. |
GENERAL MATTERS . |
1.1 Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meanings assigned to them in Annex A attached to this Agreement. The use of any term defined in Annex A in its uncapitalized form indicates that the words have their normal and general meaning.
1.2 Pledge . The Company and each of the Key Parties, Mr. Shao and the BVI Holdco shall, on a joint and several basis cause all Parties to this Agreement, other than the Investors, to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
2. |
INFORMATION AND INSPECTION RIGHTS . |
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2.1 Information and Inspection Rights Prior to a Qualified IPO .
(a) Information Rights . The Company covenants and agrees that, commencing on the date of this Agreement, and for so long as any Investor holds any Investment Securities, the Company will and will cause the Group Companies to, deliver to such Investor the following with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries:
(i) annual audited consolidated financial statements within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, audited in accordance with IAS or other accounting principle as approved by the Investors by a reputable accounting firm approved by the Investors;
(ii) monthly bank statements of each Group Company and monthly unaudited consolidated financial statements within thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar month;
(iii) quarterly unaudited consolidated financial statements within thirty (30) days after the end of each quarter;
(iv) an annual consolidated budget for the following fiscal year within forty-five (45) days prior to the end of each fiscal year; and
(v) promptly upon request from such Investor, current versions of this Agreement and other related investment documents and all documents relating to any subsequent financings by the Company, the management of the Company or otherwise affecting the Preferred Shares or shares issued upon conversion of the Preferred Shares, bearing the signatures of all parties and of the Companys Revised M&A bearing the file stamp of the appropriate government authority, in each case with all amendments and restatements; the copies of the documents to be provided under this Section 2.1 may be delivered in either hardcopy or in Portable Document Format (the PDF ); and
(vi) upon the request by such Investor, such other information as such Investor shall reasonably request.
All financial statements to be provided to the Investors pursuant to this Section 2.1 and pursuant to any other Transaction Document, including the Revised M&A, shall be prepared in the English language in accordance with IAS or other accounting principle as approved by the Investors and shall consolidate the results of operations of the Group Companies.
(b) Inspection Rights . The Company covenants and agrees that, commencing on the date of this Agreement, and for so long as any Investor holds any Investment Securities, such Investor or its appointee shall have the right of inspection, including the right to access, examine facilities, books, accounts or records, and copy relevant documents of each Group Company and/or any of their respective Subsidiaries, and to discuss the business, operations and conditions of each Group Company and their respective Subsidiaries with their respective directors, officers, employees, accounts, legal counsel and investment bankers.
(c) Termination of Rights . Except as set forth in Sections 2.1(a)(v) and 2.2, the foregoing information and inspection rights shall terminate upon the closing of a Qualified IPO.
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2.2 Information Rights After a Qualified IPO . The Company covenants and agrees that, for so long as any Investor holds any Investment Securities, the Company will deliver to such Investor (i) promptly after filing, copies of all of the Companys annual and periodic reports made available to its shareholders as well as all public reports (including any periodic, interim, or extraordinary reports) filed with the Securities and Futures Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the China Securities and Regulatory Commission of the PRC, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other stock exchange or securities regulatory authority, as applicable, and (ii) promptly upon request, copies of current versions of investment document and all documents relating to any subsequent financings by the Company, or otherwise affecting the Investment Securities or the holders of the Investment Securities, in each case with all amendments and restatements. This Section 2.2 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
3. |
REGISTRATION RIGHTS . |
3.1 Applicability of Rights . The holders of the Investment Securities shall be entitled to the following rights with respect to any potential public offering of Ordinary Shares of the Company (or securities representing such Ordinary Shares) in the United States, and to any analogous or equivalent rights with respect to any other offering of shares in any other jurisdiction pursuant to which the Company undertakes to publicly offer or list such securities for trading on a recognized securities exchange.
3.2 Definitions . For purposes of this Section 3:
(a) Registration . The terms register, registered, and registration refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement under the Securities Act, and the declaration of effectiveness of such registration statement.
(b) Registrable Securities . The term Registrable Securities means: (1) Ordinary Shares of the Company issued or to be issued upon conversion of the Preferred Shares issued (A) under the Series A Share Purchase Agreement, the Series B Share Purchase Agreement, the Series C-1 Share Purchase Agreement, the Series C Share Purchase Agreement, Series D Share Subscription and Purchase Agreement, the Series D+ Share Subscription Agreement and the Series E Share Subscription Agreement, and (B) pursuant to the issuance of New Securities by the Company to the Investors pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof; (2) Ordinary Shares of the Company issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security which is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of, any of the foregoing; (3) any other Ordinary Share owned or hereafter acquired by any Investor, including Ordinary Shares issued in respect of the Ordinary Shares described in (1)-(2) above upon any share split, share dividend, recapitalization or a similar event; and (4) any depositary receipts issued by an institutional depositary upon deposit of any of the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Registrable Securities shall not include any Registrable Securities sold by a Person in a transaction in which rights under this Section 3 are not assigned in accordance with this Agreement or any Registrable Securities sold in a public offering, whether sold pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, or in a registered offering, or otherwise.
(c) Registrable Securities Then Outstanding . The number of shares of Registrable Securities then outstanding shall mean the number of Ordinary Shares of the Company that are Registrable Securities and are then issued and outstanding or would be outstanding assuming full conversion of all Registrable Securities which are convertible into Ordinary Shares.
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(d) Holder . For purposes of this Section 3, the term Holder means any Person who holds Registrable Securities of record, whether such Registrable Securities were acquired directly from the Company or from another Holder in a permitted transfer, to whom the rights under this Section 3 have been duly assigned in accordance with this Agreement; provided , however , that for purposes of this Agreement, a record holder of the Preferred Shares convertible into such Registrable Securities shall be deemed to be the Holder of such Registrable Securities; and provided , further , that (i) the Company shall in no event be obligated to register the Preferred Shares and that (ii) Holders of Registrable Securities will not be required to convert their Preferred Shares into Ordinary Share in order to exercise the registration rights granted hereunder, until immediately prior to the declaration of effectiveness of the registration statement for the offering to which the registration relates.
(e) Form S-3 and Form F-3 . The terms Form S-3 and Form F-3 means such respective form under the Securities Act as is in effect on the date hereof or any successor or comparable registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC, which permits inclusion or incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.
3.3 Demand Registration .
(a) Request by Holders . If the Company shall receive, at any time after the earlier of (i) the third (3 rd ) anniversary of the date hereof, or (ii) six (6) months after the completion of a Qualified IPO, a written request from the Holders of at least ten percent (10%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding that the Company files a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 3.3, then the Company shall, within ten (10) Business Days after the receipt of such written request, give a written notice of such request (the Request Notice ) to all Holders. The Holders shall send a written notice stating the number of Registrable Securities requested to be registered and included in such registration (the Request Securities ) to the Company within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of the Request Notice. The Company shall thereafter use its best efforts to effect, as soon as practicable, the registration of the Request Securities, subject only to the limitations of this Section 3.3; provided , however , that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration if the Company has, within the six (6) month period preceding the date of such request, already effected a registration under the Securities Act pursuant to this Section 3.3 or Section 3.5, or in which the Holders had an opportunity to participate pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.4, other than a registration from which the Registrable Securities of Holders have been excluded (with respect to all or any portion of the Registrable Securities the Holders requested be included in such registration) pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.4(a).
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(b) Underwriting . If the Holders initiating the registration request under this Section 3.3 (the Initiating Holders ) intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their request by means of an underwriting, then they shall so advise the Company as a part of their request made pursuant to this Section 3.3 and the Company shall include such information in the Request Notice referred to in Section 3.3(a). In the event of an underwritten offering, the right of any Holder to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such Holders participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holders Registrable Securities in the underwriting (unless otherwise mutually agreed by a majority in interest of the Initiating Holders and such Holder) to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the managing underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being registered and reasonably acceptable to the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.3, if the underwriter(s) advise(s) the Company in writing that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of securities to be underwritten, then the Company shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities which would otherwise be registered and underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of Registrable Securities that may be included in the underwriting shall be reduced as required by the underwriter(s) and allocated among the Holders of Registrable Securities on a pro-rata basis according to the number of Registrable Securities then outstanding held by each Holder requesting registration (including the Initiating Holders); provided , however , that the number of shares of Registrable Securities to be included in such underwriting and registration shall not be reduced (x) by more than seventy five (75%) and (y) unless all other securities are first entirely excluded from the underwriting and registration including all shares that are not Registrable Securities and are held by any other Person, including any Person who is an employee, officer or director of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. Further, if, as a result of such underwriter cutback, the Holders cannot include in the offering all of the Registrable Securities that they have requested to be included therein, then such registration shall not be deemed to constitute one of the three (3) demand registrations to which the Holders are entitled pursuant to this Section 3. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by delivering a written notice to the Company and the underwriter(s), delivered at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the effective date of the registration statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be excluded and withdrawn from the registration. For any Holder that is a partnership, the Holder and the partners and retired partners of such Holder, or the estates and family members of any such partners and retired partners and any trusts for the benefit of any of the foregoing Persons, and for any Holder that is a corporation, the Holder and all corporations that are affiliates of such Holder, shall be deemed to be a single Holder, and any pro-rata reduction with respect to such Holder shall be based upon the aggregate amount of shares carrying registration rights owned by all entities and individuals included in such Holder, as defined herein.
(c) Maximum Number of Demand Registrations . The Company shall have no obligation to effect more than three (3) registrations pursuant to this Section 3.3.
(d) Deferral . Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company shall furnish to the Holders requesting the filing of a registration statement pursuant to this Section 3.3, a certificate signed by the president or chief executive officer of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board, it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such registration statement to be filed, then the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than ninety (90) days after receipt of the request of the Initiating Holders; provided , however , that the Company may not utilize this right more than once in any twelve (12) month period; provided further that during such ninety (90) day period, the Company shall not file any registration statement pertaining to the public offering of any securities of the Company.
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(e) Expenses . The Company shall pay all expenses (excluding only underwriting discounts and commissions relating to the Registrable Securities sold by the Holders) incurred in connection with any registration pursuant to this Section 3.3, including all U.S. federal, blue sky and all foreign registration, filing and qualification fees, printers and accounting fees, the fees and expenses (including disbursements) of outside counsels for the Holders and any fee charged by any depositary bank, transfer agent or share registrar. Each Holder participating in a registration pursuant to this Section 3.3 shall bear such Holders proportionate share (based on the total number of shares of Registrable Securities sold in such registration other than for the account of the Company) of all discounts and commissions relating to the Registrable Securities sold by the Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to pay any expense of any registration proceeding begun pursuant to this Section 3.3 if the registration request is subsequently withdrawn at the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be registered, unless the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding agree that such registration constitutes the use by the Holders of one (1) demand registration pursuant to this Section 3.3 (in which case such registration shall also constitute the use by all Holders of Registrable Securities of one (l) such demand registration); provided further , however , that if at the time of such withdrawal, the Holders have learned of a material adverse change in the condition, business, or prospects of the Company not known to the Holders at the time of their request for such registration and have withdrawn their request for registration with reasonable promptness after learning of such material adverse change, or if the registration proceeding is terminated for any reason not specifically covered by this Section 3.3(e), then the Company shall be required to pay all of such expenses and such registration shall not constitute the use of a demand registration pursuant to this Section 3.3.
3.4 Piggyback Registrations . The Company shall notify all Holders of Registrable Securities in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to filing of any registration statement under the Securities Act for purposes of effecting a public offering of securities of the Company (including registration statements relating to secondary offerings of securities of the Company, but excluding registration statements relating to any registration under Section 3.3 or Section 3.5 of this Agreement or to any employee benefit plan or a corporate reorganization) and will afford each such Holder an opportunity to include in such registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities then held by such Holder. Each Holder desiring to include in any such registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities held by such Holder shall within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of the above-described notice from the Company, so notify the Company in writing, and in such notice shall inform the Company of the number of Registrable Securities such Holder wishes to include in such registration statement. If a Holder decides not to include all of its Registrable Securities in any registration statement thereafter filed by the Company, such Holder shall nevertheless continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any subsequent registration statement or registration statements as may be filed by the Company with respect to offerings of its securities, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.
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(a) Underwriting . If a registration statement under which the Company gives notice under this Section 3.4 is for an underwritten offering, then the Company shall so advise the Holders of Registrable Securities. In such event, the right of any such Holders Registrable Securities to be included in a registration pursuant to this Section 3.4 shall be conditioned upon such Holders participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holders Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the managing underwriter or underwriters selected by the Company for such underwriting. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the managing underwriter(s) determine(s) in good faith that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, then the managing underwriter(s) may exclude shares from the registration and the underwriting, and the number of shares that may be included in the registration and the underwriting shall be allocated, first to the Company, and second , to each of the Holders requesting inclusion of their Registrable Securities in such registration statement on a pro-rata basis based on the total number of Registrable Securities then held by each such Holder; provided , however , that the right of the underwriter(s) to exclude shares (including Registrable Securities) from the registration and underwriting as described above shall be restricted so that (i) the number of Registrable Securities included in any such registration is not reduced below twenty-five percent (25%) of the aggregate number of Registrable Securities for which inclusion has been requested, even if this will cause the Company to reduce the number of shares it wishes to offer; and (ii) all shares that are not Registrable Securities and are held by any other Person, including any Person who is an employee, officer or director of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company shall first be excluded from such registration and underwriting before any Registrable Securities are so excluded. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by delivering a written notice to the Company and the underwriter(s) at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the effective date of the registration statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be excluded and withdrawn from the registration. For any Holder that is a partnership, the Holder and the partners and retired partners of such Holder, or the estates and family members of any such partners and retired partners and any trusts for the benefit of any of the foregoing Persons, and for any Holder that is a corporation, the Holder and all corporations that are affiliates of such Holder, shall be deemed to be a single Holder, and any pro-rata reduction with respect to such Holder shall be based upon the aggregate amount of shares carrying registration rights owned by all entities and individuals included in such Holder, as defined in this sentence.
(b) Expenses . The Company shall pay all expenses (excluding only underwriting and brokers discounts and commissions relating to shares sold by the Holders) incurred in connection with a registration pursuant to this Section 3.4, including all U.S. federal, blue sky and all foreign registration, filing and qualification fees, printers and accounting fees, the fees and expenses (including disbursements) of outside counsels for the Holders and any fee charged by any depositary bank, transfer agent or share registrar. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred in connection with a registration pursuant to this Section 3.4 notwithstanding the cancellation or delay of the registration proceeding for any reason.
(c) Not Demand Registration . Registration pursuant to this Section 3.4 shall not be deemed to be a demand registration as described in Section 3.3 above. Except as otherwise provided herein, there shall be no limit on the number of times the Holders may request registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 3.4.
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3.5 Form S-3 or Form F-3 Registration . After its initial public offering, the Company shall use its best efforts to qualify for registration on Form S-3 or Form F-3 or any comparable or successor form promptly and to maintain such qualification thereafter. If the Company is qualified to use Form S-3 or Form F-3, any Holder or Holders shall have a right to request in writing that the Company effect a registration on either Form S-3 or Form F-3 and any related qualification or compliance with respect to all or a part of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holders, and upon receipt of each such request, the Company shall perform the tasks set out in paragraphs (a) and (b) below:
(a) Notice . Promptly give written notice of the proposed registration and the Holders or Holders request therefor, and any related qualification or compliance, to all other Holders of Registrable Securities.
(b) Registration . As soon as practicable, effect such registration and all such qualifications and compliances as may be so requested and as would permit or facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of such Holders or Holders Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request given within twenty (20) days after the date on which the Company provides the notice contemplated by Section 3.5(a); provided , however , that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to this Section 3.5:
(i) if Form S-3 or Form F-3 becomes unavailable for such offering by the Holders;
(ii) if the Holders, together with the holders of any other securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at an aggregate price of less than US$1,000,000 to the public; or
(iii) if the Company has, within the six (6) month period preceding the date of such request, already effected a registration under the Securities Act other than a registration from which the Registrable Securities of Holders have been excluded (with respect to all or any portion of the Registrable Securities the Holders requested be included in such registration) pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.4(a).
(c) Expenses . The Company shall pay all expenses (excluding only underwriting or brokers discounts and commissions relating to shares sold by the Holders) incurred in connection with each registration requested pursuant to this Section 3.5, including all U.S. federal, blue sky and all foreign registration, filing and qualification fees, printers and accounting fees, the fees and expenses (including disbursements) of outside counsels for the Holders and any fee charged by any depositary bank, transfer agent or share registrar. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred in connection with a registration pursuant to this Section 3.5 notwithstanding the cancellation or delay of the registration proceeding for any reason.
(d) Maximum Frequency . Except as otherwise provided herein, there shall be no limit on the number of times the Holders may request registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 3.5.
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(e) Deferral . Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company shall furnish to Holders requesting the filing of a registration statement pursuant to this Section 3.5, a certificate signed by the president or chief executive officer of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board, it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such Form S-3 or Form F-3 registration statement to be filed, then the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than ninety (90) days after receipt of the request of the Initiating Holders; provided , however , that the Company may not utilize this right more than once in any twelve (12) month period; provided further that during such ninety (90) day period, the Company shall not file any registration statement pertaining to the public offering of any securities of the Company.
(f) Not Demand Registration . Form S-3 or Form F-3 registrations shall not be deemed to be demand registrations as described in Section 3.3 above.
(g) Underwriting . If the requested registration under this Section 3.5 is for an underwritten offering, the provisions of Section 3.3(b) shall apply.
If the Company fails to perform any of the Companys obligations set forth above in this Section 3.5 relating to a demand registration made pursuant to Section 3.3, such registration shall not constitute the use of a demand registration under Section 3.3.
3.6 Obligations of the Company . Whenever required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under this Agreement, the Company shall, as soon as practicable:
(a) Registration Statement . Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, and keep any such registration statement effective for a period of one (1) year or until the Holder or Holders have completed the distribution described in the registration statement relating thereto, whichever is earlier.
(b) Amendments and Supplements . Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement.
(c) Prospectuses . Furnish to the Holders such number of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by them that are included in such registration.
(d) Blue Sky . Use its best efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders, provided that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions.
(e) Deposit Agreement . If the registration relates to an offering of depositary shares or other securities representing Ordinary Shares deposited pursuant to a deposit agreement or similar facility, cause the depositary under such agreement or facility to accept for deposit under such agreement or facility all Registrable Securities requested by each Holder to be included in such registration in accordance with this Section 3.
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(f) Underwriting . In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement in usual and customary form, with the managing underwriter(s) of such offering. Each Holder participating in such underwriting shall also enter into and perform its obligations under such an agreement.
(g) Notification . Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing.
(h) Opinions and Comfort Letter . Furnish, at the request of any Holder requesting registration of Registrable Securities, on the date that such Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriter(s) for sale, if such Registrable Securities are being sold through underwriters, or, if such Registrable Securities are not being sold through underwriters, on the date that the registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities becomes effective, (i) opinions, each dated as of such date, of the counsels representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering and reasonably satisfactory to Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities requested to be registered, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and to the Holders requesting registration of Registrable Securities and (ii) a comfort letter dated as of such date, from the independent certified public accountants of the Company, in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering and reasonably satisfactory to Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities requested to be registered, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and to the Holders requesting registration of Registrable Securities.
3.7 Furnish Information . It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to Sections 3.3, 3.4 or 3.5 that the Holders shall furnish to the Company information regarding such Holders, the Registrable Securities held by them and the intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities as shall reasonably be required to timely effect the Registration of their Registrable Securities.
3.8 Indemnification . In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under Sections 3.3, 3.4 or 3.5:
(a) By the Company . To the extent permitted by law and its memorandum and articles, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Holder and its Affiliates, partners, officers, directors, employee, legal counsel, agent, any underwriter (as determined in the Securities Act) for such Holder and each Person, if any, who Controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which they may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other applicable law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities or actions in respect thereof arise out of or are based upon any of the following statements, omissions or violations (collectively a Violation ):
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(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto;
(ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or
(iii) any violation or alleged violation of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any federal or state securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other applicable law in connection with the offering covered by such registration statement;
and the Company shall reimburse each such Holder and its Affiliates, partners, officers, directors, employees, legal counsel, agents, underwriters or controlling Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them, in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided , however , that the indemnity contained in this Section 3.8(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, nor shall the Company be liable in any such case for any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action to the extent that it arises out of or is based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in connection with such registration by such Holder, underwriter or controlling Person of such Holder.
(b) By Selling Shareholders . To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder, on a several and not joint basis, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who have signed the registration statement, each Person, if any, who Controls the Company, any underwriter and any other Holder selling securities under such registration statement or any of such other Holders partners, directors, officers, legal counsel or any Person who Controls such Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (joint or several) to which the Company or any such director, officer, legal counsel, controlling Person, underwriter or other such Holder, partner or director, officer or controlling Person of such other Holder may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other applicable law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities or actions in respect thereto arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs in the Companys reasonable reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by such Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration; and each such Holder will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director, officer, controlling Person, underwriter or other Holder, partner, officer, director or controlling Person of such other Holder in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action: provided , however , that the indemnity contained in this Section 3.8(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and provided further that the total amounts payable in indemnity by a Holder under this Section 3.8(b) plus any amount under Section 3.8(e) in respect of any Violation shall not exceed the net proceeds received by such Holder in the registered offering out of which such Violation arises.
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(c) Notice . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 3.8 of notice of the commencement of any action, including any governmental action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 3.8, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof (a Claim Notice ) and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided , however , that an indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, (i) during the period from the delivery of a Claim Notice until retention of counsel by the indemnifying party; and (ii) if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential conflict of interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver a written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall relieve such indemnifying party of liability to the indemnified party under this Section 3.8 to the extent the indemnifying party is prejudiced as a result thereof, but the omission to deliver a written notice to the indemnified party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 3.8.
(d) Defect Eliminated in Final Prospectus . The foregoing indemnity of the Company and Holders are subject to the condition that, insofar as they relate to any Violation made in a preliminary prospectus but eliminated or remedied in the amended prospectus on file with the SEC at the time the registration statement in question becomes effective or the amended prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to SEC Rule 424(b) (the Final Prospectus ), such indemnity shall not inure to the benefit of any Person if a copy of the Final Prospectus was timely furnished to the indemnified party and was not furnished to the Person asserting the loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the time such action is required by the Securities Act.
(e) Contribution . In order to provide for just and equitable contribution to joint liability under the Securities Act in any case in which either (i) any Holder exercising rights under this Agreement, or any controlling Person of any such Holder, makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 3.8 but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 3.8 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any such selling Holder or any such controlling Person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 3.8; then, and in each such case, the Company and such Holder will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and of the indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided , however , that, in any such case: (A) no such Holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the net proceeds received by such Holder pursuant to such registration statement except in the case of willful misconduct or fraud by such Holder; and (B) no Person or entity guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation as defined in Section 11(f) of the Securities Act will be entitled to contribution from any Person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
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(f) Survival . The obligations of the Company and Holders under this Section 3.8 shall survive for six (6) years after the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration statement, regardless of the expiration of any statutes of limitation or extensions of such statutes.
3.9 Rule 144 Reporting . With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC which may permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the Company agrees to:
(a) Make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 or any similar or analogous rule promulgated under the Securities Act, at all times after the effective date of the first registration filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to the general public;
(b) File with the SEC, in a timely manner, all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, at all times after the effective date of the first registration under the Securities Act filed by the Company;
(c) So long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish to such Holder forthwith upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of said Rule 144 of the Securities Act, and of the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual, interim, quarterly or other report of the Company and, (iii) such other reports and documents as a Holder may reasonably request availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC allowing it to sell any such securities without registration.
3.10 Termination of the Company s Obligations . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligations pursuant to Sections 3.3, 3.4 or 3.5 with respect to any Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by a Holder in a registered public offering (i) five (5) years after the consummation of a Qualified IPO, or (ii), if, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, all such Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by a Holder may then be sold under Rule 144 in one transaction without exceeding the volume limitations thereunder.
3.11 No Registration Rights to Third Parties . Without the prior written consent of the Holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding, the Company covenants and agrees that it shall not grant, or cause or permit to be created, for the benefit of any Person or entity any registration rights of any kind, whether similar to the demand, piggyback or Form S-3 or Form F-3 registration rights described in this Section 3, or otherwise, relating to any shares or other securities of the Company, other than rights that are subordinate to the rights of the Holders hereunder.
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3.12 Market Stand-Off Agreement . Each Holder hereby agrees that, if and to the extent requested by the lead underwriter of securities of the Company in connection with a registration relating to a specific proposed public offering (other than a registration on Form S-8 or a related or successor form relating solely to an employee benefit plan or a registration on Form S-4 or a related or successor form relating solely to a transaction under SEC Rule 145), such Holder will, subject to the following conditions, enter into a lock-up or standoff agreement in customary form (subject to the following conditions) under which such Holder agrees not to sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Registrable Securities or other shares of the Company owned by such Holder as of the date of such registration for up to one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of the related registration statement. The obligations of each Holder under this Section 3.12 are subject to the following conditions: (i) the lockup or standoff agreement applies only to the first registration statement of the Company which covers securities to be sold on its behalf to the public in an underwritten offering, but not to Registrable Securities actually sold pursuant to such registration statement; (ii) such Holder is satisfied that all directors, officers, and holders of 1% or more of any class of securities of the Company are bound by substantially identical restrictions; (iii) the lockup or standoff agreement provides that if any securities of the Company are to be excluded or released in whole or part from such restrictions, the underwriter shall so notify each Holder within three (3) days and each Holder shall be excluded or released, in proportionate amounts to the extent of the exclusion or release with respect to any other holder of Companys securities, including any director, officer, or holder of 1% or more of any class of securities of the Company subject to such restrictions; and (iv) the lockup or standoff agreement by its terms permits transfers of Registrable Securities by any Holder to any Affiliate of such Holder during the restricted period, provided that such Affiliate executes a lock-up or standoff agreement substantively identical to that signed by the transferring Holder. The lock-up or standoff agreement shall expire no later than ninety (90) days after execution by the Holder if no underwritten public offering has occurred by the date of such execution. The Company may impose a stop-transfer restriction with respect to Registrable Securities that are subject to any such lockup or standoff agreement, but shall remove such restriction immediately upon the expiration or termination of such lockup or standoff agreement.
3.13 Public Offering Rights (Non-U.S. Offerings) . If shares of the Company are offered in an underwritten public offering (whether or not a Qualified IPO) outside of the United States for the account of any Ordinary Shareholder or other shareholders, each Holder shall have the right to include a pro-rata number of shares (based on the number of shares (on an asconverted basis) then held by such Holder and all other shareholders of the Company selling in such offering) in such offering on terms and conditions no less favorable to the Holders than to any other selling shareholder.
3.14 Re-sale Rights . The Company shall use its best efforts to assist each Holder in the sale or disposition of its Registrable Securities after a Qualified IPO, including the prompt delivery of applicable instruction letters by the Company and legal opinions from the Companys counsels in forms reasonably satisfactory to the Holders counsel. In the event the Company has depositary receipts listed or traded on any stock exchange or inter-dealer quotation system, the Company shall pay all costs and fees related to such depositary facility, including conversion fees and maintenance fees for Registrable Securities held by the Holders.
4. |
RIGHT OF PARTICIPATION . |
4.1 With Respect to Issuance of New Securities:
(a) General . Each holder of Preferred Shares (the Participation Rights Holders , and each a Participation Rights Holder ) shall have a right of first refusal to purchase such a Pro Rata Share of all or any part of the New Securities that the Company may from time to time issue after the date of this Agreement (the Right of Participation ). Each Participation Rights Holder shall be entitled to apportion its Right of Participation hereby granted to it among itself and its Affiliates in such proportions as it deems appropriate.
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(b) Pro Rata Share . A Participation Rights Holders Pro Rata Share is the ratio of (a) the number of Registrable Securities then held by such Participation Rights Holder, to (b) the total number of Registrable Securities (on an as-converted basis) then held by all the Preferred Shareholders and Ordinary Shareholders immediately prior to the issuance of New Securities giving rise to the Right of Participation.
(c) New Securities . New Securities shall mean any Preferred Shares, Ordinary Shares or other voting shares of the Company, whether now authorized or not, and rights, options or warrants to purchase such Preferred Shares, Ordinary Shares and securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible or exchangeable into such Preferred Shares, Ordinary Shares or other voting shares, provided , however , that the term New Securities shall not include:
(i) any Series A Preferred Shares issued under the Series A Share Purchase Agreement, Series B Preferred Shares issued under the Series B Share Purchase Agreement, Series C-1 Preferred Shares issued under the Series C-1 Share Purchase Agreement, Series C Preferred Shares issued under the Series C Share Purchase Agreement, Series D Preferred Shares issued under the Series D Share Subscription and Purchase Agreement, Series D+ Preferred Shares issued under the Series D+ Share Subscription Agreement, or Series E Preferred Shares issued under the Series E Share Subscription Agreement, securities convertible into Series A Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares, Series C-1 Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, Series D+ Preferred Shares, Series E Preferred Shares or Class B Ordinary Shares issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares, Series C-1 Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, Series D+ Preferred Shares, or Series E Preferred Shares authorized;
(ii) any securities issued in connection with any share split, share dividend or other similar event in which all Participation Rights Holders are entitled to participate on a pro rata basis;
(iii) in the aggregate up to 7,111,447 Class B Ordinary Shares issued or issuable to officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company pursuant to any equity plan or incentive arrangement approved by the Board (including the affirmative votes of the Majority Investor Directors);
(iv) those issued as a dividend or distribution on Preferred Shares or any event for which adjustment is made;
(v) any securities issued pursuant to the acquisition of another corporation or entity by the Company by consolidation, merger, purchase of assets, or other reorganization in which the Company acquires, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, a majority of the assets, voting power or equity ownership of such other corporation or entity, as duly approved by the Board (including the affirmative votes of the Majority Investor Directors) and the Preferred Majority; and
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(vi) any securities offered in an underwritten registered public offering by the Company, as duly approved by the Majority Preferred Shareholders.
(d) Procedures .
(i) First Participation Notice . In the event that the Company proposes to undertake an issuance of New Securities in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, it shall give to each Participation Rights Holder a written notice of its intention to issue New Securities (the First Participation Notice ), describing the amount, the type and the price of New Securities and the general terms upon which the Company proposes to issue such New Securities. Each Participation Rights Holder shall be entitled to purchase such Participation Rights Holders Pro Rata Share of such New Securities at the price and upon the terms and conditions specified in the First Participation Notice by giving a written notice to the Company and stating therein the number of New Securities to be purchased (such number shall not exceed such Participation Rights Holders Pro Rata Share) within twenty (20) Business Days from the date of such First Participation Notice. If any Participation Rights Holder fails to send such written notice within the prescribed time period or declines to exercise fully its Right of Participation, then the right of such Participation Rights Holder to purchase its Pro Rata Share hereunder shall be forfeited.
(ii) Second Participation Notice; Oversubscription . If any Participation Rights Holder fails or declines to exercise fully its Right of Participation in accordance with subsection (d)(i) above, the Company shall promptly give a written notice (the Second Participation Notice ) to the Participation Rights Holders who agreed to exercise their Right of Participation (the Rights Participants ) in accordance with subsection (d)(i) above. Each Rights Participant shall have five (5) Business Days from the date of the Second Participation Notice (the Second Participation Period ) to notify the Company of its desire to purchase more than its Pro Rata Share of the New Securities, stating the number of the additional New Securities it proposes to purchase. Such notice may be made by telephone if followed by a written confirmation within two (2) Business Days from the date of verbal notice. If as a result thereof, such oversubscription exceeds the total number of the remaining New Securities available for purchase, the oversubscribing Rights Participants will be cut back by the Company with respect to their oversubscriptions to that number of remaining New Securities equal to the product obtained by multiplying (x) the number of the remaining New Securities available for subscription by (y) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of Registrable Securities held by each oversubscribing Rights Participant and the denominator of which is the total number of Registrable Securities held by all the Preferred Shareholders and Ordinary Shareholders immediately prior to the issuance of New Securities giving rise to the Right of Participation. Each oversubscribing Rights Participant shall be obligated to purchase such number of additional New Securities as determined by the Company pursuant to this subsection (d)(ii) and the Company shall so notify the Rights Participants within fifteen (15) Business Days from the date of the Second Participation Notice.
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(e) Failure to Exercise . (i) In the event Participation Rights Holders do not exercise the Right of Participation with respect to all New Securities described in the First Participation Notice, after twenty (20) days following the date of the First Participation Notice, or (ii) upon the expiration of the Second Participation Period, the Company shall have a period of ninety (90) days thereafter to sell the New Securities described in the First Participation Notice or the Second Participation Notice (as applicable) which have not been subscribed by the Participation Rights Holders (with respect to which the Right of Participation was not fully exercised) at the same price and upon the same non-price terms specified in the First Participation Notice. In the event that the Company has not issued and sold such New Securities within such prescribed period, then the Company shall not thereafter issue or sell any New Securities without first offering such New Securities to the Participation Rights Holders pursuant to this Section 4.
(f) Termination . The Right of Participation shall terminate upon the completion of a Qualified IPO.
4.2 With Respect to Shares Owned by the Ordinary Shareholders:
(a) Restriction on Transfers . Subject to Section 10.1, each Key Party or Ordinary Shareholder may not sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, encumber or otherwise dispose of its Shares to any Person, whether directly or indirectly, except in compliance with this Section 4.2 and Section 5.
(b) Notice of Sale . If any Key Party or Ordinary Shareholder (the Selling Shareholder ) proposes to sell or transfer, directly or indirectly, any of its Shares (the Transfer Shares ), then the Selling Shareholder shall promptly give a written notice (the Transfer Notice ) to the Company and to each holder of the Preferred Shares (each holder of the Preferred Shares or each of its assignees hereinafter referred to as a ROFR Rights Holder ), which Transfer Notice shall include (i) the number of Transfer Shares to be sold or transferred and the nature of such sale or transfer, (ii) the identity (identities) (including name(s) and address(es)) of the prospective transferee(s), and (iii) the consideration and the material terms and conditions upon which the proposed sale or transfer is to be made. The Transfer Notice shall certify that the Selling Shareholder has received a firm offer from the prospective transferee(s) and in good faith believes a binding agreement for the sale or transfer is obtainable on the terms set forth in the Transfer Notice. The Transfer Notice shall also include a copy of any written proposal, term sheet or letter of intent or other agreement relating to the proposed transfer.
(c) Notice of Purchase . Each ROFR Rights Holder shall be entitled to purchase all or any part of such ROFR Rights Holders pro rata share of the Transfer Shares at the price and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Transfer Notice by giving a written notice to the Selling Shareholder within twenty (20) Business Days after the date of the Transfer Notice (the First Refusal Period ) stating therein the number of Transfer Shares to be purchased. If a ROFR Rights Holder exercises such right and notifies the Selling Shareholder of the number of Transfer Shares to be purchased, then such ROFR Rights Holder shall complete the purchase of the Transfer Shares on the same terms and conditions as those set out in the Transfer Notice. A failure by a ROFR Rights Holder to respond within such prescribed period shall constitute a decision by such ROFR Rights Holder not to exercise its right to purchase such Transfer Shares. For purposes of this subsection (c), each ROFR Rights Holders pro rata share of the Transfer Shares shall be equal to the number of Transfer Shares, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares (on an as-converted basis and excluding any Ordinary Shares issued to the ROFR Rights Holders prior to or on the date of the Closing) held by such ROFR Rights Holder on the date of the Transfer Notice and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Ordinary Shares (on an as-converted basis and excluding any Ordinary Shares issued to the ROFR Rights Holders prior to or on the date of the Closing) held on the date of the Transfer Notice by all the Ordinary Shareholders and Preferred Shareholders.
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(d) Second Transfer Notice; Over-Allotment . To the extent that any ROFR Rights Holder does not exercise its right of first refusal to the full extent to purchase such ROFR Rights Holders pro rata share of the Transfer Shares, the Selling Shareholder shall deliver written notice thereof (the Second Transfer Notic e),within two (2) days after the expiration of the First Refusal Period, to each ROFR Rights Holder that elected to the full extent to purchase such ROFR Rights Holders pro rata share of the Transfer Shares (the Exercising Holder ). Each Exercising Holder shall have five (5) Business Days from the date of the Second Transfer Notice (the Second Refusal Period) to notify the Selling Shareholder of its desire to purchase more than its pro rata share of the Transfer Shares, stating the number of the additional Transfer Shares it proposes to purchase. Such notice may be made by telephone if followed by a written confirmation within two (2) Business Days from the date of verbal notice. If as a result thereof, such over-allotment exceeds the total number of the Transfer Shares available for purchase, each over-purchasing Exercising Holder will be cut back or limited by the Selling Shareholder with respect to their over-allotment to that number of Transfer Shares equal to the lesser of (i) the number of the additional Transfer Shares it proposes to purchase; and (ii) the product obtained by multiplying (x) the number of the Transfer Shares available for purchase by (y) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of Ordinary Shares (on an as-converted basis and excluding any Ordinary Shares issued to Non-Selling Shareholders prior to or on the date of the Closing) held by such over-purchasing Exercising Holder and the denominator of which is the total number of Ordinary Shares (on an as-converted basis and excluding any Ordinary Shares issued to Non-Selling Shareholders prior to or on the date of the Closing) held on the date of the Transfer Notice by all the Ordinary Shareholders and Preferred Shareholders. Each over-purchasing Exercising Holder shall be obligated to purchase such number of additional Transfer Shares as determined by the Selling Shareholder pursuant to this subsection 4.2(d) and the Selling Shareholder shall so notify such Exercising Holders within fifteen (15) Business Days from the date of the Second Transfer Notice.
4.3 Shares Owned by Preferred Shareholders.
(a) No Restriction on Transfers . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Preferred Shareholder shall be entitled to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, encumber or otherwise dispose of all or any portion of its Preferred Shares or the Conversion Shares to its Affiliate(s) or any third party.
(b) Assistance to Transfers . The Company shall, and the Key Parties shall procure the Company to, provide all the assistance reasonably requested by a Preferred Shareholder in connection with a proposed share transfer, including without limitation the prompt delivery of any and all information and materials reasonably requested by such Preferred Shareholder.
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5. |
CO-SALE RIGHTS HOLDERS CO-SALE RIGHT . |
5.1 Co-Sale Right . To the extent any ROFR Rights Hold e r does not exercise its respective rights of first refusal as to any or all of the Transfer Shares pursuant to Section 4.2, such ROFR Rights Hold e r (hereinafter, the Co-Sale Rights Holder ) shall have the right, exercisable upon delivery of a written notice to the Selling Shareholder, with a copy to the Company, within twenty (20) Business Days following the expiration of the First Refusal Period (or if there is a re-allotment in accordance with Section 4.2, the Second Refusal Period), to participate in the sale of any Transfer Shares to the extent of such Co-Sale Rights Hold e rs Pro Rata Co-Sale Share (as defined below) at the same price and upon the same terms and conditions indicated in the Transfer Notice. A failure by the Co-Sale Rights Holder to respond within such prescribed period shall constitute a decision by such Co-Sale Rights Holder not to exercise its right of co-sale as provided herein. To the extent one (1) or more of the Co-Sale Rights Holders exercise such right of co-sale in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth below, the number of Transfer Shares that the Selling Shareholder may sell in the transaction shall be correspondingly reduced. The foregoing co-sale right of each Co-Sale Rights Holder shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) each Co-Sale Rights Holder may sell all or any part of its Pro Rata Share of the Transfer Shares. A Co-Sale Rights Holders Pro Rata Co-Sale Share of a specified quantity of Transfer Shares shall mean that number of Ordinary Shares (or that number of Preferred Shares which, if converted at the then conversion ratio, would equal that number of Ordinary Shares) which equals the specified quantity of the Transfer Shares proposed to be transferred multiplied by a fraction equal to (i) the total number of Ordinary Shares (on an as converted basis) then held by such Co-Sale Rights Holder exercising co-sale rights pursuant to this Section 5, divided by (ii) the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Selling Shareholder plus the total number of Ordinary Shares then held by all the Co-Sale Rights Holders exercising co-sale rights pursuant to this Section 5, on an as converted basis. As used in this definition, the phrase on an as converted basis shall mean assuming conversion of all Preferred Shares but not assuming exercise or conversion of any other outstanding option, warrants, or other convertible securities.
(b) each Co-Sale Rights Holder shall effect its participation in the sale by promptly delivering to the Selling Shareholder, with a copy to the Company, for transfer to the prospective purchaser share certificates in respect of all Shares to be sold by such Co-Sale Rights Holder and a transfer form signed by such Co-Sale Rights Holder, which indicates:
(i) the number of Ordinary Shares which such Co-Sale Rights Holder elects to sell;
(ii) that number of Preferred Shares which is at such time convertible into the number of Ordinary Shares that such Co-Sale Rights Holder elects to sell; or
(iii) any combination of the foregoing;
provided, however, that if the prospective purchaser objects to the delivery of Preferred Shares in lieu of Ordinary Shares, such Co-Sale Rights Holder shall convert such Preferred Shares into Class B Ordinary Shares and deliver Class B Ordinary Shares. The Company agrees to make any such conversion concurrent with the actual transfer of such shares to the purchaser.
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5.2 Procedure at Closing . The share certificate or certificates that such Co-Sale Rights Holder delivers to the Selling Shareholder pursuant to paragraph 5.1(b) shall be transferred to the prospective purchaser and the Register of Members of the Company shall be updated in consummation of the sale of the Remaining Transfer Shares pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the Transfer Notice, and the Selling Shareholder shall concurrently therewith remit to such Co-Sale Rights Holder that portion of the sale proceeds to which such Co-Sale Rights Holder is entitled by reason of its participation in such sale. To the extent that any prospective purchaser or purchasers prohibit such assignment or otherwise refuse to purchase shares or other securities from a Co-Sale Rights Holder exercising its rights of co-sale hereunder, the Selling Shareholder shall not sell any Transfer Shares to such prospective purchaser or purchasers unless and until, simultaneously with such sales, the Selling Shareholder shall purchase such shares or other securities from such Co-Sale Rights Holder. In selling their Shares pursuant to their co-sale right hereunder, the Co-Sale Rights Holders shall not be required to give any representations or warranties with respect to their Shares to be sold except to confirm that they have not transferred or encumbered such Shares.
5.3 Non-Exercise . To the extent the Co-Sale Rights Holders do not elect to participate in the sale of the Remaining Transfer Shares pursuant to the Transfer Notice, the Selling Shareholder may, not later than ninety (90) days following delivery of the Transfer Notice to each Co-Sale Rights Holder, effect a transfer of the Transfer Shares covered by the Transfer Notice and not elected to be sold by the Co-Sale Rights Holders. Any proposed transfer on terms and conditions more favorable than those described in the Transfer Notice, as well as any subsequent proposed transfer of any Shares by the Selling Shareholder, shall be subject to the procedures described in Section 4.2 and this Section 5.
5.4 No Circumvention . The Parties agree that the transfer restrictions set forth in Section 4, Section 5 and Section 10.1 of this Agreement shall not be capable of being avoided by the holding of Shares indirectly through any Person. Any transfer of any Shares (or other interest) of a Shareholder or an entity directly or indirectly holding equity interest in a Shareholder shall be treated as being a transfer of Shares held by that Shareholder (but shall be subject to the exceptions to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement).
