As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 21, 2021
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM F-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
KANZHUN LIMITED
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of Registrants name into English)
Cayman Islands | 7370 | Not Applicable | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
18/F, GrandyVic Building, Taiyanggong Middle Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020
Peoples Republic of China
+86 10-8415-0633
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrants principal executive offices)
Cogency Global Inc.
122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10168
+1 800-221-0102
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
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, please 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. ☐
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.
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$0.0001 per share(1) |
US$100,000,000 | US$10,910.00 | ||
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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 option to purchase additional ADSs. 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.
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 state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS (Subject to Completion)
Dated , 2021.
American Depositary Shares
KANZHUN LIMITED
Representing Class A Ordinary Shares
We are selling American depositary shares, or ADSs. Each ADS represents of our Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share.
This is an initial public offering of American depositary shares, or ADSs, of KANZHUN LIMITED Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the ADSs or our ordinary shares. We anticipate that the initial public offering price will be between US$ and US$ per ADS. We intend to apply for the listing of the ADSs on Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol BZ.
Following the completion of this offering, our issued and outstanding share capital will consist of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Mr. Peng Zhao, our Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will beneficially own all of our issued Class B ordinary shares and will be able to exercise % of the total voting power of our issued and outstanding share capital immediately following the completion of this offering. 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 15 votes and is convertible into one Class A ordinary share. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances.
We have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional ADSs from us at the initial public offering less the underwriting discounts and commissions.
We are an emerging growth company under applicable U.S. federal securities laws and are eligible for reduced public company reporting requirements.
Investing in the ADSs involves risks. See Risk Factors beginning on page 20 for factors you should consider before buying the ADSs.
PRICE US$ PER ADS
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.
Per ADS | Total | |||||||
Initial public offering price |
US$ | US$ | ||||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) |
US$ | US$ | ||||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us |
US$ | US$ |
(1) |
See Underwriting for additional information regarding compensation payable by us to the underwriters. |
The underwriters expect to deliver the ADSs to purchasers on or about , 2021.
Goldman Sachs | Morgan Stanley | UBS Investment Bank | ||
(in alphabetical order) |
China Renaissance
Haitong International | FUTU | Tiger Brokers |
The date of this prospectus is , 2021.
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Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
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F-1 |
Until , 2021 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that effect transactions in these ADSs, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealer obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus that we authorize to be distributed to you. We and the underwriters have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than that contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you, and neither we, nor the underwriters take responsibility for any other information others may give you. We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy the ADSs, only in jurisdictions where such offers and sales are permitted. The information in this prospectus or any free writing prospectus is accurate only as of its date, regardless of its time of delivery or the time of any sale of the ADSs. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
Neither we nor any of the underwriters has taken any action to permit a public offering of the ADSs outside the United States or to permit the possession or distribution of this prospectus or any filed free writing prospectus outside 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 the prospectus or any filed free writing prospectus outside the United States.
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Dear investors,
Thank you for your attention and interest in BOSS Zhipin and our business model. As the founder, chairman and CEO of BOSS Zhipin, it is my privilege to share with you who we are and what we strive for.
What does work mean for people and what are we working on?
We believe that humans are precious and unique beings. The development of mankind has borne and will continue to bear paramount importance in society and work has played an indispensable part in human evolution over thousands of centuries.
Work enlightens people. When working, people meet, interact and understand each other, identify and solve problems. They are influenced by their surroundings and motivated through challenges. Their horizons are broadened and minds enriched when they constantly explore the world through work.
Work connects people. Each individuals experience is unique and we are a strong species with collective wisdom that unites and copes with a never ending myriad of complex challenges.
Work provides for people. People have the innate ability to adapt with a primal nature of taking good care of themselves and their loved ones through work.
Therefore, we firmly believe in the simple notion that every hard-working individual deserves to be recognized and to be better served.
However, to secure a suitable job has become one of the biggest challenges people face today. In 2021, someone may illustrate what a black hole is but few can articulate exactly how many trades and professions there are available and what their specific requirements are. Even in the same industry, numerous companies and organizations coexist, and the differences between them and the jobs they offer are difficult to be clearly defined. Information asymmetry and different perceptions toward a job often make it hard for people to make the right choice.
When we describe a good job, a good boss often takes high priority. Ones workplace wellbeing and passion largely depend on the interactions with his or her immediate supervisor.
What is BOSS Zhipin?
In any business organization, positive interaction between employees and their immediate supervisors determines not only a teams performance but more importantly, each team members everyday happiness and his or her growth and achievement in the next few years.
We have realized that job seekers and supervisors are both eager to get to know each other and to communicate before they become working partners to create value together. We encourage and support supervisors to recruit their own team members as there has historically been a mismatch in understanding each other. At the same time, we encourage job seekers to communicate with their prospective supervisors directly. This is how people became working partners in tribal society centuries ago when there was no such things as a resume.
This is why we are named BOSS Zhipin which stands for Boss direct (Zhi) recruitment (pin).
BOSS Zhipin is committed to improving the efficiency of connecting workers to jobs through technology. We firmly believe that what we do ultimately is to serve individuals: by assisting individuals development, we facilitate efficient allocation of human resources and create greater value for society.
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We leverage mobile technology. Mobile devices connect people conveniently and efficiently. In the scenario we create, job seekers and employers can communicate with each other anytime, anywhere, enabling flexible and sufficient communication and requiring less time input. |
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We utilize intelligent job and candidate matching and recommendation technology. It is difficult for one to improve his or her decision-making ability on choosing the right job based on individual experience due to limited job changing events in ones career life. Therefore, they need more intelligent job recommendation powered by a sustainable expert system based on AI technology and strong computing power, which help them process complex information in extensive job hunting and recruitment scenarios. |
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We allow employers to interact and connect with job seekers through direct chat on BOSS Zhipin, rather than simply sending and receiving resumes. Specifically, we encourage employers with various roles and from various positions, especially management, to join the recruitment process from day one to meet their underserved demands. Now, the majority of the enterprise users on BOSS Zhipin are executives or middle-level managers of large enterprises and SME and micro business owners. |
We are on our way
Benefiting from the proliferation of mobile internet and thriving startups, as well as the fast development of Chinas economy, we have experienced rapid growth for seven years since our establishment. So far, we have served nearly 100 million users and over 6 million enterprises, and we have new users enjoying our services every day.
There is plenty of room for our future growth. China is home to a large non-farm workforce of 586 million. China is also home to a large and growing number of enterprises, with over 40 million enterprises in business. There is a substantial proportion of workers and enterprises who have not benefited from online recruitment services.
Our healthy financial performance and rapid growth is predicated upon the faith our users have in us and the value we have created for them.
We are determined to continue to increase our investment in technology. Our current investments in career service infrastructure, AI technology and other areas are just the early innings. We will hire and cultivate more talented scientists, engineers, product managers and industry experts to further improve our expertise and services. In the future, as a public company, we will shoulder greater responsibility and become more motivated to apply cutting-edge technology to what we believe is the most important work in the world.
As you read this letter, workers around the world are creating value for themselves, their loved ones, and the community. It is they who have made this era. It is our privilege to help them find suitable jobs.
The faster society evolves, the more honor and responsibility we feel. We have always loved the cause we have chosen, including its great challenges. With more boundaries to push and unknown territories to explore, we stay confident and incredibly patient because we know there also lies the fun of growth.
Peng Zhao
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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 the ADSs discussed under Risk Factors, before deciding whether to invest in the ADSs. This prospectus contains information from an industry report commissioned by us dated March 2021 and prepared by China Insights Consultancy, an independent research firm, to provide information regarding our industry and our market position in China. We refer to this report as the CIC Report.
Our Vision
Redefine every individuals career development with technology and a passion towards delivering user satisfaction, by optimizing efficiency, equality and choice.
Pain Points Our Industry Faces
The online recruitment industry in China has traditionally suffered from two pain points: job seekers find it difficult to locate suitable job positions, and employers find it hard to secure suitable job candidates. Job seekers and employers keep walking past each other in the dark, yearning for a new platform that can deliver unprecedented efficiency.
We believe three common characteristics of traditional industry players caused such pain points.
First, limited functionality beyond submission and downloading of resumes. Information flows one wayfrom job seekers to employers, via a few pages of stylized introductions, often receiving tardy responses, if any.
Second, a search-based model that unevenly drives internet traffic towards the topfavoring candidates with stellar credentials and well-known corporations with deep pockets, leaving behind the vast majority of average job seekers and SMEs with tremendous unmet demand.