5.5 Prohibited Transfer .
(a) Prohibited Transfer . In the event a Selling Shareholder should sell any Transfer Shares in disregard or contravention of Section 10.1, or the right of first refusal or co-sale rights under this Agreement (a Prohibited Transfer ), the ROFR Rights Holders and the Co-Sale Rights Holders (collectively, the Rights Holders ), in addition to such other remedies as may be available at law, in equity or hereunder, shall have the put option provided below, and such Selling Shareholder shall be bound by the applicable provisions of such option.
(b) Put Right . Without prejudice to any other rights and remedies available to any Rights Holder, in the event of a Prohibited Transfer, each Rights Holder shall have the right to sell to the Selling Shareholder the type and number of Ordinary Shares (or that number of Preferred Shares which, if converted at the then conversion ratio, would equal that number of Ordinary Shares) which equals the specified quantity of the Transfer Shares proposed to be transferred multiplied by a fraction equal to (i) the total number of Ordinary Shares (on an as converted basis) then held by such Rights Holder exercising put rights pursuant to this Section 5.5, divided by (ii) the total number of Ordinary Shares then held by all the Rights Holders exercising put rights pursuant to this Section 5.5, on an as converted basis, and have the Prohibited Transfer been effected pursuant to and in compliance with the terms hereof. Such sale shall be made on the following terms and conditions:
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(i) The price per share at which the Shares are to be sold to the Selling Shareholder shall be equal to the price per share paid by the purchaser to the Selling Shareholder in the Prohibited Transfer. The Selling Shareholder shall also reimburse each Rights Holder for any and all reasonable fees and expenses, including legal fees and out-of-pocket expenses, incurred pursuant to the exercise or the attempted exercise of such Rights Holders rights under this Section 5.
(ii) Each Rights Holder shall, if exercising the option created hereby, deliver to the Selling Shareholder within ninety (90) days after the later of the dates on which the Rights Holder (A) received notice of the Prohibited Transfer or (B) otherwise become aware of the Prohibited Transfer, a notice describing the type and the number of Shares to be transferred by the Rights Holder.
(iii) The Selling Shareholder shall, promptly upon receipt of the notice described in subsection 5.5(b)(ii) above from the Rights Holder(s) exercising the option created hereby, pay to each such Rights Holder the aggregate purchase price for the Shares to be sold by such Rights Holder, and the amount of reimbursable fees and expenses, as specified in subparagraph 5.5(b)(i), in cash or by other means acceptable to the Rights Holder.
(iv) Upon receipt of full payment of the amount due from the Selling Shareholder, the Rights Holder shall deliver to the Selling Shareholder the certificate or certificates representing Shares to be sold, together with a transfer form signed by the Rights Holder transferring such shares.
(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any attempt by a Selling Shareholder to transfer any of the Transfer Shares in violation of Sections 4.2 or 5 or 10.1 hereof shall be void, and the Company undertakes it will not effect such a transfer nor will treat any alleged transferee as the holder of such shares without the written consent of Majority Preferred Shareholders.
5.6 Legend .
(a) Each certificate representing the Ordinary Shares shall be endorsed with the following legend:
THE SALE, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN A SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.
(b) Each party agrees that the Company may instruct its transfer agent to impose transfer restrictions on the shares represented by certificates bearing the legend referred to in Section 5.5(a) above to enforce the provisions of this Agreement and the Company agrees to promptly do so. The legend shall be removed upon termination of the provisions of this Section 5
6. |
ASSIGNMENT AND AMENDMENT . |
6.1 Assignment . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary:
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(a) Information Rights . The rights of the Investors under Sections 2.1 and 2.2 are transferable prior to the Qualified IPO to its Affiliates and any Person who holds or is acquiring Investment Securities in a permitted transfer; provided , however, that the Company is given a written notice at the time of such assignment stating the name and address of the assignee and identifying the securities of the Company as to which the rights in question are being assigned; and provided further that any such assignee shall receive such assigned rights, subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this Section 6, and agree to abide by this Agreement by executing an Adherence Agreement as provided in Section 6.1(d).
(b) Registration Rights . The registration rights of the Holders under Section 3 are fully assignable to any Person who holds or is acquiring Registrable Securities in a permitted transfer; provided , however , that the Company is given a written notice at the time of such assignment stating the name and address of the assignee and identifying the securities of the Company as to which the rights in question are being assigned; and provided further that any such assignee shall receive such assigned rights, subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this Section 6, and agree to abide by this Agreement by executing an Adherence Agreement as provided in Section 6.1(d).
(c) Right of Participation ; Right of First Refusal; Co-Sale Right . The Right of Participation of each Participation Rights Holder under Section 4.1, the right of first refusal of each ROFR Rights Holder under Section 4.2 and the co-sale right of each Co-Sale Rights Holder under Section 5 hereof is fully assignable to the Affiliates of such Participation Rights Holder, ROFR Rights Holder or Co-Sale Rights Holder or to any Person who holds or is acquiring Preferred Shares in a permitted transfer; provided , however that the transferee executes and delivers an Adherence Agreement as provided in Section 6.1(d).
(d) Adherence Agreement . For any transfer of Shares to be deemed effective, the transferee shall assume the obligations of the transferor under this Agreement by executing and delivering to the Company an Adherence Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B ( Adherence Agreement ). Upon the execution and delivery of an Adherence Agreement by any transferee, such transferee shall be deemed to be an Ordinary Shareholder, Investor, or Holder hereunder, as appropriate. By their execution hereof, each of the parties hereto appoints the Company as its attorney-in-fact for the limited purpose of executing any Adherence Agreement which may be required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 6.1(d).
6.2 Amendment . Subject to Section 6.4, this Agreement may only be amended with the written consent of (i) the Company; (ii) the Majority Preferred Shareholders; and (iii) the Majority Ordinary Shareholders. Any amendment effected in accordance with this Section 6.2 shall be binding upon each Party hereto and their respective successors; provided that Company shall promptly give written notice thereof to any Party hereto that has not consented to such amendment.
6.3 Waiver of Rights . Notwithstanding to Section 6.4, to the extent that any party seeks a waiver of rights from any other party, (i) any holder of Preferred Shares may waive any of its rights hereunder without obtaining the consent of any other holders of Preferred Shares; (ii) any Ordinary Shareholder may waive any of its rights hereunder without obtaining the consent of any other Ordinary Shareholders; and any Group Company may waives any of its rights hereunder without obtaining the consent of any other Group Company. Any party may waive compliance by any other party with any term or provision of this Agreement that such other party was or is obligated to comply with or perform for the benefit of such waiving party.
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6.4 Limitations on Amendments and Waivers . Subject to Section 6.3, if an amendment or waiver affects any Ordinary Shareholder or any holder of Preferred Shares in a manner that is different from the effect thereof on all other Ordinary Shareholders or holders of Preferred Shares, or imposes any material obligation or liability on an Ordinary Shareholder or a holder of Preferred Shares beyond that already imposed on such Ordinary Shareholder or holder of Preferred Shares hereunder prior to such amendment or waiver, then the written consent of such Ordinary Shareholder or holder of Preferred Shares shall be required in order for such amendment or waiver to be effective and binding.
7. |
PROTECTIVE PROVISIONS . |
So long as any Preferred Shares are outstanding, any action (whether by amendment of the Companys Revised M&A or otherwise, and whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) that effects or approves any of the transactions listed in Exhibit A involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall require the prior written approval of (A) the holders representing more than 2/3 of the Preferred Shares then outstanding in respect to actions (d), (e), (g), (m), (o), (s), (w), voting on an as converted basis or (B) the Majority Investor Directors, with respect to any action other than listed above. So long as any Preferred Shares are outstanding, any change to the rights or preference of such Preferred Shares or any amendment to the memorandum and articles of the Company that adversely affects the rights of the holders of such Preferred Shares shall require the prior written approval of the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of such class of Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting as a single class on an as converted basis; provided, however, that, to the extent in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, any authorization, creation or issuance of any shares of any class, series or subseries having preferences superior to or on parity with such Preferred Shares shall not be deemed as adverse amendment or change to the rights or preference of such class of Preferred Shares. For purposes of this Section 7 and the Exhibit A , all references to the Company shall refer to each Group Company and their respective Subsidiaries.
8. |
BOARD REPRESENTATION; COMMITTEE AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT . |
8.1 Designation Right . For so long as the Series A Investor holds any Preferred Share then outstanding, the Series A Investor shall be entitled to designate one (1) Director (the Series A Director ), who shall initially be Mr. WANG Huadong (王华东) (a citizen of the PRC with his Identity Card Number 370982198503292054). For so long as there is any Series B Preferred Share outstanding and TBP holds any Series B Preferred Shares, TBP shall be entitled to designate one (1) Director (the Series B Director ) who shall initially be Ms. SUN Tingting (a citizen of the PRC with Identity Card Number 372301198308100329). For so long as there is any Series C Preferred Share outstanding and YOUYI holds any Series C Preferred Shares, YOUYI shall be entitled to designate one (1) Director (the Series C Director ). For so long as there is any Series D Preferred Share outstanding, the Majority Series D Preferred Shareholders shall be entitled to designate one (1) Director (the Series D Director ). For so long as there is any Series E Preferred Share outstanding, the Majority Series E Preferred Shareholders shall be entitled to designate one (1) Director (the Series E Director , together with the Series A Director, Series B Director, the Series C Director and the Series D Director, the Investor Directors ), and the holders of the Ordinary Shares (other than Ordinary Shares issued upon the conversion of Preferred Shares) voting as a single class shall be entitled to elect two (2) Directors by a majority vote. Mr. JIN Xing, being a Director appointed by the holders of the Ordinary Shares, shall have seven (7) votes for any matter which is subject to Board approval, and each of the other Directors shall have one (1) vote for any matter which is subject to Board approval. Any vacancy on the Board occurring because of the death, resignation or removal of a Director shall be filled by the vote or written consent of the same shareholder or shareholders who nominated and elected such Director.
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8.2 Quorum for Committees; Compensation Committee . Each of the Investor Directors shall be a member of any committee the Board may establish, and such Investor Directors attendance shall be required to establish a quorum for any meeting or action to be taken by any such committee (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Compensation Committee). If and when the Board deems necessary, the Company shall establish and maintain a compensation committee (the Compensation Committee ). Subject to Protective Provisions in Exhibit A , the Compensation Committee shall propose the terms of the Companys share incentive plans and all grants of awards thereunder (including the ESOP) to the Board for approval and adoption by the Board and the Shareholders and shall have the power and authority to (a) administer the Companys share incentive plans (including the ESOP) and to grant options thereunder, and (b) approve all management compensation levels and arrangements, and shall have such other powers and authorities as the Board shall delegate to it.
8.3 Board Quorum; Meetings, etc . The quorum (which shall exist at the time of the voting as well as the attendance of the Board meeting) of the meetings of the Board shall be six (6) directors, including the presence, in Person or by telephone, electronic or other means of communication, of the Majority Investor Directors, provided , however , that if such quorum cannot be obtained for a Board meeting after two (2) consecutive notices of Board meetings have been sent by the Company with the first notice providing not less than fourteen (14) days prior notice and the second notice providing not less than five (5) days prior notice, then the attendance of any directors present shall constitute a quorum. Notices and agendas of Board meetings as well as copies of all board papers shall be sent to all the relevant directors and to the Investor at least fourteen (14) Business Days prior to the relevant Board meeting. Minutes of Board meetings shall be sent to Investors within thirty (30) days after the relevant meeting. The Company shall hold Board meetings at least once a quarter.
8.4 Investor Board Observer . Each of the Series A Investor, TBP, Apax, CDH, Orchid and BOCI shall have the right to appoint an observer (the Investor Observer , and collectively, the Investor Observers ) to the Board of Directors and each committee thereof to attend board or board committee meetings of the Company or its affiliates in a non-voting observer capacity. The Company shall provide such observers copies of all notices and materials at the same time and in the same manner as the same are provided to the Directors.
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8.5 Dual Class Voting Structure . Parties agree that upon the Closing, the Revised M&A shall provide that the Class A Ordinary Shares shall each have ten (10) votes on all matters in a shareholders meeting of the Company, and the Class B Ordinary Shares shall each have one (1) vote on all matters in a shareholders meeting of the Company. Except as otherwise required by law, the holder of each Preferred Share, present in person or by proxy or (being a corporation) by a representative, shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of Class B Ordinary Shares into which such Preferred Share could be converted at the record date for determination of the Shareholders entitled to vote on such matters, or, if no such record date is established, at the date such vote is taken or any written consent of Shareholders is solicited, such votes to be counted together with all other Shares (including Ordinary Shares) having general voting power and not counted separately as a class. Except for the matters that are hereby or by the Section 7 Revised M&A subject to separate class votes, holders of Preferred Shares shall vote together with holders of Ordinary Shares as a single class, and not as separate classes.
8.6 Waiver . The Company acknowledges that the Investors will likely have, from time to time, information that may be of interest to the Company or its Subsidiaries ( Information ) regarding a wide variety of matters including (1) an Investors technologies, plans and services, and plans and strategies relating thereto, (2) current and future investments an Investor has made, may make, may consider or may become aware of with respect to other companies and other technologies, products and services, including technologies, products and services that may be competitive with those of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and (3) developments with respect to the technologies, products and services, and plans and strategies relating thereto, of other companies, including companies that may be competitive with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company recognizes that a portion of such Information may be of interest to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Such Information may or may not be known by any of Investor Directors or the Investor Observers. The Company, as a material part of the consideration for this Agreement, agrees that neither any of the Investor Directors nor any of the Investor Observers shall have any duty to disclose any Information to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or permit the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to participate in any projects or investments based on any Information, or otherwise to take advantage of any opportunity that may be of interest to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries if it was aware of such Information, and hereby waives, to the extent permitted by law, any claim based on the corporate opportunity doctrine or otherwise that could limit any Investors ability to pursue opportunities based on such Information or that would require any Investor, any representative, any of the Investor Directors or the Investor Observers to disclose any such Information to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or offer any opportunity relating thereto to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
8.7 Assignment and Termination . The rights of the Investor set forth in this Section 8 are fully assignable to any Person who holds or is acquiring the Preferred Shares in a permitted transfer; provided , however , that the Company is given a written notice at the time of such assignment stating the name and address of the assignee and identifying the securities of the Company as to which the rights in question are being assigned; provided further, that the transferee executes and delivers an Adherence Agreement. The rights of the Investor in this Section 8 shall terminate upon completion of a Qualified IPO.
8.8 Management of the Group Companies . The board of each Group Company other than the Company, including but not limited to the PRC Companies, shall at all times consist of the same members of the Board of the Company upon written request of any holder of Preferred Shares that is entitled to appoint director on the Board, and each of the Parties hereto shall take all such necessary or advisable actions to ensure the appointment of such Persons designated by the Investor to the board of each Group Company. Each Group Company shall only take actions that have been previously approved by the board of directors of each Group Company as established pursuant to this Section 8.7.
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8.9 Insurance and Indemnification . The Company shall procure customary directors and officers insurance for the directors, covering an amount of at least US$10,000,000 or such other amount as approved by the Board (including the affirmative votes of the Majority Investor Directors). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in the Revised M&A, each Group Company shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold harmless the Investor Directors and his/her alternate, to the fullest extent permissible by law, from and against all liabilities, damages, actions, suits, proceedings, claims, costs, charges and expenses suffered or incurred by or brought or made against the Investor Directors or his/her alternate as a result of any act, matter or thing done or omitted to be done by him/her in good faith in the course of acting as a Director or alternate Director, as applicable, of the Company or any Group Company, by delivering to the Investor Directors or his/her alternate, at the time of his/her appointment as a Director or an alternate Director, an indemnification agreement duly executed by the Company substantially in the form satisfactory to the Investor.
8.10 Director Expenses . The Company shall reimburse the Investor Directors and the Investor Observers for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with Board duties and meetings.
8.11 Appointment of Certain Officers . Subject to Section 8.5 of this Agreement, the Majority Preferred Shareholders shall have the right to nominate new management personnel to the Company, subject to the approval of the Board. All Company officers so appointed shall report to the Board.
9. |
GOING PUBLIC; SALE OF THE COMPANY . |
9.1 Liquidity Events . The Ordinary Shareholders and the Company undertake to use best efforts to, within the period from the date of this Agreement to December 31, 2021, (i) list the Ordinary Shares of the Company (or securities representing the Ordinary Shares of the Company) on the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq National Market or any other internationally recognized stock exchange or inter-dealer quotation systems acceptable to the Investors in a Qualified IPO; (ii) procure a bona fide third party offer for the sale of all or more than fifty percent (50%) of the equity interests; or (iii) procure a bona fide third party offer for the sale or transfer of all or substantially all the assets of the Company. For avoidance of doubt, such transactions contemplated under the aforesaid (ii) or (iii) may be consummated through a single transaction or a series of transactions, and shall represent an implied valuation of the Company immediately prior to such sale or transfer of at least (x) US$870,000,000, plus (y) an amount accruing there on at a compound annual rate of twenty percent (20%) of the implied valuation of the Company immediately after to the Closing (i.e. US$870,000,000), beginning on the Closing (the transactions contemplated under the aforesaid (ii) and (iii) are collectively referred to as the Trade Sale ).
9.2 Drag-Along .
(a) If at any time following the date hereof, there shall be:
(i) an offer by a Person that is not an Affiliate of any Party hereof to purchase all the Shares or voting rights in the Company;
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(ii) a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation in which the Company is not the surviving entity but the Shares or voting rights of the Company outstanding immediately prior to the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash, or otherwise; or
(iii) a sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Companys properties and assets to any other Person,
in each case, which is a transaction at arms length for an aggregate implied valuation of the Company of not less than US$870 million, if Mr. JIN Xing and the holders representing not less than two thirds (2/3) of the then outstanding Preferred Shares (collectively, the Drag Holders ) approve such transaction, at the request of the Drag Holders, then each remaining Shareholder (each a Dragged Holder and collectively, the Dragged Holders ) shall sell, transfer, convey or assign its Shares (such sale, transfer, conveyance or assignment pursuant to this Section 9.2, a Drag-Along Sale ) pursuant to, and so as to give effect to, such offer to purchase, merger or consolidation, sale or transfer, as the case may be. If the consideration offered is payable in securities or property other than cash (or evidence of cash indebtedness), the Board shall in good faith determine the fair market value of any such securities or property in cash, provided that any shareholder of Series A Preferred Shares , Series B Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, Series D+ Preferred Shares or Series E Preferred Shares shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Board of fair market value made pursuant hereto, in which case the determination of fair market value shall be made by a valuer selected jointly by the Board and the challenging parties. The valuer shall prepare a report setting forth the basis of its calculating such fair market value, and the determination of such fair market value by the valuer shall, in the absence of manifest error, be final and conclusive. The costs of the valuer shall be borne solely by the Company. The valuer shall act as expert and not as an arbitrator. If the acquiring party is a privately-held entity and the Holders of Preferred Shares receive in whole or in part non-publicly traded securities of such acquirer, then such non-publicly traded securities shall have liquidation preference(s), protective provision(s), voting right(s), dividend right(s), registration rights and preemptive rights that are substantially similar to those of the Preferred Shares, as applicable, as set forth herein as of the date hereof.
(b) The restrictions on transfers of Shares set forth in Sections 10.1, 4.2 and 5 shall not apply in connection with a sale pursuant to this Section 9.2, or anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding.
(c) The Drag Holders may exercise the rights under this Section 9.2 by notifying in writing each Dragged Holder of the material terms and conditions of such proposed Drag-Along Sale at least twenty (20) days prior to the transfer of their Shares to the acquiring party.
(d) Any transfer of Shares by the Dragged Holders shall be on the terms and conditions of the proposed transfer of Shares by the Drag Holders. Completion of the transfer of the Shares pursuant to this Section 9.2 shall take place on the Completion Date on which the Company shall, subject to receipt of the relevant executed transfer forms, make proper entries in the Register of Members of the Company and cancel the surrendered share certificates and issue any new share certificates in the name of the acquiring party (or as it may direct) as necessary to consummate the transactions in connection with the exercise by the Drag Holders of the rights under this Section 9.2. Completion Date means the date proposed for completion of the transfer of the Drag Holders Shares unless otherwise provided in the Revised M&A. On the Completion Date, the Dragged Holders shall deliver executed share transfer forms for the Shares, together with the relevant share certificates (or a suitable indemnity for any lost share certificates) to the acquiring party, and the acquiring party shall pay the consideration due for their Shares.
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10. |
COVENANTS . |
10.1 Restrictions on Transfers . Subject to Sections 4 and 5 and the provisions of any severance agreement that the Key Parties may enter into, each Key Party agrees that, without the prior written consent of the holders of not less than two thirds (2/3) of the then outstanding Series A Preferred Shares, the holders of not less than two thirds (2/3) of the then outstanding Series B Preferred Shares, the holders of not less than two thirds (2/3) of the then outstanding Series D Preferred Shares and the holders of not less than fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding Series E Preferred Shares, it shall not, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any of its Shares in the Company or any of other Group Companies. The shareholders specifically agree that the restrictions with regard to the transfer of the Shares in the Company as described hereunder shall apply equally to transfer of the shares of each Key Partys Holdco., as if each of the provisions has been repeated hereunder with regard to transfer of the shares of the Key Partys Holdco., except that the reference to the Shares in the Company has been revised to refer to the shares in the Key Partys Holdco. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the transfer restriction shall not apply to (a) any sale or transfer of Shares to the Company pursuant to a repurchase right or right of first refusal held by the Company in the event of a termination of employment or consulting relationship; and (b) transfer of no more than ten percent (10%) of the Shares now or hereafter directly or indirectly held by the Key Parties, to the parents, children or spouses, or to trusts for the benefit of such Persons, of any holder of Shares for bona fide estate planning purposes (each transferee pursuant to the foregoing subsections (a) and (b) a Permitted Transferee ); provided that adequate documentation therefor is provided to the Preferred Shareholders to their satisfaction and that any such Permitted Transferee agrees in writing to be bound by this Agreement in place of the relevant transferor by executing an Adherence Agreement as provided in Section 6.1(d); provided , further , that such transferor shall remain liable for any breach by such Permitted Transferee of any provision hereunder.
10.2 Operations of the PRC Companies . The Domestic Co. shall and the Key Parties and Key Parties Holdcos shall procure the Domestic Co. to take all reasonably necessary steps to promptly assign and transfer to the PRC Subsidiary (pursuant to the Restructuring Agreements or otherwise) substantially all of its revenues, earnings and other values and benefits generated from its business operations. The Domestic Co. shall, and the Key Parties and Key Parties Holdcos shall procure the Domestic Co., to the extent permitted by applicable law, to operate its business at the direction of its board of directors and its shareholders (who have assigned their voting rights to the PRC Subsidiary). The PRC Subsidiary shall and the Key Parties and Key Parties Holdcos shall procure the PRC Subsidiary to take all reasonably necessary steps to ensure that the Domestic Co. will have funds available to cover its operating expenses and to timely repay its debts as they become due.
10.3 Transfer of the PRC Company . To the extent permitted by PRC laws and upon the written request of the PRC Subsidiary, each of the shareholders of the Domestic Co. shall transfer its equity interests in Domestic Co. in part or in whole to the PRC Subsidiary at the PRC Subsidiarys sole and absolute discretion at such price described in Restructuring Agreements.
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10.4 Full Time Commitment . Each Key Party undertakes and covenants to the Investors that, commencing from the date of this Agreement until the first anniversary of a Qualified IPO or a Trade Sale, he shall commit all of his efforts to furthering the business of the Group Companies and shall not, without the prior written consent of the Investors, either on his own account or through any of his Affiliates, or in conjunction with or on behalf of any other Person, (i) possess, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and business operation of any entity whether (A) through the ownership of any equity interest in such entity, or (B) by occupying half or more of the board seats of the entity; or (C) by contract or otherwise; or (ii) devote time to carry out the business operation of any other entity.
10.5 Non-Competition . The Key Parties hereof acknowledge that the Investors agree to invest in the Company on the basis of the continued and exclusive services of and devotion and commitment by the Key Parties to the Group Companies, and agree that the Investors should have reasonable assurance of such basis of investment. The Key Parties and Mr. Shao hereof undertake and covenant to the Investors that neither he nor any of his Affiliate will directly or indirectly, either by himself or in conjunction with or through any other Person:
(a) during the Relevant Period and Restriction Period, participate, assist, be concerned with, engaged or interested in, any business or entity in any manner, directly or indirectly, which is in competition with the business carried on by any Group Company;
(b) during the Relevant Period and Restriction Period, solicit in any manner any Person who is or has been during the Restriction Period a customer or client of any Group Company for the purpose of offering to such Person any goods or services similar to or competing with any of the businesses conducted by any Group Company;
(c) during the Relevant Period and Restriction Period, solicit or entice away, or endeavour to solicit or entice away, any employee or officer of any Group Company;
(d) at any time disclose to any Person, or use for any purpose, any information concerning the business, accounts, finance, transactions or intellectual property rights of any Group Company or any trade secrets or confidential information of or relating to any of the Group Companies.
10.6 ESOP .
(a) Unless the Board determines otherwise (including the affirmative votes of the Majority Investor Directors), all options issued or granted under the ESOP shall be subject to a minimum four (4) year vesting schedule no faster than the following, counting from the applicable grant date with respect to the total issued options or shares: twenty-five percent (25%) each at the first anniversary of the grant date, the second anniversary of the grant date, the third anniversary of the grant date and the fourth anniversary of the grant date.
(b) The power and authority to administer the ESOP and grant any option thereunder shall be vested to the Board or the Compensation Committee (upon its establishment) and any decision of the Board or the Compensation Committee with respect to the administration of the ESOP or grant of any option thereunder shall be made by a majority of the members of the Board or the Compensation Committee, including the affirmative votes of the Majority Investor Directors.
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(c) Except as otherwise approved by a majority of the Board (including the affirmative votes of the Majority Investor Directors), the Company shall cause all future officers, directors, and employees of, and consultants to, the Company and its Subsidiaries who purchase, or receive options to purchase, shares of the Companys Ordinary Shares, to execute and deliver agreements in forms approved by the Board (including the affirmative votes of the Majority Investor Directors) providing for a right of repurchase in favor of the Company on vested and unvested shares without cost upon termination of the employment with cause or unilateral termination of the employment by the optionees, a prohibition on the transfer of all shares prior to a Qualified IPO (unless otherwise permitted under such ESOP) and a lockup or market standoff commitment after the Qualified IPO in respect of vested shares subject to the requirements that the underwriters or sponsors may have at such time.
10.7 Lock up . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, following a Qualified IPO of the Company, the Key Parties and the Key Parties Holdcos, as the principal and management holder of Ordinary Shares shall be subject to any customary lock-up period to the extent requested by the lead underwriter of securities of the Company in connection with the registration relating to such initial public offering.
10.8 Controlled Foreign Corporation . The Company will provide written notice to the Investors as soon as practicable if at any time the Company becomes aware that it or any Group Company has become a controlled foreign corporation ( CFC ) within the meaning of Section 957 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code ). Upon written request of any Investor who is a United States shareholder within the meaning of Section 951(b) of the Code, the Company will (i) use best efforts to provide in writing such information as is in its possession and reasonably available concerning its shareholders to assist the Investor in determining whether the Company is a CFC and (ii) provide the Investor with reasonable access to such other Company information as is in the Companys possession and reasonably available as may be required by the Investor (A) to determine the Companys status as a CFC, (B) to determine whether the Investor is required to report its pro rata portion of the Companys Subpart F income (as defined in Section 952 of the Code) on its United States federal income tax return, or (C) to allow the Investor to otherwise comply with applicable United States federal income tax laws; provided that the Company may require the Investor to enter into a confidentiality agreement in customary form.
10.9 Passive Foreign Investment Company . The Company shall use its best efforts to avoid being a passive foreign investment company within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code ( PFIC ) for the current and any future taxable year. The Company shall make due inquiry with its tax advisors on at least an annual basis regarding its status as a PFIC, and if the Company is informed by its tax advisors that it has become a PFIC, or that there is a likelihood of the Company being classified as a PFIC for any taxable year, the Company shall promptly notify the Investors of such status or risk, as the case may be, in each case no later than forty-five (45) days following the end of the Companys taxable year. In connection with a Qualified Electing Fund election (a QEF Election ) made by an Investor pursuant to Section 1295 of the Code or a Protective Statement filed by an Investor pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.1295-3, as amended (or any successor thereto), the Company shall provide the Investor with annual financial information in the form to the satisfaction of the Investor as soon as reasonably practicable following the end of each taxable year of the Investor (but in no event later than forty-five (45) days following the end of each such taxable year), and shall, upon the request in writing by the Investor, provide the Investor with access to such other information, as is in the Companys possession and reasonably available, as may be required for purposes of filing U.S. federal income tax returns in connection with such QEF Election or Protective Statement. In the event that it is determined by the Companys or the Investors tax advisors that the control documents in place between one or more of the Companys wholly owned subsidiaries and/or the Company, on the one hand, and any of the Group Companies organized in the PRC that is not a wholly foreign owned enterprise, on the other hand, does not allow the Company to look through the Group Companies to their assets and income for purposes of the PFIC rules and regulations under the Code, the Company shall use its best efforts to take such actions as are reasonably necessary or advisable, including the amendment of such control documents, to qualify for such look-through treatment of the Group Companies under the PFIC rules and regulations under the Code.
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10.10 Anti-Corruption . Each of the Group Companies covenants that it shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any of its or their respective directors, administrators, officers, managers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members, employees, independent contractors, representatives or agents to, promise, authorize or make any payment to, or otherwise contribute any item of value to, directly or indirectly, any non-U.S. official, in each case, in violation of the FCPA or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law. The Company further covenants that it shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates to, cease all of its or their respective activities, as well as remediate any actions taken by the Company, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or any of its or their respective directors, administrators, officers, managers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members, employees, independent contractors, representatives or agents in violation of the FCPA or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law. The Company further covenants that it shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates to, maintain systems of internal controls (including, but not limited to, accounting systems, purchasing systems and billing systems) to ensure compliance with the FCPA or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption Law.
10.11 Internal Control System . The Group Companies shall maintain their books and records in accordance with sound business practices and implement and maintain an adequate system of procedures and controls with respect to finance, management, and accounting that meets national standards of good practice and is reasonably satisfactory to the Preferred Shareholders to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions by it are executed in accordance with managements general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions by it are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with, at the election of the Preferred shareholders, the IAS, the U.S. GAAP or other international accounting standard and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets of it is permitted only in accordance with managements general or specific authorization, (iv) if applicable, the recorded inventory of assets is compared with the existing tangible assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any material differences, (v) segregating duties for cash deposits, cash reconciliation, cash payment, proper approval is established, and (vi) no personal assets or bank accounts of the employees, directors, officers are mingled with the corporate assets or corporate bank account, and no Group Company uses any personal bank accounts of any employees, directors, officers thereof during the operation of the business.
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11. |
CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-DISCLOSURE . |
11.1 Disclosure of Terms . Each party hereto acknowledges that the terms and conditions (collectively, the Terms ) of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, and all exhibits, restatements and amendments hereto and thereto, including their existence, shall be considered confidential information and shall not be disclosed by it to any third party except in accordance with the provisions set forth below. The Investors agree with the Company that the Investors will keep confidential and will not disclose or divulge, any information which the Investors obtain from the Company, pursuant to financial statements, reports, presentations, correspondence, and any other materials provided by the Company to, or communications between the Company and the Investor, or pursuant to information rights granted under this Agreement or any other related documents, unless the information is known, or until the information becomes known, to the public through no fault of the Investor, or unless the Company gives its written consent to the Investors release of the information.
11.2 Press Releases . Within sixty (60) days of the Closing, the Company may issue a press release related to the Closing, disclosing that the applicable Series E Preferred Shareholders have invested in the Company provided that (a) the release does not disclose any of the Terms, (b) the press release does not disclose the amount or other specific terms of the investment, and (c) the final form of the press release is approved in advance in writing by the Series E Preferred Shareholders mentioned therein. Such Series E Preferred Shareholders names and the fact that such Series E Preferred Shareholders are shareholders in the Company can be included in a reusable press release boilerplate statement, so long as each Series E Preferred Shareholder has given the Company its initial approval of such boilerplate statement and the boilerplate statement is reproduced in exactly the form in which it was approved. No other announcement regarding any Series E Preferred Shareholder in a press release, conference, advertisement, announcement, professional or trade publication, mass marketing materials or otherwise to the general public may be made without such Series E Preferred Shareholders prior written consents, which consent may be withheld at such Series E Preferred Shareholders sole discretion.
11.3 Permitted Disclosures . Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary,
(a) the Company may disclose any of the Terms to its current or bona fide prospective investors, directors, officers, employees, shareholders, investment bankers, lenders, accountants, auditors, insurers, business or financial advisors, and attorneys, in each case only where such Persons or entities are under appropriate nondisclosure obligations imposed by professional ethics, law or otherwise;
(b) the Investors (and its fund manager) may disclose the Investors investment in the Company to third parties or to the public at its sole discretion and in relation thereto may use the Companys logo and trademark and may include links to the Companys website (without requiring the Companys further consent). If it does so, the other parties shall have the right to disclose to third parties any such information disclosed in a press release or other public announcement by the Investor;
(c) the Investors shall have the right to disclose:
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(i) any information to the Investors Affiliate or fund manager, the Investors and/or its fund managers and/or its Affiliates legal counsel, fund manager, auditor, insurer, accountant, consultant or to an officer, director, general partner, limited partner, fund manager, shareholder, investment counsel or advisor, or employee of the Investors, fund manager, or Affiliate or any of their respective investors or Affiliates, provided , however , that any counsel, auditor, insurer, accountant, consultant, officer, director, general partner, limited partner, fund manager, shareholder, investment counsel or advisor, or employee shall be advised of the confidential nature of the information or are under appropriate non-disclosure obligation imposed by professional ethics, law or otherwise;
(ii) any information for fund and inter-fund reporting purposes;
(iii) any information as required by law, government authorities, exchanges and/or regulatory bodies, including without limitation by the Securities and Futures Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the China Securities and Regulatory Commission of the PRC or the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States (or equivalent for other venues); and/or
(iv) any information to bona fide prospective purchasers/investors of any share, security or other interests in the Company; and
(v) any information contained in press releases or public announcements of the Company pursuant to Section 11.2 above.
(d) the confidentiality obligations set out in this Section 11 do not apply to:
(i) information which was in the public domain or otherwise known to the relevant party before it was furnished to it by another party hereto or, after it was furnished to that party, entered the public domain otherwise than as a result of (i) a breach by that party of this Section 11 or (ii) a breach of a confidentiality obligation by the discloser, where the breach was known to that party;
(ii) information the disclosure of which is necessary in order to comply with any applicable law, the order of any court, the requirements of a stock exchange or to obtain tax or other clearances or consents from any relevant authority; or
(iii) the disclosure of information by any director of the Company to its appointer or any of its affiliate or otherwise in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.3.
11.4 Legally Compelled Disclosure . In the event that any party is requested or becomes legally compelled (including without limitation pursuant to securities laws and regulations) to disclose the existence of this Agreement or any Terms in contravention of the provisions of this Section 11, such party (the Disclosing Party ) shall if and to the extent that it can lawfully do so provide the other parties (the Non-Disclosing Parties ) with prompt written notice of that fact so that the appropriate party may seek (with the cooperation and reasonable efforts of the other parties) a protective order, confidential treatment or other appropriate remedy. In such event, the Disclosing Party shall furnish only that portion of the information that is legally required and shall exercise reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded such information to the extent reasonably requested by any Non-Disclosing Party.
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12. |
MISCELLANEOUS . |
12.1 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region without regard to conflicts of law principles.
12.2 Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors, permitted assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the parties hereto whose rights or obligations hereunder are affected by such provisions. Except as expressly stated otherwise, the rights of the Investors set forth in this Agreement are fully assignable to any Person who holds or is acquiring Shares from the Investor, provided that in each case the transferee will agree by executing an Adherence Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B to be subject to the terms of this Agreement to the same extent as if it were an original Investor hereunder.
12.3 Third Parties . Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any Person, other than the parties hereto and their permitted successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
12.4 Entire Agreement . This Agreement, the Series E Share Subscription Agreement and any other Transaction Document, together with all the schedules and exhibits hereto and thereto, which are hereby expressly incorporated herein by this reference, constitute the entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof; provided , however , that nothing in this Agreement or related agreements shall be deemed to terminate or supersede the provisions of any confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements executed by the parties hereto prior to the date of this Agreement, all of which agreements shall continue in full force and effect until terminated in accordance with their respective terms. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement supersedes, in its entirety, the Prior Shareholders Agreement, which shall be null and void and have no further force or effect whatsoever as of the date of this Agreement. The parties hereto hereby irrevocably waive any and all rights that they may have against any other party under the Prior Shareholders Agreement.
12.5 Notices . Except as may be otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, waivers and other communications made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be conclusively deemed to have been duly given (a) when hand delivered to the other party; (b) when sent by facsimile at the number set forth below, upon a successful transmission report being generated by the senders machine; or (c) three (3) Business Days after deposit with an internationally-recognized overnight delivery service, postage prepaid, addressed to the parties as set forth below with next-business-day delivery guaranteed, provided that the sending party receives a confirmation of delivery from the delivery service provider.
Each Person making a communication hereunder by facsimile shall promptly confirm by telephone to the Person to whom such communication was addressed each communication made by it by facsimile pursuant hereto but the absence of such confirmation shall not affect the validity of any such communication. A Party may change or supplement the addresses given in Exhibit C , or designate additional addresses, for purposes of this Section 12.5, by giving the other party written notice of the new address in the manner set forth above.
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12.6 Delays or Omissions . No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any party upon any breach or default of any other party hereto under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of the aggrieved party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any party of any breach or default under this Agreement or any waiver on the part of any party of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement, or by law or otherwise afforded to the parties shall be cumulative and not alternative.
12.7 Interpretation; Titles and Subtitles . This Agreement shall be construed according to its fair language. The rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in interpreting this Agreement. The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.
12.8 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and may be delivered by electronic PDF or facsimile transmission, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and each of which shall be deemed an original.
12.9 Severability . Should any provision of this Agreement be determined to be illegal or unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
12.10 Adjustment for Share Splits, etc . Whenever in this Agreement there is a reference to a specific number or percentage of the Preferred Shares, then, upon the occurrence of any subdivision, combination or share dividend of the Preferred Shares, the specific number of shares so referenced in this Agreement shall automatically be proportionally adjusted to reflect the effect on the outstanding shares of such class or series of shares by such subdivision, combination or share dividend.
12.11 Most Favoured Investor . In the event the Company hereafter grants any other investors or shareholders any rights, privileges or protections more favorable than those granted to the Investors, any of the Investors shall, at its option, be entitled to the same rights, privileges or protections pari passu with the other investors or shareholder.
12.12 Pronouns . All pronouns and any variations thereof are deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the Person or Persons may require.
12.13 Dispute Resolution .
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(a) Negotiation Between Parties; Mediations . The parties agree to negotiate in good faith to resolve any dispute between them regarding this Agreement. If the negotiations do not resolve the dispute to the reasonable satisfaction of the relevant parties, then each party to the dispute that is a company shall nominate one (1) authorized officer as its representative. The relevant parties or their representatives, as the case may be, shall, within thirty (30) days of a written request by either party to call such a meeting, meet in Person and alone (except for one (1) assistant for each party) and shall attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute. If the disputes cannot be resolved by such senior managers in such meeting, the parties agree that they shall, if requested in writing by either party, meet within thirty (30) days after such written notification for one (1) day with an impartial mediator and consider dispute resolution alternatives other than formal arbitration. If an alternative method of dispute resolution is not agreed upon within thirty (30) days after the one (1) day mediation, either party to the dispute may begin formal arbitration proceedings to be conducted in accordance with subsection (b) below. This procedure shall be a prerequisite before taking any additional action hereunder.
(b) Arbitration . In the event the parties are unable to settle a dispute between them regarding this Agreement in accordance with subsection (a) above, such dispute shall be referred to and finally settled by arbitration at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre in accordance with the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce ( ICC Rules )in effect, which rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference into this subsection (b), subject to the following: (i) the arbitration tribunal shall consist of three (3) arbitrators to be appointed according to the ICC Rules; and (ii) the language of the arbitration shall be English. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or in the ICC Rules or otherwise, the arbitration tribunal shall not have the power to award injunctive relief or any other equitable remedy of any kind against the Investors unless such award both (x) is expressly appealable to and subject to de novo review by the courts of Hong Kong, and (y) would not, if upheld, have the effect of impairing, restricting, or imposing any conditions on the right or ability of the Investors or any of its Affiliates to conduct its respective business operations or to make or dispose of any other investments. The prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.
12.14 Shareholders Agreement to Prevail . If and to the extent that there are inconsistencies between the provisions of this Agreement and those of the Revised M&A, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail as regards the parties. The parties agree to take all actions necessary or advisable, as promptly as practicable after the discovery of such inconsistency, to amend the Revised M&A so as to eliminate such inconsistency.