Third, an inability to attract Bosses at scale, relying instead only on recruitment professionals. This resulted from the inefficiencies stemming from the two abovementioned common characteristics. Bosses, including executives, middle-level managers of large enterprises and SMEs, as well as micro business owners, are the only people who truly understand what attributes define the best candidates for a particular job position. This fact is accentuated by the paradigm shift in the Chinese economy towards the next stage of advanced development, and the urgency for businesses to attract a more specialized workforce that can cope with intensified competition.
Who We Are
Cognizant of the industry pain points and their root causes, our founders set out seven years ago to create a transformative product that promotes two-way interactive communication, focuses on intelligent recommendations that is empowering, and brings Bosses onboard the recruitment process. The result was BOSS Zhipina mobile-native product that promotes instant direct chats between Bosses and job seekers, delivers accurate matching results, and is powered by proprietary AI algorithms and big data insights. This proved to be exactly what the industry needed. Despite being a late comer, we have become the largest online recruitment platform in China, as measured by average MAU in 2020, according to the CIC Report.
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Our operating philosophy highly respects job seekers, and we are committed to empowering them by giving them more say in the recruitment process. We do not allow enterprise users to access job seekers resumes unless job seekers give express consent. Job seekers can also make their information selectively visible to different types of enterprise users. We believe the superior user experience we provide to individual job seekers attracts them to our platform. Enterprise users also benefit from our operating philosophy as it creates massive opportunities for them to connect with job seekers efficiently.
Our Platform
We connect job seekers and enterprise users in an efficient and seamless manner mainly through our highly interactive BOSS Zhipin mobile app, which together with our other mobile apps and mini programs create a vibrant network. We are relentlessly focused on enhancing user experience by delivering efficient, intuitive and convenient experience to them throughout the recruitment cycle.
Job seekers: We have a large and fast growing pool of job seekers consisting of white and gold-collar users, blue-collar users and college students.
Enterprise users: We serve an extensive network of employers covering small, mid-sized and large businesses. Bosses and recruiting professionals of companies of all sizes, including large and small businesses, are the enterprise users of our platform.
Bosses: Bosses refer to executives or middle-level managers of large enterprises and SMEs and micro business owners, who themselves are supervisors. As of March 31, 2021, 66% of our verified enterprise users are not professional recruiting personnel, and we categorize these people as Bosses.
Recruiting professionals: We also serve recruiting professionals, including human resource officers and specialized hiring function employees of an employer, headhunters and hiring staff from human resource agencies.
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We pioneered these features in the online recruiting industry:
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Getting the Bosses involved early on. We get the Bosses involved on our platform from day one of our operation. Bosses are the key decision makers who can better assess candidates capabilities, such as their soft skills and cultural fit, and more efficiently identify the best people for their businesses. Our innovative model facilitates direct interaction between job seekers and Bosses, meeting the Bosses underserved demands to directly participate in the recruiting process at an early stage, and allows us to amass a large number of Bosses. |
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Mobile-native. We started as a mobile app, and we were built for the era of mobile internet, whereas other recruitment platforms were mainly born in the PC age and later piecemeal adapted a mobile interface. We had the largest average MAU in 2020 among online recruitment platforms in China, according to the CIC Report. Our user interface and service design are centered around our mobile offerings, and we provide social-media-app type of enjoyable and intuitive user experience. Our highly interactive mobile-native platform improves user experience and recruitment efficiency by enabling job seekers and enterprise users to engage in meaningful communication anytime, anywhere and receive quick responses. |
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Recommendation-based. Since our inception, we have provided targeted job and candidate matches and recommendations by leveraging our massive high quality data and proprietary technology infrastructure, unlike traditional search-based model. The job and candidate recommendation function of our platform uses a feed stream format, which leverages large, live datasets to deliver accurate and tailored matching results for both job seekers and enterprise users. |
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Direct chat. Either job seekers or enterprise users can initiate direct chat with their counterparties on our platform throughout the recruitment process. Direct chatting ensures that our users are active with real demands for job opportunities or candidates, and users can confirm each others intentions and their suitability before the interview. Therefore, direct chatting makes the job hunting experience highly informative and efficient. |
We highly respect job seekers and are committed to better empowering them by giving them more say in the recruitment process. It is the job seekers themselves, not our platform, who decide which enterprise users can gain access to the job seekers resumes. This provides a powerful protection of job seekers privacy. We are also devoted to protecting job seekers against false information and frauds. We place great emphasis on the importance of ensuring the information presented on our platform is verified and authentic. We use a screening and monitoring system to examine and verify the authenticity of the job openings posted by enterprise users and leverage our advanced technology to detect and respond to threats and frauds continuously.
We believe our technology capabilities are at the core of our platform. Our proprietary AI infrastructure optimizes the analytics of large datasets consisting of massive static and dynamic data contributed by our extensive active user base and highly interactive platform. Our platform generates more data as we digitalize more steps across the recruitment value chain, we are able to gather more data to feed into our AI infrastructure. Our access to data combined with advanced data analytics and AI technology ensures the accuracy and completeness of the recommendation algorithm. Rapid product iteration and constant upgrading of our matching system further enable us to provide more accurate job and candidate matching results.
We adopt an ecosystem-friendly revenue model that balances the supply and demand of jobs and candidates. Most of our enterprise users can use our basic services for free, including posting jobs, browsing mini resumes, chatting with job seekers, hosting video and audio interviews and
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sending offers. For certain positions where the demand exceeds the supply of job seekers to a certain degree, we charge enterprise users a fee for posting such jobs. Enterprise users can also purchase our value-added services to facilitate their recruitment process. We had served 11.4 million verified enterprise users and 5.5 million verified enterprises as of December 31, 2020. Our verified enterprise users and verified enterprises reached 13.0 million and 6.3 million as of March 31, 2021, respectively. In 2020 and the twelve months ended March 31, 2021, we had 2.23 million and 2.89 million paid enterprise customers, respectively.
We have achieved significant growth. Our average MAU grew by 73.2% from 11.5 million in 2019 to 19.8 million in 2020 and from 14.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020 to 24.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021, representing growth of 71.8%. Our revenues increased by 94.7% from RMB998.7 million in 2019 to RMB1,944.4 million (US$298.0 million) in 2020 and from RMB282.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 to RMB788.5 million (US$120.4 million) for the three months ended March 31, 2021, representing growth of 179.0%. Our calculated cash billings increased by 89.7% from RMB1,334.0 million in 2019 to RMB2,529.9 million (US$387.7 million) in 2020 and from RMB310.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 to RMB1,182.4 million (US$180.5 million) for the three months ended March 31, 2021, representing growth of 281.0%. We recorded net losses of RMB502.1 million, RMB941.9 million (US$144.4 million) and RMB176.2 million (US$26.9 million) in 2019, 2020 and the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively. Our adjusted net losses were RMB467.8 million, RMB284.7 million (US$43.6 million) and RMB127.5 million (US$19.5 million) in 2019, 2020 and for the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively. Our operating cash flow turned positive and reached RMB395.9 million (US$60.7 million) in 2020 and RMB165.3 million (US$25.2 million) for the three months ended March 31, 2021. For discussions of our calculated cash billings and adjusted net loss and reconciliation of calculated cash billings to revenues and reconciliation of adjusted net loss to net loss, see Non-GAAP Financial Measures for details.
We include both job seekers and enterprise users when calculating key metrics, including MAU and DAU. The number of job seekers and enterprise users provide insights to our managements evaluation of user engagement, customer billings and revenue generation. First, in terms of user engagement, active job seekers and enterprise users are both integral to increasing overall user engagement. Our platform has developed powerful network effects, which rely on the active participation and engagement from both job seekers and enterprise users in the recruitment process on the platform. The increase in the number of job seekers and enterprise users generates more interactions and facilitates the effective connection between jobs and candidates, thereby increasing user engagement. Second, in terms of customer billings and revenue generation, we view the scale of our user base and interaction between job seekers and enterprise users as the keys to creating value and generating monetization opportunities. In addition, we serve individuals during their entire career life cycles. Individuals who join our platform as job seekers at one time and enjoy our services may at another time come back as paid enterprise customers, recruiting on behalf of enterprises. Therefore, every user is potentially fee paying and equally important to the prosperity of our platform.
Our Industry Opportunities
Leveraging our first-mover advantage, innovative business model and market leadership, we believe we can capitalize on the following market trends:
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Large population of potential job seekers with increasing penetration rate of online recruitment, primarily driven by mobile adoption. The total population of non-farm employees in China is expected to reach 612 million in 2025. The penetration rate of online recruitment for job seekers increased from 11.3% in 2015 to 17.9% in 2020, and is expected to |
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reach 34.9% in 2025, according to the CIC Report. The shift from PC to mobile is an ongoing industry trend, and we leapfrogged our peers to build a mobile-native online recruitment platform. Job seekers, especially those from younger generations, are switching their jobs more frequently. Due to the proliferation of mobile internet and smart devices, job seekers are increasingly using online recruitment platforms when looking for jobs and especially value those platforms that can match them with the most suitable jobs more efficiently and conveniently. |
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Significant market potential arising from enterprises growing recruitment needs and the increasing penetration of online recruitment service market. As a result of Chinas economic growth and the disparity between supply and demand in the labor markets, offline recruiting is typically less efficient and cannot meet enterprise users pressing hiring demands. Online recruiting platforms significantly improve the recruitment efficiency and reduce the recruitment cost through technology and innovation. According to the CIC Report, the cost per hire for online recruitment services was approximately one fifth of that for offline recruitment services in 2020. Therefore, more and more businesses begin to turn to online recruitment platforms. The penetration rate of online recruitment for employers in China has increased from 16.9% in 2015 to 24.8% in 2020, and it is expected to reach 36.1% in 2025, according to the CIC Report. In addition to the wider adoption across enterprises for online recruitment solutions, the direct recruitment model attracts more enterprise users across different departments within the same company, further expanding the user base for online recruitment platforms. |
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Massive blue-collar market opportunity. Blue-collar recruitment is a market with massive opportunities. Blue-collar workers are the largest group of employees which accounted for 67% of non-farm employees in China. In addition, blue-collar workers generally switch jobs more frequently. According to the CIC Report, in 2025 the average frequency of switching jobs is expected to reach 2.1 times per year for non-farm employees in China. Such high frequency is primarily attributed to blue-collar employees. Enterprises with blue-collar recruiting needs also generally come with a high volume of vacancies. Urbanization has brought structural changes that create even more growth opportunities for blue-collar online recruitment. According to the CIC Report, the online penetration rate for blue-collar job seekers was 13.0% in 2020 and is expected to grow to 29.9% in 2025 and, at the same time the revenue for blue-collar online market was RMB22.8 billion in 2020, and is expected to reach RMB128.4 billion in 2025. |
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Rich opportunities for digitalization across recruitment value chain. Digitalization has created new mode of interaction between people, unlocking untapped potential in the recruitment value chain. Right now, many steps within the recruitment process are still carried out offline, presenting significant opportunities for online recruitment platforms to digitalize the entire job hunting and recruitment process. |
Our Strengths
We believe that the following competitive strengths contributed to our success:
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largest online recruitment platform with full spectrum of user coverage, contributing to stronger network effect; |
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innovative model delivers higher recruitment efficiency and drives rapid expansion; |
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superior individual user experience brings about stronger user loyalty and brand recognition; |
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industry-leading technology capabilities powered by data insights that fuel accurate recommendations; |
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multipronged go-to-market strategy that best serves diverse user demands; and |
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visionary management team with deep industry expertise. |
Our Strategies
We seek to connect and empower job seekers and enterprise users through technology and innovation. We plan to attract more users, including both job seekers and enterprise users to our platform, further enhance our user experience, and improve our brand equity by focusing on the following key growth strategies:
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continuously improve our user experience and increase the breadth and depth of service offerings; |
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further increase our presence in different user groups, especially blue-collar users; |
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continue to invest in technological innovations and deepen our data insights; and |
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explore other potential sectors in the human resource service market and achieve full coverage of users career lifecycle. |
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Summary of Risk Factors
Investing in the ADSs involves significant risks. You should carefully consider all of the information in this prospectus before making an investment in the ADSs. Below please find a summary of the principal risks we face, organized under relevant headings. These risks are discussed more fully in the section titled Risk Factors.
Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry
Risks and uncertainties related to our business and industry include, but are not limited to, the following:
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If we fail to implement new technologies, develop and provide innovative features and services, respond to evolving user preferences, enhance user friendliness of our online recruitment platform, or optimize our technology systems, we may not be able to improve user experience, which may have a material and adverse effect on our user retention, business, financial condition and results of operations; |
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Our business depends on the continued success of our brands, and if we fail to maintain and enhance the recognition of our brands cost-effectively, or the recognition of our brands is adversely affected by any negative publicity concerning us or our directors, management, shareholders or business partners, our reputation and operating results may be harmed; |
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We face significant competition in Chinas dynamic online recruitment service market, and potential market entries by established players from other industries may make competition even more fierce. Our market share, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected if we are unable to compete effectively; |
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We have a limited operating history, and we may not be able to sustain and manage our growth, control our costs and expenses, implement our business strategies or achieve profitability in the future. Any new product or service we may launch and any new market sectors we may enter will come with additional risks; |
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If our technology capabilities in AI and big data analytics fail to yield satisfactory results or fail to improve, our online recruitment platform may not be able to effectively match our job seekers with suitable enterprise users or to optimally recommend services for our users, and our user growth, retention, results of operations and business prospects may suffer consequently; |
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A slowdown or adverse development in the Chinese or global economy still under COVID-19s impact may lower the hiring willingness and budget of our current and potential enterprise users, adversely affecting the demand for our products and services and our business in general; |
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Our users may engage in intentional or negligent misconduct or other improper activities on our online recruitment platform or otherwise misuse our online recruitment platform, which may damage our brand image and reputation, our business and our results of operations; |
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We are exposed to potential legal liabilities associated with the recruitment process, which may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations; |
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If we fail to attract more enterprise users to our online recruitment platform, or if enterprise customers decide to purchase less of our services for any reason, our revenues may stagnate or decline and our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected; and |
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Because we store and process data, some of which contains sensitive personal information, we face concerns over the collection, improper use or disclosure of personal information, which |
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could deter current and potential users from using our services, damage our reputation, result in legal liability, bring regulatory scrutiny, and in turn materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. |
Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure
Risks and uncertainties relating to our corporate structure include, but are not limited to, the following:
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If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating some of our operations in China do not comply with PRC laws and regulations relating to the relevant industries, or if these laws and regulations or the interpretation of existing laws and regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations; |
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The contractual arrangements with our VIE and its shareholders may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control; and |
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Any failure by our VIE or its shareholders to perform their obligations under our contractual arrangements with them would have a material and adverse effect on our business. |
Risks Relating to Doing Business in China
We are also subject to risks and uncertainties relating to doing business in China in general, including, but are not limited to, the following:
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Changes in Chinas economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material and adverse effect on our business and results of operations; |
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Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us; |
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Litigation and negative publicity surrounding China-based companies listed in the U.S. may result in increased regulatory scrutiny of us and negatively impact the trading price of the ADSs and could have a material adverse effect upon our business, including our results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and prospects; and |
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Our ADSs may be delisted under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act if the PCAOB is unable to inspect auditors who are located in China. The delisting of our ADSs, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. Additionally, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections deprives our investors with the benefits of such inspections. |
Risks Relating to Our ADSs and This Offering
In addition to the risks and uncertainties described above, we are subject to risks relating to our ADSs and this offering, including, but not limited to, the following:
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There has been no public market for our shares or ADSs prior to this offering, and you may not be able to resell our ADSs at or above the price you paid, or at all; |
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The trading price of the ADSs is likely to be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to investors; and |
|
Our proposed 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. |
8
Corporate History and Structure
We commenced operations by setting up Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd., or our VIE, in December 2013. Our holding company, KANZHUN LIMITED, was incorporated in January 2014 to facilitate offshore financing.
In February 2014, KANZHUN LIMITED established a wholly owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, Techfish Limited. In May 2014, Techfish Limited established a wholly owned subsidiary in China, Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd., or our WFOE. In May 2014, we gained control over our VIE through our WFOE by entering into a series of contractual arrangements with our VIE and its sole shareholder then. The contractual arrangements with our VIE were subsequently replaced and superseded by updated agreements as a result of change in our VIEs shareholders in December 2014, June 2016, February 2017, and February 2020.
The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure, including our significant subsidiaries and our VIE, as of the date of this prospectus:
Note:
(1) |
Shareholders of our VIE and their respective shareholdings in our VIE and relationships with our company are (i) Mr. Peng Zhao (99.5%), our Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; and (ii) Ms. Xu Yue (0.5%), our employee. See Risk FactorsRisks Relating to Our Corporate StructureThe shareholders of our VIE may have actual or potential conflicts of interest with us. |
Implication of Being an Emerging Growth Company
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
9
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.