12.15 Further Assurances . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein, each of the Company, the Key Parties, Mr. Shao, the BVI Holdcos agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take or cause to be taken all action, to do or cause to be done, to execute such further instruments, and to assist and cooperate with the other Parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws or otherwise to consummate and enforce, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the obligations and duties contemplated by this Agreement.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE COMPANY: | ||
So-Young International Inc. |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
Name: JIN Xing (金星) | ||
Title: Director |
THE HK CO.: | ||
So-Young Hong Kong Limited |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
Name: JIN Xing (金星) | ||
Title: Director |
THE KOREA CO.: | ||
SO-YOUNG HIGH TECH KOREA CO., LTD. | ||
(新氧科技韩国株式会社) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
Name: JIN Xing (金星) | ||
Title: Director |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
PRC SUBSIDIARY: | ||
Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. ( 北京新氧万维科技咨询有限公司 ) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
Name: JIN Xing (金星) | ||
Title: Legal Representative | ||
DOMESTIC CO.: | ||
Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. ( 北京新氧科技有限公司 ) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
Name: JIN Xing (金星) | ||
Title: Legal Representative |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE KEY PARTIES: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
Name: JIN Xing (金星) |
/s/ YU Tao |
Name: YU Tao (于涛) |
THE KEY PARTIES HOLDCOS: |
Beauty & Health Holdings Limited |
(Formerly known as JINXING HOLDINGS LIMITED) |
/s/ JIN Xing |
Name: JIN Xing (金星) |
Title: Director |
One-of-a-kind Holdings Limited |
(Formerly known as YUTAO HOLDINGS LIMITED) |
/s/ YU Tao |
Name: YU Tao (于涛) |
Title: Director |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
/s/ SHAO Hui |
Name: SHAO Hui (邵珲) |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
BVI HOLDCO. | ||
ATCG Holdings Limited | ||
(Formerly known as: Shaohui Holdings Limited) | ||
/s/ SHAO Hui |
||
Name: SHAO Hui (邵珲) |
||
Title: Director |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE INVESTOR: | ||
Matrix Partners China III Hong Kong Limited |
By: |
/s/ SHAO Yibo |
Name: SHAO Yibo |
||
Title: Director |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE INVESTOR: | ||
Trustbridge Partners V, L.P. |
By: |
/s/ LIN Ning David |
Name: | LIN Ning David |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE INVESTOR: | ||
Chinese Rose Investment Limited |
By: |
/s/ LIN Songtao |
Name: | LIN Songtao |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE INVESTOR: | ||
ATCG Holdings Limited | ||
(Formerly known as: Shaohui Holdings Limited) |
By: |
/s/ Shao Hui |
Name: | Shao Hui |
Title: | Director |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE INVESTOR: | ||
Youthful Acquisition L.P. | ||
By: Youthful GP Co. Limited | ||
Its: General Partner |
By: |
/s/ Gordon Purvis |
Name: | Gordon Purvis |
Title: | Director |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE INVESTOR: | ||
Green Stone Limited | ||
By: /s/ HSU William Shang Wi |
Name: |
HSU William Shang Wi |
|
Title: Director |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE INVESTOR: | ||
Absolute Fortune Limited | ||
By: /s/ Gabriel Li |
Name: |
Gabriel Li |
|
Title: Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE INVESTOR: | ||
Bohai Spring, L.P. | ||
By: /s/ WANG Lixin |
Name: |
WANG Lixin |
|
Title: Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE INVESTOR: | ||
BOCI Financial Products Limited | ||
By: /s/ WANG Lixin |
Name: |
WANG Lixin |
|
Title: Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE INVESTOR:
Deripi Limited
By: /s/ LI Ya | By: /s/ Oleg Chizh | |
Name: LI Ya | Name: Oleg Chizh | |
Title: Authorized Signatory | Title: Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE INVESTOR:
Buchkana Holdings Limited
By: /s/ LI Ya | By: /s/ Oleg Chizh | |
Name: LI Ya | Name: Oleg Chizh | |
Title: Authorized Signatory | Title: Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE INVESTOR:
Flarensi Holdings Limited
By: /s/ LI Ya | By: /s/ Oleg Chizh | |
Name: LI Ya | Name: Oleg Chizh | |
Title: Authorized Signatory | Title: Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to the Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement-So-Young
Schedule A-1
Key Parties
Name of Key Parties |
PRC ID |
|
JIN Xing (金星) |
****** |
|
YU Tao (于涛) |
****** |
Schedule A-2
Key Parties Holdcos
1. |
Beauty & Health Holdings Limited, formerly known as JINXING HOLDINGS LIMITED, a company incorporated under the laws of British Virgin Islands and wholly owned by Mr. JIN Xing; |
2. |
One-of-a-kind Holdings Limited, formerly known as YUTAO HOLDINGS LIMITED, a company incorporated under the laws of British Virgin Islands and wholly owned by Mr. YU Tao. |
Schedule A-3
Mr. Shao
Name |
PRC ID |
|
SHAO Hui (邵珲) |
****** |
Schedule A-4
BVI Holdcos
1. |
Beauty & Health Holdings Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of British Virgin Islands and wholly owned by Mr. JIN Xing; |
2. |
One-of-a-kind Holdings Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of British Virgin Islands and wholly owned by Mr. YU Tao. |
3. |
ATCG Holdings Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of British Virgin Islands and wholly owned by Mitochondria Holding Limited. |
Schedule A-5
Investors
Name |
No. of
Series A Preferred Shares |
No. of Series
B Preferred Shares |
No. of
Series C-1 Preferred Shares |
No. of
Series C Preferred Shares |
No. of
Series D Preferred Shares |
No. of
Series D+ Preferred Shares |
No. of
Series E Preferred Shares |
Purchase Price | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Matrix Partners China III Hong Kong Limited |
8,000,000 | | | | | | | US$ | 3,200,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,095,238 | | | | | | US$ | 2,200,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | 924,640 | | | US$ | 5,450,258 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | 579,994 | | US$ | 4,363,406 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trustbridge Partners V, L.P. |
| 8,380,952 | | | | | | US$ | 8,800,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | 767,626 | | | US$ | 4,524,742 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | 481,504 | | US$ | 3,622,450 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chinese Rose Investment Limited |
| | 1,030,126 | | | | | US$ | 3,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
ATCG Holdings Limited |
| | | 4,902,554 | | | | RMB | 123,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Youthful Acquisition L.P. (acting by its general partner, Youthful GP Co. Limited) |
| | | | 5,640,887 | | | US$ | 35,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | 296,889 | | US$ | 2,233,553 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Green Stone Limited |
| | | | 2,417,523 | | | US$ | 15,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | 127,238 | | US$ | 957,237 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Absolute Fortune Limited |
| | | | | 2,012,329 | | US$ | 15,139,145 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
GOLDEN HORIZON LIMITED |
3,099,813 | US$ | 35,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Matrix Partners China III Hong Kong Limited |
363,495 | US$ | 4,034,513 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bohai Spring, L.P. |
1,045,808 | US$ | 12,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BOCI Financial Products Limited |
784,356 | US$ | 9,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deripi Limited |
412,681 | US$ | 4,735,258 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Buchkana Holdings Limited |
412,681 | US$ | 4,735,258 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flarensi Holdings Limited |
46,145 | US$ | 529,484 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total |
8,000,000 | 10,476,190 | 1,030,126 | 4,902,554 | 9,750,676 | 3,497,954 | 6,164,979 | |
Annex A
Definitions
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings given to them in the Series E Share Subscription Agreement.
Adherence Agreement has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.1(d) of this Agreement.
Affiliate means, in respect of a Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) in the case of a natural Person, shall include, without limitation, such Persons spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law and father-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law, (b) in the case of any Investor, shall include (i) any Person who holds Shares as a nominee for such Investor, (ii) any Person for whom the Investor holds Shares as a nominee, (iii) any shareholder of such Investor, (iv) any entity or individual which has a direct or indirect interest in such Investor (including, if applicable, any general partner or limited partner) or any fund manager thereof, (v) any Person that directly or indirectly Controls, is Controlled by, under common Control with, or is managed by such Investor, its shareholder, the general partner or the fund manager of such Investor or its shareholder, (vi) the relatives of any individual referred to in (iii), (iv) and (v) above, and (vii) any trust Controlled by or held for the benefit of such individuals. For the avoidance of doubt, no Investor shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Group Company.
Agreement has the meaning ascribed to it in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
Apax shall mean Youthful Acquisition L.P., a limited partnership organized under the laws of the Island of Guernsey, acting by its general partner, Youthful GP Co. Limited.
as converted basis shall mean means the basis on which as if the holders of the Shares (other than Class B Ordinary Shares) had converted all their issued Shares into Class B Ordinary Shares at the relevant time;
Board shall mean the board of directors of the Company.
BOCI shall mean Bohai Spring, L.P. and BOCI Financial Products Limited, collectively.
Business Day or business day shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday or a day on which banks are required to be closed in Singapore, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Russia or the PRC.
CDH shall mean Green Stone Limited, a company limited by shares organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands.
Claim Notice has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.8(c) of this Agreement.
Class A Ordinary Shares means the class A ordinary shares of S$0.0005 par value per share in the capital of the Company having the rights attaching to it as set out in the Revised M&A.
Class B Ordinary Shares means the class B ordinary shares of S$0.0005 par value per share in the capital of the Company having the rights attaching to it as set out in the Revised M&A.
Closing has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.3 of the Series E Share Subscription Agreement.
Company has the meaning ascribed to it in introductory paragraph A. of this Agreement.
Compensation Committee has meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.2 of this Agreement.
Control , with respect to any third party, shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and shall be deemed to exist for any party (a) when such party holds at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities of such third party and no other party owns a greater number of outstanding voting securities of such third party (b) over other members of such partys immediate family. Immediate family members include, without limitation, a Persons spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law and father-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law, or (c) when such party has the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct the business, management and policies, or control the composition of a majority of the board of directors of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise. The terms Controlling and Controlled have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
Conversion Shares shall mean Class B Ordinary Shares issuable or issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Shares under the Series A Share Purchase Agreement, Series B Preferred Shares purchased under the Series B Share Purchase Agreement, Series C-1 Preferred Shares purchased under the Series C-1 Share Purchase Agreement, Series D Preferred Shares subscribed or purchased under the Series D Preferred Share Subscription and Purchase Agreement, Series D+ Preferred Shares subscribed under the Series D+ Share Subscription Agreement or Series E Preferred Shares subscribed under the Series E Share Subscription Agreement.
Co-Sale Rights Holder has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.
Director shall mean a member of the board of directors of the Company.
Disclosing Party has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11.4 of this Agreement.
Domestic Co. is defined in the introductory paragraph E. of this Agreement.
Drag Holders has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 9.2 of this Agreement.
Drag-Along Sale has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 9.2 of this Agreement.
ESOP has the same meaning in the Series E Share Subscription Agreement.
Exchange Act shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exercising Holder has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2(d) of this Agreement.
Final Prospectus has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.8(d) of this Agreement.
First Participation Notice has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(d)(i) of this Agreement.
First Refusal Period has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2(c) of this Agreement.
Form F-3 has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.2(e) of this Agreement.
Form S-3 has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.2(e) of this Agreement.
Group Companies shall mean Company, the HK Co., the Korea Co., the PRC Subsidiary, the Domestic Co. and their respective Subsidiaries from time to time (each a Group Company ), unless the text specifically indicates otherwise.
Hong Kong means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Holder has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.2(d) of this Agreement.
HK Co. is defined in the introductory paragraph B. of this Agreement.
IAS shall mean the applicable International Accounting Standards published by the International Accounting Standards Board from time to time.
ICC Rules has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 12.13(b) of this Agreement.
Information has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.5 of this Agreement.
Initiating Holders has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.3(b) of this Agreement.
Investment Securities shall mean the Preferred Shares and the Conversion Shares.
Investor is defined in introductory paragraph K. of this Agreement, provided that YOUYI shall be an Investor only with respect to its Series C Preferred Shares.
Investor Directors has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.1 of this Agreement.
Investor Observers has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.4 of this Agreement.
Key Party or Key Parties have the meaning ascribed to it in introductory paragraph F. of this Agreement.
Majority Investor Directors shall mean no less than 50% of the all the Investor Directors.
Majority Ordinary Shareholders shall mean the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares.
Majority Preferred Shareholders means Majority Series A Preferred Shareholders, Majority Series B Preferred Shareholders, Majority Series C Preferred Shareholders, Majority Series D Preferred Shareholders, Majority Series D+ Preferred Shareholders and Majority Series E Preferred Shareholders.
Majority Series A Preferred Shareholders shall mean the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Series A Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting as a single class on an as converted basis.
Majority Series B Preferred Shareholders shall mean the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Series B Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting as a single class on an as converted basis.
Majority Series C Preferred Shareholders shall mean the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Series C Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting as a single class on an as converted basis.
Majority Series D Preferred Shareholders shall mean the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Series D Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting as a single class on an as converted basis.
Majority Series D+ Preferred Shareholders shall mean the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Series D+ Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting as a single class on an as converted basis.
Majority Series E Preferred Shareholders shall mean the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Series E Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting as a single class on an as converted basis.
Matrix shall mean MATRIX PARTNERS CHINA III HONG KONG LIMITED, a company incorporated under the laws of Hong Kong.
New Securities has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(c) of this Agreement.
Non-Disclosing Parties has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11.4 of this Agreement.
Orchid shall mean Absolute Fortune Limited, a company duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of Cayman Island.
Orchid II shall mean GOLDEN HORIZON LIMITED.
Ordinary Shareholder shall mean the holders of the Ordinary Shares of the Company excluding the Investors and its assignees, provided that YOUYI shall be an Ordinary Shareholder only with respect to its Ordinary Shares issued prior to the date hereof.
Ordinary Shares shall mean the Class A Ordinary Shares and the Class B Ordinary Shares of the Company, par value US$0.0005 per share, and an Ordinary Share means any of them.
Participation Rights Holder has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(a) of this Agreement.
RCIF shall mean Deripi Limited, Buchkana Holdings Limited and Flarensi Holdings Limited, collectively.
Person means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, firm, joint venture, estate, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, institution, public benefit corporation, entity or governmental or regulatory authority or other enterprise or entity of any kind or nature.
PRC shall mean the Peoples Republic of China, excluding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and the Islands of Taiwan.
PRC Subsidiary is defined in introductory paragraph D. of this Agreement.
PRC Companies and PRC Company are defined in introductory paragraph E. of this Agreement.
Preferred Shares shall mean the Companys Series A Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares, Series C-1 Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, Series D+ Preferred Shares, Series E Preferred Shares and/or other preferred shares of the company that may be issued from time to time.
Preferred Shareholders shall mean the holders of the Preferred Shares of the Company.
Pro Rata Co-Sale Share has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5.1(a) of this Agreement.
Pro Rata Share has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(b) of this Agreement.
Prohibited Transfer has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5.4(a) of this Agreement.
Qualified IPO means a firm commitment underwritten public offering of the Ordinary Shares of the Company (or an alternative listing vehicle) on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the Shanghai Stock Exchange or the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, or an offering or listing substantially equivalent to the foregoing on another stock exchange that is acceptable to the Majority Series A Preferred Shareholders, the Majority Series B Preferred Shareholders, the Majority Series D Preferred Shareholders and the Majority Series E Preferred Shareholders, in any case, with an offering price per share that would result in a valuation of market capitalization of the Company immediately prior to such offering that is not less than (i) the implied valuation of the Company immediately after the Closing (i.e. US$870,000,000), plus (ii) an amount accruing there on at a compound annual rate of twenty percent (20%) of the implied valuation of the Company immediately after to the Closing (i.e. US$870,000,000), beginning on the Closing, and that results in gross cash proceeds to the Company of at least US$50,000,000.
Registrable Securities has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.2(b) of this Agreement.
Registrable Securities then outstanding has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.2(c) of this Agreement.
Relevant Period means in relation to each Key Party, the period during which such Key Party is directly or indirectly a shareholder, director, officer and/or employee (either a full-time employee or a part-time employee) and/or has any direct or indirect interest (legal or beneficial) in the capital of any of the Group Companies.
Restriction Period means three (3) years after the expiration of the Relevant Period.
Request Notice has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.3(a) of this Agreement.
Request Securities has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.3(a) of this Agreement.
Restructuring Agreements means a series of documents entered or to be entered into by and among the parties named therein on or prior to Closing, including without limited to (i) the Amended and Restated Exclusive Technical Development, Consultation and Service Agreement (经修订和重述的独家技术开发、咨询和服务协议) executed by and between the PRC Subsidiary and the Domestic Co. on August 10, 2018, (ii) the Amended and Restated Exclusive Call Option Agreement (经修订和重述的独家购买权合同) executed by and among the PRC Subsidiary, the Domestic Co. and the equity holder(s) of the Domestic Co. on August 10, 2018, (iii) the Power of Attorney (授权委托书), (iv) the Amended and Restated Equity Pledge Agreement (经修订和重述的股权质押合同) executed by and among the PRC Subsidiary, the Domestic Co. and the equity holder(s) of the Domestic Co. on August 10, 2018, and (v) the Spouse Consent Letter (配偶同意函).
Revised M&A shall mean the Eighth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company in the form attached as Exhibit A-1 to the Series E Share Subscription Agreement, as amended from time to time.
Right of Participation has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(a) of this Agreement.
Rights Holders has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5.4(a) of this Agreement.
Rights Participants has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(d)(ii) of this Agreement.
RMB means the lawful currency of the PRC.
ROFR Rights Holder has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2(b) of this Agreement.
SEC shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Second Participation Notice has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(d)(ii) of this Agreement.
Second Participation Period has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(d)(ii) of this Agreement.
Second Refusal Period has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2(d) of this Agreement.
Second Transfer Notice has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2(d) of this Agreement.
Securities Act shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Selling Shareholder has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2(b) of this Agreement.
Series A Preferred Shares shall mean the Series A Preferred Shares of the Company, par value US$0.0005 per share.
Series A Investor shall mean Matrix, and its successors, permitted assigns and transferees.
Series B Preferred Shares shall mean the Series B Preferred Shares of the Company, par value US$0.0005 per share.
Series C-1 Preferred Shares shall mean the Series C-1 Preferred Shares of the Company, par value US$0.0005 per share.
Series C-1 Investor or Rose shall mean Chinese Rose Investment Limited.
Series C Preferred Shares shall mean the Series C Preferred Shares of the Company, par value US$0.0005 per share.
Series D Preferred Shares shall mean the Series D Preferred Shares of the Company, par value US$0.0005 per share.
Series D Preferred Shareholders shall mean holders of the Series D Preferred Shares, and each a Series D Preferred Shareholder .
Series D+ Preferred Shares shall mean the Series D+ Preferred Shares of the Company, par value US$0.0005 per share.
Series D+ Preferred Shareholders shall mean holders of the Series D+ Preferred Shares, and each a Series D+ Preferred Shareholder .
Series E Preferred Shares shall mean the Series E Preferred Shares of the Company, par value US$0.0005 per share.
Series E Preferred Shareholders shall mean holders of the Series E Preferred Shares, and each a Series E Preferred Shareholder .
Shareholders shall mean the Ordinary Shareholders and the Preferred Shareholders (each a Shareholder ), unless the text specifically indicate otherwise.
Shares shall mean all Preferred Shares and all Ordinary Shares now owned or subsequently acquired by any shareholder.
Subsidiary or subsidiary shall mean, with respect to any subject entity (the subject entity ), (i) any company, partnership or other entity (x) more than 50% of whose shares or other interests entitled to vote in the election of directors or (y) more than a 50% interest in the profits or capital of such entity are owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the subject entity or through one (1) or more Subsidiaries of the subject entity, (ii) any entity whose assets, or portions thereof, are consolidated with the net earnings of the subject entity and are recorded on the books of the subject entity for financial reporting purposes in accordance with IAS or U.S. GAAP, or (iii) any entity with respect to which the subject entity has the power to otherwise direct the business and policies of that entity directly or indirectly through another subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Subsidiaries of the Company shall include the HK Co., the PRC Subsidiary and the Domestic Co..
TBP shall mean Trustbridge Partners V, L.P..
Terms has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11.1 of this Agreement.
Trade Sale has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 9.1 of this Agreement.
Transaction Documents shall mean this Agreement, the Series E Share Subscription Agreement, the Series A Preferred Share Purchase Agreement entered into by and among the Company, Matrix, and other parties thereto dated August 22, 2014, the Series B Preferred Share Purchase Agreement entered into between the Company, TBP, Matrix and other parties thereto dated December 26, 2014, the Series C Preferred Share Purchase Agreement entered into by and among the Company, BVI Holdco, and other parties thereto dated March 31, 2016, the Series C-1 Preferred Share Purchase Agreement entered into by and among the Company, China Rose Investment Limited and other parties thereto dated January 18, 2016, the Series D Preferred Share Subscription and Purchase Agreement, the Series D+ Preferred Share Subscription Agreement dated February 9, 2018, the Revised M&A, the exhibits attached to any of the foregoing and any other document, certificate, and agreement delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
Transfer Notice has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2(b) of this Agreement.
Transfer Shares has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2(b) of this Agreement.
U.S. GAAP shall mean the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Violation has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.8(a) of this Agreement.
YOUYI is defined in introductory paragraph J. of this Agreement.
EXHIBIT A
PROTECTIVE PROVISIONS
So long as any Preferred Shares are outstanding, any action (whether by amendment of the Companys Revised M&A or otherwise, and whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) that effects or approves any of the following actions involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall require the prior written approval of: (A) the holders representing more than two thirds (2/3) of the Preferred Shares then outstanding, voting on an as converted basis (the Preferred Majority), with respect to actions (d), (e), (g), (m), (o), (s), (w) and (y); or (B) the Majority Investor Directors, with respect to any action listed below (other than in respect of those matters listed above). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, where any act listed below requires a Special Resolution of the Members in accordance with the Statute, and if the Members vote in favour of such act but the approval of the Preferred Majority has not yet been obtained, the holders of the Preferred Shares who vote against such act at a meeting of the Members in aggregate shall have the voting rights equal to the aggregate voting power of all the Members who voted in favor of such act plus one (1). For purposes of this Exhibit A , all references to the Company shall refer to each Group Company and their respective Subsidiaries.
(a) |
cease to conduct or carry on the business of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries substantially as now conducted or, in the case of a Subsidiary, as conducted at the time it became a Subsidiary of the Company, or change any part of its business activities; |
(b) |
sell or dispose of the whole or a substantial part of the undertaking, goodwill or the assets of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of RMB10,000,000 accumulatively in a financial year; |
(c) |
any capital expenditure beyond the annual budget approved by the Board; |
(d) |
increase, reduce or cancel the authorized or issued share capital of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries or issue, allot, purchase or redeem any shares or securities convertible into or carrying a right of subscription in respect of shares or any share warrants or grant or issue any options (other than ESOPs), rights or warrants of which may require the issue of shares in the future or do any act which has the effect of diluting or reducing the effective shareholding of the holders of the Preferred Shares in the Company; |
(e) |
the declaration or payment of a dividend or other distributions on any securities of any Group Company; capitalization of the premiums of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries; |
(f) |
appoint or settle the terms of appointment of chairman, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer and chief technology officer of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries; |
(g) |
alter the size of the board of directors; |
(h) |
any creation, adoption or amendment of any bonus or profit sharing scheme or any employee share option or share participation scheme or any employee incentive scheme (together with the ESOP, the ESIP) of any Group Company, or any grant of any option under the ESIP or other incentive plan; |
(i) |
adopt the annual accounts or budgets of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries or the amendment of annual accounts or budgets previously adopted, or amendment of the accounting policies previously adopted or change the financial year of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; |
(j) |
appoint or change the auditors of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries; |
(k) |
any loan provided by any Group Company to any third party (including without limitation, the shareholder or director, officer or employee of any Group Company or their associates and affiliates); any loan which is in excess of RMB10,000,000 at any time; |
(l) |
approve or make adjustments or modifications to terms of any related party transaction in excess of RMB100,000 between any Group Company and any director or shareholder of any Group Company, including without limitation, directly or indirectly providing loans, indemnity or guarantee to any director or shareholder of any Group Company or providing indemnity or guarantee to any debts of any director or shareholder of any Group Company; |
(m) |
any material merger, amalgamation, or consolidation in excess of RMB20,000,000; |
(n) |
any series, create, or authorize the creation of, or issue or obligate itself to issue, any securities, or any debt securities in the amount of RMB1,000,000 or above; |
(o) |
borrow any money or obtain any financial facilities beyond the annual budget approved by the Board (including factoring, facility letters, undertakings, guarantees, indemnities, comfort letters, etc.) except pursuant to trade facilities obtained from banks or other financial institutions in the ordinary course of business; |
(p) |
provide any guarantee or lien for a third party, or create or issue any debenture constituting a pledge, lien or charge (whether by way of fixed or floating charge, mortgage or other security) on all or any of the undertaking, assets or rights of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries except for the purpose of securing borrowings from banks or other financial institutions in the ordinary course of business not exceeding RMB1,000,000 in respect of any one (1) transaction or in excess of RMB3,000,000 in any financial year; |
(q) |
sell, transfer, license, charge, encumber or otherwise dispose of any trademarks, patents, copyrights or other intellectual property owned by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries; |
(r) |
enter into arrangements for any public offering of the Companys or any of its Subsidiaries securities, including the selection of any underwriter, manager, arranger or counsel for such offering; the consolidation or merger with or into any other business entity or the sale of all or substantially all the assets of any Group Company or the license out of all or substantially all of any Group Company, intellectual property rights; |
(s) |
any change to the Memorandum and Articles of Association or other charter documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; |
(t) |
acquire any share capital or other securities of any body corporate; any purchase by any Group Company of equity securities of, any securities convertible into equity securities of, any other body corporate or enter into any joint venture agreements or the formation of any Subsidiary of the Company; |
(u) |
dispose of or dilute the Companys interest, directly or indirectly, in any of its Subsidiaries; |
(v) |
approve any transfer of shares in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; |
(w) |
any filing by or against any Group Company for the appointment of a receiver, administrator or other form of external manager, or the winding up, liquidation, bankruptcy or insolvency of any Group Company; |
(x) |
amend the Companys Memorandum or Articles of Association in a manner that adversely affects the rights of the holders of the Preferred Shares or amends or changes the rights, preferences, privileges or powers of, or the restrictions provided for, the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Shares; |
(y) |
take any action that reclassifies any outstanding shares into shares having preferences or priority as to dividends or assets senior to or on an parity with the preference of the holders of the Preferred Shares; or |
(z) |
adoption of or any material change in the business plan or annual and quarter budget of the Company. |
EXHIBIT B
ADHERENCE AGREEMENT
This Adherence Agreement ( Adherence Agreement ) is executed by the undersigned (the Transferee ) pursuant to the terms of that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement dated as of f], 2018 (the Agreement ) by and among So-Young International Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Company ) and certain of its shareholders and in consideration of the Shares subscribed for by the Transferee thereunder and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement. By the execution of this Adherence Agreement, the Transferee agrees as follows:
1. Acknowledgment . Transferee acknowledges that Transferee is acquiring [number] [Preferred/Ordinary] shares of the Company (the Shares ) from [name of transferor] (the Transferor ), subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement.
2. Agreement . Immediately upon transfer of the Shares, Transferee (i) agrees that the Shares acquired by Transferee shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Agreement applicable to the Transferor, and (ii) hereby adopts the Agreement with the same force and effect as if Transferee were originally a/an [Ordinary Shareholder thereunder (if transferor is an Ordinary Shareholder) ]/[Investor thereunder (if transferor is an Investor) ].
3. Notice . Any notice required or permitted by the Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beside Transferees signature below.
4. Governing Law . This Adherence Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region without regard to conflicts of law principles.
EXECUTED AND DATED this day of , .
TRANSFEREE: |
By: |
Name: |
Title: |
Attn: |
Address: |
Tel: |
Fax: |
Email: |
EXHIBIT C
NOTICES
For the purpose of the notice provisions contained in this Agreement, the following are the initial addresses of each Party:
If to any Key Party or any Group Company or Mr. Shao:
Attn: | Mr. JIN Xing | |
Address: | Room 910, Floor 9, Building 1B | |
Wangjing SOHO Tower | ||
Chaoyang District, Beijing | ||
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | jinxing@soyoung.com |
If to the Investors:
To Matrix Partners China III Hong Kong Limited:
Attn: | Matrix Partners HK Management Limited | |
Mr. WANG Huadong; Ms. LIN Cui | ||
Address: | Flat 2807, 28/F, AIA Central, | |
No.1 Connaught Road, | ||
Central, Hong Kong | ||
Tel: | (852) 3651 6220 | |
Fax: | (852) 3651 6111 | |
Email: | huadong.wang@matrixpartners.com.cn ; claire.lin@matrixpartners.com.cn ; notice@matrixpartners.com.cn |
To TBP:
Attn: | Trustbridge Partners | |
Wenjie Jin | ||
Address: | No. 669 Haike Road, Shanghai, China | |
Tel: | +86 21 50292006 | |
Email: | wenjie.jin@tbpartners.com.cn | |
To Rose:
|
||
Attn: | Chinese Rose Investment Ltd | |
c/o Tencent Holdings Limited | ||
Compliance and Transactions Department | ||
Address: | Level 29, Three Pacific Place | |
1 Queen's Road East | ||
Wanchai, Hong Kong | ||
Email: | legalnotice@tencent.com |
To CDH:
Attn: YANG QIAN
Address: Floor 3, NO.1 East Yan An Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai
Email: +86 21 80234679
Fax: +86 21 80234601
Email: qian.yang@cdhfund.com
To Orchid:
Attn: Mr. Gabriel Li
Address: c/o Suite 6211-12, 62/F, the Center, 99 Queens Road Central, Central Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2115 8810
Fax: (852) 2115 8120
Email: gli@orchidasia.com
If to BOCI Financial Products Limited :
Attn: Ms. Sira Wang, Ms. Suvan Fung
Address: 26/F, BOC Tower, 1 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3988 6192, +852 3988 6193
Fax: +852 3988 6150
Email: siraxy.wang1@bocigroup.com , suvansh.fung@bocigroup.com
If to Bohai Spring, L.P. :
Attn: Ms. Sira Wang, Ms. Suvan Fung
Address: 26/F, BOC Tower, 1 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3988 6192, +852 3988 6193
Fax: +852 3988 6150
Email: siraxy.wang1@bocigroup.com , suvansh.fung@bocigroup.com
To Deripi Limited, Buchkana Holdings Limited and Flarensi Holdings Limited:
Attention: Legal Department
Address: Russia-China Investment Fund, 819-821 Windland International Finance Center, 7
Financial St., Xicheng District, Beijing 100033, China
Tel: +86 10 5762 9111
Email: ya.li@rcif.com; shengwei.xu@rcif.com; zhen.lin@rcif.com
With a copy to
Attention: Legal Department
Address: Russia-China Investment Fund, Naberezhnaya Tower, Presnenskaya nab, 10, Block B,
Floor 6, Moscow, Russia 123317
Fax: +7 495 230-05-56
Email: oleg.chizh@rcif.com; vladislav.sidorov@rcif.com; nina.bystrova@rcif.com
Exhibit 5.1
So-Young International Inc.
3/F, Wangjing SOHO-Tower 3A
Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100102
Peoples Republic of China
8 April 2019
Dear Sirs
So-Young International Inc.
We have acted as Cayman Islands legal advisers to So-Young International Inc. (the Company ) in connection with the Companys registration statement on Form F-1, including all amendments or supplements thereto (the Registration Statement ), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to date relating to the offering by the Company of certain American depositary shares (the ADSs ) representing the Companys Class A ordinary shares of par value US$0.0005 each (the Shares ).
We are furnishing this opinion as Exhibits 5.1, 8.1 and 23.2 to the Registration Statement.
1 |
Documents Reviewed |
For the purposes of this opinion letter, we have reviewed only originals, copies or final drafts of the following documents:
1.1 |
The certificate of incorporation of the Company dated 28 April 2014 issued by the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands. |
1.2 |
The eighth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company as adopted by a special resolution passed on 23 August 2018 (the Pre-IPO Memorandum and Articles ). |
1.3 |
The ninth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company as conditionally adopted by a special resolution passed on 27 March 2019 and effective immediately prior to the completion of the Companys initial public offering of the ADSs representing the Shares (the IPO Memorandum and Articles ). |
1.4 |
The written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 27 March 2019 (the Directors Resolutions ). |
1.5 |
The written resolutions of the shareholders of the Company dated 27 March 2019 (the Shareholders Resolutions ). |
1.6 |
A certificate from a director of the Company, a copy of which is attached hereto (the Directors Certificate ). |
1.7 |
A certificate of good standing dated 22 March 2019, issued by the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands (the Certificate of Good Standing ). |
1.8 |
The Registration Statement. |
2 |
Assumptions |
The following opinions are given only as to, and based on, circumstances and matters of fact existing and known to us on the date of this opinion letter. These opinions only relate to the laws of the Cayman Islands which are in force on the date of this opinion letter. In giving these opinions we have relied (without further verification) upon the completeness and accuracy, as of the date of this opinion letter, of the Directors Certificate and the Certificate of Good Standing. We have also relied upon the following assumptions, which we have not independently verified:
2.1 |
Copies of documents, conformed copies or drafts of documents provided to us are true and complete copies of, or in the final forms of, the originals. |
2.2 |
All signatures, initials and seals are genuine. |
2.3 |
There is nothing under any law (other than the law of the Cayman Islands), which would or might affect the opinions set out below. |
2.4 |
There is nothing contained in the minute book or corporate record of the Company (which we have not inspected) which would or might affect the opinions set out below. |
3 |
Opinion |
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set out below and having regard to such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:
3.1 |
The Company has been duly incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability and is validly existing and in good standing with the Registrar of Companies under the laws of the Cayman Islands. |
3.2 |
The authorised share capital of the Company, with effect immediately prior to the completion of the Companys initial public offering of the ADSs representing the Shares, will be US$425,000 divided into 850,000,000 shares comprising (i) 750,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.0005 each, (ii) 20,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.0005 each, and (iii) 80,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.0005 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors of the Company may determine in accordance with the IPO Memorandum and Articles. |
3.3 |
The issue and allotment of the Shares have been duly authorised and when allotted, issued and paid for as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Shares will be legally issued and allotted, fully paid and non-assessable. As a matter of Cayman law, a share is only issued when it has been entered in the register of members (shareholders). |
3.4 |
The statements under the caption Taxation in the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement, to the extent that they constitute statements of Cayman Islands law, are accurate in all material respects and that such statements constitute our opinion. |
2
4 |
Qualifications |
In this opinion letter the phrase non-assessable means, with respect to shares in the Company, that a shareholder shall not, solely by virtue of its status as a shareholder, be liable for additional assessments or calls on the shares by the Company or its creditors (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).
Except as specifically stated herein, we make no comment with respect to any representations and warranties which may be made by or with respect to the Company in any of the documents or instruments cited in this opinion or otherwise with respect to the commercial terms of the transactions the subject of this opinion.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our name under the headings Enforceability of Civil Liabilities, Taxation and Legal Matters and elsewhere in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Yours faithfully |
/s/ Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP |
Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP |
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Directors Certificate
Date: April 8, 2019
To: |
Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP |
53rd Floor, The Center |
99 Queens Road Central |
Central, Hong Kong |
Dear Sirs
So-Young International Inc. (the Company)
I, the undersigned, being a director of the Company, am aware that you are being asked to provide a legal opinion (the Opinion ) in relation to certain aspects of Cayman Islands law. Capitalised terms used in this certificate have the meaning given to them in the Opinion. I hereby certify that:
1 |
The Pre-IPO Memorandum and Articles remain in full and effect and, except as amended by the Shareholders Resolutions adopting the IPO Memorandum and Articles, are otherwise unamended. |
2 |
The Directors Resolutions were duly passed in the manner prescribed in the Pre-IPO Memorandum and Articles (including, without limitation, with respect to the disclosure of interests (if any) by directors of the Company) and have not been amended, varied or revoked in any respect. |
3 |
The Shareholders Resolutions were duly passed in the manner prescribed in the Pre-IPO Memorandum and Articles and have not been amended, varied or revoked in any respect. |
4 |
The authorised share capital of the Company is US$100,000 divided into 156,177,521 ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0005 each, comprising (i) 12,000,000 Class A ordinary shares and (ii) 144,177,521 Class B ordinary shares; and 43,822,479 preferred shares of a par value of US$0.0005 each, comprising (i) 8,000,000 Series A preferred shares, (ii) 10,476,190 Series B preferred shares, (iii) 1,030,126 Series C-1 preferred shares, (iv) 4,902,554 Series C preferred shares, (v) 9,750,676 Series D preferred shares, (vi) 3,497,954 Series D+ preferred shares and (vii) 6,164,979 Series E preferred shares. |
5 |
The authorised share capital of the Company, with effect immediately prior to the completion of the Companys initial public offering of the ADSs representing the Shares, will be US$425,000 divided into 850,000,000 shares comprising (i) 750,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.0005 each, (ii) 20,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.0005 each, and (iii) 80,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.0005 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors of the Company may determine in accordance with the IPO Memorandum and Articles. |
6 |
The shareholders of the Company have not restricted or limited the powers of the directors in any way and there is no contractual or other prohibition (other than as arising under Cayman Islands law) binding on the Company prohibiting it from issuing and allotting the Shares or otherwise performing its obligations under the Registration Statement. |
7 |
The directors of the Company at the date of the Directors Resolutions were as follows: |
Xing Jin
Huadong Wang
Hui Shao
Zhijun Yu
Marcelo Gigliani Uriarte
Wei Zhou
8 |
Each director considers the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement to be of commercial benefit to the Company and has acted bona fide in the best interests of the Company, and for a proper purpose of the Company in relation to the transactions the subject of the Opinion. |
9 |
To the best of my knowledge and belief, having made due inquiry, the Company is not the subject of legal, arbitral, administrative or other proceedings in any jurisdiction that would have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the Company. Nor have the directors or shareholders taken any steps to have the Company struck off or placed in liquidation, nor have any steps been taken to wind up the Company. Nor has any receiver been appointed over any of the Companys property or assets. |
10 |
Upon the completion of the Companys initial public offering of the ADSs representing the Shares, the Company will not be subject to the requirements of Part XVIIA of the Companies Law (2018 Revision). |
I confirm that you may continue to rely on this Certificate as being true and correct on the day that you issue the Opinion unless I shall have previously notified you personally to the contrary.
[ signature page follows ]
Signature: |
/s/ Xing Jin |
|||
Name: |
Xing Jin |
|||
Title: |
Director |
Exhibit 10.1
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED 2018 SHARE PLAN
ARTICLE 1
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Second Amended and Restated 2018 Share Plan (the Plan ) is to promote the success and enhance the value of So-Young International Inc., an exempted company formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the Company ), by linking the personal interests of the Directors, Employees, and Consultants to those of the Companys shareholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to the Companys shareholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of the Directors, Employees, and Consultants upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Companys operation is largely dependent.
ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan, they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.
2.1 Applicable Laws means the legal requirements relating to the Plan and the Awards under applicable provisions of the corporate, securities, tax and other laws, rules, regulations and government orders, and the rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market system, of any jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents therein.
2.2 Applicable Accounting Standards shall mean Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States, International Financial Reporting Standards or such other accounting principles or standards as may apply to the Companys financial statements under United States federal securities laws from time to time.
2.3 Award means an Option, Restricted Share or Restricted Share Unit award granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan or any other equity incentive award granted to a Participant by the Company pursuant to the authorizations of the Committee.
2.4 Award Agreement means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing the grant of an Award entered into by and between the Company and a Participant and any amendment thereto, including through electronic medium.
2.5 Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.6 Cause with respect to a Participant means (unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, or another applicable contract with the Participant that defines such term for purposes of determining the effect that a for cause termination has on the Participants Awards) a termination of employment or service based upon a finding by the Service Recipient, acting in good faith and based on its reasonable belief at the time, that the Participant:
1
(a) has been negligent in the discharge of his or her duties to the Service Recipient, has refused to perform stated or assigned duties or is incompetent in or (other than by reason of a disability or analogous condition) incapable of performing those duties;
(b) has been dishonest or committed or engaged in an act of theft, embezzlement or fraud, a breach of confidentiality, an unauthorized disclosure or use of inside information, customer lists, trade secrets or other confidential information;
(c) has breached a fiduciary duty, or willfully and materially violated any other duty, law, rule, regulation or policy of the Service Recipient; or has been convicted of, or plead guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or misdemeanor (other than minor traffic violations or similar offenses);
(d) has materially breached any of the provisions of any agreement with the Service Recipient;
(e) has engaged in unfair competition with, or otherwise acted intentionally in a manner injurious to the reputation, business or assets of, the Service Recipient; or
(f) has improperly induced a vendor or customer to break or terminate any contract with the Service Recipient or induced a principal for whom the Service Recipient acts as agent to terminate such agency relationship.
A termination for Cause shall be deemed to occur (subject to reinstatement upon a contrary final determination by the Committee) on the date on which the Service Recipient first delivers written notice to the Participant of a finding of termination for Cause.
2.7 Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of the United States, as amended.
2.8 Committee means the Board or a committee of the Board described in Article 10.
2.9 Consultant means any consultant or adviser if: (a) the consultant or adviser renders bona fide services to a Service Recipient; (b) the services rendered by the consultant or adviser are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Companys securities; and (c) the consultant or adviser is a natural person who has contracted directly with the Service Recipient to render such services.
2.10 Corporate Transaction , unless otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, means any of the following transactions, provided, however, that the Committee shall determine under (d) and (e) whether multiple transactions are related, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive:
(a) an amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation or scheme of arrangement (i) in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the jurisdiction in which the Company is incorporated or (ii) following which the holders of the voting securities of the Company do not continue to hold more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity;
2
(b) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;
(c) the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
(d) any reverse takeover or series of related transactions culminating in a reverse takeover (including, but not limited to, a tender offer followed by a reverse takeover) in which the Company is the surviving entity but (A) the Companys equity securities outstanding immediately prior to such takeover are converted or exchanged by virtue of the takeover into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise, or (B) in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Companys outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such takeover or the initial transaction culminating in such takeover, but excluding any such transaction or series of related transactions that the Committee determines shall not be a Corporate Transaction; or
(e) acquisition in a single or series of related transactions by any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Companys outstanding securities but excluding any such transaction or series of related transactions that the Committee determines shall not be a Corporate Transaction.
2.11 Director means a member of the Board or a member of the board of directors of any Parent, Subsidiary or Related Entity of the Company.
2.12 Disability , unless otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, means that the Participant qualifies to receive long-term disability payments under the Service Recipients long-term disability insurance program, as it may be amended from time to time, to which the Participant provides services regardless of whether the Participant is covered by such policy. If the Service Recipient to which the Participant provides service does not have a long-term disability plan in place, Disability means that a Participant is unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions of the position held by the Participant by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment for a period of not less than ninety (90) consecutive days. A Participant will not be considered to have incurred a Disability unless he or she furnishes proof of such impairment sufficient to satisfy the Committee in its discretion.
2.13 Effective Date shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.
2.14 Employee means any person, including an officer or a Director of any Group Entity, who is in the employment of a Service Recipient, subject to the control and direction of the Service Recipient as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance. The payment of a directors fee by a Service Recipient shall not be sufficient to constitute employment by the Service Recipient.
2.15 Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the United States, as amended.
3
2.16 Fair Market Value means, as of any date, the value of Shares determined as follows:
(a) If the Shares are listed on one or more established stock exchanges or national market systems, including without limitation, the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such Shares (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on the principal exchange or system on which the Shares are listed (as determined by the Committee) on the date of determination (or, if no closing sales price or closing bid was reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such closing sales price or closing bid was reported), as reported on the website maintained by such exchange or market system or such other source as the Committee deems reliable;
(b) If the Shares are regularly quoted on an automated quotation system (including the OTC Bulletin Board) or by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such Shares as quoted on such system or by such securities dealer on the date of determination, but if selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Shares on the date of determination (or, if no such prices were reported on that date, on the last date such prices were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable; or
(c) In the absence of an established market for the Shares of the type described in (a) and (b) above, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined by the Committee in good faith and in its discretion by reference to (i) the placing price of the latest private placement of the Shares and the development of the Companys business operations and the general economic and market conditions since such latest private placement, (ii) other third party transactions involving the Shares and the development of the Companys business operation and the general economic and market conditions since such transaction, (iii) an independent valuation of the Shares, or (iv) such other methodologies or information as the Committee determines to be indicative of Fair Market Value and relevant.
2.17 Group Entity means any of the Company and Parents, Subsidiaries and Related Entities of the Company.
2.18 Incentive Share Option means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.
2.19 Independent Director means (i) if the Shares or other securities representing the Shares are not listed on a stock exchange, a member of the Board who is a Non-Employee Director; and (ii) if the Shares or other securities representing the Shares are listed on one or more stock exchanges, a member of the Board who meets the independence standards under the applicable corporate governance rules of the stock exchange(s).
2.20 Non-Employee Director means a member of the Board who qualifies as a Non-Employee Director as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) of the Exchange Act, or any successor definition adopted by the Board.
2.21 Non-Qualified Share Option means an Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Share Option.
4
2.22 Option means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 5 of the Plan to purchase a specified number of Shares at a specified price during specified time periods. An Option may be either an Incentive Share Option or a Non-Qualified Share Option.
2.23 Participant means a person who, as a member of the Board, Consultant or Employee, has been granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.
2.24 Parent means a parent corporation under Section 424(e) of the Code.
2.25 Plan means this Second Amended and Restated 2018 Share Plan of the Company, as amended and/or restated from time to time.
2.26 Related Entity means any business, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company, a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company holds a substantial ownership interest, directly or indirectly, or controls through contractual arrangements and consolidates the financial results according to the Applicable Accounting Standards, but which is not a Subsidiary and which the Board designates as a Related Entity for purposes of the Plan.
2.27 Restricted Share means a Share issued to a Participant pursuant to Article 6 that is subject to certain restrictions and may be subject to risk of forfeiture, redemption or repurchase.
2.28 Restricted Share Unit means the right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 7 to receive a Share at a future date.
2.29 Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933 of the United States, as amended.
2.30 Service Recipient means the Company, any Parent, Subsidiary or Related Entity of the Company to which a Participant provides services as an Employee, a Consultant or a Director.
2.31 Share means the ordinary shares of the Company, par value US$0.0005 per share, and such other securities of the Company that may be substituted for Shares pursuant to Article 9.
2.32 Subsidiary means any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the outstanding voting shares or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company.
2.33 Trading Date means the closing of the first sale to the general public of the Shares pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act.
ARTICLE 3
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
3.1 Number of Shares .
5
(a) Subject to the provisions of Article 9 and Section 3.1(b), the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to all Awards (including Incentive Share Options) under the Plan shall be 7,700,000 plus an annual increase of 2% of the total outstanding share capital as of December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year on the first day of each fiscal year, beginning in 2020, or such lesser number of Class A ordinary shares as determined by the board of directors of the Company; provided, however, that the aggregate number of Shares initially reserved and subsequently increased during the term of this Plan shall not be more than 10% of the total outstanding share capital of the Company on December 31 immediately preceding the most recent increase. All awards granted under the previous share incentive plans of the Company shall be deemed to be Awards granted under this Plan, and shall be administered in consistence with the terms of this Plan.
(b) To the extent that an Award terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason, any Shares subject to the Award shall again be available for the grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan. Shares delivered by the Participant or withheld by the Company upon the exercise of any Award under the Plan, in payment of the exercise price thereof or tax withholding thereon, may again be optioned, granted or awarded hereunder, subject to the limitations of Section 3.1(a). If any Awards are forfeited by the Participant or repurchased by the Company, the Shares underlying such Awards may again be optioned, granted or awarded hereunder, subject to the limitations of Section 3.1(a). To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, Shares issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form of combination by a Group Entity shall not be counted against Shares available for grant pursuant to the Plan. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.1(b), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Share Option to fail to qualify as an incentive share option under Section 422 of the Code.
3.2 Shares Distributed . Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares, treasury shares (subject to Applicable Laws) or Shares purchased on the open market. Additionally, at the discretion of the Committee, any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may be represented by American Depositary Shares. If the number of Shares represented by an American Depositary Share is other than on a one-to-one basis, the limitations of Section 3.1 shall be adjusted to reflect the distribution of American Depositary Shares in lieu of Shares.
ARTICLE 4
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
4.1 Eligibility . Persons eligible to participate in this Plan include Employees, Consultants, and Directors, as determined by the Committee.
4.2 Participation . Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from among all eligible individuals, those to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award. No individual shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to this Plan.
4.3 Jurisdictions . In order to assure the viability of Awards granted to Participants employed in various jurisdictions, the Committee may provide for such special terms as it may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy, or custom applicable in the jurisdiction in which the Participant resides, is employed, operates or is incorporated. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements, or alternative versions of, the Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose; provided, however, that no such supplements, amendments, restatements, or alternative versions shall increase the share limitations contained in Section 3.1 of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate any Applicable Laws.
6
ARTICLE 5
OPTIONS
5.1 General . The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(a) Exercise Price . The exercise price per Share subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement which may be a fixed price or a variable price related to the Fair Market Value of the Shares. The exercise price per Share subject to an Option may be amended or adjusted in the absolute discretion of the Committee, the determination of which shall be final, binding and conclusive. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent not prohibited by Applicable Laws or any exchange rule, a downward adjustment of the exercise prices of Options mentioned in the preceding sentence shall be effective without the approval of the Companys shareholders or the approval of the affected Participants. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the exercise price of any Share shall not be less than its par value.
(b) Time and Conditions of Exercise . The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part, including exercise prior to vesting; provided that the term of any Option granted under the Plan shall not exceed ten years, except as provided in Section 12.1. The Committee shall also determine any conditions, if any, that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may be exercised.
(c) Payment . The Committee shall determine the methods by which the exercise price of an Option may be paid, the form of payment, including, without limitation (i) cash or check denominated in U.S. Dollars, (ii) to the extent permissible under the Applicable Laws, cash or check in Chinese Renminbi, (iii) cash or check denominated in any other local currency as approved by the Committee, (iv) the delivery to the Company of Shares held for such period of time as may be required by the Committee in order to avoid adverse financial accounting consequences and having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof, the purchase price for which shall be utilized by the Participant to pay the exercise price, (v) after the Trading Date the delivery of a notice that the Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option exercise price; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale, (vi) other property acceptable to the Committee with a Fair Market Value equal to the exercise price, or (vii) any combination of the foregoing. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a member of the Board or an executive officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to pay the exercise price of an Option in any method which would violate Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.
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(d) Evidence of Grant . All Options shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement between the Company and the Participant. The Award Agreement shall include such additional provisions as may be specified by the Committee.
(e) Effects of Termination of Employment or Service on Options . Termination of employment or service shall have the following effects on Options granted to the Participants unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement:
(i) Dismissal for Cause . Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, if a Participants employment by or service to the Service Recipient is terminated by the Service Recipient for Cause, the Participants Options will terminate upon such termination, whether or not the Option is then vested and/or exercisable;
(ii) Death or Disability . Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, if a Participants employment by or service to the Service Recipient terminates as a result of the Participants death or Disability:
(a) |
the Participant (or his or her legal representative or beneficiary, in the case of the Participants Disability or death, respectively), will have until the date that is 30 days after the Participants termination of employment or service to exercise the Participants Options (or portion thereof) to the extent that such Options were vested and exercisable on the date of the Participants termination of employment or service on account of death or Disability; |
(b) |
the Options, to the extent not vested and exercisable on the date of the Participants termination of employment or service, shall terminate upon the Participants termination of employment or service on account of death or Disability; and |
(c) |
the Options, to the extent exercisable for the 30-day period following the Participants termination of employment or service and not exercised during such period, shall terminate at the close of business on the last day of the 30-day period. |
(iii) Other Terminations of Employment or Service . Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, if a Participants employment by or service to the Service Recipient terminates for any reason other than a termination by the Service Recipient for Cause or because of the Participants death or Disability:
(a) |
the Participant will have until the date that is 30 days after the Participants termination of employment or service to exercise his or her Options (or portion thereof) to the extent that such Options were vested and exercisable on the date of the Participants termination of employment or service; |
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(b) |
the Options, to the extent not vested and exercisable on the date of the Participants termination of employment or service, shall terminate upon the Participants termination of employment or service; and |
(c) |
the Options, to the extent exercisable for the 30-day period following the Participants termination of employment or service and not exercised during such period, shall terminate at the close of business on the last day of the 30-day period. |
5.2 Incentive Share Options . Incentive Share Options may be granted to Employees of the Company, a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. Incentive Share Options may not be granted to employees of a Related Entity or to Independent Directors or Consultants. The terms of any Incentive Share Options granted pursuant to the Plan, in addition to the requirements of Section 5.1, must comply with the following additional provisions of this Section 5.2:
(a) Individual Dollar Limitation . The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the Option is granted) of all Shares with respect to which Incentive Share Options are first exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year may not exceed $100,000 or such other limitation as imposed by Section 422(d) of the Code, or any successor provision. To the extent that Incentive Share Options are first exercisable by a Participant in excess of such limitation, the excess shall be considered Non-Qualified Share Options.
(b) Exercise Price . The exercise price of an Incentive Share Option shall be equal to the Fair Market Value on the date of grant. However, the exercise price of any Incentive Share Option granted to any individual who, at the date of grant, owns Shares possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company may not be less than 110% of Fair Market Value on the date of grant and such Option may not be exercisable for more than five years from the date of grant.
(c) Transfer Restriction . The Participant shall give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of Shares acquired by exercise of an Incentive Share Option within (i) two years from the date of grant of such Incentive Share Option or (ii) one year after the transfer of such Shares to the Participant.
(d) Expiration of Incentive Share Options . No Award of an Incentive Share Option may be made pursuant to this Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.
(e) Right to Exercise . During a Participants lifetime, an Incentive Share Option may be exercised only by the Participant.
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ARTICLE 6
RESTRICTED SHARES
6.1 Grant of Restricted Shares . The Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Restricted Shares to Participants as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the number of Restricted Shares to be granted to each Participant.
6.2 Restricted Shares Award Agreement . Each Award of Restricted Shares shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the period of restriction, the number of Restricted Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, the share certificates in respect of Restricted Shares shall be held by the Company as escrow agent until the restrictions on such Restricted Shares have lapsed.
6.3 Issuance and Restrictions . Restricted Shares shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the right to vote Restricted Shares or the right to receive dividends on the Restricted Shares). These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, pursuant to such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Committee determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter.
6.4 Forfeiture/Redemption/Repurchase . Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of employment or service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Shares that are at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited, redeemed or repurchased in accordance with the Award Agreement; provided, however , that the Committee may (a) provide in any Restricted Share Award Agreement that restrictions or forfeiture, redemption and repurchase conditions relating to Restricted Shares will be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and (b) in other cases waive in whole or in part restrictions or forfeiture, redemption and repurchase conditions relating to Restricted Shares.
6.5 Certificates for Restricted Shares . Restricted Shares granted pursuant to the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Restricted Shares are registered in the name of the Participant, certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares, and the Company may, at its discretion, retain physical possession of the certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.
6.6 Removal of Restrictions . Except as otherwise provided in this Article 6, Restricted Shares granted under the Plan shall be released from all restrictions as soon as practicable after the last day of the period of restriction. The Committee, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions shall lapse or be removed. After the restrictions have lapsed, the Participant shall be entitled to have any legend or legends under Section 6.5 removed from his or her Share certificate, and the Shares shall be freely transferable by the Participant, subject to applicable legal restrictions. The Committee (in its discretion) may establish procedures regarding the release of share certificates from escrow and the removal of legends, as necessary or appropriate to minimize administrative burdens on the Company.
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ARTICLE 7
RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS
7.1 Grant of Restricted Share Units . The Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Restricted Share Units to Participants as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the number of Restricted Share Units to be granted to each Participant.
7.2 Restricted Share Units Award Agreement . Each Award of Restricted Share Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify any vesting conditions, the number of Restricted Share Units granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine.
7.3 Performance Objectives and Other Terms . The Committee, in its discretion, may set performance objectives or other vesting criteria which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number or value of Restricted Share Units that will be paid out to the Participants.
7.4 Form and Timing of Payment of Restricted Share Units . At the time of grant, the Committee shall specify the date or dates on which the Restricted Share Units shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable. Upon vesting, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay Restricted Share Units in the form of cash, Shares or a combination thereof.
7.5 Forfeiture/Repurchase . Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of employment or service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Share Units that are at that time unvested shall be forfeited or repurchased in accordance with the Award Agreement; provided, however , the Committee may (a) provide in any Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement that restrictions or forfeiture and repurchase conditions relating to Restricted Share Units will be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and (b) in other cases waive in whole or in part restrictions or forfeiture and repurchase conditions relating to Restricted Share Units.
ARTICLE 8
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS
8.1 Award Agreement . Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Agreements that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award which may include the term of an Award, the provisions applicable in the event the Participants employment or service terminates, and the Companys authority to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind an Award.
8.2 No Transferability; Limited Exception to Transfer Restrictions .
8.2.1 Limits on Transfer . Unless otherwise expressly provided in (or pursuant to) this Section 8.2, by Applicable Laws and by the Award Agreement, as the same may be amended:
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(a) all Awards are non-transferable and will not be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, anticipation, alienation, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge;
(b) Awards will be exercised only by the Participant; and
(c) amounts payable or shares issuable pursuant to an Award will be delivered only to (or for the account of), and, in the case of Shares, registered in the name of, the Participant.
In addition, the shares shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
8.2.2 Further Exceptions to Limits on Transfer . The exercise and transfer restrictions in Section 8.2.1 will not apply to:
(a) transfers to the Company or a Subsidiary;
(b) transfers by gift to immediate family as that term is defined in SEC Rule 16a-1(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act;
(c) the designation of a beneficiary to receive benefits if the Participant dies or, if the Participant has died, transfers to or exercises by the Participants beneficiary, or, in the absence of a validly designated beneficiary, transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution;
(d) if the Participant has suffered a disability, permitted transfers or exercises on behalf of the Participant by the Participants duly authorized legal representative; or
(e) subject to the prior approval of the Committee or an executive officer or director of the Company authorized by the Committee, transfer to one or more natural persons who are the Participants family members or entities owned and controlled by the Participant and/or the Participants family members, including but not limited to trusts or other entities whose beneficiaries or beneficial owners are the Participant and/or the Participants family members, or to such other persons or entities as may be expressly approved by the Committee, pursuant to such conditions and procedures as the Committee may establish. Any permitted transfer shall be subject to the condition that the Committee receives evidence satisfactory to it that the transfer is being made for estate and/or tax planning purposes and on a basis consistent with the Companys lawful issue of securities.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 8.2.2 to the contrary, but subject to compliance with all Applicable Laws, Incentive Share Options, Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units will be subject to any and all transfer restrictions under the Code applicable to such Awards or necessary to maintain the intended tax consequences of such Awards. Notwithstanding clause (b) above but subject to compliance with all Applicable Laws, any contemplated transfer by gift to immediate family as referenced in clause (b) above is subject to the condition precedent that the transfer be approved by the Committee in order for it to be effective.
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8.3 Beneficiaries . Notwithstanding Section 8.2, a Participant may, in the manner determined by the Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Participants death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award Agreement otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee. If the Participant is married and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Participants spouse as his or her beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Participants interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written consent of the Participants spouse. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Participant, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Participants will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Committee.
8.4 Share Certificates .
(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates evidencing the Shares pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all Applicable Laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the Shares are listed or traded. All Share certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with all Applicable Laws, and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted, or traded. The Committee may place legends on any Share certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Committee may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such Applicable Laws. The Committee shall have the right to require any Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Committee.
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required by Applicable Laws, the Company shall not deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Company or, as applicable, its transfer agent or the Committee.
8.5 Paperless Administration . Subject to Applicable Laws, the Committee may make Awards, and provide applicable disclosure and procedures for exercise of Awards by an internet website or interactive voice response system for the paperless administration of Awards.
8.6 Stand-Alone and Tandem Awards . Awards granted pursuant to the Plan may, at the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with, any other Award granted pursuant to the Plan. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards.
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8.7 Foreign Currency . A Participant may be required to provide evidence that any currency used to pay the exercise price of any Award was acquired and taken out of the jurisdiction in which the Participant resides in accordance with Applicable Laws, including foreign exchange control laws and regulations. In the event the exercise price for an Award is paid in Chinese Renminbi or other foreign currency, as permitted by the Committee, the amount payable will be determined by conversion from U.S. dollars at the official rate promulgated by the Peoples Bank of China for Chinese Renminbi, or for jurisdictions other than the Peoples Republic of China, the exchange rate as selected by the Committee on the date of exercise.
ARTICLE 9
CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE
9.1 Adjustments . In the event of any dividend, share split, combination or exchange of Shares, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation, spin-off, recapitalization or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to its shareholders, or any other change affecting the Shares or the share price of a Share, the Committee shall make such proportionate adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such change with respect to (a) the aggregate number and type of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Section 3.1); (b) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (c) the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan.
9.2 Corporate Transactions . Except as may otherwise be provided in any Award Agreement or any other written agreement entered into by and between the Company and a Participant, if the Committee anticipates the occurrence, or upon the occurrence, of a Corporate Transaction, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for (i) any and all Awards outstanding hereunder to terminate at a specific time in the future and shall give each Participant the right to exercise the vested portion of such Awards during a period of time as the Committee shall determine, (ii) the purchase of any Award for an amount of cash equal to the amount that could have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participants rights had such Award been currently exercisable or payable or fully vested (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of such date the Committee determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment), (iii) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Committee in its sole discretion or the assumption of or substitution of such Award by the successor or surviving corporation, or a Parent or Subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of Shares and prices, or (iv) payment of such Award in cash based on the value of Shares on the date of the Corporate Transaction plus reasonable interest on the Award through the date as determined by the Committee when such Award would otherwise be vested or have been paid in accordance with its original terms, if necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
9.3 Outstanding Awards Other Changes . In the event of any other change in the capitalization of the Company or corporate change other than those specifically referred to in this Article 9, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares subject to Awards outstanding on the date on which such change occurs and in the per share grant or exercise price of each Award as the Committee may consider appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.
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9.4 No Other Rights . Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of Shares of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of any class or any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or pursuant to action of the Committee under the Plan, and no issuance by the Company of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of Shares subject to an Award or the grant or exercise price of any Award.
ARTICLE 10
ADMINISTRATION
10.1 Committee . The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a committee of one or more members of the Board to whom the Board shall delegate the authority to grant or amend Awards to Participants other than any of the Committee members, Independent Directors and executive officers of the Company. Reference to the Committee shall refer to the Board in absence of the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the full Board, acting by majority of its members in office, shall conduct the general administration of the Plan if required by Applicable Laws, and with respect to Awards granted to Committee members, Independent Directors and executive officers of the Company and for purposes of such Awards, the term Committee as used in the Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board.
10.2 Action by the Committee . A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The acts of a majority of the members of the Committee present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved unanimously in writing by all members of the Committee in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts of the Committee. Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of a Group Entity, the Companys independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.
10.3 Authority of the Committee . Subject to any specific designation in the Plan, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:
(a) designate Participants to receive Awards;
(b) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;
(c) determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate;
(d) determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, any provisions related to non-competition and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines;
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(e) determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in, cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;
(f) prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant;
(g) decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;
(h) establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
(i) interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan or any Award Agreement;
(j) amend terms and conditions of Award Agreements; and
(k) make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan, including design and adopt from time to time new types of Awards that are in compliance with Applicable Laws.
10.4 Decisions Binding . The Committees interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.
ARTICLE 11
EFFECTIVE AND EXPIRATION DATE
11.1 Effective Date . This Plan shall become effective on the date of its adoption by the Board of Directors (the Effective Date ).
11.2 Expiration Date . The Plan will expire on, and no Award may be granted pursuant to the Plan after, the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. Any Awards that are outstanding on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date shall remain in force according to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.
ARTICLE 12
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION
12.1 Amendment, Modification, a nd Termination . With the approval of the Board, at any time and from time to time, the Committee may terminate, amend or modify the Plan; provided, however , that (a) to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws or stock exchange rules, the Company shall obtain shareholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required, unless the Company decides to follow home country practice, and (b) unless the Company decides to follow home country practice, shareholder approval is required for any amendment to the Plan that (i) increases the number of Shares available under the Plan (other than any adjustment as provided by Article 9), or (ii) permits the Committee to extend the term of the Plan or the exercise period for an Option beyond ten years from the date of grant.
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12.2 Awards Previously Granted . Except with respect to amendments made pursuant to Section 12.1, no termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted pursuant to the Plan without the prior written consent of the Participant.
ARTICLE 13
GENERAL PROVISIONS
13.1 No Rights to Awards . No Participant, employee, or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award pursuant to the Plan, and neither the Company nor the Committee is obligated to treat Participants, employees, and other persons uniformly.
13.2 No Shareholders Rights . No Award gives the Participant any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until Shares are in fact issued to such person in connection with such Award.
13.3 Taxes . No Shares shall be delivered under the Plan to any Participant until such Participant has made arrangements acceptable to the Committee for the satisfaction of any income and employment tax withholding obligations under Applicable Laws. The relevant Group Entity shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy all applicable taxes (including the Participants payroll tax obligations) required or permitted by Applicable Laws to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Participant arising as a result of this Plan. The Committee may in its discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement allow a Participant to elect to have the Company withhold Shares otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the return of Shares) having a Fair Market Value equal to the sums required to be withheld. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the number of Shares which may be withheld with respect to the issuance, vesting, exercise or payment of any Award (or which may be repurchased from the Participant of such Award after such Shares were acquired by the Participant from the Company) in order to satisfy any income and payroll tax liabilities applicable to the Participant with respect to the issuance, vesting, exercise or payment of the Award shall, unless specifically approved by the Committee, be limited to the number of Shares which have a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding or repurchase equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for the applicable income and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income.
13.4 No Right to Employment or Services . Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Service Recipient to terminate any Participants employment or services at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employment or services of any Service Recipient.
13.5 Unfunded Status of Awards . The Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the relevant Group Entity.
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13.6 Indemnification . To the extent allowable pursuant to Applicable Laws, each member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Companys Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
13.7 Relationship to Other Benefits . No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits pursuant to any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of any Group Entity except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
13.8 Expenses . The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Group Entities.
13.9 Titles and Headings . The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.
13.10 Fractional Shares . No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares shall be eliminated by rounding up or down as appropriate.
13.11 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.
13.12 Government and Other Regulations . The obligation of the Company to make payment of awards in Shares or otherwise shall be subject to all Applicable Laws, and to such approvals by government agencies as may be required. The Company shall be under no obligation to register any of the Shares paid pursuant to the Plan under the Securities Act or any other similar law in any applicable jurisdiction. If the Shares paid pursuant to the Plan may in certain circumstances be exempt from registration pursuant to the Securities Act or other Applicable Laws, the Company may restrict the transfer of such Shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.
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13.13 Governing Law . The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Cayman Islands.
13.14 Section 409A . To the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted under the Plan is or may become subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A of the Code. To the extent applicable, the Plan and the Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and the U.S. Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretative guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulation or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date. If an amount payable under an Award as a result of the Participants termination of employment (other than due to death) occurring while the Participant is a specified employee under Section 409A of the Code constitutes a deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, then payment of such amount shall not occur until six months and one day after the date of the Participants termination of employment, except as permitted under Section 409A of the Code. If the Award includes a series of installment payments (within the meaning of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii) of the U.S. Department of Treasury guidance), the Participants right to the series of installment payments shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments and not as a right to a single payment, and if the Award includes dividend equivalents (within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(e) of the U.S. Department of Treasury guidance), the Participants right to the dividend equivalents shall be treated separately from the right to other amounts under the Award. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance (including such Department of Treasury guidance as may be issued after the Effective Date), the Committee may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related U.S. Department of Treasury guidance.
13.15 Appendices . With the approval of the Board, the Committee may approve such supplements, amendments or appendices to the Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for purposes of compliance with Applicable Laws or otherwise and such supplements, amendments or appendices shall be considered a part of the Plan; provided, however, that no such supplements shall increase the share limitation contained in Section 3.1 of the Plan.
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Exhibit 10.2
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this Agreement ) is made as of , 2019 by and between So-Young International Inc., an exempted company incorporated and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the Company ), and (Passport/PRC ID Card No.: ) (the Indemnitee ).
WHEREAS, the Indemnitee has agreed to serve as a director or officer of the Company and in such capacity will render valuable services to the Company; and
WHEREAS, in order to induce and encourage highly experienced and capable persons such as the Indemnitee to render valuable services to the Company, the board of directors of the Company (the Board ) has determined that this Agreement is not only reasonable and prudent, but necessary to promote and ensure the best interests of the Company and its shareholders;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, and other good and valuable consideration, including, without limitation, the service of the Indemnitee, the receipt of which hereby is acknowledged, and in order to induce the Indemnitee to render valuable services the Company, the Company and the Indemnitee hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement:
(a) Change in Control shall mean a change in control of the Company of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar or successor schedule or form) promulgated under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the Act ), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however, that, without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred (irrespective of the applicability of the initial clause of this definition) if (i) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Act, but excluding any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities pursuant to an employee benefit or welfare plan or employee share plan of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, or any entity organized, appointed, established or holding securities of the Company with voting power for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the Continuing Directors (as defined below) in office immediately prior to such persons attaining such interest; (ii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, scheme of arrangement, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which Continuing Directors in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board of the Company (or any successor entity) thereafter; or (iii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of the Company (including for this purpose any new director whose election or nomination for election by the Companys shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period) (such directors being referred to herein as Continuing Directors ) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of the Company.
(b) Disinterested Director with respect to any request by the Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of expenses hereunder shall mean a director of the Company who neither is nor was a party to the Proceeding (as defined below) in respect of which indemnification or advancement is being sought by the Indemnitee.
(c) The term Expenses shall mean, without limitation, expenses of Proceedings, including attorneys fees, disbursements and retainers, accounting and witness fees, expenses related to preparation for service as a witness and to service as a witness, travel and deposition costs, expenses of investigations, judicial or administrative proceedings and appeals, amounts paid in settlement of a Proceeding by or on behalf of the Indemnitee, costs of attachment or similar bonds, any expenses of attempting to establish or establishing a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses, under this Agreement, the Companys Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association as currently in effect (the Articles ), applicable law or otherwise, and reasonable compensation for time spent by the Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense or appeal of a Proceeding or action for indemnification for which the Indemnitee is not otherwise compensated by the Company or any third party. The term Expenses shall not include the amount of judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, which are actually levied against or sustained by the Indemnitee to the extent sustained after final adjudication.
(d) The term Independent Legal Counsel shall mean any firm of attorneys reasonably selected by the Board of the Company, so long as such firm has not represented the Company, the Companys subsidiaries or affiliates, the Indemnitee, any entity controlled by the Indemnitee, or any party adverse to the Company, within the preceding five (5) years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Independent Legal Counsel shall not include any person who, under applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitees right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Agreement, the Companys Articles, applicable law or otherwise.
(e) The term Proceeding shall mean any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, or other proceeding (including, without limitation, an appeal therefrom), formal or informal, whether brought in the name of the Company or otherwise, whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, and whether by, in or involving a court or an administrative, other governmental or private entity or body (including, without limitation, an investigation by the Company or its Board), by reason of (i) the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise, whether or not the Indemnitee is serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification or reimbursement is to be provided under this Agreement, (ii) any actual or alleged act or omission or neglect or breach of duty, including, without limitation, any actual or alleged error or misstatement or misleading statement, which the Indemnitee commits or suffers while acting in any such capacity, or (iii) the Indemnitee attempting to establish or establishing a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses pursuant to this Agreement, the Companys Articles, applicable law or otherwise.
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(f) The phrase serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise or any similar terminology shall mean, unless the context otherwise requires, serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit or welfare plan or other enterprise, foreign or domestic. The phrase serving at the request of the Company shall include, without limitation, any service as a director/an executive officer of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director/executive officer with respect to the Company or any of the Companys subsidiaries, affiliates, employee benefit or welfare plans, such plans participants or beneficiaries or any other enterprise, foreign or domestic. In the event that the Indemnitee shall be a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit or welfare plan or other enterprise, foreign or domestic, 50% or more of the ordinary shares, combined voting power or total equity interest of which is owned by the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, then it shall be presumed conclusively that the Indemnitee is so acting at the request of the Company.
2. Services by the Indemnitee . The Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company under the terms of the Indemnitees agreement with the Company for so long as the Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or until such time as the Indemnitee tenders a resignation in writing or is removed from the Indemnittees position; provided, however, that the Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or other obligation imposed by operation of law).
3. Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company . The Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee if the Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise, against all Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, and excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, which are actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense or settlement of such a Proceeding, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company; except that no indemnification under this section shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudicated by final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the Company for willful misconduct in the performance of his/her duty to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the court in which such Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such amounts which such other court shall deem proper.
4. Proceeding Other Than a Proceeding by or in the Right of the Company . The Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee if the Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding (other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company), by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise, against all Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, and excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, which are actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such a Proceeding, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; provided, however, that any settlement of a Proceeding must be approved in advance in writing by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld).
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5. Indemnification for Costs, Charges and Expenses of Witness or Successful Party . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (except as set forth in subparagraph 9(a) hereof), and without a requirement for determination as required by Paragraph 8 hereof, to the extent that the Indemnitee (a) has prepared to serve or has served as a witness in any Proceeding in any way relating to (i) the Company or any of the Companys subsidiaries, affiliates, employee benefit or welfare plans or such plans participants or beneficiaries or (ii) anything done or not done by the Indemnitee as a director or officer of the Company or in connection with serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise, or (b) has been successful in defense of any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, on the merits or otherwise, including the dismissal of a Proceeding without prejudice or the settlement of a Proceeding without an admission of liability, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection therewith to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
6. Partial Indemnification . If the Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for a portion of the Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, which are actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in the investigation, defense, appeal or settlement of any Proceeding, but not, however, for the total amount of the Indemnitees Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee for the portion of such Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties or excise taxes to which the Indemnitee is entitled.
7. Advancement of Expenses . The Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in any Proceeding shall be paid promptly by the Company in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding at the written request of the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; provided, however, that the Indemnitee shall set forth in such request reasonable evidence that such Expenses have been incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding, a statement that such Expenses do not relate to any matter described in subparagraph 9(a) of this Agreement, and an undertaking in writing to repay any advances if it is ultimately determined as provided in subparagraph 8(b) of this Agreement that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement.
8. Indemnification Procedure; Determination of Right to Indemnification .
(a) Promptly after receipt by the Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding, the Indemnitee shall, if a claim for indemnification or advancement of Expenses in respect thereof is to be made against the Company under this Agreement, notify the Company of the commencement thereof in writing. The omission to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any liability which the Company may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement unless the Company shall have lost significant substantive or procedural rights with respect to the defense of any Proceeding as a result of such omission to so notify.
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(b) The Indemnitee shall be conclusively presumed to have met the relevant standards of conduct, if any, as defined by applicable law, for indemnification pursuant to this Agreement and shall be absolutely entitled to such indemnification, unless a determination is made that the Indemnitee has not met such standards by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) If a claim for indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement is not paid by the Company within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of written notice thereof, the rights provided by this Agreement shall be enforceable by the Indemnitee in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such judicial proceeding shall be made de novo. The burden of proving that indemnification or advances are not appropriate shall be on the Company. Neither the failure of the directors or shareholders of the Company or Independent Legal Counsel to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification or advancement of Expenses is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, if any, nor an actual determination by the directors or shareholders of the Company or Independent Legal Counsel that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct shall be a defense to an action by the Indemnitee or create a presumption for the purpose of such an action that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself (i) create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company and/or its shareholders, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful or (ii) otherwise adversely affect the rights of the Indemnitee to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement, except as may be provided herein.
(d) If a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that the Indemnitee is entitled to any indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder, the Company shall pay all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such adjudication (including, but not limited to, any appellate proceedings).
(e) With respect to any Proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of Expenses is requested, the Company will be entitled to participate therein at its own expense and, except as otherwise provided below, to the extent that it may wish, the Company may assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee. After notice from the Company to the Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense of a Proceeding, the Company will not be liable to the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any Expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof, other than as provided below. The Company shall not settle any Proceeding in any manner which would impose any penalty or limitation on the Indemnitee without the Indemnitees written consent. The Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his/her own counsel in any Proceeding, but the fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense of the Proceeding shall be at the expense of the Indemnitee, unless (i) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee has been authorized by the Company, (ii) the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and the Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of a Proceeding, or (iii) the Company shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of a proceeding, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of the Indemnitees counsel shall be advanced by the Company. The Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Company or as to which the Indemnitee has reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and the Indemnitee.
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9. Limitations on Indemnification . No payments pursuant to this Agreement shall be made by the Company:
(a) To indemnify or advance funds to the Indemnitee for Expenses with respect to (i) Proceedings initiated or brought voluntarily by the Indemnitee and not by way of defense, except with respect to Proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under this Agreement or any other statute or law or otherwise as required under applicable law or (ii) Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with preparing to serve or serving, prior to a Change in Control, as a witness in cooperation with any party or entity who or which has threatened or commenced any action or proceeding against the Company, or any director, officer, employee, trustee, agent, representative, subsidiary, parent corporation or affiliate of the Company, but such indemnification or advancement of Expenses in each such case may be provided by the Company if the Board finds it to be appropriate;
(b) To indemnify the Indemnitee for any Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, sustained in any Proceeding for which payment is actually made to the Indemnitee under a valid and collectible insurance policy, except in respect of any excess beyond the amount of payment under such insurance;
(c) To indemnify the Indemnitee for any Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties sustained in any Proceeding for an accounting of profits made from the purchase or sale by the Indemnitee of securities of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Act or similar provisions of any foreign or United States federal, state or local statute or regulation;
(d) To indemnify the Indemnitee for any Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, for which the Indemnitee is indemnified by the Company otherwise than pursuant to this Agreement;
(e) To indemnify the Indemnitee for any Expenses (including without limitation any Expenses relating to a Proceeding attempting to enforce this Agreement), judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, on account of the Indemnitees conduct if such conduct shall be finally adjudged to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct, including, without limitation, breach of the duty of loyalty;
(f) If a court of competent jurisdiction finally determines that any indemnification hereunder is unlawful. In this respect, the Company and the Indemnitee have been advised that the Securities and Exchange Commission takes the position that indemnification for liabilities arising under securities laws is against public policy and is, therefore, unenforceable and that claims for indemnification should be submitted to appropriate courts for adjudication;
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(g) To indemnify the Indemnitee in connection with Indemnitees personal tax matter; or
(h) To indemnify the Indemnitee with respect to any claim related to any dispute or breach arising under any contract or similar obligation between the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates and such Indemnitee.
10. Continuation of Indemnification . All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period that the Indemnitee is a director or officer of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise, foreign or domestic) and shall continue thereafter so long as the Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee was a director or officer of the Company or serving in any other capacity referred to in this Paragraph 10.
11. Indemnification Hereunder Not Exclusive . The indemnification provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which the Indemnitee may be entitled under the Companys Articles, any agreement, vote of shareholders or vote of Disinterested Directors, provisions of applicable law, or otherwise, both as to action or omission in the Indemnitees official capacity and as to action or omission in another capacity on behalf of the Company while holding such office.
12. Successors and Assigns .
(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon the Indemnitee, and shall inure to the benefit of, the Indemnitee and the Indemnitees heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, whether or not the Indemnitee has ceased to be a director or officer, and the Company and its successors and assigns. Upon the sale of all or substantially all of the business, assets or share capital of the Company to, or upon the merger of the Company into or with, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other person, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon both the Indemnitee and such purchaser or successor person. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other party hereto.
(b) If the Indemnitee is deceased and is entitled to indemnification under any provision of this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitees estate and the Indemnitees spouse, heirs, executors, administrators and assigns against, and the Company shall, and does hereby agree to assume, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or for the Indemnitee or the Indemnitees estate, in connection with the investigation, defense, appeal or settlement of any Proceeding. Further, when requested in writing by the spouse of the Indemnitee, and/or the Indemnitees heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, the Company shall provide appropriate evidence of the Companys agreement set out herein to indemnify the Indemnitee against and to itself assume such Expenses.
13. Subrogation . In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents required and shall do all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
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14. Severability . Each and every paragraph, sentence, term and provision of this Agreement is separate and distinct so that if any paragraph, sentence, term or provision thereof shall be held to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable for any reason, such invalidity, unlawfulness or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, unlawfulness or enforceability of any other paragraph, sentence, term or provision hereof. To the extent required, any paragraph, sentence, term or provision of this Agreement may be modified by a court of competent jurisdiction to preserve its validity and to provide the Indemnitee with the broadest possible indemnification permitted under applicable law. The Companys inability, pursuant to a court order or decision, to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement.
15. Savings Clause . If this Agreement or any paragraph, sentence, term or provision hereof is invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee as to any Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, which are incurred with respect to any Proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by any (a) applicable paragraph, sentence, term or provision of this Agreement that has not been invalidated or (b) applicable law.
16. Interpretation; Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed as a whole and in accordance with its fair meaning and any ambiguities shall not be construed for or against either party. Headings are for convenience only and shall not be used in construing meaning. This Agreement shall be governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
17. Amendments . No amendment, waiver, modification, termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. The indemnification rights afforded to the Indemnitee hereby are contract rights and may not be diminished, eliminated or otherwise affected by amendments to the Companys Articles, or by other agreements, including directors and officers liability insurance policies, of the Company.
18. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other.
19. Notices . Any notice required to be given under this Agreement shall be directed to Mr. Min Yu, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, at 3/F, Wangjing SOHO-Tower 3A, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100102, Peoples Republic of China and to the Indemnitee at or to such other address as either shall designate to the other in writing.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Indemnification Agreement as of the date first written above.
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC. |
By: |
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Name: |
Title: | ||
INDEMNITEE |
By: |
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Name: |
[ Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement ]
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Exhibit 10.3
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the Agreement ) is entered into as of , 2019 by and between So-Young International Inc., an exempted company incorporated and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the Company ) and (Passport/PRC ID Card No.: ) (the Executive ).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive and to assure itself of the services of the Executive during the term of Employment (as defined below) and under the terms and conditions of the Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Executive desires to be employed by the Company during the term of Employment and under the terms and conditions of the Agreement;
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:
1. |
EMPLOYMENT |
The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive and the Executive hereby accepts such employment, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth (the Employment ).
2. |
TERM |
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, the initial term of the Employment shall be years, commencing on , 2019 (the Effective Date ) and ending on , (the Initial Term ), unless terminated earlier pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. Upon expiration of the Initial Term of the Employment, the Employment shall be automatically extended for successive periods of months each (each, an Extension Period ) unless either party shall have given 60 days advance written notice to the other party, in the manner set forth in Section 19 below, prior to the end of the Initial Term or the Extension Period in question, as applicable, that the term of this Agreement that is in effect at the time such written notice is given is not to be extended or further extended, as the case may be (the period during which this Agreement is effective being referred to hereafter as the Term ).
3. |
POSITION AND DUTIES |
(a) |
During the Term, the Executive shall serve as of the Company or in such other position or positions with a level of duties and responsibilities consistent with the foregoing with the Company and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates as the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board ) may specify from time to time and shall have the duties, responsibilities and obligations customarily assigned to individuals serving in the position or positions in which the Executive serves hereunder and as assigned by the Board, or with the Boards authorization, by the Companys Chief Executive Officer. |
(b) |
The Executive agrees to serve without additional compensation, if elected or appointed thereto, as a director of the Company or any subsidiaries or affiliated entity of the Company (collectively, the Group ) and as a member of any committees of the board of directors of any such entity, provided that the Executive is indemnified for serving in any and all such capacities on a basis no less favorable than is currently provided to any other director of any member of the Group. |
(c) |
The Executive agrees to devote all of his/her working time and efforts to the performance of his/her duties for the Company and to faithfully and diligently serve the Company in accordance with the Agreement and the guidelines, policies and procedures of the Company approved from time to time by the Board. |
4. |
NO BREACH OF CONTRACT |
The Executive hereby represents to the Company that: (i) the execution and delivery of the Agreement by the Executive and the performance by the Executive of the Executives duties hereunder shall not constitute a breach of, or otherwise contravene, the terms of any other agreement or policy to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is otherwise bound, except that the Executive does not make any representation with respect to agreements required to be entered into by and between the Executive and any member of the Group pursuant to the applicable law of the jurisdiction in which the Executive is based, if any; (ii) the Executive is not in possession of any information (including, without limitation, confidential information and trade secrets) the knowledge of which would prevent the Executive from freely entering into the Agreement and carrying out his/her duties hereunder; and (iii) the Executive is not bound by any confidentiality, trade secret or similar agreement with any person or entity other than any member of the Group.
5. |
LOCATION |
The Executive will be based in , or any other location as requested by the Company during the Term.