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$1.0 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 the 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 have elected to take advantage of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards and acknowledge such election is irrevocable pursuant to Section 107 of the JOBS Act.
[Implication of Being a Controlled Company
Upon the completion of this offering, Mr. Peng Zhao, our Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will beneficially own % of our total issued and outstanding ordinary shares, representing % of our total voting power, assuming that the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs, or % of our total issued and outstanding ordinary shares, representing % of our total voting power, assuming that the option to purchase additional ADSs is exercised by the underwriters in full. As a result, we will be a controlled company as defined under the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules because Mr. Zhao will hold more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors. As a controlled company, we are permitted to elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements. If we rely on these exemptions, you will not have the same protection afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to these corporate governance requirements.]
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 18/F, GrandyVic Building, Taiyanggong Middle Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, Peoples Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is + 86 10 8415 0633. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited at PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.
Investors should submit any inquiries to the address and telephone number of our principal executive offices. Our main website is https://www.zhipin.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 Cogency Global Inc., located at 122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10168.
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 may evidence the ADSs; |
10
|
ADSs are to the American depositary shares, each of which represents Class A ordinary shares; |
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AI are to artificial intelligence; |
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blue-collar workers are to people who perform manual or service-related work in the secondary sectors such as manufacturing and construction industry and the tertiary sector such as accommodation and catering industry, and local life service industry; |
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Boss are to executives or middle-level managers of large enterprises and SME and micro business owners; |
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BVI are to the British Virgin Islands; |
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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$0.0001 per share; |
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Class B ordinary shares are to our Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share; |
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DAU are to the number of verified user accounts, including both job seekers and enterprise users, that logged on to our mobile applications in a given day at least once; |
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enterprise users are to Bosses and recruiting professionals; |
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gold-collar workers are to people who perform professional, desk, managerial, or administrative work with an annual salary above RMB250,000; |
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Kanzhun, we, us, our company and our are to KANZHUN LIMITED, our Cayman Islands holding company and its subsidiaries and our VIE; |
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key accounts are to paid enterprise customers who contributed RMB50,000 or more of revenues to us in a twelve-month period ended on the end of a given period; |
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MAU are to the number of verified user accounts, including both job seekers and enterprise users, that logged on to our mobile applications in a given month at least once; |
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mid-sized customers are to paid enterprise customers who contributed between RMB5,000 and RMB50,000 of revenues to us a twelve-month period ended on the end of a given period; |
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our WFOE are to Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd.; |
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online recruitment platform are to our mobile applications, mini programs and websites; |
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paid enterprise customers are to enterprise users and company accounts that have paid for our online recruitment services; |
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RMB and Renminbi are to the legal currency of China; |
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shares or ordinary shares are to our Class A and Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share; |
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SME are to small and medium-sized enterprises; |
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US$, U.S. dollars, $, and dollars are to the legal currency of the United States; |
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white-collar workers are to people who perform professional, desk, managerial, or administrative work with an annual salary equal or below RMB250,000; and |
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VIE are to variable interest entity, and our VIE are to Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd. |
11
Unless the context indicates otherwise, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to additional ADSs representing Class A ordinary shares from us. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to Renminbi in this prospectus are made at a rate of RMB6.5250 to US$1.0000, the exchange rate in effect as of December 31, 2020, or RMB6.5518 to US$1.0000, the exchange rate in effect as of March 31, 2021, as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. We make no representation that any Renminbi or U.S. dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars or Renminbi, as the case may be, at any particular rate, or at all.
12
The Offering
Offering price |
We currently estimate that the initial public offering price will be between US$ and US$ per ADS. |
ADSs offered by us |
ADSs (or ADSs if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs in full). |
ADSs outstanding immediately after this offering |
ADSs (or ADSs if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs in full). |
Ordinary shares issued and outstanding immediately after this offering |
Class A ordinary shares (or Class A ordinary shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs) and Class B ordinary shares. |
The ADSs |
Each ADS represents Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share. |
The depositary will hold Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs. You will have rights as provided in the deposit agreement among us, the depositary and holders and beneficial owners of ADSs from time to time. |
We do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. If, however, we declare dividends on our Class A ordinary shares, the depositary will pay you the cash dividends and other distributions it receives on our ordinary shares after deducting its fees and expenses in accordance with the terms set forth in the deposit agreement. |
Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, you may surrender your ADSs to the depositary for cancellation in exchange for Class A ordinary shares. The depositary will charge you fees for any cancellation. |
We may amend or terminate the deposit agreement without your consent. If you continue to hold your ADSs after an amendment to the deposit agreement, you agree to be bound by the deposit agreement as amended. |
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To better understand the terms of the ADSs, you should carefully read the Description of American Depositary Shares section of this prospectus. You should also read the deposit agreement, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus. |
Option to purchase additional ADSs |
We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable within 30 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to an aggregate of additional ADSs. |
Use of proceeds |
We expect that we will receive net proceeds of approximately US$ million from this offering, 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 for (1) investment in technology infrastructure and research and development to upgrade our service offerings and to improve technology capabilities in areas such as AI and big data analytics, (2) marketing activities to drive user growth and to expand into a wider user base and more geographical markets, (3) exploration of new product and service offerings, such as providing other human resource services, and (4) general corporate purposes. See Use of Proceeds for more information. |
Lock-up |
We [and each of our officers, directors, existing shareholders, and holders of our outstanding share incentive awards] have agreed with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to sell, transfer or otherwise 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 Sale and Underwriting for more information. |
Listing |
We intend to apply to have the ADSs listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol BZ. The ADSs and our ordinary shares will not be listed on any other stock exchange or traded on any automated quotation system. |
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Payment and settlement |
The underwriters expect to deliver the ADSs against payment therefor through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company on , 2021. |
[Directed Share Program |
At our request, the underwriters have reserved for sale, at the initial public offering price, up to an aggregate of ADSs offered in this offering to some of our directors, officers, employees, business associates and related persons through a directed share program.] |
Depositary |
Citibank, N.A. |
The number of ordinary shares that will be outstanding immediately after this offering:
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is based on 679,154,619 issued and outstanding ordinary shares (including 563,069,749 Class A ordinary shares and 116,084,870 Class B ordinary shares) as of the date of this prospectus, giving effect to the automatic conversion of all of our issued and outstanding preferred shares into Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to the completion of this offering; |
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includes 24,745,531 Class B ordinary shares that we will issue to TECHWOLF LIMITED, a British Virgin Islands company, immediately after the listing of our ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market; |
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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 option to purchase additional ADSs; and |
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excludes Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of our outstanding options and additional Class A ordinary shares reserved for future issuances upon exercise of options to be granted under our 2020 Share Incentive Plan. |
15
SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following summary consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, summary consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 and summary consolidated cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statement included elsewhere in this prospectus. The following summary consolidated statements of comprehensive loss data for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, summary consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 2021, and summary consolidated statements of cash flows data for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 have been derived from our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus and have been prepared on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments, that we consider necessary for a fair statement of our financial position and results of operations for the periods presented. 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 do not necessarily indicate results expected for any 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, |
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except for share amount and per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Summary Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Loss: |
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Revenues: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Online recruitment services to enterprise customers |
986,859 | 1,927,178 | 295,353 | 279,110 | 782,156 | 119,380 | ||||||||||||||||||
Others |
11,861 | 17,181 | 2,633 | 3,501 | 6,379 | 974 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Total revenues |
998,720 | 1,944,359 | 297,986 | 282,611 | 788,535 | 120,354 | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating cost and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of revenues(1) |