6. |
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS |
(a) |
Cash Compensation . As compensation for the performance by the Executive of his/her obligations hereunder, during the Term, the Company shall pay the Executive cash compensation (inclusive of the statutory benefit contributions that the Company is required to set aside for the Executive under applicable law) pursuant to Schedule A hereto, subject to annual review and adjustment by the Board or any committee designated by the Board. |
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(b) |
Equity Incentives . During the Term, the Executive shall be eligible to participate, at a level comparable to similarly situated executives of the Company, in such long-term compensation arrangements as may be authorized from time to time by the Board, including any share incentive plan the Company may adopt from time to time in its sole discretion. |
(c) |
Benefits . During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all of the employee benefit plans and arrangements made available by the Company to its similarly situated executives, including, but not limited to, any retirement plan, medical insurance plan and travel/holiday policy, subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans and arrangements. |
7. |
TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT |
The Employment may be terminated as follows:
(a) |
Death . The Employment shall terminate upon the Executives death. |
(b) |
Disability . The Employment shall terminate if the Executive has a disability, including any physical or mental impairment which, as reasonably determined by the Board, renders the Executive unable to perform the essential functions of his/her position at the Company, even with reasonable accommodation that does not impose an undue burden on the Company, for more than 180 days in any 12-month period, unless a longer period is required by applicable law, in which case that longer period shall apply. |
(c) |
Cause . The Company may terminate the Executives employment hereunder for Cause. The occurrence of any of the following, as reasonably determined by the Company, shall be a reason for Cause, provided that, if the Company determines that the circumstances constituting Cause are curable, then such circumstances shall not constitute Cause unless and until the Executive has been informed by the Company of the existence of Cause and given an opportunity of 10 business days to cure, and such Cause remains uncured at the end of such 10-day period: |
(1) |
continued failure by the Executive to satisfactorily perform his/her duties; |
(2) |
willful misconduct or gross negligence by the Executive in the performance of his/her duties hereunder, including insubordination; |
(3) |
the Executives conviction or entry of a guilty or nolo contendere plea of any felony or any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; |
(4) |
the Executives commission of any act involving dishonesty that results in material financial, reputational or other harm, monetary or otherwise, to any member of the Group, including but not limited to an act constituting misappropriation or embezzlement of the property of any member of the Group as determined in good faith by the Board; or |
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(5) |
any material breach by the Executive of this Agreement. |
(d) |
Good Reason . The Executive may terminate his/her employment hereunder for Good Reason upon the occurrence, without the written consent of the Company, of an event constituting a material breach of this Agreement by the Company that has not been fully cured within ten business days after written notice thereof has been given by the Executive to the Company setting forth in sufficient detail the conduct or activities the Executive believes constitute grounds for Good Reason, including but not limited to: |
(1) |
the failure by the Company to pay to the Executive any portion of the Executives current compensation or to pay to the Executive any portion of an installment of deferred compensation under any deferred compensation program of the Company, within 20 business days of the date such compensation is due; or |
(2) |
any material breach by the Company of this Agreement. |
(e) |
Without Cause by the Company; Without Good Reason by the Executive . The Company may terminate the Executives employment hereunder at any time without Cause upon 60-day prior written notice to the Executive. The Executive may terminate the Executives employment voluntarily for any reason or no reason at any time by giving 60-day prior written notice to the Company. |
(f) |
Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executives employment under the Agreement shall be communicated by written notice of termination ( Notice of Termination ) from the terminating party to the other party. The notice of termination shall indicate the specific provision(s) of the Agreement relied upon in effecting the termination. |
(g) |
Date of Termination . The Date of Termination shall mean (i) the date set forth in the Notice of Termination, or (ii) if the Executives employment is terminated by the Executives death, the date of his/her death. |
(h) |
Compensation upon Termination . |
(1) |
Death . If the Executives employment is terminated by reason of the Executives death, the Company shall have no further obligations to the Executive under this Agreement and the Executives benefits shall be determined under the Companys retirement, insurance and other benefit and compensation plans or programs then in effect in accordance with the terms of such plans and programs. |
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(2) |
By Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason . If the Executives employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Company shall (i) continue to pay and otherwise provide to the Executive, during any notice period, all compensation, base salary and previously earned but unpaid incentive compensation, if any, and shall continue to allow the Executive to participate in any benefit plans in accordance with the terms of such plans during such notice period; and (ii) pay to the Executive, in lieu of benefits under any severance plan or policy of the Company, any such amount as may be agreed between the Company and the Executive. |
(3) |
By Company for Cause or by the Executive other than for Good Reason . If the Executives employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause or by the Executive other than for Good Reason, the Company shall pay the Executive his/her base salary at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given through the Date of Termination, and the Company shall have no additional obligations to the Executive under this Agreement. |
(i) |
Return of Company Property . The Executive agrees that following the termination of the Executives employment for any reason, or at any time prior to the Executives termination upon the request of the Company, he/she shall return all property of the Group that is then in or thereafter comes into his/her possession, including, but not limited to, any Confidential Information (as defined below) or Intellectual Property (as defined below), or any other documents, contracts, agreements, plans, photographs, projections, books, notes, records, electronically stored data and all copies, excerpts or summaries of the foregoing, as well as any automobile or other materials or equipment supplied by the Group to the Executive, if any. |
(j) |
Requirement for a Release . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Companys obligations to pay or provide any benefits shall (1) cease as of the date the Executive breaches any of the provisions of Sections 8, 9 and 11 hereof, and (2) be conditioned on the Executive signing the Companys customary release of claims in favor of the Group and the expiration of any revocation period provided for in such release. |
8. |
CONFIDENTIALITY AND NONDISCLOSURE |
(a) |
Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure. |
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(1) |
The Executive acknowledges and agrees that: (A) the Executive holds a position of trust and confidence with the Company and that his/her employment by the Company will require that the Executive have access to and knowledge of valuable and sensitive information, material, and devices relating to the Company and/or its business, activities, products, services, users, clients and vendors, including, but not limited to, the following, regardless of the form in which the same is accessed, maintained or stored: the identity of the Companys actual and prospective users and clients and, as applicable, their representatives; prior, current or future research or development activities of the Company; the products and services provided or offered by the Company to users and clients or potential users and clients and the manner in which such services are performed or to be performed; the product and/or service needs of actual or prospective users and clients; pricing and cost information; information concerning the development, engineering, design, specifications, acquisition or disposition of products and/or services of the Company; user base personal data, programs, software and source codes, licensing information, personnel information, advertising client information, vendor information, marketing plans and techniques, forecasts, and other trade secrets (Confidential Information); and (B) the direct and indirect disclosure of any such Confidential Information would place the Company at a competitive disadvantage and would do damage, monetary or otherwise, to the Companys business. |
(2) |
During the Term and at all times thereafter, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether individually, as a director, stockholder, owner, partner, employee, consultant, principal or agent of any business, or in any other capacity, publish or make known, disclose, furnish, reproduce, make available, or utilize any of the Confidential Information without the prior express written approval of the Company, other than in the proper performance of the duties contemplated herein, unless and until such Confidential Information is or shall become general public knowledge through no fault of the Executive. |
(3) |
In the event that the Executive is required by law to disclose any Confidential Information, the Executive agrees to give the Company prompt advance written notice thereof and to provide the Company with reasonable assistance in obtaining an order to protect the Confidential Information from public disclosure. |
(4) |
The failure to mark any Confidential Information as confidential shall not affect its status as Confidential Information under this Agreement. |
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(c) |
Third Party Information in the Executives Possession . The Executive agrees that he/she shall not, during the Term, (i) improperly use or disclose any proprietary information or trade secrets of any former employer or other person or entity with which the Executive has an agreement or duty to keep in confidence information acquired by Executive, if any, or (ii) bring into the premises of Company any document or confidential or proprietary information belonging to such former employer, person or entity unless consented to in writing by such former employer, person or entity. The Executive will indemnify the Company and hold it harmless from and against all claims, liabilities, damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys fees and costs of litigation, arising out of or in connection with any violation of the foregoing. |
(d) |
Third Party Information in the Companys Possession . The Executive recognizes that the Company may have received, and in the future may receive, from third parties their confidential or proprietary information subject to a duty on the Companys part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. The Executive agrees that the Executive owes the Company and such third parties, during the Term and thereafter, a duty to hold all such confidential or proprietary information in strict confidence and not to disclose such information to any person or firm, or otherwise use such information, in a manner inconsistent with the limited purposes permitted by the Companys agreement with such third party. |
This Section 8 shall survive the termination of the Agreement for any reason. In the event the Executive breaches this Section 8, the Company shall have right to seek remedies permissible under applicable law.
9. |
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY |
(a) |
Prior Inventions. The Executive has attached hereto, as Schedule B , a list describing all inventions, ideas, improvements, designs and discoveries, whether or not patentable and whether or not reduced to practice, original works of authorship and trade secrets made or conceived by or belonging to the Executive (whether made solely by the Executive or jointly with others) that (i) were developed by Executive prior to the Executives employment by the Company (collectively, Prior Inventions ), (ii) relate to the Company actual or proposed business, products or research and development, and (iii) are not assigned to the Company hereunder; or, if no such list is attached, the Executive represents that there are no such Prior Inventions. Except to the extent set forth in Schedule B , the Executive hereby acknowledges that, if in the course of his/her service for the Company, the Executive incorporates into a Company product, process or machine a Prior Invention owned by the Executive or in which he/she has an interest, the Company is hereby granted and shall have a nonexclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide right and license (which may be freely transferred by the Company to any other person or entity) to make, have made, modify, use, sell, sublicense and otherwise distribute such Prior Invention as part of or in connection with such product, process or machine. |
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(b) |
Assignment of Intellectual Property. The Executive hereby assigns to the Company or its designees, without further consideration and free and clear of any lien or encumbrance, the Executives entire right, title and interest (within the United States and all foreign jurisdictions) to any and all inventions, discoveries, improvements, developments, works of authorship, concepts, ideas, plans, specifications, software, formulas, databases, designees, processes and contributions to Confidential Information created, conceived, developed or reduced to practice by the Executive (alone or with others) during the Term which (i) are related to the Companys current or anticipated business, activities, products, or services, (ii) result from any work performed by Executive for the Company, or (iii) are created, conceived, developed or reduced to practice with the use of Company property, including any and all Intellectual Property Rights (as defined below) therein ( Work Product ). Any Work Product which falls within the definition of work made for hire, as such term is defined in the U.S. Copyright Act, shall be considered a work made for hire, the copyright in which vests initially and exclusively in the Company. The Executive waives any rights to be attributed as the author of any Work Product and any droit morale (moral rights) in Work Product. The Executive agrees to immediately disclose to the Company all Work Product. For purposes of this Agreement, Intellectual Property shall mean any patent, copyright, trademark or service mark, trade secret, or any other proprietary rights protection legally available. |
(c) |
Patent and Copyright Registration. The Executive agrees to execute and deliver any instruments or documents and to do all other things reasonably requested by the Company in order to more fully vest the Company with all ownership rights in the Work Product. If any Work Product is deemed by the Company to be patentable or otherwise registrable, the Executive shall assist the Company (at the Companys expense) in obtaining letters of patent or other applicable registration therein and shall execute all documents and do all things, including testifying (at the Companys expense) as necessary or appropriate to apply for, prosecute, obtain, or enforce any Intellectual Property right relating to any Work Product. Should the Company be unable to secure the Executives signature on any document deemed necessary to accomplish the foregoing, whether due to the Executives disability or other reason, the Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and each of its duly authorized officers and agents as the Executives agent and attorney-in-fact to act for and on the Executives behalf and stead to take any of the actions required of Executive under the previous sentence, with the same effect as if executed and delivered by the Executive, such appointment being coupled with an interest. |
This Section 9 shall survive the termination of the Agreement for any reason. In the event the Executive breaches this Section 9, the Company shall have right to seek remedies permissible under applicable law.
10. |
CONFLICTING EMPLOYMENT |
The Executive hereby agrees that, during the Term, he/she will not engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity related to the business in which the Company is now involved or becomes involved during the Term, nor will the Executive engage in any other activities that conflict with his/her obligations to the Company without the prior written consent of the Company.
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11. |
NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION |
(a) |
Non-Competition . In consideration of the compensation provided to the Executive by the Company hereunder, the adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, the Executive agree that during the Term and for a period of one year following the termination of the Employment for whatever reason, the Executive shall not engage in Competition (as defined below) with the Group. For purposes of this Agreement, Competition by the Executive shall mean the Executives engaging in, or otherwise directly or indirectly being employed by or acting as a consultant or lender to, or being a director, officer, employee, principal, agent, stockholder, member, owner or partner of, or permitting the Executives name to be used in connection with the activities of, any other business or organization which competes, directly or indirectly, with the Group in the Business; provided , however , it shall not be a violation of this Section 11(a) for the Executive to become the registered or beneficial owner of up to five percent (5%) of any class of the capital stock of a publicly traded corporation in Competition with the Group, provided that the Executive does not otherwise participate in the business of such corporation. |
For purposes of this Agreement, Business means online medical aesthetic and consumption health services platform, and any other business which the Group engages in, or is preparing to become engaged in, during the Term.
(b) |
Non-Solicitation; Non-Interference . During the Term and for a period of one year following the termination of the Executives employment for any reason, the Executive agrees that he/she will not, directly or indirectly, for the Executives benefit or for the benefit of any other person or entity, do any of the following: |
(1) |
solicit from any client doing business with the Group during the Term business of the same or of a similar nature to the Business; |
(2) |
solicit from any known potential client of the Group business of the same or of a similar nature to that which has been the subject of a known written or oral bid, offer or proposal by the Group, or of substantial preparation with a view to making such a bid, proposal or offer; |
(3) |
solicit the employment or services of, or hire or engage, any person who is known to be employed or engaged by the Group; or |
(4) |
otherwise interfere with the business or accounts of the Group, including, but not limited to, with respect to any relationship or agreement between the Group and any vendor or business partner. |
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(c) |
Injunctive Relief; Indemnity of Company . The Executive agrees that any breach or threatened breach of subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 11 would result in irreparable injury and damage to the Company for which an award of money to the Company would not be an adequate remedy. The Executive therefore also agrees that in the event of said breach or any reasonable threat of breach, the Company shall be entitled to seek an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent such breach and/or threatened breach and/or continued breach by the Executive and/or any and all persons and/or entities acting for and/or with the Executive. The terms of this paragraph shall not prevent the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach hereof, including, but not limited to, remedies available under this Agreement and the recovery of damages. The Executive and the Company further agree that the provisions of this Section 11 are reasonable. The Executive agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company from and against all reasonable expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) which may be incurred by the Company in connection with, or arising out of, any violation of this Agreement by the Executive. This Section 11 shall survive the termination of the Agreement for any reason. |
12. |
WITHHOLDING TAXES |
Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, the Company may withhold (or cause there to be withheld, as the case may be) from any amounts otherwise due or payable under or pursuant to the Agreement such national, state, provincial, local or any other income, employment, or other taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
13. |
ASSIGNMENT |
The Agreement is personal in its nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign or transfer the Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder; provided, however, that the Company may assign or transfer the Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder to any member of the Group without such consent. If the Executive should die while any amounts would still be payable to the Executive hereunder if the Executive had continued to live, all such amounts unless otherwise provided herein shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executives devisee, legatee, or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executives estate. The Company will require any and all successors (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to compensation from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as the Executive would be entitled to hereunder if the Company had terminated the Executives employment other than for Cause, except that for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination. As used in this Section 13, Company shall mean the Company as herein before defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section 13 or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
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14. |
SEVERABILITY |
If any provision of the Agreement or the application thereof is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the Agreement which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications and to this end the provisions of the Agreement are declared to be severable.
15. |
ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
The Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the Executive and the Company regarding the terms of the Employment and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements concerning such subject matter. The Executive acknowledges that he/she has not entered into the Agreement in reliance upon any representation, warranty or undertaking which is not set forth in the Agreement.
16. |
GOVERNING LAW |
The Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York, U.S.A.
17. |
AMENDMENT |
The Agreement may not be amended, modified or changed (in whole or in part), except by a formal, definitive written agreement expressly referring to the Agreement, which agreement is executed by both of the parties hereto.
18. |
WAIVER |
Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of a party to exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege under the Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any right, remedy, power or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any other occurrence. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to have granted such waiver.
19. |
NOTICES |
All notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted under the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given and made if (i) delivered by hand, (ii) otherwise delivered against receipt therefor, (iii) sent by a recognized courier with next-day or second-day delivery to the last known address of the other party; or (iv) sent by e-mail with confirmation of receipt.
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20. |
COUNTERPARTS |
The Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories. Photographic copies of such signed counterparts may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.
21. |
NO INTERPRETATION AGAINST DRAFTER |
Each party recognizes that the Agreement is a legally binding contract and acknowledges that such party has had the opportunity to consult with legal counsel of choice. In any construction of the terms of the Agreement, the same shall not be construed against either party on the basis of that party being the drafter of such terms.
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Schedule A
Cash Compensation
Amount | Pay Period | |||||||
Base Salary |
||||||||
Cash Bonus |
Schedule B
List of Prior Inventions
Title |
Date |
Identifying Number
or Brief Description |
||||||
No inventions or improvements
Additional Sheets Attached
Signature of Executive:
Print Name of Executive:
Date:
|
Exhibit 10.4
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
DIRECTOR AGREEMENT
This Director Agreement (the Agreement ) is made and entered into as of , 2019, by and between So-Young International Inc., a Cayman Islands company (the Company ), and (Passport/PRC ID Card No.: ) (the Director ).
I. |
SERVICES |
1.1 Board of Directors . The Director is appointed to serve as a director of the Companys Board of Directors (the Board ), effective as of the date when the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC ) declares effectiveness the Companys registration statement on Form F-1 that was initially submitted to the SEC confidentially on December 26, 2018 (the Effective Date ), until the earlier of (i) the date on which the Director ceases to be a member of the Board for any reason or (ii) the date of termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 5.2 hereof (such earlier date being the Expiration Date ). The Board shall consist of the Director and such other members as are nominated and elected pursuant to the then-current Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company (the Memorandum and Articles ).
1.2 Director Services . The Directors services to the Company hereunder shall include service on the Board and service on the committee of the Board in accordance with applicable law and stock exchange rules as well as the Memorandum and Articles, and such other services mutually agreed to by the Director and the Company (the Director Services ).
II. |
COMPENSATION |
2.1 Expense Reimbursement . The Company shall reimburse the Director for all reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the Director Services rendered by the Director.
2.2 Compensation to Director . The Director shall receive from the Company compensation pursuant to Exhibit A hereto.
2.3 Director and Officer Liability Insurance. The Company shall maintain a customary director and officer liability insurance policy to insure the Director against any losses incurred in lawsuits or other legal proceedings brought against the Director in connection with the Director Services.
III. |
DUTIES OF DIRECTOR |
3.1 Fiduciary Duties . In fulfilling his/her managerial responsibilities, the Director shall be charged with a fiduciary duty to the Company. The Director shall be attentive and inform himself/herself of all material facts regarding a decision before taking action. In addition, the Directors actions shall be motivated solely by the best interests of the Company.
3.2 Confidentiality . During the Term of this Agreement, and for a period of one (1) year after the Expiration Date, the Director shall maintain in strict confidence all information he/she has obtained or shall obtain from the Company that the Company has designated as confidential or that is by its nature confidential, relating to the Companys business, operations, properties, assets, services, condition (financial or otherwise), liabilities, employee relations, users, clients (including user and client usage statistics), service providers, prospects, technology, or trade secrets, except to the extent such information (i) is in the public domain through no act or omission of the Director, (ii) is required to be disclosed by law or a valid order by a court or other governmental body, or (iii) is independently learned by the Director outside of his/her relationship with the Company and its affiliates (the Confidential Information ).
3.3 Nondisclosure and Nonuse Obligations . The Director will use the Confidential Information solely to perform the Director Services for the benefit of the Company. The Director will treat all Confidential Information of the Company with the same degree of care as the Director treats his/her own Confidential Information, and the Director will use his/her best efforts to protect the Confidential Information. The Director will not use the Confidential Information for his/her own benefit or the benefit of any other person or entity, except as may be specifically permitted in this Agreement. The Director will immediately give notice to the Company of any unauthorized use or disclosure by or through him/her, or of which he/she becomes aware, of the Confidential Information. The Director agrees to assist the Company in remedying any such unauthorized use or disclosure of the Confidential Information.
3.4 Return of the Company Property . All materials furnished to the Director by the Company, whether delivered to the Director by the Company or made by the Director in the performance of Director Services under this Agreement (the Company Property ), are the sole and exclusive property of the Company. The Director agrees to promptly deliver the original and any copies of the Company Property to the Company at any time upon the Companys request. Upon termination of this Agreement by either party for any reason, the Director agrees to promptly deliver to the Company or destroy, at the Companys option, the original and any copies of the Company Property. The Director agrees to certify in writing that the Director has so returned or destroyed all such Company Property.
IV. |
COVENANTS OF DIRECTOR |
4.1 No Conflict of Interest . During the Term of this Agreement, the Director shall not be employed by, own, manage, control or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of any business entity that is competitive with the Company or otherwise undertake any obligation inconsistent with the terms hereof, provided that Director may continue the Directors current affiliation or other current relationships with the entity or entities described on Exhibit B (all of which entities are referred to collectively as Current Affiliations ). This Agreement is subject to the current terms and agreements governing the Directors relationship with Current Affiliations, and nothing in this Agreement is intended to be or will be construed to inhibit or limit any of the Directors obligations to Current Affiliations. The Director represents that nothing in this Agreement conflicts with the Directors obligations to Current Affiliations. A business entity shall be deemed to be competitive with the Company for purpose of this Article IV only if and to the extent it engages in the business substantially similar to the Companys business. If the Director undertakes any duty, investment or other obligation that may present a conflict of interest prohibited under this Section 4.1, the Director shall inform the Board in advance. If the Board decides such proposed new obligation would present an actual conflict of interest prohibited hereunder and the Director still undertakes the new obligation, the Board shall have the right to remove the Director from the Board.
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4.2 Noninterference with Business . During the Term of this Agreement, and for a period of one (1) year after the Expiration Date, the Director agrees not to interfere with the business of the Company in any manner. By way of example and not of limitation, the Director agrees not to solicit or induce any employee, independent contractor, user, client, service providers or business partner of the Company to terminate or breach his/her/its employment, contractual or other relationship with the Company.
V. |
TERM AND TERMINATION |
5.1 Term . This Agreement is effective as of the Effective Date as provided for in Section 1.1 above and will continue until the Expiration Date (the Term ).
5.2 Termination . Either party may terminate this Agreement at any time upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to the other party, or such shorter period as the parties may agree upon.
5.3 Survival . The rights and obligations contained in Articles III and IV will survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement.
VI. |
MISCELLANEOUS |
6.1 Assignment . Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, neither party shall assign, delegate, or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
6.2 No Waiver . The failure of any party to insist upon the strict observance and performance of the terms of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of other obligations hereunder, nor shall it be considered a future or continuing waiver of the same terms.
6.3 Notices . Any notice required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered as follows with notice deemed given as indicated: (i) by personal delivery when delivered personally; (ii) by overnight courier upon written verification of receipt; (iii) by facsimile transmission upon acknowledgment of receipt of electronic transmission; or (iv) by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, upon verification of receipt. Notice shall be sent to the addresses set forth on the signature page of this Agreement or such other address as either party may specify in writing.
6.4 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the Cayman Islands without regard to conflicts of law principles thereof.
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6.5 Severability . Should any provisions of this Agreement be held by a court of law to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
6.6 Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties relating to this subject matter and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements concerning such subject matter. The terms of this Agreement will govern all Director Services undertaken by the Director for the Company.
6.7 Amendments . This Agreement may only be amended, modified or changed by an agreement signed by the Company and the Director. The terms contained herein may not be altered, supplemented or interpreted by any course of dealing or practices.
6.8 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two (2) counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
Company: | SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC. | |||
Address: [3/F, Wangjing SOHO-Tower 3A, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100102, Peoples Republic of China] |
By: |
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Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Director: |
[Name of director] |
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Address: | ||||
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[Signature Page to Director Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
Compensation to Director
[The compensation consists of (i) US$[ ] in cash per year, effective as of the Effective Date and to be paid [quarterly] in arrears by the Company and (ii) [ ] [options/restricted share units] to be granted on the Effective Date, [one half of which will be vested on the first anniversary of the Effective Date and the other half will be vested on the second anniversary of the Effective Date]. Vesting of restricted share units is conditioned on the continued service as a director on the board of the Company. If you cease to serve as a director on the board, your right to any unvested restricted share units will terminate immediately.]
The compensation will be reviewed and may be amended as determined in accordance with the constitutional documents of the Company from time to time.
EXHIBIT B
Directors Current Affiliations
Exhibit 10.5
Power of Attorney
Date: November 1, 2018
I, [Name of VIE Shareholder], a citizen of the Peoples Republic of China (China or the PRC) whose Identification Card No. is [ID Card Number], and a holder of [Percentage of Registered Capital] of the registered capital of Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. (So-Young Technology) as of the date of this Power of Attorney, hereby irrevocably authorize and entrust Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (the WFOE) to exercise the following rights and handle the following matters on my behalf relating to all equity interests held by me now and in the future in So-Young Technology (My Shareholding), during the term of this Power of Attorney:
The WFOE is hereby authorized, as my sole and exclusive agent and attorney, to act on behalf of myself with respect to all rights and matters concerning My Shareholding, including without limitation to: 1) convening and attending shareholders meetings of So-Young Technology; 2) exercising all of the shareholders rights and shareholders voting rights that I am entitled to under the laws of China and the articles of association of So-Young Technology; 3) handling the sale, transfer, pledge or disposition of My Shareholding (in part or in whole), including without limitation executing all necessary equity transfer documents and other documents for disposal of My Shareholding and fulfilling all necessary procedures; 4) representing myself in executing any resolutions and minutes as a shareholder (and a director) of So-Young Technology on my behalf; 5) nominating, electing, designating, appointing or removing on behalf of myself the legal representative, directors, supervisors, general managers, chief executive officer and other senior management members of So-Young Technology; and 6) approving the amendments to the companys articles of association. Without written consent by WFOE, I have no right to increase, decrease, transfer, pledge, or by any other manner to dispose or change My Shareholding.
Without limiting the generality of the powers granted hereunder, the WFOE shall have the power and authority to, on behalf of myself, execute all and any supplementary agreements, ancillary documents, modifications, and/or amended and restated versions in relation to the Exclusive Option Agreement, Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement as of the date of this Power of Attorney, by and among WFOE, So-Young Technology and/or myself, and any documents and agreements I shall sign as required in the aforesaid agreements (including without limitation the Transfer Contract for the transfer of the Optioned Interests as described under the Exclusive Option Agreement), and perform the obligations under the aforesaid documents and agreements.
All the actions associated with My Shareholding conducted by the WFOE shall be deemed as my own actions, and all the documents related to My Shareholding executed by the WFOE shall be deemed to be executed by me. I hereby acknowledge and ratify the actions taken by the WFOE and the documents executed by the WFOE in relation to My Shareholding.
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I hereby agree that the WFOE has the right to re-authorize or assign one or multiple matters and its rights related to such matters under this Power of Attorney to any other person or entity at its own discretion and without obtaining my prior consent. If required by PRC laws, the WFOE shall designate a qualified PRC citizen to handle such matters and exercise such rights as set forth in this Power of Attorney.
This Power of Attorney takes effect as of the date hereof. During the period that I am a shareholder of So-Young Technology, this Power of Attorney shall be irrevocable and continuously effective and valid from the date of execution of this Power of Attorney.
During the term of this Power of Attorney, I hereby waive all the rights associated with My Shareholding, which have been authorized to the WFOE through this Power of Attorney, and shall not exercise such rights by myself.
This Power of Attorney is written in Chinese and English. In case of any conflicts between the Chinese version and the English Version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
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By: |
/s/ [Name of VIE Shareholder] |
|
Name: | [Name of VIE Shareholder] |
Accepted by
/s/ Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (Seal) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|||||
Name: | JIN Xing | |||||
Title: | Legal Representative |
Acknowledged by:
/s/ Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|||||
Name: | JIN Xing | |||||
Title: | Legal Representative |
Schedule of Material Differences
One or more persons entered into a power of attorney using this form. Pursuant to Instruction ii to Item 601 of Regulation S-K, the Registrant may only file this form as an exhibit with a schedule setting forth the material details in which the executed agreements differ from this form:
No. |
Name of VIE Shareholder |
Percentage of Registered Capital |
||
1 |
JIN Xing | 37.75% | ||
2 |
SHAO Hui | 59.73% | ||
3 |
YU Tao | 2.52% |
Exhibit 10.6
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
This Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (this Agreement) is executed by and among the following Parties as of November 1, 2018, in Beijing, the Peoples Republic of China (China or the PRC):
Party A: | Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (hereinafter the Pledgee), a wholly foreign-owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its registered address at Room 310309, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing; | |
Party B: | JIN Xing (hereinafter the Pledgor) (a Chinese citizen with Identification No.: ******); | |
Party C: | Beijing S o-Young Technology Co., Ltd. , a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its registered address at Room 320301, 3rd Floor, Unit 2, Building 5, No.1 Building, Yitong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing. |
In this Agreement, each of the Pledgee, the Pledgor and Party C shall be hereinafter referred to as a Party individually, and as the Parties collectively.
Whereas:
1. |
The Pledgor is a citizen of China who as of the date hereof holds 37.75% of the equity interests of Party C, representing RMB1,339,166.79 in the registered capital of Party C. Party C is a limited liability company registered in Beijing, China. Party C acknowledges the respective rights and obligations of the Pledgor and the Pledgee under this Agreement, and intends to provide any necessary assistance in registering the Pledge; |
2. |
The Pledgee is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise registered in China. The Pledgee and Party C have executed an Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (as defined below); Party C, the Pledgee and the Pledgor have executed an Exclusive Option Agreement (as defined below); the Pledgor has executed a Power of Attorney (as defined below) in favor of the Pledgee; |
3. |
To ensure that Party C and the Pledgor fully perform their obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Power of Attorney, the Pledgor hereby pledges to the Pledgee all of the equity interest that the Pledgor holds in Party C as security for Party Cs and the Pledgors obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Power of Attorney. |
To perform the provisions of the Transaction Documents (as defined below), the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the following terms.
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1. |
Definitions |
Unless otherwise provided herein, the terms below shall have the following meanings:
1.1 |
Pledge: shall refer to the security interest granted by the Pledgor to the Pledgee pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, i.e., the right of the Pledgee to be paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from the auction or sale of the Equity Interest. |
1.2 |
Equity Interest: shall refer to 37.75% equity interests in Party C currently held by the Pledgor, representing RMB1,339,166.79 in the registered capital of Party C, and all of the equity interest hereafter legally acquired by the Pledgor in Party C. |
1.3 |
Term of the Pledge: shall refer to the term set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement. |
1.4 |
Transaction Documents: shall refer to the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement executed by and between Party C and the Pledgee on the date of this Agreement, (the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement), the Exclusive Option Agreement executed by and among Party C, the Pledgee and the Pledgor on the date of this Agreement, (the Exclusive Option Agreement) and Power of Attorney executed on the date of this Agreement, by the Pledgor (the Power of Attorney) and any modification, amendment and restatement to the aforementioned documents. |
1.5 |
Contract Obligations: shall refer to all the obligations of the Pledgor under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Power of Attorney and this Agreement; all the obligations of Party C under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement and this Agreement. |
1.6 |
Secured Indebtedness: shall refer to all the direct, indirect and derivative losses and losses of anticipated profits, suffered by the Pledgee, incurred as a result of any Event of Default on the part of the Pledgor and/or Party C under the Transaction Documents. The amount of such losses shall be calculated based on such factors as the reasonable business plan and profit forecast of the Pledgee, the consulting and service fees payable to the Pledgee under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, damages and relevant fees under the Transaction Documents, all expenses occurred by the Pledgee in connection with enforcement of the Pledgors and/or Party Cs Contract Obligations and etc. |
1.7 |
Event of Default: shall refer to any of the circumstances set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. |
1.8 |
Notice of Default: shall refer to the notice issued by the Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement declaring an Event of Default. |
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2. |
Pledge |
2.1 |
The Pledgor agrees to pledge all the Equity Interest as security for performance of the Contract Obligations and payment of the Secured Indebtedness under this Agreement. Party C hereby assents that the Pledgor pledges the Equity Interest to the Pledgee pursuant to this Agreement. |
2.2 |
During the term of the Pledge, unless prohibited by the applicable laws and regulations, the Pledgee is entitled to receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Without the prior written consent of the Pledgee, the Pledgor shall not receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Dividends received by the Pledgor on Equity Interest after the deduction of individual income tax paid by the Pledgor shall be, as required by the Pledgee, (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by the Pledgee and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to making any other payment; or (2) to the extent not prohibited by the applicable PRC laws, unconditionally donated to the Pledgee or any other person designated by the Pledgee in the manner permitted by the PRC laws. |
2.3 |
The Pledgor may subscribe for a capital increase in Party C only with prior written consent of the Pledgee. Any additional equity interest obtained by the Pledgor as a result of the Pledgors subscription of the increased registered capital of the Company shall also be deemed as Equity Interest, and the Parties shall enter into further equity pledge agreement for this purpose and complete registration of the pledge of such additional equity interest. |
2.4 |
In the event that Party C is required by PRC law to be liquidated or dissolved, any interest distributed to the Pledgor upon Party Cs dissolution or liquidation shall, upon the request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by the Pledgee and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or (2) to the extent not prohibited by PRC laws, unconditionally donated to the Pledgee or any other person designated by the Pledgee in the manner permitted by the applicable PRC laws. |
3. |
Term of the Pledge |
3.1 |
The Pledge shall become effective on such date when the pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein is registered with the relevant administration for industry and commerce (the AIC). The Pledge shall remain effective until all Contract Obligations have been fully performed and all Secured Indebtedness has been fully paid. The Pledgor and Party C shall (1) register the Pledge in the shareholders register of Party C within 3 business days following the execution of this Agreement, and (2) submit an application to the AIC for the registration of the Pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein within thirty (30) days following the execution of this Agreement. The parties covenant that for the purpose of registration of the Pledge, the parties hereto and all other shareholders of Party C shall submit to the AIC this Agreement or an equity interest pledge contract in the form required by the AIC at the location of Party C which shall truly reflect the information of the Pledge hereunder (the AIC Pledge Contract). For matters not specified in the AIC Pledge Contract, the Parties shall be bound by the provisions of this Agreement. The Pledgor and Party C shall submit all necessary documents and complete all necessary procedures, as required by the relevant PRC laws and regulations and the competent AIC, to ensure that the Pledge of the Equity Interest shall be registered with the AIC as soon as possible after submission for filing. |
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3.2 |
During the Term of the Pledge, in the event the Pledgor and/or Party C fails to perform the Contract Obligations or pay Secured Indebtedness, the Pledgee shall have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. |
4. |
Custody of Records for Equity Interest subject to the Pledge |
4.1 |
During the Term of the Pledge set forth in this Agreement, the Pledgor shall deliver to the Pledgees custody the capital contribution certificate for the Equity Interest and the shareholders register containing the Pledge within one week from the execution of this Agreement. The Pledgee shall have custody of such documents during the entire Term of the Pledge set forth in this Agreement. |
5. |
Representations and Warranties of the Pledgor and Party C |
As of the execution date of this Agreement, the Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Pledgee that:
5.1 |
The Pledgor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Equity Interest. The Pledgee shall have the right to dispose of and transfer the Equity Interest in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement. |
5.2 |
Each of the Pledgor and Party C has the power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, and to perform it/his obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the Pledgors and Party Cs legal, valid and binding obligations and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof. |
5.3 |
Except for the Pledge, the Pledgor has not placed any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest. |
5.4 |
The Pledgor and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from the applicable government authorities and third parties (if required) for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. |
5.5 |
The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not: (i) violate any relevant PRC laws; (ii) conflict with Party Cs articles of association or other constitutional documents; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute any default under any contract or document to which it is a party or by which it is otherwise bound; (iv) result in any violation of any condition for the grant and/or maintenance of any permit or approval granted to any Party; or (v) cause any permit or approval granted to any Party to be suspended, cancelled or attached with additional conditions. |
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6. |
Covenants of the Pledgor and Party C |
6.1 |
During the term of this Agreement, the Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Pledgee: |
6.1.1 |
The Pledgor shall not transfer the Equity Interest, place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest or any portion thereof, without the prior written consent of the Pledgee, except for the performance of the Transaction Documents; Party C shall not assent to or assist in the aforesaid behaviors; |
6.1.2 |
The Pledgor and Party C shall comply with and carry out all requirements under applicable laws and regulations relating to pledge, and within five (5) days of receipt of any notice, order or recommendation issued or made by the competent authorities regarding the Pledge (if any), shall present the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation to the Pledgee, and shall comply with the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation or submit objections and representations with respect to the aforementioned matters upon the Pledgees reasonable request or upon consent of the Pledgee; |
6.1.3 |
Each of the Pledgor and Party C shall promptly notify the Pledgee of any event or notice received by it that may have an impact on the Equity Interest (or any portion thereof,) as well as any event or notice received by it that may have an impact on any guarantees and obligations of the Pledgor under this Agreement or the performance of obligations of the Pledgor under this Agreement; |
6.1.4 |
Party C shall complete the registration procedures for the extension of the operation term within three (3) months prior to the expiration of such term to maintain the validity of this Agreement. |
6.2 |
The Pledgor agrees that the rights acquired by the Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement with respect to the Pledge shall not be interrupted or harmed by the Pledgor or any, successors, heirs or representatives of the Pledgor or any other persons through any legal proceedings. |
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6.3 |
To protect or perfect the security interest granted by this Agreement for the Contract Obligations and Secured Indebtedness, the Pledgor hereby undertakes to execute in good faith and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to execute all certificates, agreements, deeds and/or covenants required by the Pledgee. The Pledgor also undertakes to perform and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to perform actions required by the Pledgee, to facilitate the exercise by the Pledgee of its rights and authority granted thereto by this Agreement, and to enter into all relevant documents regarding ownership of Equity Interest with the Pledgee or designee(s) of the Pledgee (natural persons/legal persons). The Pledgor undertakes to provide the Pledgee within a reasonable time with all notices, the orders and decisions regarding the Pledge that are required by the Pledgee. |
6.4 |
The Pledgor hereby undertakes to comply with and perform all guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions under this Agreement. In the event of failure or partial performance of its guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions, the Pledgor shall indemnify the Pledgee for all losses resulting therefrom. |
7. |
Event of Breach |
7.1 |
The following circumstances shall be deemed an Event of Default: |
7.1.1 |
The Pledgors any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement. |
7.1.2 |
Party Cs any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement. |
7.2 |
Upon notice or discovery of the occurrence of any circumstances or event that may lead to the aforementioned circumstances described in Section 7.1, the Pledgor and Party C shall immediately notify the Pledgee in writing accordingly. |
7.3 |
Unless an Event of Default set forth in Section 7.1 has been successfully resolved to the Pledgees satisfaction within twenty (20) days after the Pledgee and/or Party C delivers a notice to the Pledgor requesting ratification of such Event of Default, the Pledgee may issue a Notice of Default to the Pledgor in writing at any time thereafter, demanding the Pledgor to immediately exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 of this Agreement. |
8. |
Exercise of the Pledge |
8.1 |
The Pledgee shall issue a written Notice of Default to the Pledgor when it exercises the Pledge. |
8.2 |
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, the Pledgee may exercise the right to enforce the Pledge at any time after the issuance of the Notice of Default in accordance with Section 8.1. |
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8.3 |
After the Pledgee issues a Notice of Default to the Pledgor in accordance with Section 8.1, the Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure under the applicable PRC laws, the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, including but not limited to being paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from the auction or sale of the Equity Interest. The Pledgee shall not be liable for any loss incurred by its duly exercise of such rights and powers. |
8.4 |
The proceeds from the exercise of the Pledge by the Pledgee shall be used to pay for the taxes and expenses incurred as a result of disposing the Equity Interest and to perform the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness to the Pledgee prior and in preference to any other payment. After the payment of the aforementioned amounts, the remaining balance shall be returned to the Pledgor or any other person who have rights to such balance under applicable laws or be deposited to the local notary public office where the Pledgor resides, with all expenses incurred being borne by the Pledgor. To the extent not prohibited by the applicable PRC laws, the Pledgor shall unconditionally donate the aforementioned proceeds to the Pledgee or any other person designated by the Pledgee in the manner permitted by the PRC laws. |
8.5 |
The Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure available to it simultaneously or in any order. The Pledgee may exercise the priority right in compensation based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or with the proceeds from the auction or sale of the Equity Interest under this Agreement, without being required to exercise any other remedy measure first. |
8.6 |
The Pledgee is entitled to designate an attorney or other representatives to exercise the Pledge on its behalf, and the Pledgor or Party C shall not raise any objection to such exercise. |
8.7 |
When the Pledgee disposes of the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement, the Pledgor and Party C shall provide the necessary assistance to enable the Pledgee to enforce the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement. |
9. |
Breach of Agreement |
9.1 |
If the Pledgor or Party C materially breaches any provision under this Agreement, or fails to perform, performs incompletely or delays to perform any obligation under this Agreement, it shall constitute a breach under this Agreement on the part of the Pledgor or Party C (as the case may be). The Pledgee is entitled to require the Pledgor or Party C to rectify or take remedial measures. If within ten (10) days after the Pledgee delivers a written notice to the Pledgor or Party C and requires for rectification (or within any other reasonable period required by the Pledgee), the Pledgor or Party C (as the case may be) fails to rectify or take remedial measures, the Pledgee is entitled to, at its sole discretion, (1) terminate this Agreement and require the Pledgor or Party C (as the case may be) to compensate all the losses; or (2) require specific performance of the obligations of the Pledgor or Party C (as the case may be) under this Agreement and require the Pledgor or Party C (as the case may be) to compensate all the losses. This Section shall not prejudice any other rights of the Pledgee under this Agreement. |
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9.2 |
The Pledgor or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement unilaterally in any event unless otherwise required by the applicable laws. |
10. |
Assignment |
10.1 |
Without the Pledgees prior written consent, neither the Pledgor nor Party C shall assign or delegate its/his rights and obligations under this Agreement. |
10.2 |
This Agreement shall be binding on the Pledgor and his/her successors, heirs (including who inherited the Equity Interest) and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to the Pledgee and each of his/her successors, heirs and permitted assigns. |
10.3 |
At any time, the Pledgee may assign any and all of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement to its designee(s), in which case the assignees shall have the rights and obligations of the Pledgee under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, as if it were the original party to the Transaction Documents and this Agreement. |
10.4 |
In the event of change of the Pledgee due to assignment, the Pledgor and/or Party C shall, at the request of the Pledgee, execute a new pledge agreement with the new pledgee on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, and register the same with the competent AIC. |
10.5 |
The Pledgor and Party C shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by the Parties hereto or any of them, including the Transaction Documents, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. Any remaining rights of the Pledgor with respect to the Equity Interest pledged hereunder shall not be exercised by the Pledgor except in accordance with the written instructions of the Pledgee. |
11. |
Termination |
11.1 |
Upon the fulfillment of all Contract Obligations and the full payment of all Secured Indebtedness by the Pledgor and Party C, the Pledgee shall release the Pledge under this Agreement upon the Pledgors request as soon as reasonably practicable and shall assist the Pledgor in de-registering the Pledge from the shareholders register of Party C and with the competent PRC local administration for industry and commerce. |
11.2 |
The provisions under Sections 9, 13, 14 and 11.2 herein of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement. |
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12. |
Handling Fees and Other Expenses |
All fees and out of pocket expenses relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to legal costs, costs of production, stamp tax and any other taxes and fees, shall be borne by Party C.
13. |
Confidentiality |
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain the confidentiality of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Partys unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
14. |
Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes |
14.1 |
The execution, effectiveness, interpretation, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder shall be governed by the laws of China. |
14.2 |
In the event of any dispute with respect to the interpretation and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the Beijing Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with the arbitration rules of such arbitration commission effective at that time. The place of the hearing of the arbitration shall be Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both Parties. |
14.3 |
Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the interpretation and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement. |
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15. |
Notices |
15.1 |
All notices and other communications required to be given pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise given in connection with this Agreement shall be delivered personally, or sent by registered mail, prepaid postage, a commercial courier service, facsimile transmission or email to the address of such Party set forth below. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall be determined as follows: |
15.1.1 |
Notices given by personal delivery shall be deemed effectively given on the date of receipt at the address set forth below, or the date on which such notices are placed at the address set forth below; |
15.1.2 |
Notices given by courier service, registered mail or prepaid postage shall be deemed effectively given on the date of receipt, refusal or return for any reason at the address set forth below; |
15.1.3 |
Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission to the Fax no. set forth below (as evidenced by an automatically generated confirmation of transmission). Notices given by email shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission, provided that the sending Party has received a system message indicating successful transmission or has not received a system message within 24 hours indicating failure of delivery or return of email. |
15.2 |
For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows: |
Pledgee: | Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. | |
1513310309 | ||
Address: | Room 310309, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing | |
Attn: | JIN Xing | |
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | jinxing@soyoung.com | |
Pledgor: | JIN Xing | |
Address: | Room 320310, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing | |
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | jinxing@soyoung.com | |
Party C: | Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. | |
Address: | Room 320310, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing | |
Attn: | JIN Xing | |
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | jinxing@soyoung.com | |
15.3 |
Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms of this Section. |
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16. |
Severability |
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Contract are held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Contract shall not be affected or compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
17. |
Attachments |
The attachments set forth herein shall be an integral part of this Agreement.
18. |
Effectiveness and Amendments |
18.1 |
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, until the Contract Obligations have been fully performed and the Secured Indebtedness have been fully paid. |
18.2 |
Any amendment, change and supplement to this Agreement shall be made in writing by all of the Parties. Any amendment agreement and supplementary agreement duly executed by the Parties hereto with regard to this Agreement shall constitute an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have equal legal validity as this Agreement. |
19. |
Language and Counterparts |
This Agreement is written in Chinese and English in four copies. The Pledgor, the Pledgee and Party C shall hold one copy respectively and the other copy shall be used for registration. In case of any conflicts between the Chinese version and the English Version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Equity Interest Pledge Agreement as of the date first above written.
Pledgee: / s / Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|
Name: | JIN Xing | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Pledgor: JIN Xing
|
||
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
Party C: /s/ Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|
Name: | JIN Xing | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Attachments:
1. |
Shareholders Register of Party C; |
2. |
The Capital Contribution Certificate for Party C; |
3. |
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement; |
4. |
Exclusive Option Agreement; |
5. |
Power of Attorney. |
Exhibit 10.7
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
This Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (this Agreement) is executed by and among the following Parties as of November 1, 2018, in Beijing, the Peoples Republic of China (China or the PRC):
Party A: |
Beijing S o-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (hereinafter the Pledgee), a wholly foreign-owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its registered address at Room 310309, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing; |
Party B: |
SHAO Hui (hereinafter the Pledgor) (a Chinese citizen with Identification No.: ******); |
Party C: |
Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its registered address at Room 320301, 3rd Floor, Unit 2, Building 5, No.1 Building, Yitong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing. |
In this Agreement, each of the Pledgee, the Pledgor and Party C shall be hereinafter referred to as a Party individually, and as the Parties collectively.
Whereas:
1. |
The Pledgor is a citizen of China who as of the date hereof holds/to hold 59.73% of the equity interests of Party C, representing RMB2,118,666.92 in the registered capital of Party C. Party C is a limited liability company registered in Beijing, China. Party C acknowledges the respective rights and obligations of the Pledgor and the Pledgee under this Agreement, and intends to provide any necessary assistance in registering the Pledge; |
2. |
The Pledgee is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise registered in China. The Pledgee and Party C have executed an Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (as defined below); Party C, the Pledgee and the Pledgor have executed an Exclusive Option Agreement (as defined below); the Pledgor has executed a Power of Attorney (as defined below) in favor of the Pledgee; |
3. |
To ensure that Party C and the Pledgor fully perform their obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Power of Attorney, the Pledgor hereby pledges to the Pledgee all of the equity interest that the Pledgor holds in Party C as security for Party Cs and the Pledgors obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Power of Attorney. |
To perform the provisions of the Transaction Documents (as defined below), the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the following terms.
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1. |
Definitions |
Unless otherwise provided herein, the terms below shall have the following meanings:
1.1 |
Pledge: shall refer to the security interest granted by the Pledgor to the Pledgee pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, i.e., the right of the Pledgee to be paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from the auction or sale of the Equity Interest. |
1.2 |
Equity Interest: shall refer to 59.73% equity interests in Party C currently held/to hold by the Pledgor, representing RMB2,118,666.92 in the registered capital of Party C, and all of the equity interest hereafter legally acquired by the Pledgor in Party C. |
1.3 |
Term of the Pledge: shall refer to the term set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement. |
1.4 |
Transaction Documents: shall refer to the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement executed by and between Party C and the Pledgee on the date of this Agreement, (the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement), the Exclusive Option Agreement executed by and among Party C, the Pledgee and the Pledgor on the date of this Agreement, (the Exclusive Option Agreement) and Power of Attorney executed on the date of this Agreement, by the Pledgor (the Power of Attorney) and any modification, amendment and restatement to the aforementioned documents. |
1.5 |
Contract Obligations: shall refer to all the obligations of the Pledgor under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Power of Attorney and this Agreement; all the obligations of Party C under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement and this Agreement. |
1.6 |
Secured Indebtedness: shall refer to all the direct, indirect and derivative losses and losses of anticipated profits, suffered by the Pledgee, incurred as a result of any Event of Default on the part of the Pledgor and/or Party C under the Transaction Documents. The amount of such losses shall be calculated based on such factors as the reasonable business plan and profit forecast of the Pledgee, the consulting and service fees payable to the Pledgee under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, damages and relevant fees under the Transaction Documents, all expenses occurred by the Pledgee in connection with enforcement of the Pledgors and/or Party Cs Contract Obligations and etc. |
1.7 |
Event of Default: shall refer to any of the circumstances set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. |
1.8 |
Notice of Default: shall refer to the notice issued by the Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement declaring an Event of Default. |
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2. |
Pledge |
2.1 |
The Pledgor agrees to pledge all the Equity Interest as security for performance of the Contract Obligations and payment of the Secured Indebtedness under this Agreement. Party C hereby assents that the Pledgor pledges the Equity Interest to the Pledgee pursuant to this Agreement. |
2.2 |
During the term of the Pledge, unless prohibited by the applicable laws and regulations, the Pledgee is entitled to receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Without the prior written consent of the Pledgee, the Pledgor shall not receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Dividends received by the Pledgor on Equity Interest after the deduction of individual income tax paid by the Pledgor shall be, as required by the Pledgee, (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by the Pledgee and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to making any other payment; or (2) to the extent not prohibited by the applicable PRC laws, unconditionally donated to the Pledgee or any other person designated by the Pledgee in the manner permitted by the PRC laws. |
2.3 |
The Pledgor may subscribe for a capital increase in Party C only with prior written consent of the Pledgee. Any additional equity interest obtained by the Pledgor as a result of the Pledgors subscription of the increased registered capital of the Company shall also be deemed as Equity Interest, and the Parties shall enter into further equity pledge agreement for this purpose and complete registration of the pledge of such additional equity interest. |
2.4 |
In the event that Party C is required by PRC law to be liquidated or dissolved, any interest distributed to the Pledgor upon Party Cs dissolution or liquidation shall, upon the request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by the Pledgee and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or (2) to the extent not prohibited by PRC laws, unconditionally donated to the Pledgee or any other person designated by the Pledgee in the manner permitted by the applicable PRC laws. |
3. |
Term of the Pledge |
3.1 |
The Pledge shall become effective on such date when the pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein is registered with the relevant administration for industry and commerce (the AIC). The Pledge shall remain effective until all Contract Obligations have been fully performed and all Secured Indebtedness has been fully paid. The Pledgor and Party C shall (1) register the Pledge in the shareholders register of Party C within 3 business days following the execution of this Agreement, and (2) submit an application to the AIC for the registration of the Pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein within thirty (30) days following the execution of this Agreement. The parties covenant that for the purpose of registration of the Pledge, the parties hereto and all other shareholders of Party C shall submit to the AIC this Agreement or an equity interest pledge contract in the form required by the AIC at the location of Party C which shall truly reflect the information of the Pledge hereunder (the AIC Pledge Contract). For matters not specified in the AIC Pledge Contract, the Parties shall be bound by the provisions of this Agreement. The Pledgor and Party C shall submit all necessary documents and complete all necessary procedures, as required by the relevant PRC laws and regulations and the competent AIC, to ensure that the Pledge of the Equity Interest shall be registered with the AIC as soon as possible after submission for filing. |
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3.2 |
During the Term of the Pledge, in the event the Pledgor and/or Party C fails to perform the Contract Obligations or pay Secured Indebtedness, the Pledgee shall have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. |
4. |
Custody of Records for Equity Interest subject to the Pledge |
4.1 |
During the Term of the Pledge set forth in this Agreement, the Pledgor shall deliver to the Pledgees custody the capital contribution certificate for the Equity Interest and the shareholders register containing the Pledge within one week from the execution of this Agreement. The Pledgee shall have custody of such documents during the entire Term of the Pledge set forth in this Agreement. |
5. |
Representations and Warranties of the Pledgor and Party C |
As of the execution date of this Agreement, the Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Pledgee that:
5.1 |
The Pledgor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Equity Interest. The Pledgee shall have the right to dispose of and transfer the Equity Interest in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement. |
5.2 |
Each of the Pledgor and Party C has the power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, and to perform it/his obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the Pledgors and Party Cs legal, valid and binding obligations and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof. |
5.3 |
Except for the Pledge, the Pledgor has not placed any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest. |
5.4 |
The Pledgor and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from the applicable government authorities and third parties (if required) for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. |
5.5 |
The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not: (i) violate any relevant PRC laws; (ii) conflict with Party Cs articles of association or other constitutional documents; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute any default under any contract or document to which it is a party or by which it is otherwise bound; (iv) result in any violation of any condition for the grant and/or maintenance of any permit or approval granted to any Party; or (v) cause any permit or approval granted to any Party to be suspended, cancelled or attached with additional conditions. |
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6. |
Covenants of the Pledgor and Party C |
6.1 |
During the term of this Agreement, the Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Pledgee: |
6.1.1 |
The Pledgor shall not transfer the Equity Interest, place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest or any portion thereof, without the prior written consent of the Pledgee, except for the performance of the Transaction Documents; Party C shall not assent to or assist in the aforesaid behaviors; |
6.1.2 |
The Pledgor and Party C shall comply with and carry out all requirements under applicable laws and regulations relating to pledge, and within five (5) days of receipt of any notice, order or recommendation issued or made by the competent authorities regarding the Pledge (if any), shall present the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation to the Pledgee, and shall comply with the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation or submit objections and representations with respect to the aforementioned matters upon the Pledgees reasonable request or upon consent of the Pledgee; |
6.1.3 |
Each of the Pledgor and Party C shall promptly notify the Pledgee of any event or notice received by it that may have an impact on the Equity Interest (or any portion thereof,) as well as any event or notice received by it that may have an impact on any guarantees and obligations of the Pledgor under this Agreement or the performance of obligations of the Pledgor under this Agreement; |
6.1.4 |
Party C shall complete the registration procedures for the extension of the operation term within three (3) months prior to the expiration of such term to maintain the validity of this Agreement. |
6.2 |
The Pledgor agrees that the rights acquired by the Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement with respect to the Pledge shall not be interrupted or harmed by the Pledgor or any, successors, heirs or representatives of the Pledgor or any other persons through any legal proceedings. |
6.3 |
To protect or perfect the security interest granted by this Agreement for the Contract Obligations and Secured Indebtedness, the Pledgor hereby undertakes to execute in good faith and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to execute all certificates, agreements, deeds and/or covenants required by the Pledgee. The Pledgor also undertakes to perform and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to perform actions required by the Pledgee, to facilitate the exercise by the Pledgee of its rights and authority granted thereto by this Agreement, and to enter into all relevant documents regarding ownership of Equity Interest with the Pledgee or designee(s) of the Pledgee (natural persons/legal persons). The Pledgor undertakes to provide the Pledgee within a reasonable time with all notices, the orders and decisions regarding the Pledge that are required by the Pledgee. |
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6.4 |
The Pledgor hereby undertakes to comply with and perform all guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions under this Agreement. In the event of failure or partial performance of its guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions, the Pledgor shall indemnify the Pledgee for all losses resulting therefrom. |
7. |
Event of Breach |
7.1 |
The following circumstances shall be deemed an Event of Default: |
7.1.1 |
The Pledgors any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement. |
7.1.2 |
Party Cs any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement. |
7.2 |
Upon notice or discovery of the occurrence of any circumstances or event that may lead to the aforementioned circumstances described in Section 7.1, the Pledgor and Party C shall immediately notify the Pledgee in writing accordingly. |
7.3 |
Unless an Event of Default set forth in Section 7.1 has been successfully resolved to the Pledgees satisfaction within twenty (20) days after the Pledgee and/or Party C delivers a notice to the Pledgor requesting ratification of such Event of Default, the Pledgee may issue a Notice of Default to the Pledgor in writing at any time thereafter, demanding the Pledgor to immediately exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 of this Agreement. |
8. |
Exercise of the Pledge |
8.1 |
The Pledgee shall issue a written Notice of Default to the Pledgor when it exercises the Pledge. |
8.2 |
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, the Pledgee may exercise the right to enforce the Pledge at any time after the issuance of the Notice of Default in accordance with Section 8.1. |
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8.3 |
After the Pledgee issues a Notice of Default to the Pledgor in accordance with Section 8.1, the Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure under the applicable PRC laws, the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, including but not limited to being paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from the auction or sale of the Equity Interest. The Pledgee shall not be liable for any loss incurred by its duly exercise of such rights and powers. |
8.4 |
The proceeds from the exercise of the Pledge by the Pledgee shall be used to pay for the taxes and expenses incurred as a result of disposing the Equity Interest and to perform the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness to the Pledgee prior and in preference to any other payment. After the payment of the aforementioned amounts, the remaining balance shall be returned to the Pledgor or any other person who have rights to such balance under applicable laws or be deposited to the local notary public office where the Pledgor resides, with all expenses incurred being borne by the Pledgor. To the extent not prohibited by the applicable PRC laws, the Pledgor shall unconditionally donate the aforementioned proceeds to the Pledgee or any other person designated by the Pledgee in the manner permitted by the PRC laws. |
8.5 |
The Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure available to it simultaneously or in any order. The Pledgee may exercise the priority right in compensation based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or with the proceeds from the auction or sale of the Equity Interest under this Agreement, without being required to exercise any other remedy measure first. |
8.6 |
The Pledgee is entitled to designate an attorney or other representatives to exercise the Pledge on its behalf, and the Pledgor or Party C shall not raise any objection to such exercise. |
8.7 |
When the Pledgee disposes of the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement, the Pledgor and Party C shall provide the necessary assistance to enable the Pledgee to enforce the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement. |
9. |
Breach of Agreement |
9.1 |
If the Pledgor or Party C materially breaches any provision under this Agreement, or fails to perform, performs incompletely or delays to perform any obligation under this Agreement, it shall constitute a breach under this Agreement on the part of the Pledgor or Party C (as the case may be). The Pledgee is entitled to require the Pledgor or Party C to rectify or take remedial measures. If within ten (10) days after the Pledgee delivers a written notice to the Pledgor or Party C and requires for rectification (or within any other reasonable period required by the Pledgee), the Pledgor or Party C (as the case may be) fails to rectify or take remedial measures, the Pledgee is entitled to, at its sole discretion, (1) terminate this Agreement and require the Pledgor or Party C (as the case may be) to compensate all the losses; or (2) require specific performance of the obligations of the Pledgor or Party C (as the case may be) under this Agreement and require the Pledgor or Party C (as the case may be) to compensate all the losses. This Section shall not prejudice any other rights of the Pledgee under this Agreement. |
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9.2 |
The Pledgor or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement unilaterally in any event unless otherwise required by the applicable laws. |
10. |
Assignment |
10.1 |
Without the Pledgees prior written consent, neither the Pledgor nor Party C shall assign or delegate its/his rights and obligations under this Agreement. |
10.2 |
This Agreement shall be binding on the Pledgor and his/her successors, heirs (including who inherited the Equity Interest) and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to the Pledgee and each of his/her successors, heirs and permitted assigns. |
10.3 |
At any time, the Pledgee may assign any and all of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement to its designee(s), in which case the assignees shall have the rights and obligations of the Pledgee under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, as if it were the original party to the Transaction Documents and this Agreement. |
10.4 |
In the event of change of the Pledgee due to assignment, the Pledgor and/or Party C shall, at the request of the Pledgee, execute a new pledge agreement with the new pledgee on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, and register the same with the competent AIC. |
10.5 |
The Pledgor and Party C shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by the Parties hereto or any of them, including the Transaction Documents, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. Any remaining rights of the Pledgor with respect to the Equity Interest pledged hereunder shall not be exercised by the Pledgor except in accordance with the written instructions of the Pledgee. |
11. |
Termination |
11.1 |
Upon the fulfillment of all Contract Obligations and the full payment of all Secured Indebtedness by the Pledgor and Party C, the Pledgee shall release the Pledge under this Agreement upon the Pledgors request as soon as reasonably practicable and shall assist the Pledgor in de-registering the Pledge from the shareholders register of Party C and with the competent PRC local administration for industry and commerce. |
11.2 |
The provisions under Sections 9, 13, 14 and 11.2 herein of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement. |
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12. |
Handling Fees and Other Expenses |
All fees and out of pocket expenses relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to legal costs, costs of production, stamp tax and any other taxes and fees, shall be borne by Party C.
13. |
Confidentiality |
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain the confidentiality of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Partys unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
14. |
Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes |
14.1 |
The execution, effectiveness, interpretation, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder shall be governed by the laws of China. |
14.2 |
In the event of any dispute with respect to the interpretation and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the Beijing Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with the arbitration rules of such arbitration commission effective at that time. The place of the hearing of the arbitration shall be Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both Parties. |
14.3 |
Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the interpretation and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement. |
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15. |
Notices |
15.1 |
All notices and other communications required to be given pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise given in connection with this Agreement shall be delivered personally, or sent by registered mail, prepaid postage, a commercial courier service, facsimile transmission or email to the address of such Party set forth below. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall be determined as follows: |
15.1.1 |
Notices given by personal delivery shall be deemed effectively given on the date of receipt at the address set forth below, or the date on which such notices are placed at the address set forth below |
15.1.2 |
Notices given by courier service, registered mail or prepaid postage shall be deemed effectively given on the date of receipt, refusal or return for any reason at the address set forth below; |
15.1.3 |
Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission to the Fax no. set forth below (as evidenced by an automatically generated confirmation of transmission). Notices given by email shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission, provided that the sending Party has received a system message indicating successful transmission or has not received a system message within 24 hours indicating failure of delivery or return of email. |
15.2 |
For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows: |
Pledgee: | Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. | |
Address: | Room 310309, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East | |
Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing | ||
Attn: | JIN Xing | |
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | jinxing@soyoung.com | |
Pledgor: | SHAO Hui | |
Address: | Room 320310, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East | |
Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing | ||
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | shaohui@soyoung.com | |
Party C: | Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. | |
Address: | Room 320310, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East | |
Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing | ||
Attn: | JIN Xing | |
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | jinxing@soyoung.com |
15.3 |
Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms of this Section. |
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16. |
Severability |
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Contract are held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Contract shall not be affected or compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
17. |
Attachments |
The attachments set forth herein shall be an integral part of this Agreement.
18. |
Effectiveness and Amendments |
18.1 |
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, until the Contract Obligations have been fully performed and the Secured Indebtedness have been fully paid. |
18.2 |
Any amendment, change and supplement to this Agreement shall be made in writing by all of the Parties. Any amendment agreement and supplementary agreement duly executed by the Parties hereto with regard to this Agreement shall constitute an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have equal legal validity as this Agreement. |
19. |
Language and Counterparts |
This Agreement is written in Chinese and English in four copies. The Pledgor, the Pledgee and Party C shall hold one copy respectively and the other copy shall be used for registration. In case of any conflicts between the Chinese version and the English Version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
The Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Equity Interest Pledge Agreement as of the date first above written.
Pledgee: /s/ Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (Seal) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|
Name: | JIN Xing | |
Title: | Legal Representative | |
Pledgor: SHAO Hui | ||
By: |
/s/ SHAO Hui |
Party C: /s/ Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|
Name: | JIN Xing | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Attachments:
1. |
Shareholders Register of Party C; |
2. |
The Capital Contribution Certificate for Party C; |
3. |
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement; |
4. |
Exclusive Option Agreement; |
5. |
Power of Attorney. |
Exhibit 10.8
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
This Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (this Agreement) is executed by and among the following Parties as of November 1, 2018, in Beijing, the Peoples Republic of China (China or the PRC):
Party A: |
Beijing S o-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (hereinafter the Pledgee), a wholly foreign-owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its registered address at Room 310309, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing; |
Party B: |
YU Tao (hereinafter the Pledgor) (a Chinese citizen with Identification No.: ******); |
Party C: |
Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. , a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its registered address at Room 320301, 3rd Floor, Unit 2, Building 5, No.1 Building, Yitong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing. |
In this Agreement, each of the Pledgee, the Pledgor and Party C shall be hereinafter referred to as a Party individually, and as the Parties collectively.
Whereas:
1. |
The Pledgor is a citizen of China who as of the date hereof holds 2.52% of the equity interests of Party C, representing RMB89,277.79 in the registered capital of Party C. Party C is a limited liability company registered in Beijing, China. Party C acknowledges the respective rights and obligations of the Pledgor and the Pledgee under this Agreement, and intends to provide any necessary assistance in registering the Pledge; |
2. |
The Pledgee is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise registered in China. The Pledgee and Party C have executed an Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (as defined below); Party C, the Pledgee and the Pledgor have executed an Exclusive Option Agreement (as defined below); the Pledgor has executed a Power of Attorney (as defined below) in favor of the Pledgee; |
3. |
To ensure that Party C and the Pledgor fully perform their obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Power of Attorney, the Pledgor hereby pledges to the Pledgee all of the equity interest that the Pledgor holds in Party C as security for Party Cs and the Pledgors obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Power of Attorney. |
To perform the provisions of the Transaction Documents (as defined below), the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the following terms.
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1. |
Definitions |
Unless otherwise provided herein, the terms below shall have the following meanings:
1.1 |
Pledge: shall refer to the security interest granted by the Pledgor to the Pledgee pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, i.e., the right of the Pledgee to be paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from the auction or sale of the Equity Interest. |
1.2 |
Equity Interest: shall refer to 2.52% equity interests in Party C currently held by the Pledgor, representing RMB89,277.79 in the registered capital of Party C, and all of the equity interest hereafter legally acquired by the Pledgor in Party C. |
1.3 |
Term of the Pledge: shall refer to the term set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement. |
1.4 |
Transaction Documents: shall refer to the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement executed by and between Party C and the Pledgee on the date of this Agreement, (the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement), the Exclusive Option Agreement executed by and among Party C, the Pledgee and the Pledgor on the date of this Agreement, (the Exclusive Option Agreement) and Power of Attorney executed on the date of this Agreement, by the Pledgor (the Power of Attorney) and any modification, amendment and restatement to the aforementioned documents. |
1.5 |
Contract Obligations: shall refer to all the obligations of the Pledgor under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Power of Attorney and this Agreement; all the obligations of Party C under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement and this Agreement. |
1.6 |
Secured Indebtedness: shall refer to all the direct, indirect and derivative losses and losses of anticipated profits, suffered by the Pledgee, incurred as a result of any Event of Default on the part of the Pledgor and/or Party C under the Transaction Documents. The amount of such losses shall be calculated based on such factors as the reasonable business plan and profit forecast of the Pledgee, the consulting and service fees payable to the Pledgee under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, damages and relevant fees under the Transaction Documents, all expenses occurred by the Pledgee in connection with enforcement of the Pledgors and/or Party Cs Contract Obligations and etc. |
1.7 |
Event of Default: shall refer to any of the circumstances set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. |
1.8 |
Notice of Default: shall refer to the notice issued by the Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement declaring an Event of Default. |
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2. |
Pledge |
2.1 |
The Pledgor agrees to pledge all the Equity Interest as security for performance of the Contract Obligations and payment of the Secured Indebtedness under this Agreement. Party C hereby assents that the Pledgor pledges the Equity Interest to the Pledgee pursuant to this Agreement. |
2.2 |
During the term of the Pledge, unless prohibited by the applicable laws and regulations, the Pledgee is entitled to receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Without the prior written consent of the Pledgee, the Pledgor shall not receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Dividends received by the Pledgor on Equity Interest after the deduction of individual income tax paid by the Pledgor shall be, as required by the Pledgee, (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by the Pledgee and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to making any other payment; or (2) to the extent not prohibited by the applicable PRC laws, unconditionally donated to the Pledgee or any other person designated by the Pledgee in the manner permitted by the PRC laws. |
2.3 |
The Pledgor may subscribe for a capital increase in Party C only with prior written consent of the Pledgee. Any additional equity interest obtained by the Pledgor as a result of the Pledgors subscription of the increased registered capital of the Company shall also be deemed as Equity Interest, and the Parties shall enter into further equity pledge agreement for this purpose and complete registration of the pledge of such additional equity interest. |
2.4 |
In the event that Party C is required by PRC law to be liquidated or dissolved, any interest distributed to the Pledgor upon Party Cs dissolution or liquidation shall, upon the request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by the Pledgee and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or (2) to the extent not prohibited by PRC laws, unconditionally donated to the Pledgee or any other person designated by the Pledgee in the manner permitted by the applicable PRC laws. |
3. |
Term of the Pledge |
3.1 |
The Pledge shall become effective on such date when the pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein is registered with the relevant administration for industry and commerce (the AIC). The Pledge shall remain effective until all Contract Obligations have been fully performed and all Secured Indebtedness has been fully paid. The Pledgor and Party C shall (1) register the Pledge in the shareholders register of Party C within 3 business days following the execution of this Agreement, and (2) submit an application to the AIC for the registration of the Pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein within thirty (30) days following the execution of this Agreement. The parties covenant that for the purpose of registration of the Pledge, the parties hereto and all other shareholders of Party C shall submit to the AIC this Agreement or an equity interest pledge contract in the form required by the AIC at the location of Party C which shall truly reflect the information of the Pledge hereunder (the AIC Pledge Contract). For matters not specified in the AIC Pledge Contract, the Parties shall be bound by the provisions of this Agreement. The Pledgor and Party C shall submit all necessary documents and complete all necessary procedures, as required by the relevant PRC laws and regulations and the competent AIC, to ensure that the Pledge of the Equity Interest shall be registered with the AIC as soon as possible after submission for filing. |
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3.2 |
During the Term of the Pledge, in the event the Pledgor and/or Party C fails to perform the Contract Obligations or pay Secured Indebtedness, the Pledgee shall have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. |
4. |
Custody of Records for Equity Interest subject to the Pledge |
4.1 |
During the Term of the Pledge set forth in this Agreement, the Pledgor shall deliver to the Pledgees custody the capital contribution certificate for the Equity Interest and the shareholders register containing the Pledge within one week from the execution of this Agreement. The Pledgee shall have custody of such documents during the entire Term of the Pledge set forth in this Agreement. |
5. |
Representations and Warranties of the Pledgor and Party C |
As of the execution date of this Agreement, the Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Pledgee that:
5.1 |
The Pledgor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Equity Interest. The Pledgee shall have the right to dispose of and transfer the Equity Interest in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement. |
5.2 |
Each of the Pledgor and Party C has the power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, and to perform it/his obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the Pledgors and Party Cs legal, valid and binding obligations and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof. |
5.3 |
Except for the Pledge, the Pledgor has not placed any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest. |
5.4 |
The Pledgor and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from the applicable government authorities and third parties (if required) for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. |
5.5 |
The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not: (i) violate any relevant PRC laws; (ii) conflict with Party Cs articles of association or other constitutional documents; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute any default under any contract or document to which it is a party or by which it is otherwise bound; (iv) result in any violation of any condition for the grant and/or maintenance of any permit or approval granted to any Party; or (v) cause any permit or approval granted to any Party to be suspended, cancelled or attached with additional conditions. |
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6. |
Covenants of the Pledgor and Party C |
6.1 |
During the term of this Agreement, the Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Pledgee: |
6.1.1 |
The Pledgor shall not transfer the Equity Interest, place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest or any portion thereof, without the prior written consent of the Pledgee, except for the performance of the Transaction Documents; Party C shall not assent to or assist in the aforesaid behaviors; |
6.1.2 |
The Pledgor and Party C shall comply with and carry out all requirements under applicable laws and regulations relating to pledge, and within five (5) days of receipt of any notice, order or recommendation issued or made by the competent authorities regarding the Pledge (if any), shall present the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation to the Pledgee, and shall comply with the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation or submit objections and representations with respect to the aforementioned matters upon the Pledgees reasonable request or upon consent of the Pledgee; |
6.1.3 |
Each of the Pledgor and Party C shall promptly notify the Pledgee of any event or notice received by it that may have an impact on the Equity Interest (or any portion thereof,) as well as any event or notice received by it that may have an impact on any guarantees and obligations of the Pledgor under this Agreement or the performance of obligations of the Pledgor under this Agreement; |
6.1.4 |
Party C shall complete the registration procedures for the extension of the operation term within three (3) months prior to the expiration of such term to maintain the validity of this Agreement. |
6.2 |
The Pledgor agrees that the rights acquired by the Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement with respect to the Pledge shall not be interrupted or harmed by the Pledgor or any, successors, heirs or representatives of the Pledgor or any other persons through any legal proceedings. |
6.3 |
To protect or perfect the security interest granted by this Agreement for the Contract Obligations and Secured Indebtedness, the Pledgor hereby undertakes to execute in good faith and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to execute all certificates, agreements, deeds and/or covenants required by the Pledgee. The Pledgor also undertakes to perform and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to perform actions required by the Pledgee, to facilitate the exercise by the Pledgee of its rights and authority granted thereto by this Agreement, and to enter into all relevant documents regarding ownership of Equity Interest with the Pledgee or designee(s) of the Pledgee (natural persons/legal persons). The Pledgor undertakes to provide the Pledgee within a reasonable time with all notices, the orders and decisions regarding the Pledge that are required by the Pledgee. |
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6.4 |
The Pledgor hereby undertakes to comply with and perform all guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions under this Agreement. In the event of failure or partial performance of its guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions, the Pledgor shall indemnify the Pledgee for all losses resulting therefrom. |
7. |
Event of Breach |
7.1 |
The following circumstances shall be deemed an Event of Default: |
7.1.1 |
The Pledgors any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement. |
7.1.2 |
Party Cs any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement. |
7.2 |
Upon notice or discovery of the occurrence of any circumstances or event that may lead to the aforementioned circumstances described in Section 7.1, the Pledgor and Party C shall immediately notify the Pledgee in writing accordingly. |
7.3 |
Unless an Event of Default set forth in Section 7.1 has been successfully resolved to the Pledgees satisfaction within twenty (20) days after the Pledgee and/or Party C delivers a notice to the Pledgor requesting ratification of such Event of Default, the Pledgee may issue a Notice of Default to the Pledgor in writing at any time thereafter, demanding the Pledgor to immediately exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 of this Agreement. |
8. |
Exercise of the Pledge |
8.1 |
The Pledgee shall issue a written Notice of Default to the Pledgor when it exercises the Pledge. |
8.2 |
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, the Pledgee may exercise the right to enforce the Pledge at any time after the issuance of the Notice of Default in accordance with Section 8.1. |
8.3 |
After the Pledgee issues a Notice of Default to the Pledgor in accordance with Section 8.1, the Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure under the applicable PRC laws, the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, including but not limited to being paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from the auction or sale of the Equity Interest. The Pledgee shall not be liable for any loss incurred by its duly exercise of such rights and powers. |
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8.4 |
The proceeds from the exercise of the Pledge by the Pledgee shall be used to pay for the taxes and expenses incurred as a result of disposing the Equity Interest and to perform the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness to the Pledgee prior and in preference to any other payment. After the payment of the aforementioned amounts, the remaining balance shall be returned to the Pledgor or any other person who have rights to such balance under applicable laws or be deposited to the local notary public office where the Pledgor resides, with all expenses incurred being borne by the Pledgor. To the extent not prohibited by the applicable PRC laws, the Pledgor shall unconditionally donate the aforementioned proceeds to the Pledgee or any other person designated by the Pledgee in the manner permitted by the PRC laws. |
8.5 |
The Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure available to it simultaneously or in any order. The Pledgee may exercise the priority right in compensation based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or with the proceeds from the auction or sale of the Equity Interest under this Agreement, without being required to exercise any other remedy measure first. |
8.6 |
The Pledgee is entitled to designate an attorney or other representatives to exercise the Pledge on its behalf, and the Pledgor or Party C shall not raise any objection to such exercise. |
8.7 |
When the Pledgee disposes of the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement, the Pledgor and Party C shall provide the necessary assistance to enable the Pledgee to enforce the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement. |
9. |
Breach of Agreement |
9.1 |
If the Pledgor or Party C materially breaches any provision under this Agreement, or fails to perform, performs incompletely or delays to perform any obligation under this Agreement, it shall constitute a breach under this Agreement on the part of the Pledgor or Party C (as the case may be). The Pledgee is entitled to require the Pledgor or Party C to rectify or take remedial measures. If within ten (10) days after the Pledgee delivers a written notice to the Pledgor or Party C and requires for rectification (or within any other reasonable period required by the Pledgee), the Pledgor or Party C (as the case may be) fails to rectify or take remedial measures, the Pledgee is entitled to, at its sole discretion, (1) terminate this Agreement and require the Pledgor or Party C (as the case may be) to compensate all the losses; or (2) require specific performance of the obligations of the Pledgor or Party C (as the case may be) under this Agreement and require the Pledgor or Party C (as the case may be) to compensate all the losses. This Section shall not prejudice any other rights of the Pledgee under this Agreement. |
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9.2 |
The Pledgor or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement unilaterally in any event unless otherwise required by the applicable laws. |
10. |
Assignment |
10.1 |
Without the Pledgees prior written consent, neither the Pledgor nor Party C shall assign or delegate its/his rights and obligations under this Agreement. |
10.2 |
This Agreement shall be binding on the Pledgor and his/her successors, heirs (including who inherited the Equity Interest) and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to the Pledgee and each of his/her successors, heirs and permitted assigns. |
10.3 |
At any time, the Pledgee may assign any and all of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement to its designee(s), in which case the assignees shall have the rights and obligations of the Pledgee under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, as if it were the original party to the Transaction Documents and this Agreement. |
10.4 |
In the event of change of the Pledgee due to assignment, the Pledgor and/or Party C shall, at the request of the Pledgee, execute a new pledge agreement with the new pledgee on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, and register the same with the competent AIC. |
10.5 |
The Pledgor and Party C shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by the Parties hereto or any of them, including the Transaction Documents, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. Any remaining rights of the Pledgor with respect to the Equity Interest pledged hereunder shall not be exercised by the Pledgor except in accordance with the written instructions of the Pledgee. |
11. |
Termination |
11.1 |
Upon the fulfillment of all Contract Obligations and the full payment of all Secured Indebtedness by the Pledgor and Party C, the Pledgee shall release the Pledge under this Agreement upon the Pledgors request as soon as reasonably practicable and shall assist the Pledgor in de-registering the Pledge from the shareholders register of Party C and with the competent PRC local administration for industry and commerce. |
11.2 |
The provisions under Sections 9, 13, 14 and 11.2 herein of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement. |
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12. |
Handling Fees and Other Expenses |
All fees and out of pocket expenses relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to legal costs, costs of production, stamp tax and any other taxes and fees, shall be borne by Party C.
13. |
Confidentiality |
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain the confidentiality of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Partys unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
14. |
Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes |
14.1 |
The execution, effectiveness, interpretation, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder shall be governed by the laws of China. |
14.2 |
In the event of any dispute with respect to the interpretation and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the Beijing Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with the arbitration rules of such arbitration commission effective at that time. The place of the hearing of the arbitration shall be Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both Parties. |
14.3 |
Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the interpretation and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement. |
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15. |
Notices |
15.1 |
All notices and other communications required to be given pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise given in connection with this Agreement shall be delivered personally, or sent by registered mail, prepaid postage, a commercial courier service, facsimile transmission or email to the address of such Party set forth below. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall be determined as follows: |
15.1.1 |
Notices given by personal delivery shall be deemed effectively given on the date of receipt at the address set forth below, or the date on which such notices are placed at the address set forth below |
15.1.2 |
Notices given by courier service, registered mail or prepaid postage shall be deemed effectively given on the date of receipt, refusal or return for any reason at the address set forth below; |
15.1.3 |
Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission to the Fax no. set forth below (as evidenced by an automatically generated confirmation of transmission). Notices given by email shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission, provided that the sending Party has received a system message indicating successful transmission or has not received a system message within 24 hours indicating failure of delivery or return of email. |
15.2 |
For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows: |
Pledgee: |
Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. |
|
Address: |
Room 310309, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing |
|
Attn: |
JIN Xing |
|
Tel: |
86-10-85911839 |
|
Email: |
jinxing@soyoung.com |
|
Pledgor: |
YU Tao |
|
Address: |
Room 320310, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing |
|
Tel: |
86-10-85911839 |
|
Email: |
yutao@soyoung.com |
|
Party C: |
Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. |
|
Address: |
Room 320310, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing |
|
Attn: |
JIN Xing |
|
Tel: |
86-10-85911839 |
|
Email: |
jinxing@soyoung.com |
15.3 |
Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms of this Section. |
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16. |
Severability |
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Contract are held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Contract shall not be affected or compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
17. |
Attachments |
The attachments set forth herein shall be an integral part of this Agreement.
18. |
Effectiveness and Amendments |
18.1 |
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, until the Contract Obligations have been fully performed and the Secured Indebtedness have been fully paid. |
18.2 |
Any amendment, change and supplement to this Agreement shall be made in writing by all of the Parties. Any amendment agreement and supplementary agreement duly executed by the Parties hereto with regard to this Agreement shall constitute an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have equal legal validity as this Agreement. |
19. |
Language and Counterparts |
This Agreement is written in Chinese and English in four copies. The Pledgor, the Pledgee and Party C shall hold one copy respectively and the other copy shall be used for registration. In case of any conflicts between the Chinese version and the English Version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
The Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Equity Interest Pledge Agreement as of the date first above written.
Pledgee: | /s/ Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (Seal) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|
Name: | JIN Xing | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Pledgor: | YU Tao |
By: |
/s/ YU Tao |
Party C: | /s/ Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|
Name: | JIN Xing | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Attachments:
1. |
Shareholders Register of Party C; |
2. |
The Capital Contribution Certificate for Party C; |
3. |
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement; |
4. |
Exclusive Option Agreement; |
5. |
Power of Attorney. |
Exhibit 10.9
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
This Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (this Agreement) is made and entered into by and between the following parties on November 1, 2018, in Beijing, the Peoples Republic of China (China or the PRC).
Party A: |
Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. |
Address: |
Room 310309, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing |
Party B: |
Beijing So-Young Technology Co. Ltd. |
Address: |
Room 320301, 3rd Floor, Unit 2, Building 5, No.1 Building, Yitong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing |
In this Agreement, each of Party A and Party B shall be hereinafter referred to as a Party individually, and as the Parties collectively.