(137,812 | ) | (240,211 | ) | (36,814 | ) | (37,851 | ) | (106,856 | ) | (16,309 | ) | ||||||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses(1) |
(916,832 | ) | (1,347,532 | ) | (206,518 | ) | (376,522 | ) | (618,537 | ) | (94,407 | ) | ||||||||||||
Research and development expenses(1) |
(325,569 | ) | (513,362 | ) | (78,676 | ) | (104,801 | ) | (163,767 | ) | (24,996 | ) | ||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses(1) |
(132,999 | ) | (797,008 | ) | (122,147 | ) | (45,651 | ) | (81,712 | ) | (12,472 | ) | ||||||||||||
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Total operating cost and expenses |
(1,513,212 | ) | (2,898,113 | ) | (444,155 | ) | (564,825 | ) | (970,872 | ) | (148,184 | ) | ||||||||||||
Other operating income, net |
2,573 | 8,849 | 1,356 | 1,363 | 2,318 | 354 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Loss from operations |
(511,919 | ) | (944,905 | ) | (144,813 | ) | (280,851 | ) | (180,019 | ) | (27,476 | ) | ||||||||||||
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Financial income, net |
145 | 3,098 | 475 | 351 | 1,961 | 299 | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign exchange gain/(loss) |
1 | (5,074 | ) | (778 | ) | (1,121 | ) | 464 | 71 | |||||||||||||||
Investment income |
9,718 | 9,095 | 1,394 | 5,439 | 2,811 | 429 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other expenses |
| (4,109 | ) | (630 | ) | (2,650 | ) | (1,396 | ) | (213 | ) | |||||||||||||
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Loss before income tax expense |
(502,055 | ) | (941,895 | ) | (144,352 | ) | (278,832 | ) | (176,179 | ) | (26,890 | ) | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
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Net loss |
(502,055 | ) | (941,895 | ) | (144,352 | ) | (278,832 | ) | (176,179 | ) | (26,890 | ) | ||||||||||||
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For the Year Ended December 31, |
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, |
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2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except for share amount and per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accretion on convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
(232,319 | ) | (283,981 | ) | (43,522 | ) | (64,794 | ) | (92,263 | ) | (14,082 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders |
(734,374 | ) | (1,225,876 | ) | (187,874 | ) | (343,626 | ) | (268,442 | ) | (40,972 | ) | ||||||||||||
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Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders |
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Basic and diluted |
(6.86 | ) | (11.03 | ) | (1.69 | ) | (3.20 | ) | (1.97 | ) | (0.30 | ) | ||||||||||||
Pro forma net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted(2) (unaudited) |
(0.29 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pro forma weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding, basic and diluted(2) (unaudited) |
687,607,676 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-GAAP financial measures: |
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Calculated cash billings(3) |
1,333,974 | 2,529,888 | 387,722 | 310,342 | 1,182,358 | 180,463 | ||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted net loss(3) |
(467,805 | ) | (284,659 | ) | (43,626 | ) | (262,561 | ) | (127,521 | ) | (19,463 | ) |
Notes:
(1) |
Share-based compensation expenses were allocated as follows: |
For the Year Ended December 31, |
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, |
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2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation expenses: |
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Cost of revenues |
944 | 1,920 | 294 | 257 | 3,485 | 532 | ||||||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses |
8,443 | 21,473 | 3,291 | 4,557 | 1,946 | 297 | ||||||||||||||||||
Research and development expenses |
13,595 | 30,883 | 4,733 | 4,972 | 16,572 | 2,529 | ||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
11,268 | 602,960 | 92,408 | 6,485 | 26,655 | 4,069 | ||||||||||||||||||
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34,250 | 657,236 | 100,726 | 16,271 | 48,658 | 7,427 | |||||||||||||||||||
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(2) |
Unaudited pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share was computed to give effect to (1) the automatic conversion of all issued and outstanding convertible preferred shares into 551,352,134 ordinary shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering, using the if converted method as if the conversion and reclassification had occurred as of the beginning of the year; and (2) recording unrecognized compensation expense related to certain stock options with direct connection with the completion of this offering as if the performance condition for these stock option had been achieved. The following table presents the reconciliations (i) from net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders to pro forma net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, and (ii) from weighted average ordinary shares outstanding to pro forma weighted average ordinary shares outstanding. |
(in RMB in thousands, except for share and per share data)
17
For the Three
Months Ended March 31, 2021 |
||||
Numerator |
||||
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders |
(268,442 | ) | ||
Pro forma adjustment of conversion of preferred shares |
92,263 | |||
Pro forma adjustment of share-based compensation expenses |
(22,154 | ) | ||
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Numerator for pro forma basic and diluted loss per share |
(198,333 | ) | ||
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Denominator |
||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing net loss per share |
136,255,542 | |||
Pro forma effect of conversion of preferred shares |
551,352,134 | |||
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Denominator for pro forma basic and diluted loss per share |
687,607,676 | |||
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Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted |
(0.29 | ) |
(3) |
For discussions of calculated cash billings and its reconciliation to revenues and discussions of adjusted net loss and its reconciliation to net loss , see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsNon-GAAP Financial Measures. |
The following table presents our summary consolidated balance sheets data as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 and as of March 31, 2021:
18
The following table presents our summary consolidated cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 and for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021:
For the Year Ended December 31, |
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, |
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2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Summary Consolidated Cash Flow Data: |
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Net cash (used in)/generated from operating activities |
(105,663 | ) | 395,911 | 60,676 | (279,342 | ) | 165,335 | 25,235 | ||||||||||||||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities |
(1,223,803 | ) | 467,305 | 71,617 | 1,070,370 | (76,498 | ) | (11,675 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net cash generated from/(used in) financing activities |
993,475 | 2,882,112 | 441,703 | 1,048,706 | (12,192 | ) | (1,861 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
43,113 | (154,480 | ) | (23,675 | ) | 29,077 | 26,432 | 4,034 | ||||||||||||||||
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(292,878 | ) | 3,590,848 | 550,321 | 1,868,811 | 103,077 | 15,733 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period |
700,233 | 407,355 | 62,430 | 407,355 | 3,998,203 | 610,245 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period |
407,355 | 3,998,203 | 612,751 | 2,276,166 | 4,101,280 | 625,978 |
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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 Relating to Our Business and Industry
If we fail to implement new technologies, develop and provide innovative features and services, respond to evolving user preferences, enhance user friendliness of our online recruitment platform, or optimize our technology systems, we may not be able to improve user experience, which may have a material and adverse effect on our user retention, business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our success depends upon our ability to attract and retain job seekers and enterprise users. Our ability to retain and attract job seekers largely depends on the number of job postings and employers on our online recruitment platform. Our ability to retain and attract enterprise users primarily depends on the number of the job seekers using our online recruitment platform. To encourage more enterprise users and job seekers to come and stay on our online recruitment platform, improving user experience for both of them is a must.
An important way to improve user experience and attract more users is to introduce innovative services and features that are useful for users and that encourage more frequent use of our online recruitment platform. To develop, support and maintain such innovative services and features often requires implementation of new technologies, and we intend to continue to devote resources to the development of additional technologies and services. However, implementation of new technologies in our system may take a long time and may involve technical challenges and large amounts of capital and personnel resources. We may not be able to effectively integrate new technologies on a timely basis, or at all, which may decrease user satisfaction with our services. Such technologies, even if integrated, may not function as expected or may be unable to attract and retain a substantial number of users to use our online recruitment platform. Our failure to keep pace with rapid technological changes may cause our user retention to suffer.
In addition, we must also continue to respond promptly to evolving user preferences, enhance the user friendliness of our online recruitment platform, optimize our mobile applications, and otherwise continue to improve our technology systems, all of which may require us to incur substantial costs and expenses. For example, as part of our efforts to meet evolving user preferences, we have established a dedicated team to develop products and services uniquely designed to meet the needs of blue-collar job seekers. If such costs and expenses fail to effectively translate into improved user experience or user growth, we may not be successful in retaining and attracting our users.
We cannot assure you that our efforts to improve user experience and increase user base will always be successful. We also cannot predict whether our new products, service and features will be well received by users consistently, or whether we will be successful in cost-effectively implementing new technologies, enhancing user friendliness of our online recruitment platform, and otherwise improving our technology systems. If we cannot improve user experience, we may not be able to retain or attract users, and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
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Our business depends on the continued success of our brands, and if we fail to maintain and enhance the recognition of our brands cost-effectively, or the recognition of our brands is adversely affected by any negative publicity concerning us or our directors, management, shareholders or business partners, our reputation and operating results may be harmed.
We believe that maintaining and enhancing our brands is important to the success of our business. Well-recognized brands are critical to increasing the number and the level of engagement of our users. Since we operate in a competitive industry, brand maintenance and enhancement also directly affect our ability to maintain our market position. We have continued to exercise strict quality control on our online recruitment platform to ensure that our brand image is not tarnished by substandard services. We have also conducted and will continue to conduct various marketing and brand promotion activities both online and offline to enhance our brands, to guide public perception of our brands, products and services, and ultimately to distinguish our online recruitment platform from those of our competitors. We have historically spent significantly on these marketing and promotional activities, with our sales and marketing expenses accounting for 69.3% of our revenues in the year ended December 31, 2020 and 78.4% of our revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2021, and we may need to increase such sales and marketing expenses in the future to continue to maintain and enhance brand awareness and brand loyalty, to retain and attract users as well as to promote our online recruitment platform. However, there can be no assurance that these sales and marketing activities will be successful or that we will be able to achieve the brand promotion effect we expect from them. If we cannot properly manage our sales and marketing expenses or if our sales and marketing activities underperform our expectations, our financial condition, results of operations and business prospects will be damaged as a result.