Whereas,
1. |
Party A is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise established in China, and has sufficient capacity, experience and resources for the R&D of economic and trade consulting; business management consulting; investment consulting; computer software and hardware and network technology development, technology transfer, technical consultation, technical services, technology promotion; organization of cultural and artistic exchange activities (except for performance agencies); corporate image planning; conference services; wholesale of hardware, power supply (excluding electric bicycles), electronic products, daily necessities, machinery and equipment, construction materials (excluding steel products) and for providing technical development, technical services and consultation in relation to network technology development; |
2. |
Party B is a company established in China with exclusive domestic capital and as registered with the relevant PRC government authorities, is permitted to engage in Technology promotion service; hospital management (except for approved medical activities); medical research (except for approved medical activities); organization of cultural and artistic exchange activities (excluding performances); advertising design, production and agency,; conferences and exhibition services; corporate planning; economic and trade consulting; business management consulting; technology import and export; import and export of goods; agent import and export; investment consulting; investment management; asset management; health management (except for approved medical activities); Except for approved medical activities); preventive health services (except for approved medical activities); sales of Class I medical devices, Class II medical devices, hardware (no engaging in physical store operations, excluding electric bicycles), electronics products, cosmetics, daily necessities, machinery and equipment, building materials (no engaging in physical store operations); Internet information services; retail drugs; sales of food; radio and television production. The businesses conducted by Party B currently and at any time during the term of this Agreement are collectively referred to as the Principal Business; |
1
3. |
Party A is willing to provide Party B with technical development, technical support, management consultation and other related services on an exclusive basis in relation to the Principal Business during the term of this Agreement, utilizing its advantages in technology, team, and resources, and Party B is willing to accept such services provided by Party A or Party As designee(s), each on the terms set forth herein. |
Now, therefore, through mutual discussion, the Parties have reached the following agreements:
1. |
Services Provided by Party A |
1.1 |
Party B hereby appoints Party A as Party Bs exclusive services provider to provide Party B with comprehensive technical support, consulting services and other related services during the term of this Agreement, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including but not limited to the following: |
(1) |
Licensing Party B to use the technology and software legally owned by Party A in relation to the Principal Business; |
(2) |
Design, development, maintenance and updating of technologies necessary for Party Bs Principal Business, and provision of related technical consultation and technical services; |
(3) |
Design, installation, daily management, maintenance and updating of network systems and related database; |
(4) |
Technical support and training for employees of Party B; |
(5) |
Assisting Party B in collection and research of technology and market information (excluding market research business that wholly foreign-owned enterprises are restricted from conducting under PRC law); |
(6) |
Providing business and management consultation for Party B; |
(7) |
Providing marketing and promotional services for Party B; |
(8) |
Development and testing of new products; |
(9) |
Leasing of equipments or properties; and |
(10) |
Other related services requested by Party B from time to time to the extent permitted under PRC law. |
1.2 |
Party B agrees to accept all the services provided by Party A. The Parties agree that Party A may appoint or designate its affiliates or other qualified parties to provide Party B with the services under this Agreement (the parties designated by Party A may enter into certain agreements described in Section 1.3 with Party B). Party B further agrees that unless with Party As prior written consent, during the term of this Agreement, Party B shall not directly or indirectly accept the same or any similar services provided by any third party and shall not establish same or similar corporation relationships with any third party regarding the matters contemplated by this Agreement. |
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1.3 |
Service Providing Methodology |
1.3.1 |
Party A and Party B agree that during the term of this Agreement, where necessary, Party B may enter into further service agreements with Party A or any other party designated by Party A, which shall provide the specific contents, methods, personnel, and fees for the specific services. |
1.3.2 |
To fulfill this Agreement, Party A and Party B agree that during the term of this Agreement, where necessary, Party B may enter into equipment or property lease agreements with Party A or any other party designated by Party A which shall permit Party B to use Party As relevant equipment or property based on the business needs of Party B. |
1.3.3 |
Party B hereby grants to Party A an irrevocable and exclusive option to purchase from Party B, at Party As sole discretion, any or all of the assets and business of Party B, to the extent permitted under PRC law, and at the lowest purchase price permitted by PRC law. The Parties shall then enter into a separate assets or business transfer agreement, specifying the terms and conditions of the transfer of the assets. |
2. |
The Calculation and Payment of the Service Fees |
2.1 The fees payable by Party B to Party A during the term of this Agreement shall be calculated as follows:
2.1.1 |
In consideration for the services provided by Party A hereunder, Party B shall pay a service fee to Party A on annual basis (or at any time agreed by the Parties). The service fees for each year or for any other period agreed by the Parties) shall consist of a management fee and a fee for services provided, which shall be reasonably determined by Party A based on the following factors. Party A may provide separate confirmation letter and/or invoice to Party B to indicate the amount of service fees due for each service period; or the amount of services fees may be as set forth in the relevant contracts separately executed by the Parties. |
(1) |
Complexity and difficulty of the services provided by Party A; |
(2) |
Seniority of and time consumed by the employees of Party A providing the services; |
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(3) |
Specific contents, scope and value of the services provided by Party A; |
(4) |
Market price of the same type of services; |
(5) |
Operation conditions of Party B. |
2.1.2 |
If Party A transfers or licenses technology to Party B, develops software or other technology as entrusted by Party B, or leases equipments or properties to Party B, the technology transfer price, license price, development fees or rent shall be determined by the Parties separately based on the actual situations and/or set forth in the relevant contracts separately executed by the Parties. |
3. |
Intellectual Property Rights and Confidentiality Clauses |
3.1 |
Party A shall have sole, exclusive and complete ownership, rights and interests in any and all intellectual properties or intangible assets arising out of or created or developed during the performance of this Agreement by both Parties, including but not limited to copyrights, patents, patent applications, software, technical secrets, trade secrets and others (to the extent not prohibited by the PRC laws). Unless expressly authorized by Party A, Party B is not entitled to any rights or interests in any intellectual property rights of Party A which are used by Party A in providing the services pursuant to this Agreement. To ensure Party As rights under this Section, where necessary, Party B shall execute all appropriate documents, take all appropriate actions, submit all filings and/or applications, render all appropriate assistance and otherwise conduct whatever is necessary as deemed by Party A at its sole discretion, for the purposes of vesting the ownership, right or interest of any such intellectual property rights and intangible assets in Party A, and/or perfecting the protections of any such intellectual property rights and intangible assets for Party A (including registering such intellectual property rights and intangible assets under Party As name). |
3.2 |
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in connection with the preparation and performance of this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential information to any third party, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Partys unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement. |
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4. |
Representations and Warranties |
4.1 Party A hereby represents, warrants and covenants as follows:
4.1.1 |
Party A is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise legally established and validly existing in accordance with the laws of China; Party A or the service providers designated by Party A will obtain all government permits and licenses necessary for providing the service under this Agreement (if required) before providing such services. |
4.1.2 |
Party A has taken all necessary corporate actions, obtained all necessary authorizations as well as all consents and approvals from third parties and government agencies (if required) for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. Party As execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement do not violate any explicit requirements under any law or regulation. |
4.1.3 |
This Agreement constitutes Party As legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms. |
4.2 Party B hereby represents, warrants and covenants as follows:
4.2.1. |
Party B is a company legally established and validly existing in accordance with the laws of China and has obtained and will maintain all permits and licenses for engaging in the Principal Business in a timely manner. |
4.2.2. |
Party B has taken all necessary corporate actions, obtained all necessary authorizations as well as all consents and approvals from third parties and government agencies (if required) for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. Party Bs execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement do not violate any explicit requirements under any law or regulation. |
4.2.3. |
This Agreement constitutes Party Bs legal, valid and binding obligations, and shall be enforceable against it in accordance with its terms. |
5. |
Term of Agreement |
5.1 |
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties. Unless earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or other agreements separately executed between the Parties, the term of this Agreement shall be thirty (30) years. Unless agreed by Party A in writing before the expiration of the term that this Agreement shall terminate upon expiration of its term, the term of this Agreement shall automatically be extended for another thirty (30) years upon expiration date. |
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5.2 |
During the term of this Agreement, each Party shall renew its operation term prior to the expiration thereof and endeavor to obtain the approval of, and complete registration with, the competent authorities for such renewal, so as to enable this Agreement to remain effective. This Agreement shall be terminated upon the expiration of the operation term of a Party if the application for the renewal of its operation term is not approved by the competent government authorities. |
5.3 |
The rights and obligations of the Parties under Sections 3, 6, 7 and this Section 5.3 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
6. |
Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes |
6.1 |
The execution, effectiveness, interpretation, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder shall be governed by the laws of China. |
6.2 |
In the event of any dispute with respect to the interpretation and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the Beijing Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with the arbitration rules of such arbitration commission effective at that time. The place of the hearing of the arbitration shall be Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both Parties. |
6.3 |
Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the interpretation and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement. |
7. |
Breach of Agreement and Indemnification |
7.1 |
If Party B materially breaches any provision under this Agreement, or fails to perform, performs incompletely or delays to perform any obligation under this Agreement, it shall constitute a breach under this Agreement on the part of Party B. Party A is entitled to require Party B to rectify or take remedial measures. If Party B fails to rectify or take remedial measures within ten (10) days after Party A delivers a written notice to Party B and requires for rectification (or within any other reasonable period required by Party A), Party A is entitled to, at its sole discretion, (1) terminate this Agreement and require Party B to compensate all the losses; or (2) require specific performance of the obligations of Party B under this Agreement and require Party B to compensate all the losses. This Section shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A under this Agreement. |
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7.2 |
Unless otherwise required by the applicable laws, Party B shall not unilaterally terminate this Agreement in any event. |
7.3 |
Party B shall indemnify Party A and hold Party A harmless from any losses, damages, obligations or expenses caused by any lawsuit, claims or other demands raised by any third party against Party A arising from or caused by the services provided by Party A to Party B pursuant this Agreement, except where such losses, damages, obligations or expenses arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Party A. |
8. |
Force Majeure |
8.1 |
In the case of any force majeure events (Force Majeure) such as earthquakes, typhoons, floods, fires, flu, wars, riots, strikes or any other events that cannot be predicted and are unpreventable and unavoidable by the affected Party, which causes the failure of either Party to perform or completely perform this Agreement or perform this Agreement on time, the Party affected by such Force Majeure shall not be liable for this. However, the Party affected by such Force Majeure shall give the other Party written notices without any delay, and shall provide details and related documents evidencing such event within 15 days after sending out such notice, explaining the reasons for such failure of, partial or delay of performance. |
8.2 |
If such Party claiming Force Majeure fails to notify the other Party and furnish it with proof pursuant to the above provision, such Party shall not be excused from the non-performance, incomplete performance or delay of performance of its obligations hereunder. The Party so affected by the event of Force Majeure shall use reasonable efforts to minimize the consequences of such Force Majeure and to promptly resume performance hereunder whenever the causes of such excuse are cured. Should the Party so affected by the event of Force Majeure fail to resume performance hereunder when the causes of such excuse are cured, such Party shall be liable to the other Party. |
8.3 |
In the event of Force Majeure, the Parties shall immediately consult with each other to find an equitable solution and shall use all reasonable endeavours to minimize the consequences of such Force Majeure. |
9. |
Notices |
9.1 |
All notices and other communications required to be given pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise given in connection with this Agreement shall be delivered personally, or sent by registered mail, prepaid postage, a commercial courier service, facsimile transmission or email to the address of such Party set forth below. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall be determined as follows: |
9.1.1 |
Notices given by personal delivery shall be deemed effectively given on the date of receipt at the address set forth below, or the date on which such notices are placed at the address set forth below; |
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9.1.2 |
Notices given by courier service, registered mail or prepaid postage shall be deemed effectively given on the date of receipt, refusal or return for any reason at the address set forth below; |
9.1.3 |
Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission to the Fax no. set forth below (as evidenced by an automatically generated confirmation of transmission). Notices given by email shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission, provided that the sending Party has received a system message indicating successful transmission or has not received a system message within 24 hours indicating failure of delivery or return of email. |
9.2 |
For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows: |
Party A: | Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. | |
Address: | Room 310309, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East | |
Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing | ||
Attn: | JIN Xing | |
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | jinxing@soyoung.com | |
Party B: | Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. | |
Address: | Room 320310, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East | |
Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing | ||
Attn: | JIN Xing | |
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | jinxing@soyoung.com |
9.3 |
Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Party in accordance with the terms of this Section. |
10. |
Assignment |
10.1 |
Without Party As prior written consent, Party B shall not assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any third party. |
10.2 |
Party B agrees that unless expressly required by the applicable laws otherwise, Party A may assign its obligations and rights under this Agreement to any third party and in case of such assignment, Party A is only required to give written notice to Party B and does not need any consent from Party B for such assignment. |
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11. |
Severability |
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or compromised in any aspect. The Parties shall negotiate in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
12. |
Amendments and Supplements |
Any amendment, change and supplement to this Agreement shall be made in writing by all of the Parties. Any amendment agreement and supplementary agreement duly executed by the Parties hereto with regard to this Agreement shall constitute an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have equal legal validity as this Agreement.
13. |
Successors |
The terms of this Agreement shall be binding on the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to the Parties and each of their successors and permitted assigns.
14. |
Language and Counterparts |
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English language in two copies, each Party having one copy. In case of any conflicts between the Chinese version and the English Version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A: /s/ Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|
Name: | JIN Xing | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Party B: /s/ Beijing So-Young Technology Co. Ltd. (Seal) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|
Name: | JIN Xing | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Exhibit 10.10
Exclusive Option Agreement
This Exclusive Option Agreement (this Agreement) is executed by and among the following Parties as of November 1, 2018, in Beijing, the Peoples Republic of China (China or the PRC):
Party A: |
Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. |
Address: |
Room 310309, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing |
Party B: |
JIN Xing (a Chinese citizen with Identification No.: ******) |
Party C: |
Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. |
Address: |
Room 320301, 3rd Floor, Unit 2, Building 5, No.1 Building, Yitong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing |
In this Agreement, each of Party A, Party B and Party C shall be hereinafter referred to as a Party individually, and as the Parties collectively.
Whereas:
Party B is the shareholder of Party C and as of the date hereof hold 37.75 % of the equity interests of Party C, representing RMB1,339,166.79 in the registered capital of Party C.
Now therefore, upon mutual discussion and negotiation, the Parties have reached the following agreement:
1. |
Sale and Purchase of Equity Interest |
1.1 |
Option Granted |
Party B hereby irrevocably and unconditionally grants Party A an irrevocable and exclusive right to purchase, or designate one or more persons (each, a Designee) to purchase the equity interests in Party C then held by Party B once or at multiple times at any time in part or in whole at Party As sole and absolute discretion to the extent permitted by Chinese laws and at the price described in Section 1.3 herein (such right being the Equity Interest Purchase Option). Except for Party A and the Designee(s), no other person shall be entitled to the Equity Interest Purchase Option or other rights with respect to the equity interests of Party B. Party C hereby agrees to the grant by Party B of the Equity Interest Purchase Option to Party A. The term person as used herein shall refer to individuals, corporations, partnerships, partners, enterprises, trusts or non-corporate organizations.
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1.2 |
Steps for Exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option |
Subject to the provisions of the laws and regulations of China, Party A may exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option by issuing a written notice to Party B (the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice), specifying:(a) Party As decision to exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option, and the name of the Designee(s) if any; (b) the portion of equity interests to be purchased by Party A or the Designee from Party B (the Optioned Interests); and (c) the date for purchasing the Optioned Interests or the date for the transfer of the Optioned Interests.
1.3 |
Equity Interest Purchase Price |
The total price for the purchase by Party A of all Optioned Interests held by Party B upon exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option by Party A shall be RMB 10 / the amount of registered capital contributed by Party B in Party C for such Optioned Interests (or such price may be as set forth in the equity transfer agreement to be executed between Party A (or the Designee) and Party B separately, provided that such price does not violate PRC laws and regulations and is acceptable to Party A) (the Base Price); if Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option to purchase part of the Optioned Interests held by Party B in Party C, then the purchase price shall be calculated on a pro rata basis. If at the time when Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option, the PRC laws impose mandatory requirements on the purchase price of such Optioned Interests, such that the minimum price permitted under PRC law exceeds the Base Price, then the purchase price shall be such minimum price permitted by PRC law (collectively, the Equity Interest Purchase Price), in which case the Party B shall promptly donate all of the amount exceeding the Basic Price received by it to Party A or any other person designated by Party A in the manner permitted by the applicable PRC laws / Party B hereby waives its right to receive the amount of price that exceeds the Basic Price.
1.4 |
Transfer of Optioned Interests |
For each exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option:
1.4.1 |
Party B shall cause Party C to promptly convene a shareholders meeting, at which a resolution shall be adopted approving Party Bs transfer of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s); |
1.4.2 |
Party B shall obtain written statements from the other shareholders of Party C giving consent to the transfer of the Optioned Interests by Party B to Party A and/or the Designee(s) and waiving any right of first refusal with respect thereto; |
1.4.3 |
Party B shall execute an equity interest transfer contract with respect to each transfer with Party A and/or each Designee (whichever is applicable), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice regarding the Optioned Interests; |
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1.4.4 |
Party B shall, within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice, execute all necessary contracts, agreements or documents with relevant parties, obtain all necessary government approvals and permits, and complete all necessary registrations and filings, so as to transfer valid ownership of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s), unencumbered by any security interests, and cause Party A and/or the Designee(s) to become the registered owner(s) of the Optioned Interests. For the purpose of this Section and this Agreement, security interests shall include securities, mortgages, third partys rights or interests, any stock options, acquisition right, right of first refusal, right to offset, ownership retention or other security arrangements, but shall be deemed to exclude any security interest created by this Agreement, Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party Bs Power of Attorney; Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Interest Pledge Agreement executed by and among Party A, Party B and Party C on the date hereof and any modification, amendment and restatement thereto.; Party Bs Power of Attorney as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Power of Attorney executed by Party B on the date hereof granting Party A with a power of attorney and any modification, amendment and restatement thereto. |
2. |
Covenants |
2.1 |
Covenants regarding Party C |
Party B (as a shareholder of Party C) and Party C hereby covenant as follows:
2.1.1 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not in any manner supplement, change or amend the articles of association of Party C, increase or decrease its registered capital, or change its structure of registered capital in other manners; |
2.1.2 |
They shall maintain Party Cs corporate existence in accordance with good financial and business standards and practices, obtain and maintain all necessary government licenses and permits by prudently and effectively operating its business and handling its affairs; |
2.1.3 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not at any time following the date hereof, sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any manner any material assets of Party C or legal or beneficial interest in the material business or revenues of Party C, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest; |
2.1.4 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not incur, inherit, guarantee or suffer the existence of any debt, except for payables incurred in the ordinary course of business other than through loans; |
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2.1.5 |
They shall always operate all of Party Cs businesses within the ordinary course of business to maintain the asset value of Party C and refrain from any action/omission that may adversely affect Party Cs operating status and asset value; |
2.1.6 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to execute any major contract, except the contracts in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of this subsection, a contract with a price exceeding RMB 500,000 shall be deemed a major contract); |
2.1.7 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to provide any person with any loan or credit; |
2.1.8 |
They shall provide Party A with information on Party Cs business operations and financial condition at Party As request; |
2.1.9 |
If requested by Party A, they shall procure and maintain insurance in respect of Party Cs assets and business from an insurance carrier acceptable to Party A, at an amount and type of coverage typical for companies that operate similar businesses; |
2.1.10 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause or permit Party C to merge, consolidate with, acquire or invest in any person; |
2.1.11 |
They shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to Party Cs assets, business, revenue or equity interest; |
2.1.12 |
To maintain the ownership by Party C of all of its assets, they shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims; |
2.1.13 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall ensure that Party C shall not in any manner distribute dividends to its shareholders, provided that upon Party As written request, Party C shall immediately distribute all distributable profits to its shareholders; |
2.1.14 |
At the request of Party A, they shall appoint any person designated by Party A as the director or executive director of Party C. |
2.1.15 |
Without Party As prior written consent, they shall not engage in any business in competition with Party A or its affiliates; and |
2.1.16 |
Unless otherwise required by PRC law, Party C shall not be dissolved or liquated without prior written consent by Party A; |
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2.1.17 |
Once PRC laws permits foreign investors to invest in the principal business of Party C in China, with a controlling stake and/or in the form of wholly foreign-owned enterprises, and the competent government authorities of China begin to approve such investments, upon Partys exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option, Party B shall immediately transfer to Party A or the Designee(s) the equity interest in Party C held by Party B. |
2.2 |
Covenants of Party B |
Party B hereby covenants as follows:
2.2.1 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner any legal or beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon, except for the interest placed in accordance with Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement, Party Bs Power of Attorney and this Agreement; |
2.2.2 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall ensure the shareholders meeting and/or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C not to approve any sale, transfer, mortgage or disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest, except for the interest placed in accordance with Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement, Party Bs Power of Attorney and this Agreement; |
2.2.3 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C not to approve the merger or consolidation with any person, or the acquisition of or investment in any person; |
2.2.4 |
Party B shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C held by Party B; |
2.2.5 |
Party B shall ensure the shareholders meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C to vote in favor of the transfer of the Optioned Interests as set forth in this Agreement and to take any and all other actions that may be requested by Party A; |
2.2.6 |
To the extent necessary to maintain Party Bs ownership in Party C, Party B shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims; |
5
2.2.7 |
Party B shall appoint any designee of Party A as the director or the executive director of Party C, at the request of Party A; |
2.2.8 |
Party B gives consent to the execution by each of the other shareholders of Party C with Party A and Party C of the exclusive option agreement, the equity interest pledge agreement and the power of attorney similar to this Agreement, Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party Bs Power of Attorney, and undertakes not to take any action in conflict with such documents executed by such other shareholders; with respect to the transfer of equity interest of Party C by any of the other shareholders of Party C to Party A and/or the Designee(s) pursuant to such shareholders exclusive option agreement, Party B hereby waives all of its right of first refusal (if any). |
2.2.9 |
If Party received any profit distribution, interest, dividend or proceeds of liquidation from Party C, Party B shall promptly donate all such profit distribution, interest, dividend or proceeds of liquidation to Party A or any other person designated by Party A in the manner permitted by the applicable PRC laws; and |
2.2.10 |
Party B shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by and among Party B, Party C and Party A, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. To the extent that Party B has any remaining rights with respect to the equity interests subject to this Agreement hereunder or under the Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement or under the Party Bs Power of Attorney, Party B shall not exercise such rights except in accordance with the written instructions of Party A. |
3. |
Representations and Warranties |
Party B and Party C hereby represent and warrant to Party A, jointly and severally, as of the date of this Agreement and each date of the transfer of the Optioned Interests, that:
3.1 |
They have the power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any equity interest transfer contracts to which they are parties concerning each transfer of the Optioned Interests as described thereunder (each, a Transfer Contract), and to perform their obligations under this Agreement and any Transfer Contracts. Party B and Party C agree to enter into Transfer Contracts substantially consistent with the terms of this Agreement upon Party As exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option. This Agreement and the Transfer Contracts to which they are parties constitute or will constitute their legal, valid and binding obligations and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof; |
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3.2 |
Party B and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from the competent government authorities and third parties (if required) for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. |
3.3 |
The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts and the obligations under this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts shall not: (i) cause any violation of any applicable laws of China; (ii) be inconsistent with the articles of association, bylaws or other organizational documents of Party C; (iii) cause the violation of any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them, or constitute any breach under any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them; (iv) cause any violation of any condition for the grant and/or continued effectiveness of any licenses or permits issued to either of them; or (v) cause the suspension or revocation of or imposition of additional conditions to any licenses or permits issued to either of them; |
3.4 |
Party B has the legal and complete title to the equity interests held by it in Party C. Except for Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party Bs Power of Attorney, Party B has not placed any security interest or encumbrances on such equity interests; |
3.5 |
Party C is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the PRC. Party C has the legal and complete title to all of the assets used in connection with its business operation, and has not placed any security interest on the aforementioned assets; |
3.6 |
Party C does not have any outstanding debts, except for (i) debt incurred during the ordinary course of business; and (ii) debts disclosed to Party A for which Party As written consent has been obtained. |
3.7 |
Party C has complied with all PRC laws and regulations in material aspects; and |
3.8 |
There are no pending or threatened litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C, assets of Party C or Party C. |
4. |
Effective Date and Term |
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, and remain effective until all equity interests held by Party B in Party C have been transferred or assigned to Party A and/or any other person designated by Party A in accordance with this Agreement.
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5. |
Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes |
5.1 |
Governing Law |
The execution, effectiveness, interpretation, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the PRC.
5.2 |
Methods of Resolution of Disputes |
In the event of any dispute with respect to the interpretation and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the Beijing Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with the arbitration rules of such arbitration commission effective at that time. The place of the hearing of the arbitration shall be Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both Parties.
6. |
Taxes and Fees |
Each Party shall pay any and all transfer and registration taxes, expenses and fees incurred thereby or levied thereon in accordance with the laws of China in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts, as well as the consummation of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts.
7. |
Notices |
7.1 |
All notices and other communications required to be given pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise given in connection with this Agreement shall be delivered personally, or sent by registered mail, prepaid postage, a commercial courier service, facsimile transmission or email to the address of such Party set forth below. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall be determined as follows: |
7.1.1 |
Notices given by personal delivery shall be deemed effectively given on the date of receipt at the address set forth below, or the date on which such notices are placed at the address set forth below; |
7.1.2 |
Notices given by courier service, registered mail or prepaid postage shall be deemed effectively given on the date of receipt, refusal or return for any reason at the address set forth below; |
7.1.3 |
Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission to the Fax no. set forth below (as evidenced by an automatically generated confirmation of transmission). Notices given by email shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission, provided that the sending Party has received a system message indicating successful transmission or has not received a system message within 24 hours indicating failure of delivery or return of email. |
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7.2 |
For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows: |
Party A: | Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. | |
Address: | Room 310309, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing | |
Attn: | JIN Xing | |
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | jinxing@soyoung.com | |
Party B: | JIN Xing | |
Address: | Room 320310, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing | |
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | jinxing@soyoung.com | |
Party C: | Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. | |
Address: | Room 320310, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing | |
Attn: | JIN Xing | |
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | jinxing@soyoung.com |
7.3 |
Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms of this Section. |
8. |
Confidentiality |
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement, and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in connection with the preparation and performance of this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of other Parties, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Partys unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels, or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential information by the shareholders, director, employees of, or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
9. |
Further Warranties |
The Parties agree to promptly execute documents that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and take further actions that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and purposes of this Agreement.
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10. |
Breach of Agreement |
10.1 |
If Party B or Party C materially breaches any provision under this Agreement, or fails to perform, performs incompletely or delays to perform any obligation under this Agreement, it shall constitute a breach under this Agreement on the part of Party B or Party C (as the case may be). Party A is entitled to require Party B or Party C to rectify or take remedial measures. If within ten (10) days after Party A delivers a written notice to Party B or Party C and requires for rectification (or within any other reasonable period required by Party A), Party B or Party C (as the case may be) fails to rectify or take remedial measures, Party A is entitled to, at its sole discretion, (1) terminate this Agreement and require Party B or Party C (as the case may be) to compensate all the losses; or (2) require specific performance of the obligations of Party B or Party C (as the case may be) under this Agreement and require Party B or Party C (as the case may be) to compensate all the losses. This Section shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A under this Agreement. |
10.2 |
Party B or Party C shall not terminate this Agreement unilaterally in any event unless otherwise required by the applicable laws. |
11. |
Miscellaneous |
11.1 |
Amendments, changes and supplements |
Any amendment, change and supplement to this Agreement shall be made in writing by all of the Parties. Any amendment agreement and supplementary agreement duly executed by the Parties hereto with regard to this Agreement shall constitute an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have equal legal validity as this Agreement.
11.2 |
Entire agreement |
Except for the amendments, supplements or changes in writing executed after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement reached by and among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supersede all prior oral and written consultations, representations and contracts reached with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
11.3 |
Headings |
The headings of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be used to interpret, explain or otherwise affect the meanings of the provisions of this Agreement.
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11.4 |
Severability |
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
11.5 |
Successors |
The terms of this Agreement shall be binding on the Parties hereto and their respective successors, heirs (including who inherited the Optioned Interests) and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to the Parties and each of their successors, heirs and permitted assigns.
11.6 |
Survival |
11.6.1 |
Any obligations that occurred or that are due in connection with this Agreement before the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or early termination thereof. |
11.6.2 |
The provisions of Sections 5, 8, 10 and this Section 11.6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
11.7 |
Waivers |
Any Party may waive the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that such a waiver must be provided in writing and shall require the signatures of the Parties. No waiver by any Party in certain circumstances with respect to a breach by other Parties shall operate as a waiver by such a Party with respect to any similar breach in other circumstances.
11.8 |
Language |
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English language in three copies, each Party having one copy. In case of any conflicts between the Chinese version and the English Version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Exclusive Option Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A |
: /s/ Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (Seal) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|
Name: | JIN Xing | |
Title: | Legal Representative | |
Party B: JIN Xing | ||
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
Party C: /s/ Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|
Name: | JIN Xing | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Exhibit 10.11
Exclusive Option Agreement
This Exclusive Option Agreement (this Agreement) is executed by and among the following Parties as of November 1, 2018, in Beijing, the Peoples Republic of China (China or the PRC):
Party A: | Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. | |
Address: |
Room 310309, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing |
|
Party B: | SHAO Hui (a Chinese citizen with Identification No.: ******) | |
Party C: | Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. | |
Address: |
Room 320301, 3rd Floor, Unit 2, Building 5, No.1 Building, Yitong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing |
In this Agreement, each of Party A, Party B and Party C shall be hereinafter referred to as a Party individually, and as the Parties collectively.
Whereas:
Party B is the shareholder of Party C and as of the date hereof hold/to hold 59.73 % of the equity interests of Party C, representing RMB2,118,666.92 in the registered capital of Party C.
Now therefore, upon mutual discussion and negotiation, the Parties have reached the following agreement:
1. |
Sale and Purchase of Equity Interest |
1.1 |
Option Granted |
Party B hereby irrevocably and unconditionally grants Party A an irrevocable and exclusive right to purchase, or designate one or more persons (each, a Designee) to purchase the equity interests in Party C then held by Party B once or at multiple times at any time in part or in whole at Party As sole and absolute discretion to the extent permitted by Chinese laws and at the price described in Section 1.3 herein (such right being the Equity Interest Purchase Option). Except for Party A and the Designee(s), no other person shall be entitled to the Equity Interest Purchase Option or other rights with respect to the equity interests of Party B. Party C hereby agrees to the grant by Party B of the Equity Interest Purchase Option to Party A. The term person as used herein shall refer to individuals, corporations, partnerships, partners, enterprises, trusts or non-corporate organizations.
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1.2 |
Steps for Exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option |
Subject to the provisions of the laws and regulations of China, Party A may exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option by issuing a written notice to Party B (the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice), specifying:(a) Party As decision to exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option, and the name of the Designee(s) if any; (b) the portion of equity interests to be purchased by Party A or the Designee from Party B (the Optioned Interests); and (c) the date for purchasing the Optioned Interests or the date for the transfer of the Optioned Interests.
1.3 |
Equity Interest Purchase Price |
The total price for the purchase by Party A of all Optioned Interests held by Party B upon exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option by Party A shall be RMB 10 / the amount of registered capital contributed by Party B in Party C for such Optioned Interests (or such price may be as set forth in the equity transfer agreement to be executed between Party A (or the Designee) and Party B separately, provided that such price does not violate PRC laws and regulations and is acceptable to Party A) (the Base Price); if Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option to purchase part of the Optioned Interests held by Party B in Party C, then the purchase price shall be calculated on a pro rata basis. If at the time when Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option, the PRC laws impose mandatory requirements on the purchase price of such Optioned Interests, such that the minimum price permitted under PRC law exceeds the Base Price, then the purchase price shall be such minimum price permitted by PRC law (collectively, the Equity Interest Purchase Price), in which case the Party B shall promptly donate all of the amount exceeding the Basic Price received by it to Party A or any other person designated by Party A in the manner permitted by the applicable PRC laws / Party B hereby waives its right to receive the amount of price that exceeds the Basic Price.
1.4 |
Transfer of Optioned Interests |
For each exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option:
1.4.1 |
Party B shall cause Party C to promptly convene a shareholders meeting, at which a resolution shall be adopted approving Party Bs transfer of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s); |
1.4.2 |
Party B shall obtain written statements from the other shareholders of Party C giving consent to the transfer of the Optioned Interests by Party B to Party A and/or the Designee(s) and waiving any right of first refusal with respect thereto; |
1.4.3 |
Party B shall execute an equity interest transfer contract with respect to each transfer with Party A and/or each Designee (whichever is applicable), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice regarding the Optioned Interests; |
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1.4.4 |
Party B shall, within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice, execute all necessary contracts, agreements or documents with relevant parties, obtain all necessary government approvals and permits, and complete all necessary registrations and filings, so as to transfer valid ownership of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s), unencumbered by any security interests, and cause Party A and/or the Designee(s) to become the registered owner(s) of the Optioned Interests. For the purpose of this Section and this Agreement, security interests shall include securities, mortgages, third partys rights or interests, any stock options, acquisition right, right of first refusal, right to offset, ownership retention or other security arrangements, but shall be deemed to exclude any security interest created by this Agreement, Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party Bs Power of Attorney; Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Interest Pledge Agreement executed by and among Party A, Party B and Party C on the date hereof and any modification, amendment and restatement thereto.; Party Bs Power of Attorney as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Power of Attorney executed by Party B on the date hereof granting Party A with a power of attorney and any modification, amendment and restatement thereto. |
2. |
Covenants |
2.1 |
Covenants regarding Party C |
Party B (as a shareholder of Party C) and Party C hereby covenant as follows:
2.1.1 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not in any manner supplement, change or amend the articles of association of Party C, increase or decrease its registered capital, or change its structure of registered capital in other manners; |
2.1.2 |
They shall maintain Party Cs corporate existence in accordance with good financial and business standards and practices, obtain and maintain all necessary government licenses and permits by prudently and effectively operating its business and handling its affairs; |
2.1.3 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not at any time following the date hereof, sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any manner any material assets of Party C or legal or beneficial interest in the material business or revenues of Party C, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest; |
2.1.4 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not incur, inherit, guarantee or suffer the existence of any debt, except for payables incurred in the ordinary course of business other than through loans; |
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2.1.5 |
They shall always operate all of Party Cs businesses within the ordinary course of business to maintain the asset value of Party C and refrain from any action/omission that may adversely affect Party Cs operating status and asset value; |
2.1.6 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to execute any major contract, except the contracts in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of this subsection, a contract with a price exceeding RMB 500,000 shall be deemed a major contract); |
2.1.7 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to provide any person with any loan or credit; |
2.1.8 |
They shall provide Party A with information on Party Cs business operations and financial condition at Party As request; |
2.1.9 |
If requested by Party A, they shall procure and maintain insurance in respect of Party Cs assets and business from an insurance carrier acceptable to Party A, at an amount and type of coverage typical for companies that operate similar businesses; |
2.1.10 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause or permit Party C to merge, consolidate with, acquire or invest in any person; |
2.1.11 |
They shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to Party Cs assets, business, revenue or equity interest; |
2.1.12 |
To maintain the ownership by Party C of all of its assets, they shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims; |
2.1.13 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall ensure that Party C shall not in any manner distribute dividends to its shareholders, provided that upon Party As written request, Party C shall immediately distribute all distributable profits to its shareholders; |
2.1.14 |
At the request of Party A, they shall appoint any person designated by Party A as the director or executive director of Party C. |
2.1.15 |
Without Party As prior written consent, they shall not engage in any business in competition with Party A or its affiliates; and |
2.1.16 |
Unless otherwise required by PRC law, Party C shall not be dissolved or liquated without prior written consent by Party A; |
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2.1.17 |
Once PRC laws permits foreign investors to invest in the principal business of Party C in China, with a controlling stake and/or in the form of wholly foreign-owned enterprises, and the competent government authorities of China begin to approve such investments, upon Partys exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option, Party B shall immediately transfer to Party A or the Designee(s) the equity interest in Party C held by Party B. |
2.2 |
Covenants of Party B |
Party B hereby covenants as follows:
2.2.1 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner any legal or beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon, except for the interest placed in accordance with Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement, Party Bs Power of Attorney and this Agreement; |
2.2.2 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall ensure the shareholders meeting and/or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C not to approve any sale, transfer, mortgage or disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest, except for the interest placed in accordance with Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement, Party Bs Power of Attorney and this Agreement; |
2.2.3 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C not to approve the merger or consolidation with any person, or the acquisition of or investment in any person; |
2.2.4 |
Party B shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C held by Party B; |
2.2.5 |
Party B shall ensure the shareholders meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C to vote in favor of the transfer of the Optioned Interests as set forth in this Agreement and to take any and all other actions that may be requested by Party A; |
2.2.6 |
To the extent necessary to maintain Party Bs ownership in Party C, Party B shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims; |
5
2.2.7 |
Party B shall appoint any designee of Party A as the director or the executive director of Party C, at the request of Party A; |
2.2.8 |
Party B gives consent to the execution by each of the other shareholders of Party C with Party A and Party C of the exclusive option agreement, the equity interest pledge agreement and the power of attorney similar to this Agreement, Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party Bs Power of Attorney, and undertakes not to take any action in conflict with such documents executed by such other shareholders; with respect to the transfer of equity interest of Party C by any of the other shareholders of Party C to Party A and/or the Designee(s) pursuant to such shareholders exclusive option agreement, Party B hereby waives all of its right of first refusal (if any). |
2.2.9 |
If Party received any profit distribution, interest, dividend or proceeds of liquidation from Party C, Party B shall promptly donate all such profit distribution, interest, dividend or proceeds of liquidation to Party A or any other person designated by Party A in the manner permitted by the applicable PRC laws; and |
2.2.10 |
Party B shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by and among Party B, Party C and Party A, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. To the extent that Party B has any remaining rights with respect to the equity interests subject to this Agreement hereunder or under the Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement or under the Party Bs Power of Attorney, Party B shall not exercise such rights except in accordance with the written instructions of Party A. |
3. |
Representations and Warranties |
Party B and Party C hereby represent and warrant to Party A, jointly and severally, as of the date of this Agreement and each date of the transfer of the Optioned Interests, that:
3.1 |
They have the power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any equity interest transfer contracts to which they are parties concerning each transfer of the Optioned Interests as described thereunder (each, a Transfer Contract), and to perform their obligations under this Agreement and any Transfer Contracts. Party B and Party C agree to enter into Transfer Contracts substantially consistent with the terms of this Agreement upon Party As exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option. This Agreement and the Transfer Contracts to which they are parties constitute or will constitute their legal, valid and binding obligations and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof; |
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3.2 |
Party B and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from the competent government authorities and third parties (if required) for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. |
3.3 |
The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts and the obligations under this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts shall not: (i) cause any violation of any applicable laws of China; (ii) be inconsistent with the articles of association, bylaws or other organizational documents of Party C; (iii) cause the violation of any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them, or constitute any breach under any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them; (iv) cause any violation of any condition for the grant and/or continued effectiveness of any licenses or permits issued to either of them; or (v) cause the suspension or revocation of or imposition of additional conditions to any licenses or permits issued to either of them; |
3.4 |
Party B has the legal and complete title to the equity interests held by it in Party C. Except for Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party Bs Power of Attorney, Party B has not placed any security interest or encumbrances on such equity interests; |
3.5 |
Party C is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the PRC. Party C has the legal and complete title to all of the assets used in connection with its business operation, and has not placed any security interest on the aforementioned assets; |
3.6 |
Party C does not have any outstanding debts, except for (i) debt incurred during the ordinary course of business; and (ii) debts disclosed to Party A for which Party As written consent has been obtained. |
3.7 |
Party C has complied with all PRC laws and regulations in material aspects; and |
3.8 |
There are no pending or threatened litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C, assets of Party C or Party C. |
4. |
Effective Date and Term |
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, and remain effective until all equity interests held by Party B in Party C have been transferred or assigned to Party A and/or any other person designated by Party A in accordance with this Agreement.
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5. |
Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes |
5.1 |
Governing Law |
The execution, effectiveness, interpretation, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the PRC.
5.2 |
Methods of Resolution of Disputes |
In the event of any dispute with respect to the interpretation and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the Beijing Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with the arbitration rules of such arbitration commission effective at that time. The place of the hearing of the arbitration shall be Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both Parties.
6. |
Taxes and Fees |
Each Party shall pay any and all transfer and registration taxes, expenses and fees incurred thereby or levied thereon in accordance with the laws of China in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts, as well as the consummation of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts.
7. |
Notices |
7.1 |
All notices and other communications required to be given pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise given in connection with this Agreement shall be delivered personally, or sent by registered mail, prepaid postage, a commercial courier service, facsimile transmission or email to the address of such Party set forth below. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall be determined as follows: |
7.1.1 |
Notices given by personal delivery shall be deemed effectively given on the date of receipt at the address set forth below, or the date on which such notices are placed at the address set forth below; |
7.1.2 |
Notices given by courier service, registered mail or prepaid postage shall be deemed effectively given on the date of receipt, refusal or return for any reason at the address set forth below; |
7.1.3 |
Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission to the Fax no. set forth below (as evidenced by an automatically generated confirmation of transmission). Notices given by email shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission, provided that the sending Party has received a system message indicating successful transmission or has not received a system message within 24 hours indicating failure of delivery or return of email. |
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7.2 |
For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows: |
Party A: | Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. | |
Address: |
Room 310309, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing |
|
Attn: | JIN Xing | |
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | jinxing@soyoung.com | |
Party B: | SHAO Hui | |
Address: |
Room 320310, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing |
|
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | shaohui@soyoung.com | |
Party C: | Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. | |
Address: |
Room 320310, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing |
|
Attn: | JIN Xing | |
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | jinxing@soyoung.com |
7.3 |
Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms of this Section. |
8. |
Confidentiality |
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement, and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in connection with the preparation and performance of this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of other Parties, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Partys unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels, or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential information by the shareholders, director, employees of, or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
9. |
Further Warranties |
The Parties agree to promptly execute documents that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and take further actions that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and purposes of this Agreement.
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10. |
Breach of Agreement |
10.1 |
If Party B or Party C materially breaches any provision under this Agreement, or fails to perform, performs incompletely or delays to perform any obligation under this Agreement, it shall constitute a breach under this Agreement on the part of Party B or Party C (as the case may be). Party A is entitled to require Party B or Party C to rectify or take remedial measures. If within ten (10) days after Party A delivers a written notice to Party B or Party C and requires for rectification (or within any other reasonable period required by Party A), Party B or Party C (as the case may be) fails to rectify or take remedial measures, Party A is entitled to, at its sole discretion, (1) terminate this Agreement and require Party B or Party C (as the case may be) to compensate all the losses; or (2) require specific performance of the obligations of Party B or Party C (as the case may be) under this Agreement and require Party B or Party C (as the case may be) to compensate all the losses. This Section shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A under this Agreement. |
10.2 |
Party B or Party C shall not terminate this Agreement unilaterally in any event unless otherwise required by the applicable laws. |
11. |
Miscellaneous |
11.1 |
Amendments, changes and supplements |
Any amendment, change and supplement to this Agreement shall be made in writing by all of the Parties. Any amendment agreement and supplementary agreement duly executed by the Parties hereto with regard to this Agreement shall constitute an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have equal legal validity as this Agreement.
11.2 |
Entire agreement |
Except for the amendments, supplements or changes in writing executed after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement reached by and among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supersede all prior oral and written consultations, representations and contracts reached with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
11.3 |
Headings |
The headings of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be used to interpret, explain or otherwise affect the meanings of the provisions of this Agreement.
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11.4 Severability |
|
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
11.5 Successors |
|
The terms of this Agreement shall be binding on the Parties hereto and their respective successors, heirs (including who inherited the Optioned Interests) and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to the Parties and each of their successors, heirs and permitted assigns.
11.6 Survival |
|
11.6.1 |
Any obligations that occurred or that are due in connection with this Agreement before the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or early termination thereof. |
11.6.2 |
The provisions of Sections 5, 8, 10 and this Section 11.6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
11.7 Waivers |
|
Any Party may waive the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that such a waiver must be provided in writing and shall require the signatures of the Parties. No waiver by any Party in certain circumstances with respect to a breach by other Parties shall operate as a waiver by such a Party with respect to any similar breach in other circumstances.
11.8 Language |
|
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English language in three copies, each Party having one copy. In case of any conflicts between the Chinese version and the English Version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Exclusive Option Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party |
A: /s/ Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (Seal) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|
Name: | JIN Xing | |
Title: | Legal Representative | |
Party B: | SHAO Hui | |
By: |
/s/ SHAO Hui |
|
Party C: | /s/ Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal) | |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|
Name: | JIN Xing | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Exhibit 10.12
Exclusive Option Agreement
This Exclusive Option Agreement (this Agreement) is executed by and among the following Parties as of November 1, in Beijing, the Peoples Republic of China (China or the PRC):
Party A: | Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. | |
Address: | Room 310309, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing | |
Party B: | YU Tao (a Chinese citizen with Identification No.: ******) | |
Party C: | Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. | |
Address: | Room 320301, 3rd Floor, Unit 2, Building 5, No.1 Building, Yitong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing |
In this Agreement, each of Party A, Party B and Party C shall be hereinafter referred to as a Party individually, and as the Parties collectively.
Whereas:
Party B is the shareholder of Party C and as of the date hereof hold 2.52 % of the equity interests of Party C, representing RMB89,277.79 in the registered capital of Party C.
Now therefore, upon mutual discussion and negotiation, the Parties have reached the following agreement:
1. |
Sale and Purchase of Equity Interest |
1.1 |
Option Granted |
Party B hereby irrevocably and unconditionally grants Party A an irrevocable and exclusive right to purchase, or designate one or more persons (each, a Designee) to purchase the equity interests in Party C then held by Party B once or at multiple times at any time in part or in whole at Party As sole and absolute discretion to the extent permitted by Chinese laws and at the price described in Section 1.3 herein (such right being the Equity Interest Purchase Option). Except for Party A and the Designee(s), no other person shall be entitled to the Equity Interest Purchase Option or other rights with respect to the equity interests of Party B. Party C hereby agrees to the grant by Party B of the Equity Interest Purchase Option to Party A. The term person as used herein shall refer to individuals, corporations, partnerships, partners, enterprises, trusts or non-corporate organizations.
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1.2 |
Steps for Exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option |
Subject to the provisions of the laws and regulations of China, Party A may exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option by issuing a written notice to Party B (the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice), specifying:(a) Party As decision to exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option, and the name of the Designee(s) if any; (b) the portion of equity interests to be purchased by Party A or the Designee from Party B (the Optioned Interests); and (c) the date for purchasing the Optioned Interests or the date for the transfer of the Optioned Interests.
1.3 |
Equity Interest Purchase Price |
The total price for the purchase by Party A of all Optioned Interests held by Party B upon exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option by Party A shall be RMB 10 / the amount of registered capital contributed by Party B in Party C for such Optioned Interests (or such price may be as set forth in the equity transfer agreement to be executed between Party A (or the Designee) and Party B separately, provided that such price does not violate PRC laws and regulations and is acceptable to Party A) (the Base Price); if Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option to purchase part of the Optioned Interests held by Party B in Party C, then the purchase price shall be calculated on a pro rata basis. If at the time when Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option, the PRC laws impose mandatory requirements on the purchase price of such Optioned Interests, such that the minimum price permitted under PRC law exceeds the Base Price, then the purchase price shall be such minimum price permitted by PRC law (collectively, the Equity Interest Purchase Price), in which case the Party B shall promptly donate all of the amount exceeding the Basic Price received by it to Party A or any other person designated by Party A in the manner permitted by the applicable PRC laws / Party B hereby waives its right to receive the amount of price that exceeds the Basic Price.