Moreover, any negative publicity relating to our company, services or our directors, management, shareholders or business partners, regardless of its veracity, could harm our brands and the perception of our brands in the market. As our business expands and grows, we may be exposed to heightened public scrutiny in markets where we already operate as well as in new markets where we may operate. We could become a target for regulatory or public scrutiny in the future and scrutiny and public exposure could severely damage our reputation as well as our business and prospects.
Furthermore, our brand names and our business may be harmed by aggressive marketing and communication strategies by competitors and third parties. We may be subject to government or regulatory investigation or third-party claims as a result and we may be required to spend significant time and incur substantial costs to react to and address these consequences. There is no assurance that we will be able to effectively refute each of the allegations within a reasonable period of time, or at all. Additionally, public allegations, directly or indirectly, against us or our directors, management, shareholders or business partners, may be posted online by anyone on an anonymous basis. The availability of information on social media platforms is virtually immediate, as is its impact. Social media platforms may not necessarily filter or check the accuracy of information before publishing them, and we may be afforded little or no time to respond. As a result, our reputation may be materially and adversely affected, our ability to attract and retain users and maintain our market share may suffer, and our financial conditions may deteriorate.
We face significant competition in Chinas dynamic online recruitment service market, and potential market entries by established players from other industries may make competition even more fierce. Our market share, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected if we are unable to compete effectively.
The online recruitment service market in China is competitive and rapidly evolving. We face constant pressure to attract and retain users, expand the market for our products and services and incorporate new capabilities and technologies. Our online recruitment platform competes with other
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major dedicated job search platforms and niche market players that focus on certain industry verticals, such as technology, or user segments, such as job seekers for high-end positions. Other large internet companies and classified advertisement platforms have also entered the market for online recruitment services. In addition, we face competition from professional networking platforms and existing participants in the offline recruitment industry who may develop online recruitment services and products.
Many of our competitors or potential competitors have long operating histories, have international strategic partners, have local government sponsorship, have a larger user base, and may have greater financial, management, technological development, sales, marketing and other resources than we do. They may also be able to adopt our business model and intensify competition. As a result, we may experience reduced margins, loss of market share or less use of our services and products by job seekers and enterprise users. Existing or future competitors could develop or offer services and products which provide significant performance, price, creative, technological or other advantages over counterparts from us. If we are unable to compete effectively with current or future competitors as a result of these or other factors, our market share, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
We have a limited operating history, and we may not be able to sustain and manage our growth, control our costs and expenses, implement our business strategies or achieve profitability in the future. Any new product or service we may launch and any new market sectors we may enter will come with additional risks.
We have experienced rapid growth in our business and operations since our inception in 2014, which places significant demands on our management, operational and financial resources. We have also been loss-making since our inception, and we generated net losses of RMB502.1 million, RMB941.9 million (US$144.4 million) and RMB176.2 million (US$26.9 million) in 2019, 2020 and the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively. Given our limited operating history, our continued net losses and the rapidly evolving market where we compete, we may encounter difficulties as we establish, expand or enhance our operations, feature and service development, sales and marketing efforts, technology and general and administrative capabilities. As a result, we may not generate net profits or sustain our historical levels of growth in the future. We believe that our continued growth and our ability to achieve profitability will depend on many factors, including our ability to further improve our user experience and broaden the spectrum of our service offerings, to further increase our presence in different user groups, especially blue-collar users, to continue to invest in technologies and deepen our data insights, and to explore other potential sectors in the human resource service market and achieve full coverage of users career lifecycle. There can be no assurance that we will achieve any of the above, and our failure to do so may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Particularly, our efforts to expand our product and service offerings to users and explore other sectors in the human resource service market will require significant resource investments from us, and such efforts may not be successful. Expansion into new product and service offerings or other sectors in the human resource service market may be subject to risks such as:
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limited brand recognition (compared with our established products and services or market sectors); |
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costs incurred in product and service development and marketing; |
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lack of experience and expertise in connection with the new product and service or market vertical; |
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adjustment to the preferences and customs of a different group of users; |
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compliance with potential new regulations and policies; |
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difficulties in managing upsized operations and maintaining operational efficiency; and |
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competition with new competitors, including those with more established local presence. |
The occurrence of any of these risks could negatively affect our business in new markets and consequently our business and operating results.
We expect our costs and expenses to continue to increase in the future as we expand our user base, broaden our service offerings and develop and implement new products, services and features that may entail more complexity. We expect to continue to invest in our infrastructure in order to provide our products and services more rapidly and reliably to users. Continued growth could strain our ability to maintain reliable service levels for our users, develop and improve our operational, financial, legal and management controls, and enhance our reporting systems and procedures. If we are unable to generate adequate revenues and to manage our costs and expenses, we may continue to incur significant net losses in the future and may not be able to achieve or subsequently maintain profitability. If we fail to achieve the necessary level of efficiency in our operation as it grows, our business, operating results and financial condition could be harmed.
If our technology capabilities in AI and big data analytics fail to yield satisfactory results or fail to improve, our online recruitment platform may not be able to effectively match our job seekers with suitable enterprise users or to optimally recommend services for our users, and our user growth, retention, results of operations and business prospects may suffer consequently.
The core functionalities of our online recruitment platform, namely personalized matching between job seekers and employers, onboard identity verifications, ongoing risk assessment of employers, and service recommendation for users, are all dependent on our technology capabilities in AI and big data analytics. Our technology capabilities in AI and big data analytics, therefore, are crucial to us continuing to retain and attract users to our online recruitment platform. Our users will continue to compare the core functionalities of our online recruitment platform against those of the platforms run by our competitors, and may switch to a competitor platform if our online recruitment platform underperforms their expectations. In addition, managing some of the other important aspects of our operations, such as sales and marketing activities, also requires us to make decisions informed by our AI technology and data analytics. Any failure to improve our technology capabilities in AI and big data analytics and any failure of our technology capabilities in those regards to produce satisfactory results may materially and adversely affect our user retention, financial condition and results of operations.
A slowdown or adverse development in the Chinese or global economy still under COVID-19s impact may lower the hiring willingness and budget of our current and potential enterprise users, adversely affecting the demand for our products and services and our business in general.
COVID-19 has had a severe and negative impact on the Chinese and the global economy, and whether this will lead to a prolonged downturn in the economy is still unknown. The growth of the Chinese economy has slowed in recent years. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the global macroeconomic environment was facing challenges, such as the economic slowdown in the Eurozone since 2014, uncertainties over the impact of Brexit and the ongoing global trade disputes and tariffs. The growth of Chinas economy has slowed down since 2012 compared to the previous decade and the trend may continue. There is considerable uncertainty over the long-term effects of the monetary and fiscal policies adopted by the central banks and financial authorities of some of the worlds leading economies, including the United States and China. In addition, there have been concerns about the
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relationship between China and the United States resulting from the current trade tension between the two countries. There have been further uncertainties related to the U.S. Federal Reserves progressive policies to strengthen the market in 2020. It is unclear whether these challenges and uncertainties will be contained or resolved and what effects they may have on the global political and economic conditions in the long term. Economic conditions in China are sensitive to global economic conditions, as well as changes in domestic economic and political policies and the expected or perceived overall economic growth rate in China. Any severe or prolonged slowdown in the global or Chinese economy may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Substantially all of our operations are conducted in China, and the vast majority of our revenues are generated from providing services to enterprise customers operating in China. In an environment of slower economic growth or recession, employers may take actions such as hiring fewer employees, engaging in hiring freezes, reducing hiring budgets or the number of hiring headcounts, and curtailing spending on online recruitment services and other human resource related services. As a result, if there are slowdowns or other adverse developments in Chinas economic growth, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow may be materially and adversely affected.
Our users may engage in intentional or negligent misconduct or other improper activities on our online recruitment platform or otherwise misuse our online recruitment platform, which may damage our brand image and reputation, our business and our results of operations.