1.4 |
Transfer of Optioned Interests |
For each exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option:
1.4.1 |
Party B shall cause Party C to promptly convene a shareholders meeting, at which a resolution shall be adopted approving Party Bs transfer of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s); |
1.4.2 |
Party B shall obtain written statements from the other shareholders of Party C giving consent to the transfer of the Optioned Interests by Party B to Party A and/or the Designee(s) and waiving any right of first refusal with respect thereto; |
1.4.3 |
Party B shall execute an equity interest transfer contract with respect to each transfer with Party A and/or each Designee (whichever is applicable), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice regarding the Optioned Interests; |
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1.4.4 |
Party B shall, within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice, execute all necessary contracts, agreements or documents with relevant parties, obtain all necessary government approvals and permits, and complete all necessary registrations and filings, so as to transfer valid ownership of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s), unencumbered by any security interests, and cause Party A and/or the Designee(s) to become the registered owner(s) of the Optioned Interests. For the purpose of this Section and this Agreement, security interests shall include securities, mortgages, third partys rights or interests, any stock options, acquisition right, right of first refusal, right to offset, ownership retention or other security arrangements, but shall be deemed to exclude any security interest created by this Agreement, Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party Bs Power of Attorney; Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Interest Pledge Agreement executed by and among Party A, Party B and Party C on the date hereof and any modification, amendment and restatement thereto.; Party Bs Power of Attorney as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Power of Attorney executed by Party B on the date hereof granting Party A with a power of attorney and any modification, amendment and restatement thereto. |
2. |
Covenants |
2.1 |
Covenants regarding Party C |
Party B (as a shareholder of Party C) and Party C hereby covenant as follows:
2.1.1 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not in any manner supplement, change or amend the articles of association of Party C, increase or decrease its registered capital, or change its structure of registered capital in other manners; |
2.1.2 |
They shall maintain Party Cs corporate existence in accordance with good financial and business standards and practices, obtain and maintain all necessary government licenses and permits by prudently and effectively operating its business and handling its affairs; |
2.1.3 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not at any time following the date hereof, sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any manner any material assets of Party C or legal or beneficial interest in the material business or revenues of Party C, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest; |
2.1.4 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not incur, inherit, guarantee or suffer the existence of any debt, except for payables incurred in the ordinary course of business other than through loans; |
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2.1.5 |
They shall always operate all of Party Cs businesses within the ordinary course of business to maintain the asset value of Party C and refrain from any action/omission that may adversely affect Party Cs operating status and asset value; |
2.1.6 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to execute any major contract, except the contracts in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of this subsection, a contract with a price exceeding RMB 500,000 shall be deemed a major contract); |
2.1.7 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to provide any person with any loan or credit; |
2.1.8 |
They shall provide Party A with information on Party Cs business operations and financial condition at Party As request; |
2.1.9 |
If requested by Party A, they shall procure and maintain insurance in respect of Party Cs assets and business from an insurance carrier acceptable to Party A, at an amount and type of coverage typical for companies that operate similar businesses; |
2.1.10 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause or permit Party C to merge, consolidate with, acquire or invest in any person; |
2.1.11 |
They shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to Party Cs assets, business, revenue or equity interest; |
2.1.12 |
To maintain the ownership by Party C of all of its assets, they shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims; |
2.1.13 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall ensure that Party C shall not in any manner distribute dividends to its shareholders, provided that upon Party As written request, Party C shall immediately distribute all distributable profits to its shareholders; |
2.1.14 |
At the request of Party A, they shall appoint any person designated by Party A as the director or executive director of Party C. |
2.1.15 |
Without Party As prior written consent, they shall not engage in any business in competition with Party A or its affiliates; and |
2.1.16 |
Unless otherwise required by PRC law, Party C shall not be dissolved or liquated without prior written consent by Party A; |
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2.1.17 |
Once PRC laws permits foreign investors to invest in the principal business of Party C in China, with a controlling stake and/or in the form of wholly foreign-owned enterprises, and the competent government authorities of China begin to approve such investments, upon Partys exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option, Party B shall immediately transfer to Party A or the Designee(s) the equity interest in Party C held by Party B. |
2.2 |
Covenants of Party B |
Party B hereby covenants as follows:
2.2.1 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner any legal or beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon, except for the interest placed in accordance with Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement, Party Bs Power of Attorney and this Agreement; |
2.2.2 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall ensure the shareholders meeting and/or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C not to approve any sale, transfer, mortgage or disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest, except for the interest placed in accordance with Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement, Party Bs Power of Attorney and this Agreement; |
2.2.3 |
Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C not to approve the merger or consolidation with any person, or the acquisition of or investment in any person; |
2.2.4 |
Party B shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C held by Party B; |
2.2.5 |
Party B shall ensure the shareholders meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C to vote in favor of the transfer of the Optioned Interests as set forth in this Agreement and to take any and all other actions that may be requested by Party A; |
2.2.6 |
To the extent necessary to maintain Party Bs ownership in Party C, Party B shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims; |
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2.2.7 |
Party B shall appoint any designee of Party A as the director or the executive director of Party C, at the request of Party A; |
2.2.8 |
Party B gives consent to the execution by each of the other shareholders of Party C with Party A and Party C of the exclusive option agreement, the equity interest pledge agreement and the power of attorney similar to this Agreement, Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party Bs Power of Attorney, and undertakes not to take any action in conflict with such documents executed by such other shareholders; with respect to the transfer of equity interest of Party C by any of the other shareholders of Party C to Party A and/or the Designee(s) pursuant to such shareholders exclusive option agreement, Party B hereby waives all of its right of first refusal (if any). |
2.2.9 |
If Party received any profit distribution, interest, dividend or proceeds of liquidation from Party C, Party B shall promptly donate all such profit distribution, interest, dividend or proceeds of liquidation to Party A or any other person designated by Party A in the manner permitted by the applicable PRC laws; and |
2.2.10 |
Party B shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by and among Party B, Party C and Party A, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. To the extent that Party B has any remaining rights with respect to the equity interests subject to this Agreement hereunder or under the Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement or under the Party Bs Power of Attorney, Party B shall not exercise such rights except in accordance with the written instructions of Party A. |
3. |
Representations and Warranties |
Party B and Party C hereby represent and warrant to Party A, jointly and severally, as of the date of this Agreement and each date of the transfer of the Optioned Interests, that:
3.1 |
They have the power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any equity interest transfer contracts to which they are parties concerning each transfer of the Optioned Interests as described thereunder (each, a Transfer Contract), and to perform their obligations under this Agreement and any Transfer Contracts. Party B and Party C agree to enter into Transfer Contracts substantially consistent with the terms of this Agreement upon Party As exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option. This Agreement and the Transfer Contracts to which they are parties constitute or will constitute their legal, valid and binding obligations and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof; |
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3.2 |
Party B and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from the competent government authorities and third parties (if required) for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. |
3.3 |
The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts and the obligations under this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts shall not: (i) cause any violation of any applicable laws of China; (ii) be inconsistent with the articles of association, bylaws or other organizational documents of Party C; (iii) cause the violation of any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them, or constitute any breach under any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them; (iv) cause any violation of any condition for the grant and/or continued effectiveness of any licenses or permits issued to either of them; or (v) cause the suspension or revocation of or imposition of additional conditions to any licenses or permits issued to either of them; |
3.4 |
Party B has the legal and complete title to the equity interests held by it in Party C. Except for Party Bs Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party Bs Power of Attorney, Party B has not placed any security interest or encumbrances on such equity interests; |
3.5 |
Party C is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the PRC. Party C has the legal and complete title to all of the assets used in connection with its business operation, and has not placed any security interest on the aforementioned assets; |
3.6 |
Party C does not have any outstanding debts, except for (i) debt incurred during the ordinary course of business; and (ii) debts disclosed to Party A for which Party As written consent has been obtained. |
3.7 |
Party C has complied with all PRC laws and regulations in material aspects; and |
3.8 |
There are no pending or threatened litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C, assets of Party C or Party C. |
4. |
Effective Date and Term |
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, and remain effective until all equity interests held by Party B in Party C have been transferred or assigned to Party A and/or any other person designated by Party A in accordance with this Agreement.
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5. |
Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes |
5.1 |
Governing Law |
The execution, effectiveness, interpretation, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the PRC.
5.2 |
Methods of Resolution of Disputes |
In the event of any dispute with respect to the interpretation and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the Beijing Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with the arbitration rules of such arbitration commission effective at that time. The place of the hearing of the arbitration shall be Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both Parties.
6. |
Taxes and Fees |
Each Party shall pay any and all transfer and registration taxes, expenses and fees incurred thereby or levied thereon in accordance with the laws of China in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts, as well as the consummation of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts.
7. |
Notices |
7.1 |
All notices and other communications required to be given pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise given in connection with this Agreement shall be delivered personally, or sent by registered mail, prepaid postage, a commercial courier service, facsimile transmission or email to the address of such Party set forth below. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall be determined as follows: |
7.1.1 |
Notices given by personal delivery shall be deemed effectively given on the date of receipt at the address set forth below, or the date on which such notices are placed at the address set forth below; |
7.1.2 |
Notices given by courier service, registered mail or prepaid postage shall be deemed effectively given on the date of receipt, refusal or return for any reason at the address set forth below; |
7.1.3 |
Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission to the Fax no. set forth below (as evidenced by an automatically generated confirmation of transmission). Notices given by email shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission, provided that the sending Party has received a system message indicating successful transmission or has not received a system message within 24 hours indicating failure of delivery or return of email. |
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7.2 |
For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows: |
Party A: | Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. | |
Address: | Room 310309, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing | |
Attn: | JIN Xing | |
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | jinxing@soyoung.com | |
Party B: | YU Tao | |
Address: | Room 320310, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing | |
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | yutao@soyoung.com | |
Party C: | Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. | |
Address: | Room 320310, 3rd Floor, Unit 1, Building 5, No.1, Yutong East Main Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing | |
Attn: | JIN Xing | |
Tel: | 86-10-85911839 | |
Email: | jinxing@soyoung.com |
7.3 |
Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms of this Section. |
8. |
Confidentiality |
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement, and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in connection with the preparation and performance of this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of other Parties, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Partys unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels, or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential information by the shareholders, director, employees of, or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
9. |
Further Warranties |
The Parties agree to promptly execute documents that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and take further actions that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and purposes of this Agreement.
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10. |
Breach of Agreement |
10.1 |
If Party B or Party C materially breaches any provision under this Agreement, or fails to perform, performs incompletely or delays to perform any obligation under this Agreement, it shall constitute a breach under this Agreement on the part of Party B or Party C (as the case may be). Party A is entitled to require Party B or Party C to rectify or take remedial measures. If within ten (10) days after Party A delivers a written notice to Party B or Party C and requires for rectification (or within any other reasonable period required by Party A), Party B or Party C (as the case may be) fails to rectify or take remedial measures, Party A is entitled to, at its sole discretion, (1) terminate this Agreement and require Party B or Party C (as the case may be) to compensate all the losses; or (2) require specific performance of the obligations of Party B or Party C (as the case may be) under this Agreement and require Party B or Party C (as the case may be) to compensate all the losses. This Section shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A under this Agreement. |
10.2 |
Party B or Party C shall not terminate this Agreement unilaterally in any event unless otherwise required by the applicable laws. |
11. |
Miscellaneous |
11.1 |
Amendments, changes and supplements |
Any amendment, change and supplement to this Agreement shall be made in writing by all of the Parties. Any amendment agreement and supplementary agreement duly executed by the Parties hereto with regard to this Agreement shall constitute an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have equal legal validity as this Agreement.
11.2 |
Entire agreement |
Except for the amendments, supplements or changes in writing executed after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement reached by and among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supersede all prior oral and written consultations, representations and contracts reached with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
11.3 |
Headings |
The headings of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be used to interpret, explain or otherwise affect the meanings of the provisions of this Agreement.
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11.4 |
Severability |
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
11.5 |
Successors |
The terms of this Agreement shall be binding on the Parties hereto and their respective successors, heirs (including who inherited the Optioned Interests) and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to the Parties and each of their successors, heirs and permitted assigns.
11.6 |
Survival |
11.6.1 |
Any obligations that occurred or that are due in connection with this Agreement before the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or early termination thereof. |
11.6.2 |
The provisions of Sections 5, 8, 10 and this Section 11.6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
11.7 |
Waivers |
Any Party may waive the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that such a waiver must be provided in writing and shall require the signatures of the Parties. No waiver by any Party in certain circumstances with respect to a breach by other Parties shall operate as a waiver by such a Party with respect to any similar breach in other circumstances.
11.8 |
Language |
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English language in three copies, each Party having one copy. In case of any conflicts between the Chinese version and the English Version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Exclusive Option Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A: | /s/ Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (Seal) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|
Name: | JIN Xing | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Party B: | YU Tao |
By: |
/s/ YU Tao |
Party C: |
/s/ Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal) |
By: |
/s/ JIN Xing |
|
Name: | JIN Xing | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Exhibit 10.13
Spousal Consent
Date: November 1, 2018
The undersigned, [Name of Spouse], a Peoples Republic of China (China or the PRC) citizen with PRC Identification Card No.: [ID Card Number], is the lawful spouse of [Name of VIE Shareholder], a PRC citizen with PRC Identification No.: [ID Card Number]. I hereby unconditionally and irrevocably agree to the execution of the following documents (hereinafter referred to as the Transaction Documents ) by [Name of VIE Shareholder] on November 1, 2018, and the disposal of the equity interests of Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. ( So-Young Technology ) held by [Name of VIE Shareholder] and registered in her name according to the following documents:
(1) |
The Equity Interest Pledge Agreement entered into with Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the WFOE ) and So-Young Technology; |
(2) |
The Exclusive Option Agreement entered into with the WFOE and So-Young Technology; and |
(3) |
The Power of Attorney executed by [Name of VIE Shareholder]. |
I hereby undertake not to make any assertions in connection with the equity interests of So-Young Technology which are held by [Name of VIE Shareholder]. I hereby further confirm that [Name of VIE Shareholder] can perform the Transaction Documents and further amend or terminate the Transaction Documents without the authorization or consent from me.
I hereby undertake to execute all necessary documents and take all necessary actions to ensure appropriate performance of the Transaction Documents (as may be amended from time to time).
I hereby agree and undertake that if I obtain any equity interests of So-Young Technology which are held by [Name of VIE Shareholder] for any reasons, I shall be bound by the Transaction Documents and the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement entered into between the WFOE and So-Young Technology as of November 1, 2018 (the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement ) (as may be amended from time to time) and comply with the obligations thereunder as a shareholder of So-Young Technology. For this purpose, upon the WFOEs request, I shall sign a series of written documents in substantially the same format and content as the Transaction Documents and the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (as may be amended from time to time).
[The Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank]
/s/ [Name of Spouse] |
[Name of Spouse] |
Schedule of Material Differences
One or more persons entered into a spousal consent using this form. Pursuant to Instruction ii to Item 601 of Regulation S-K, the Registrant may only file this form as an exhibit with a schedule setting forth the material details in which the executed agreements differ from this form:
No. |
Name of Spouse |
Name of VIE Shareholder |
||
1 | GAO Jie | JIN Xing | ||
2 | ZHANG Xia | SHAO Hui | ||
3 | WANG Wenjie | YU Tao |
Exhibit 21.1
Principal subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities of the Registrant
Subsidiaries |
Place of Incorporation |
|
So-Young Hong Kong Limited | Hong Kong | |
Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. | PRC | |
VIE |
Place of Incorporation |
|
Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. | PRC | |
VIEs Subsidiaries |
Place of Incorporation |
|
Beijing So-Young Souyang Investment Management Co., Ltd. | PRC | |
Beijing So-Young Qingyang Medical Device Co., Ltd. | PRC | |
Beijing Shengshi Meiyan Culture Co., Ltd. | PRC |
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form F-1 of So-Young International Inc. of our report dated March 14, 2019 relating to the financial statements of So-Young International Inc., which appears in this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading Experts in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP
Beijing, the Peoples Republic of China
April 8, 2019
Exhibit 99.1
SO-YOUNG INTERNATIONAL INC.
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
I. PURPOSE
This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the Code ) contains general guidelines for conducting the business of So-Young International Inc., a Cayman Islands company, and its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, the Company ) consistent with the highest standards of business ethics, and is intended to qualify as a code of ethics within the meaning of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder. To the extent this Code requires a higher standard than required by commercial practice or applicable laws, rules or regulations, we adhere to these higher standards.
This Code is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:
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honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; |
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full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC ) and in other public communications made by the Company; |
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compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; |
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prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code; and |
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accountability for adherence to the Code. |
II. APPLICABILITY
This Code applies to all directors, officers and employees of the Company, whether they work for the Company on a full-time, part-time, consultative or temporary basis (each, an employee and collectively, the employees ). Certain provisions of the Code apply specifically to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, senior financial officer, controller, senior vice presidents, vice presidents and any other persons who perform similar functions for the Company (each, a senior officer , and collectively, the senior officers ).
The Board of Directors of the Company (the Board ) has appointed Min Yu as the Compliance Officer for the Company (the Compliance Officer ). If you have any questions regarding the Code or would like to report any violation of the Code, please email the Compliance Officer at compliance@soyoung.com.
This Code has been adopted by the Board and shall become effective (the Effective Time ) upon the effectiveness of the Companys registration statement on Form F-1 filed by the Company with the SEC relating to the Companys initial public offering.
III. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Identifying Conflicts of Interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an employees private interest interferes, or appears to interfere, in any way with the interests of the Company as a whole. An employee should actively avoid any private interest that may impact such employees ability to act in the interests of the Company or that may make it difficult to perform the employees work objectively and effectively. In general, the following should be considered conflicts of interest:
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Competing Business . No employee may be employed by a business that competes with the Company or deprives it of any business. |
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Corporate Opportunity . No employee should use corporate property, information or his/her position with the Company to secure a business opportunity that would otherwise be available to the Company. If an employee discovers a business opportunity that is in the Companys line of business through the use of the Companys property, information or position, the employee must first present the business opportunity to the Company before pursuing the opportunity in his/her individual capacity. |
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Financial Interests . |
(i) |
No employee may have any financial interest (ownership or otherwise), either directly or indirectly through a spouse or other family member, in any other business or entity if such interest adversely affects the employees performance of duties or responsibilities to the Company, or requires the employee to devote time to it during such employees working hours at the Company; |
(ii) |
No employee may hold any ownership interest in a privately held company that is in competition with the Company; |
(iii) |
An employee may hold up to 5% ownership interest in a publicly traded company that is in competition with the Company; provided that if the employees ownership interest in such publicly traded company increases to more than 5%, the employee must immediately report such ownership to the Compliance Officer; |
(iv) |
No employee may hold any ownership interest in a company that has a business relationship with the Company if such employees duties at the Company include managing or supervising the Companys business relations with that company; and |
(v) |
Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Code, |
(a) a director or any family member of such director (collectively, Director Affiliates ) or a senior officer or any family member of such senior officer (collectively, Officer Affiliates ) may continue to hold his/her investment or other financial interest in a business or entity (an Interested Business ) that:
(1) was made or obtained either (x) before the Company invested in or otherwise became interested in such business or entity; or (y) before the director or senior officer joined the Company (for the avoidance of doubt, regardless of whether the Company had or had not already invested in or otherwise become interested in such business or entity at the time the director or senior officer joined the Company); or
(2) may in the future be made or obtained by the director or senior officer, provided that at the time such investment or other financial interest is made or obtained, the Company has not yet invested in or otherwise become interested in such business or entity;
provided that such director or senior officer shall disclose such investment or other financial interest to the Board;
(b) an interested director or senior officer shall refrain from participating in any discussion among senior officers of the Company relating to an Interested Business and shall not be involved in any proposed transaction between the Company and an Interested Business; and
(c) before any Director Affiliate or Officer Affiliate (i) invests, or otherwise acquires any equity or other financial interest, in a business or entity that is in competition with the Company; or (ii) enters into any transaction with the Company, the related director or senior officer shall obtain prior approval from the Audit Committee of the Board.
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Loans or Other Financial Transactions . No employee may obtain loans or guarantees of personal obligations from, or enter into any other personal financial transaction with, any company that is a material client, business partner or competitor of the Company. This guideline does not prohibit arms-length transactions with recognized banks or other financial institutions. |
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Service on Boards and Committees . No employee shall serve on a board of directors or trustees or on a committee of any entity (whether profit or not-for-profit) whose interests could reasonably be expected to conflict with those of the Company. Employees must obtain prior approval from the Board before accepting any such board or committee position. The Company may revisit its approval of any such position at any time to determine whether an employees service in such position is still appropriate. |
The above is in no way a complete list of situations where conflicts of interest may arise. The following questions might serve as a useful guide in assessing a potential conflict of interest situation not specifically addressed above:
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Is the action to be taken legal? |
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Is it honest and fair? |
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Is it in the best interests of the Company? |
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
The Company requires that employees fully disclose any situations that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest. If an employee suspects that he/she has a conflict of interest, or a situation that others could reasonably perceive as a conflict of interest, the employee must report it immediately to the Compliance Officer. Conflicts of interest may only be waived by the Board, or the appropriate committee of the Board, and will be promptly disclosed to the public to the extent required by law and applicable rules of the applicable stock exchange.
Family Members and Work
The actions of family members outside the workplace may also give rise to conflicts of interest because they may influence an employees objectivity in making decisions on behalf of the Company. If a member of an employees family is interested in doing business with the Company, the criteria as to whether to enter into or continue the business relationship and the terms and conditions of the relationship must be no less favorable to the Company compared with those that would apply to an unrelated party seeking to do business with the Company under similar circumstances.
Employees should report any situation involving family members that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest to their supervisor or the Compliance Officer. For purposes of this Code, family members or members of employees family include an employees spouse, parents, children and siblings, whether by blood, marriage or adoption or anyone residing in such employees home.
IV. GIFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
The giving and receiving of appropriate gifts may be considered common business practice. Appropriate business gifts and entertainment are welcome courtesies designed to build relationships and understanding among business partners. However, gifts and entertainment should never compromise, or appear to compromise, an employees ability to make objective and fair business decisions.
It is the responsibility of employees to use good judgment in this area. As a general rule, employees may give or receive gifts or entertainment to or from clients or business partners only if the gift or entertainment is in compliance with applicable law, insignificant in amount and not given in consideration or expectation of any action by the recipient. All gifts and entertainment expenses made on behalf of the Company must be properly accounted for on expense reports.
We encourage employees to submit gifts received to the Company. While it is not mandatory to submit small gifts, gifts of over US$100 must be submitted immediately to the human resources department of the Company.
Bribes and kickbacks are criminal acts, strictly prohibited by law. An employee must not offer, give, solicit or receive any form of bribe or kickback anywhere in the world.
V. FCPA COMPLIANCE
The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ( FCPA ) prohibits giving anything of value, directly or indirectly, to officials of foreign governments or foreign political candidates in order to obtain or retain business. A violation of FCPA does not only violate the Companys policy but also constitute a civil or criminal offense under FCPA which the Company is subject to after the Effective Time. No employee shall give or authorize directly or indirectly any illegal payments to government officials of any country. While the FCPA does, in certain limited circumstances, allow nominal facilitating payments to be made, any such payment must be discussed with and approved by an employees supervisor in advance before it can be made.
VI. PROTECTION AND USE OF COMPANY ASSETS
Employees should protect the Companys assets and ensure their efficient use for legitimate business purposes only. Theft, carelessness and waste have a direct impact on the Companys profitability. Any use of the funds or assets of the Company, whether for personal gain or not, for any unlawful or improper purpose is strictly prohibited.
To ensure the protection and proper use of the Companys assets, each employee should:
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exercise reasonable care to prevent theft, damage or misuse of the Companys assets; |
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promptly report any actual or suspected theft, damage or misuse of the Companys assets; |
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safeguard all electronic programs, data, communications and written materials from unauthorized access; and |
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use the Companys assets only for legitimate business purposes. |
Except as approved in advance by the chief executive officer or chief financial officer of the Company, the Company prohibits political contributions (directly or through trade associations) by any employee on behalf of the Company. Prohibited political contributions include:
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any contributions of the Companys funds or other assets for political purposes; |
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encouraging individual employees to make any such contribution; and |
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reimbursing an employee for any political contribution. |
VII. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Employees should abide by the Companys rules and policies in protecting the intellectual property and confidential information, including the following:
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All inventions, creative works, computer software, and technical or trade secrets developed by an employee in the course of performing the employees duties or primarily through the use of the Companys assets or resources while working at the Company shall be the property of the Company. |
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Employees should maintain the confidentiality of information entrusted to them by the Company or entities with which the Company has business relations, except when disclosure is authorized or legally mandated. Confidential information includes all non-public information that might be of use to competitors, or harmful to the company or its business associates, if disclosed. |
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The Company maintains a strict confidentiality policy. During an employees term of employment with the Company, the employee shall comply with any and all written or unwritten rules and policies concerning confidentiality and shall fulfill the duties and responsibilities concerning confidentiality applicable to the employee. |
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In addition to fulfilling the responsibilities associated with his/her position in the Company, an employee shall not, without obtaining prior approval from the Company, disclose, announce or publish trade secrets or other confidential business information of the Company, nor shall an employee use such confidential information outside the course of his/her duties to the Company. |
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Even outside the work environment, an employee must maintain vigilance and refrain from disclosing important information regarding the Company or its business, business associates or employees. |
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An employees duty of confidentiality with respect to the confidential information of the Company survives the termination of such employees employment with the Company for any reason until such time as the Company discloses such information publicly or the information otherwise becomes available in the public sphere through no fault of the employee. |
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Upon termination of employment, or at such time as the Company requests, an employee must return to the Company all of its property without exception, including all forms of medium containing confidential information, and may not retain duplicate materials. |
VIII. ACCURACY OF FINANCIAL REPORTS AND OTHER PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Upon the Effective Time, the Company will be required to report its financial results and other material information about its business to the public and the SEC. It is the Companys policy to promptly disclose accurate and complete information regarding its business, financial condition and results of operations. Employees must strictly comply with all applicable standards, laws, regulations and policies for accounting and financial reporting of transactions, estimates and forecasts. Inaccurate, incomplete or untimely reporting will not be tolerated and can severely damage the Company and result in legal liability.
Employees should be on guard for, and promptly report, any possibility of inaccurate or incomplete financial reporting. Particular attention should be paid to:
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Financial results that seem inconsistent with the performance of the underlying business; |
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Transactions that do not seem to have an obvious business purpose; and |
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Requests to circumvent ordinary review and approval procedures. |
The Companys senior financial officers and other employees working in the finance department have a special responsibility to ensure that all of the Companys financial disclosures are full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable. Any practice or situation that might undermine this objective should be reported to the Compliance Officer.
Employees are prohibited from directly or indirectly taking any action to coerce, manipulate, mislead or fraudulently influence the Companys independent auditors for the purpose of rendering the financial statements of the Company materially misleading. Prohibited actions include but are not limited to:
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issuing or reissuing a report on the Companys financial statements that is not warranted in the circumstances (due to material violations of U.S. GAAP, generally accepted auditing standards or other professional or regulatory standards); |
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not performing audit, review or other procedures required by generally accepted auditing standards or other professional standards; |
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not withdrawing an issued report when withdrawal is warranted under the circumstances; or |
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not communicating matters required to be communicated to the Companys Audit Committee. |
IX. COMPANY RECORDS
Accurate and reliable records are crucial to the Companys business and form the basis of its earnings statements, financial reports and other disclosures to the public. The Companys records are a source of essential data that guides business decision-making and strategic planning. Company records include, but are not limited to, booking information, payroll, timecards, travel and expense reports, e-mails, accounting and financial data, measurement and performance records, electronic data files and all other records maintained in the ordinary course of business.
All Company records must be complete, accurate and reliable in all material respects. There is never an acceptable reason to make false or misleading entries. Undisclosed or unrecorded funds, payments or receipts are strictly prohibited. An employee is responsible for understanding and complying with the Companys recordkeeping policy. An employee should contact the Compliance Officer if he/she has any questions regarding the recordkeeping policy.
X. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Each employee has an obligation to comply with the laws of the cities, provinces, regions and countries in which the Company operates. This includes, without limitation, laws covering commercial bribery and kickbacks, patent, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets, information privacy, insider trading, offering or receiving gratuities, employment harassment, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, false or misleading financial information, misuse of corporate assets and foreign currency exchange activities. Employees are expected to understand and comply with all laws, rules and regulations that apply to their positions at the Company. If any doubt exists about whether a course of action is lawful, the employee should seek advice immediately from the Compliance Officer.
XI. DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT
The Company is firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, national origin or any other protected class. For further information, employees should consult the Compliance Officer.
XII. FAIR DEALING
Each employee should endeavor to deal fairly with the Companys clients, business partners, competitors and employees. None should take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair-dealing practice.
XIII. HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Company strives to provide employees with a safe and healthy work environment. Each employee has responsibility for maintaining a safe and healthy workplace for other employees by following environmental, safety and health rules and practices and reporting accidents, injuries and unsafe equipment, practices or conditions. Violence or threats of violence are not permitted.
Each employee is expected to perform his/her duty to the Company in a safe manner, not under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or other controlled substances. The use of illegal drugs or other controlled substances in the workplace is prohibited.
XIV. VIOLATIONS OF THE CODE
All employees have a duty to report any known or suspected violation of this Code, including any violation of laws, rules, regulations or policies that apply to the Company. Reporting a known or suspected violation of this Code by others will not be considered an act of disloyalty, but an action to safeguard the reputation and integrity of the Company and its employees.
If an employee knows of or suspects a violation of this Code, it is such employees responsibility to immediately report the violation to the Compliance Officer, who will work with the employee to investigate his/her concern. All questions and reports of known or suspected violations of this Code will be treated with sensitivity and discretion. The Compliance Officer and the Company will protect the employees confidentiality to the extent possible, consistent with the law and the Companys need to investigate the employees concern.
It is the Companys policy that any employee who violates this Code will be subject to appropriate discipline, including termination of employment, based upon the facts and circumstances of each particular situation. An employees conduct, if it does not comply with the law or with this Code, can result in serious consequences for both the employee and the Company.
The Company strictly prohibits retaliation against an employee who, in good faith, seeks help or reports known or suspected violations. An employee inflicting reprisal or retaliation against another employee for reporting a known or suspected violation will be subject to disciplinary action, including termination of employment.
XV. WAIVERS OF THE CODE
Waivers of this Code will be granted on a case-by-case basis and only in extraordinary circumstances. Waivers of this Code may be made only by the Board, or the appropriate committee of the Board, and may be promptly disclosed to the public if so required by applicable laws and regulations and rules of the applicable stock exchange.
XVI. CONCLUSION
This Code contains general guidelines for conducting the business of the Company consistent with the highest standards of business ethics. If employees have any questions about these guidelines, they should contact the Compliance Officer. We expect all employees to adhere to these standards. Each employee is separately responsible for his/her actions. Conduct that violates the law or this Code cannot be justified by claiming that it was ordered by a supervisor or someone in higher management positions. If an employee engages in conduct prohibited by the law or this Code, such employee will be deemed to have acted outside the scope of his/her employment. Such conduct will subject the employee to disciplinary action, including termination of employment.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Exhibit 99.2
漢 坤 律 師 事 務 所
H AN K UN L AW O FFICES
9/F, Office Tower C1, Oriental Plaza, 1 East Chang An Avenue, Beijing 100738, P. R. China
T EL : (86 10) 8525 5500; F AX : (86 10) 8525 5511 / 8525 5522
Beijing Shanghai Shenzhen Hong Kong
www.hankunlaw.com
April 8, 2019
To: So-Young International Inc. (the Company )
3/F, Wangjing SOHO-Tower 3A
Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100102
The Peoples Republic of China
Dear Sirs or Madams:
We are lawyers qualified in the Peoples Republic of China (the PRC or China , which, for purposes of this opinion only, does not include the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region or Taiwan) and as such are qualified to issue this opinion on the laws and regulations of the PRC effective as of the date hereof.
We are acting as PRC counsel to the Company in connection with (i) the proposed initial public offering (the Offering ) of certain number of American Depositary Shares (the ADSs ), each representing certain number of Class A ordinary shares of the Company, as set forth in the Companys registration statement on Form F-1, including all amendments or supplements thereto (the Registration Statement ), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) in relation to the Offering, and (ii) the Companys proposed listing of the ADSs on the NASDAQ Global Market.
A. |
Documents and Assumptions |
In rendering this opinion, we have carried out due diligence and examined copies of the Registration Statement and other documents (collectively the Documents ) as we have considered necessary or advisable for the purpose of rendering this opinion. Where certain facts were not independently established and verified by us, we have relied upon certificates or statements issued or made by the relevant Governmental Agencies (as defined below) and appropriate representatives of the Company and the PRC Companies (as defined below). In giving this opinion, we have made the following assumptions (the Assumptions ):
(1) |
all signatures, seals and chops are genuine, each signature on behalf of a party thereto is that of a person duly authorized by such party to execute the same, all Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic, and all Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the originals; |
(2) |
each of the parties to the Documents, other than the PRC Companies, (i) if a legal person or other entity, is duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and/or incorporation, (ii) if an individual, has full capacity for civil conduct; each of them, other than the PRC Companies, has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its, her or his obligations under the Documents to which it, she or he is a party in accordance with the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and/or the laws that it, she or he is subject to; |
漢 坤 律 師 事 務 所
H AN K UN L AW O FFICES
(3) |
the Documents presented to us remain in full force and effect on the date of this opinion and have not been revoked, amended or supplemented, and no amendments, revisions, supplements, modifications or other changes have been made, and no revocation or termination has occurred, with respect to any of the Documents after they were submitted to us for the purposes of this opinion; |
(4) |
the laws of jurisdictions other than the PRC which may be applicable to the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of the Documents are complied with; |
(5) |
all requested Documents have been provided to us and all factual statements made to us by the Company and the PRC Companies in connection with this opinion, including but not limited to the statements set forth in the Documents, are true, correct and complete; |
(6) |
all explanations and interpretations provided by government officials duly reflect the official position of the relevant Governmental Agencies and are complete, true and correct; |
(7) |
each of the Documents is legal, valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their respective governing laws other than PRC Laws (as defined below) in any and all respects; |
(8) |
all consents, licenses, permits, approvals, exemptions or authorizations required by, and all required registrations or filings with, any governmental authority or regulatory body of any jurisdiction other than the PRC in connection with the transactions contemplated under the Documents have been obtained or made, and are in full force and effect as of the date thereof; and |
(9) |
all Governmental Authorizations (as defined below) and other official statements and documentation obtained by the Company or any PRC Company from any Governmental Agency have been obtained by lawful means in due course, and the Documents provided to us conform with those documents submitted to Governmental Agencies for such purposes. |
In addition, we have assumed and have not verified the truthfulness, accuracy and completeness as to factual matters of each Document we have reviewed.
2
漢 坤 律 師 事 務 所
H AN K UN L AW O FFICES
B. |
Definitions |
In addition to the terms defined in the context of this opinion, the following capitalized terms used in this opinion shall have the meanings ascribed to them as follows.
Beijing So-Young | Beijing So-Young Technology Co., Ltd. ( 北京新氧科技有限公司 ) | |
Governmental Agency | means any national, provincial or local governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency or commission in the PRC, or any court, tribunal or any other judicial or arbitral body in the PRC, or any body exercising, or entitled to exercise, any administrative, judicial, legislative, law enforcement, regulatory, or taxing authority or power of a similar nature in the PRC. | |
Governmental Authorization | means any license, approval, consent, waiver, order, sanction, certificate, authorization, filing, declaration, disclosure, registration, exemption, permission, endorsement, annual inspection, clearance, qualification, permit or license by, from or with any Governmental Agency pursuant to any PRC Laws. | |
M&A Rules | means the Provisions on Merging and Acquiring Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, which was promulgated by six Governmental Agencies, namely, the Ministry of Commerce, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Administration for Taxation, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (predecessor of the State Administration for Market Regulation), the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the CSRC ), and the SAFE, on August 8, 2006 and became effective on September 8, 2006, as amended by the Ministry of Commerce on June 22, 2009. | |
PRC Companies | means, collectively, Beijing So-Young and So-Young Wanwei, and each, a PRC Company . | |
PRC Laws | means all applicable national, provincial and local laws, regulations, rules, notices, orders, decrees and judicial interpretations of the PRC currently in effect and publicly available on the date of this opinion. | |
So-Young Wanwei | Beijing So-Young Wanwei Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. ( 北京新氧万维科技咨询有限公司 ) | |
VIE Agreements | means the contracts, agreements and instruments as listed in Schedule A attached hereto. |
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漢 坤 律 師 事 務 所
H AN K UN L AW O FFICES
C. |
Opinions |
Based on our review of the Documents and subject to the Assumptions and the Qualifications (as defined below), we are of the opinion that:
(1) |
VIE Structure . The ownership structure of So-Young Wanwei and Beijing So-Young does not result in any violation of PRC Laws currently in effect, and the contractual arrangements between So-Young Wanwei, Beijing So-Young and the shareholders of Beijing So-Young contemplated under the VIE Agreements as governed by PRC Laws are valid, binding and enforceable, and will not result in any violation of PRC Laws currently in effect. However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current PRC Laws and there can be no assurance that the PRC Governmental Agency will ultimately take a view that is consistent with our opinion stated above. |
(2) |
M&A Rules . Based on our understanding of the explicit provisions under the PRC Laws as of the date hereof, we are of the opinion that the CSRCs approval is not required to be obtained for the Offering, because (i) the CSRC currently has not issued any definitive rule or interpretation concerning whether the Offering is subject to the M&A Rules; (ii) So-Young Wanwei is established by means of direct investment rather than by merger or acquisition directly or indirectly of the equity interest or assets of any domestic company as defined under the M&A Rules, and (C) no provision in the M&A Rules classifies the contractual arrangements contemplated under the VIE Agreements as a type of acquisition transaction falling under the M&A Rules. However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current PRC Laws and there can be no assurance that the PRC Governmental Agency will ultimately take a view that is consistent with our opinion stated above. |
(3) |
Enforceability of Civil Procedures. There is uncertainty as to whether the courts of China would (i) recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts 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, or (ii) entertain original actions brought in each respective jurisdiction against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. 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 PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other form of reciprocity with the United States or the Cayman Islands that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, courts in the PRC will not enforce a foreign judgment against a company or its 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 United States or the Cayman Islands. |
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漢 坤 律 師 事 務 所
H AN K UN L AW O FFICES
(4) |
Taxation . The statements made in the Registration Statement under the caption TaxationPRC Taxation, with respect to the PRC tax laws and regulations or interpretations, constitute true and accurate descriptions of the matters described therein in all material aspects. |
Our opinions expressed above are subject to the following qualifications (the Qualifications ):
(1) |
Our opinions are limited to PRC Laws of general application on the date hereof. We have made no investigation of, and do not express or imply any views on, the laws of any jurisdiction other than the PRC, and we have assumed that no such other laws would affect our opinions expressed above. |
(2) |
PRC Laws referred to herein are laws and regulations publicly available and currently in force on the date hereof and there is no guarantee that any of such laws and regulations, or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, will not be changed, amended or revoked in the future with or without retrospective effect. |
(3) |
Our opinions are subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws in the PRC affecting creditors rights generally, and (ii) possible judicial or administrative actions or any PRC Laws affecting creditors rights. |
(4) |
Our opinions are subject to the effects of (i) certain legal or statutory principles affecting the enforceability of contractual rights generally under the concepts of public interests, social ethics, national security, good faith, fair dealing, and applicable statutes of limitation; (ii) any circumstance in connection with the formulation, execution or performance of any legal documents that would be deemed materially mistaken, clearly unconscionable, fraudulent, coercionary or concealing illegal intentions with a lawful form; (iii) judicial discretion with respect to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, remedies or defenses, or the calculation of damages; and (iv) the discretion of any competent PRC legislative, administrative or judicial bodies in exercising their authority in the PRC. |
5
漢 坤 律 師 事 務 所
H AN K UN L AW O FFICES
(5) |
This opinion is issued based on our understanding of PRC Laws. For matters not explicitly provided under PRC Laws, the interpretation, implementation and application of the specific requirements under PRC Laws, as well as their application to and effect on the legality, binding effect and enforceability of certain contracts, are subject to the final discretion of competent PRC legislative, administrative and judicial authorities. Under PRC Laws, foreign investment is restricted in certain industries. The interpretation and implementation of these laws and regulations, and their application to and effect on the legality, binding effect and enforceability of contracts such as the VIE Agreements and transactions contemplated by the VIE Agreements, are subject to the discretion of the competent Governmental Agency. |
(6) |
The term enforceable or enforceability as used in this opinion means that the obligations assumed by the relevant obligors under the relevant Documents are of a type which the courts of the PRC may enforce. It does not mean that those obligations will necessarily be enforced in all circumstances in accordance with their respective terms and/or additional terms that may be imposed by the courts. As used in this opinion, the expression to the best of our knowledge after due inquiry or similar language with reference to matters of fact refers to the current, actual knowledge of the attorneys of this firm who have worked on matters for the Company in connection with the Offering and the transactions contemplated thereby. We may rely, as to matters of fact (but not as to legal conclusions), to the extent we deem proper, on certificates and confirmations of responsible officers of the Company, the PRC Companies and Governmental Agencies. |
(7) |
We have not undertaken any independent investigation, search or other verification action to determine the existence or absence of any fact or to prepare this opinion, and no inference as to our knowledge of the existence or absence of any fact should be drawn from our representation of the Company or the PRC Companies or the rendering of this opinion. |
(8) |
This opinion is intended to be used in the context which is specifically referred to herein; each paragraph shall be construed as a whole and no part shall be extracted and referred to independently. |
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion in, and the filing hereof as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our name in such Registration Statement.
Yours faithfully, |
/s/ HAN KUN LAW OFFICES |
HAN KUN LAW OFFICES |
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漢 坤 律 師 事 務 所
H AN K UN L AW O FFICES
Schedule A
1. |
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement entered into by and between So-Young Wanwei and Beijing So-Young on November 1, 2018. |
2. |
Exclusive Option Agreement entered into by and among So-Young Wanwei, Beijing So-Young and JIN Xing on November 1, 2018. |
3. |
Exclusive Option Agreement entered into by and among So-Young Wanwei, Beijing So-Young and SHAO Hui on November 1, 2018. |
4. |
Exclusive Option Agreement entered into by and among So-Young Wanwei, Beijing So-Young and YU Tao on November 1, 2018. |
5. |
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement entered into by and among So-Young Wanwei, Beijing So-Young and JIN Xing on November 1, 2018. |
6. |
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement entered into by and among So-Young Wanwei, Beijing So-Young and SHAO Hui on November 1, 2018. |
7. |
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement entered into by and among So-Young Wanwei, Beijing So-Young and YU Tao on November 1, 2018. |
8. |
Power of Attorney entered into by and among So-Young Wanwei, Beijing So-Young and JIN Xing on November 1, 2018. |
9. |
Power of Attorney entered into by and among So-Young Wanwei, Beijing So-Young and SHAO Hui on November 1, 2018. |
10. |
Power of Attorney entered into by and among So-Young Wanwei, Beijing So-Young and YU Tao on November 1, 2018. |
11. |
Spouse Consent issued by the spouse of JIN Xing on November 1, 2018. |
12. |
Spouse Consent issued by the spouse of SHAO Hui on November 1, 2018. |
13. |
Spouse Consent issued by the spouse of YU Tao on November 1, 2018. |
Exhibit 99.3
April 8, 2019
So-Young International Inc.
3/F, Wangjing SOHO-Tower 3A
Chaoyang District
Beijing, 100102
Peoples Republic of China
Re: Consent of Frost & Sullivan
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We, Frost & Sullivan, understand that So-Young International Inc. (the Company ) plans to file a registration statement on Form F-1 (the Registration Statement ) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC ) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with its proposed initial public offering (the Proposed IPO ).
We hereby consent to the use of and references to our name and the inclusion of information, data and statements from our research reports and amendments thereto (collectively, the Reports ), and any subsequent amendments to the Reports, as well as the citation of our research reports and amendments thereto, (i) in the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto, (ii) in any written correspondence with the SEC, (iii) in any other future filings with the SEC by the Company, including, without limitation, filings on Form 20-F, Form 6-K and other SEC filings (collectively, the SEC Filings ), (iv) in institutional and retail roadshows and other activities in connection with the Proposed IPO, (v) on the websites of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, and (vi) in other publicity materials in connection with the Proposed IPO.
We further hereby consent to the filing of this consent letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and as an exhibit to any other SEC Filings.
Yours faithfully,
For and on behalf of
Frost & Sullivan
/s/ Yves Wang |
Name: Yves Wang |
Title: Managing Director, China |