Our online recruitment platform has instant messaging functions that allow users to communicate with each other and engage in job application activities. We adopt a comprehensive suite of registration procedures to verify the identity of our job seekers and enterprise customers. Job seekers are required to complete our mobile phone verification process by providing personal and professional information such as name, education background, employment status, recent employment, work experience, position desired, and salary expectation. We also implement a robust multi-factor onboard screening system to examine and verify the authenticity of the identification information of enterprise users, which leverages a combination of factors. Since we have limited control over the real-time and offline behavior of our users, it is still possible for our online recruitment platform to be misused by our users for inappropriate or illegal purposes.
We have implemented control procedures on our online recruitment platform to detect and block illegal or inappropriate content and illegal or fraudulent activities conducted through the misuse of our online recruitment platform. We may be required by relevant governmental authorities to report certain misbehaviors for further investigation if such misbehaviors are subject to regulatory investigation or other governmental proceedings. Despite our detection and filtering efforts, we may not be able to identify every incident of inappropriate content or illegal or fraudulent activities, prevent all such content from being further disseminated or prohibit such activities from occurring. We may not be able to filter all the content generated by our users as it appears, especially in the context of instant messaging between job seekers and enterprise users. Therefore, our users may engage in illegal, obscene or incendiary conversations or engage in unethical or illegal activities via our online recruitment platform.
If user misconduct and misuse of our online recruitment platform for inappropriate or illegal purposes occur on our online recruitment platform, claims may be brought against us for torts, defamation, libel, negligence, copyright, patent or trademark infringement. In response to allegations of illegal or inappropriate activities conducted through our online recruitment platform, relevant governmental authorities may intervene and hold us liable for non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations and subject us to administrative penalties or other sanctions, such as requiring us to restrict or discontinue some or all of our features and services. In addition, our users may suffer or allege to have suffered physical, financial or emotional harm caused by contacts initiated on our online recruitment platform. Our business and public perception of our brands may be materially and
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adversely affected if we do face civil lawsuits or other liabilities initiated by such affected users. Defending any actions brought by such affected users could be costly and require significant time and attention of our management and other resources, which would materially and adversely affect our business.
We are exposed to potential legal liabilities associated with the recruitment process, which may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
We are exposed to potential claims associated with the recruitment process, including claims by enterprise users seeking to hold us liable for recommending a job seeker who subsequently proves to be unsuitable for the position filled, claims by current or previous employers alleging breach of employment contracts, claims by job seekers against us alleging our failure to maintain the confidentiality of their personal information and employment searches or alleging discrimination or other violations of employment law or other laws or regulations by our enterprise users, and claims by either employers or their employees alleging the failure of our products and services to comply with laws or regulations relating to employment, data privacy or other related matters. We do not maintain insurance coverage for liabilities arising from claims by employers, employees, candidates or third parties. Any such claims, regardless of merit, may force us to participate in time-consuming, costly litigation or investigation, divert significant management and staff attention, and damage our reputation and brand names.
If we fail to attract more enterprise users to our online recruitment platform, or if enterprise customers decide to purchase less of our online recruitment services for any reason, our revenues may stagnate or decline and our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
In 2020 and the three months ended March 31, 2021, approximately 99% of our revenues were generated from enterprise customers. Enterprise customers are by far the most important source of revenue for us, and attracting more enterprise users to our online recruitment platform is therefore of critical importance to us. Due to their contribution to our revenues and ability to spend, large businesses with sufficient funds would benefit us most as a revenue source, and we need to invest in developing and promoting products and services that meet their needs. Additionally, SMEs can also be a source of enterprise user growth for us, as they have historically been underserved and usually lack direct access to a scaled user base and effective means to promulgate their businesses. In order to expand our market reach to more small and mid-sized businesses, especially in less developed cities, we provide free or lower-fee services or annual subscription packages to them so they can take advantage of our online recruitment platform. We, however, cannot assure you that our efforts will convince more enterprise users to use our online recruitment platform. There is also no guarantee that our existing enterprise customers will continue to pay for our online recruitment services at the same frequency or price going forward, as competition or alternative means of job hunting may put pressure on the demand and pricing for our online recruitment services. If we are not successful in expanding our enterprise user base or improving our monetization of enterprise customers, our revenues may stagnate or decline and our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
Because we store and process data, some of which contains sensitive personal information, we face concerns over the collection, improper use or disclosure of personal information, which could deter current and potential users from using our services, damage our reputation, result in legal liability, bring regulatory scrutiny, and in turn materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to the laws, regulations, guidelines and industry recommendations relating to the protection of personal information in China, which covers areas such as the collection, storage,
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processing or use of such personal information. For example, under the Cyber Security Law of the Peoples Republic of China that became effective on June 1, 2017, network service providers have various personal information security protection obligations, including restrictions on the collection and use of personal information of users, and they are required to take steps to prevent personal data from being divulged, stolen, or tampered with. See also RegulationRegulations Relating to Privacy Protection. Any concerns or claims about our practices with regard to the collection, storage, processing or use of personal information or other privacy-related matters, even if ungrounded, could damage our reputation and results of operations.
In particular, if we fail to secure our users identity and protect their identity-specific data, including but not limited to name, education background, employment status, recent employment history of job seekers and business license information of enterprise users, our users may be vulnerable to insults, harassment, blackmails or physical injuries, and their family, property and other assets may also be put at risk. As a result, we may be held liable for these incidents, and our users may feel insecure and cease to use our online recruitment platform. Our reputation may also be seriously harmed and we may be unable to retain and attract users, which would in turn have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Any system failure or compromise of our security that results in the unauthorized access to or release of personal or private information, such as data, photo or messaging history of our users could significantly limit the adoption of our services, as well as harm our reputation and brands, result in litigation against us, liquidated and other damages, regulatory investigations and penalties, and we could be subject to material liability. 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 scope of services we offer and as we increase the size of our user base.
In addition, regulatory requirements regarding the protection of personal information are constantly evolving and can be subject to different interpretations or significant change from time to time, making the extent of our responsibilities in that regard uncertain. An example of such evolving regulatory requirements is the Draft Law of Personal Information Protection, which was published for public comments on October 21, 2020. When it is passed in the future, this law will function jointly with the Cyber Security Law to regulate Chinas online spheres in relation to personal information protection. Our practice may become inconsistent with these laws and regulations. If so, in addition to the possibility of fines, this could result in an order requiring that we change our practices, which could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations. Complying with new data privacy and information security laws and regulations could cause us to incur substantial costs or require us to change our business practices in a manner materially adverse to our business. See also Risks Relating to Doing Business in ChinaUncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.
Moreover, we could be required to disclose certain personal information to PRC governmental authorities for the purpose of, among others, safeguarding the national security, investigating crimes, investigating infringement of information network communication rights, and cooperating with the supervision and inspection of telecommunication regulatory authorities. Disclosing personal information under such circumstances may cause our users to lose trust in our ability to safeguard their privacy. Failure to comply with these requirements could subject us to administrative penalties or other regulatory or enforcement actions.
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Content posted or displayed on or linked to our online recruitment platform may be found objectionable by PRC regulatory authorities and may subject us to penalties and other negative consequences.
The PRC government has adopted laws and regulations governing internet and wireless access and the distribution of information over the internet and wireless telecommunications networks. Under these laws and regulations, internet content providers and internet publishers are prohibited from posting or displaying over the internet or wireless networks content that, among other things, violates the principle of the PRC constitution, laws and regulations, impairs the national dignity of China or the public interest, or is obscene, superstitious, fraudulent or defamatory. Furthermore, internet content providers are also prohibited from displaying content that may be deemed by relevant government authorities as instigating ethnical hatred and harming ethnical unity, harming the national religious policy, socially destabilizing or leaking state secrets of the PRC. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the revocation of licenses to provide internet content or other approvals, licenses or permits, the closure of the concerned platforms and reputational harm. The operator may also be held liable for any censored information displayed on or linked to their platform. The liabilities and penalties resulting from such non-compliance may materially and adversely damage our business and results of operations.
On December 15, 2019, the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, released the Provisions on Ecological Governance of Network Information Content, or PEGNIC, which came into force on March 1, 2020. The PEGNIC is one of the latest regulations governing the distribution of information over the internet and wireless telecommunications networks in which it classifies the network information into three categories, namely the encouraged information, the illegal information and the undesirable information. While illegal information is strictly prohibited from distribution, the internet content providers are required to take relevant measures to prevent and resist the production and distribution of undesirable information. PEGNIC further clarifies the duties owed by the internet content providers in preventing the display of content that against the PEGNIC, such as obligations to improve the systems for user registration, account management, information release review, follow-up comments review, website ecological management, real-time inspection, emergency response and disposal mechanism for cyber rumor and black industry chain information.
We have designed and implemented procedures to monitor content on our online recruitment platform. However, it may not be possible to determine in all cases the types of content that could result in our liability as a distributor of such content, and we may not be able to capture all violating content in time, especially in instant messaging. If any of the content posted or displayed on our online recruitment platform is deemed by the PRC government to violate any content restrictions, we may not be able to continue to display such content and could become subject to penalties, including confiscation of income, fines, suspension of business and revocation of required licenses, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
PRC regulatory authorities may also conduct various reviews and inspections on our business operations, especially those related to content distribution, from time to time. If any non-compliance incidents in our business operations are identified, we may be required to take certain rectification measures in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, or we may be subject to other regulatory actions such as administrative penalties. It may be difficult to determine the type of content or actions that may result in liability to us and, if we are found to be liable, we may be prevented from operating our business in the PRC. Moreover, complying with relevant regulatory requirements may result in limitation to our scope of services, reduction in user engagement or loss of users, diversion of our management teams attention and increased operational costs and expenses. The costs of compliance with these regulations may continue to increase as a result of more content being made available by an increasing number of users of our online recruitment platform, which may adversely affect our results of operations.
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Any lack of or failure to maintain requisite approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our business may have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations, and compliance with applicable laws or regulations may require us to obtain additional approvals or licenses or change our business model.
Our business is subject to supervision and regulation by various governmental authorities in China. These governmental authorities include the CAC, The Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or the MIIT, the State Administration for Market Regulation, or the SAMR, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, or the MCT, the National Radio and Television Administration, and their corresponding local regulatory authorities. These governmental authorities promulgate and enforce laws and regulations that cover a variety of business activities that relating to our operations, such as provision of internet information, among other things. These regulations in general regulate the entry into, the permitted scope of, as well as approvals, licenses and permits for, the relevant business activities.
We have obtained the value-added telecommunication service license concerning the internet information service, or ICP license, for provision of internet information services. The ICP license is essential to the operation of our existing and future business and is subject to regular government review or renewal. However, we cannot assure you that we can successfully renew our ICP license in a timely manner or at all as required by PRC laws to operate our online recruitment platform. Due to the evolving nature of the interpretation and application of the laws and regulations applicable to our industry in China, we cannot assure you that the permitted scope and other aspects of our ICP license are sufficient as legally required to conduct all of our present business. The scope of our current ICP license does not cover instant information interaction services. The regulatory authorities may determine that the scope of our ICP license is not broad enough to carry on all of our businesses and require that we expand the scope of our ICP license. We may not be able to meet such requirement, because holding a license for providing internet news information, or Internet News Information Service License, is a prerequisite to expanding the scope of our ICP license to include instant information interaction services. However, to our knowledge, Internet News Information Service Licenses are only granted to news providers and state-owned entities in practice. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been subject to any penalties imposed by, or any investigations initiated by, the relevant governmental authorities due to any insufficiency in the scope of our current ICP license, but we may be subject to such penalties or investigations in the future, in which case we may be involved in legal proceedings, have any illegal gains confiscated, have our relevant business suspended, or face other penalties.
As of the date of this prospectus, we have not obtained certain approvals, licenses and permits that may be required for some aspects of our operations. According to the PRC Administrative Provisions on Internet Audio-Visual Program Services, a provider of online audio-visual service must obtain a license for online transmission of audio-visual programs, or Audio-Visual License issued by the National Radio and Television Administration. We are required to but have not obtained the Audio-Visual License for providing internet audio-visual program services through our online recruitment platform, including providing certain short educational videos for users, providing in-app streaming interviewing and allowing users to upload and share short career-related videos. We do not consider such services to be material to our business and the revenues generated through the provision of such services account for an insignificant portion of our total revenues. We are not eligible to apply for an Audio-Visual License under the current regulatory regime, because we are not a wholly state-owned or state-controlled entity as required for this license under PRC law. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been subject to any material penalties imposed by, or any investigations initiated by, the relevant governmental authorities because we provide internet audio-visual program services through our online recruitment platform without an Audio-Visual License, but we may be subject to such penalties or investigations in the future, in which case we may be involved in legal proceedings, have
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any illegal gains confiscated, have our relevant business suspended, or face other penalties, which we believe would not materially and adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operation.
We may be required to apply for and obtain additional licenses, permits or approvals, make additional registrations, update our registrations or expand the scope of our permits and approvals, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to meet these requirements timely, or at all, in the future. As we expand our business scope and explore different business initiatives, the business measures we have adopted or may adopt in the future may be challenged under PRC laws and regulations. For instance, while we believe we are not subject to any online game virtual currency laws and regulations for certain virtual tokens we offer in our mobile applications, the PRC government authorities may take a view contrary to ours. As a result, we may be required to obtain additional approvals or licenses. If we fail to timely obtain, maintain or renew all the required licenses or permits or make all the necessary filings, we may be subject to various penalties or other regulatory actions, such as confiscation of revenues from the unlicensed activities, the imposition of fines and the discontinuation or restriction of our operations. Any such penalties may disrupt our operations and materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business is subject to the complex and evolving laws and regulations in China. Many of these laws and regulations are subject to change and uncertain interpretation, and could result in claims, changes to our business practices, monetary penalties, increased cost of operations, or declines in user growth or engagement, or otherwise harm our business.
We are subject to a variety of laws and regulations that involve matters important to or may otherwise impact our business, including, among others, provision of value-added telecommunications services, talent intermediary services, information security and censorship, foreign exchange and taxation. See also Regulation. The introduction of new products and services may subject us to additional laws, regulations, or other government scrutiny.
These laws and regulations are continually evolving and may change significantly. As a result, the application, interpretation, and enforcement of these laws and regulations are often uncertain, particularly in the rapidly evolving industry in which we operate. In addition, these laws and regulations may be interpreted and applied inconsistently by different agencies or authorities, and inconsistently with our current policies and practices. These laws and regulations may also be costly to comply with, and such compliance or any associated inquiries or investigations or any other government actions may
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delay or impede our development of new services, |
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result in negative publicity, increase our operating costs, |
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require significant management time and attention, and |
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subject us to remedies, administrative penalties and even criminal liabilities that may harm our business, including fines assessed for our current or historical operations, or demands or orders that we modify or cease existing business practices. |
The promulgation of new laws or regulations, or the new interpretation of existing laws and regulations, in each case that restrict or otherwise unfavorably impact the ability or manner in which we provide our services could require us to change certain aspects of our business to ensure compliance, which could decrease demand for our products and services, reduce revenues, increase costs, require us to obtain more licenses, permits, approvals or certificates, or subject us to additional liabilities. To the extent any new or more stringent measures are required to be implemented, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
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If our job seekers or employers profiles are out-of-date, inaccurate, fraudulent or lack credible information, we may not be able to effectively create value for our users, which could materially and adversely impact our reputation and business prospects.
We adopt a comprehensive suite of registration procedures to verify the identity of our job seekers and enterprise users, and we also have ongoing risk assessment procedures for enterprise users. Our intelligence system detects suspicious user input that may undermine the integrity of the community and will then require such users to go through additional authentication procedures. With these rigorous verification procedures in place, we still cannot assure you that we will be able to remove all the job seekers and enterprise users that submit out-of-date, inaccurate, fraudulent or otherwise incredible profile information to our database. If we are not able to effectively filter out these job seekers and enterprise users, our users that submit legit and accurate profile information may be misled or even defrauded by them, wasting their time and resources in the process, and our reputation and business prospects will also be materially and adversely impacted as a result.
If user traffic to our online recruitment platform stagnates or declines for any reason, our operating and financial prospects may be harmed.
Our ability to attract and maintain user traffic to our online recruitment platform is important for our continuing growth. If user traffic to our online recruitment platform declines for any reason, our business and results of operations may be harmed. We depend in part on various app stores, online articles, internet search engines and portals to direct a significant amount of user traffic to our mobile applications and websites. However, the amount of user traffic directed to our mobile applications and websites is not entirely within our control. Our competitors better relationship with certain app stores or social media platforms, greater online presence or news coverage, and more search engine optimization efforts may result in their mobile applications and websites receiving more directed user traffic or a higher search result page ranking than ours. App stores could recommend mobile applications from our competitors more prominently than they do ours, social media platforms may direct more attention to products and services from our competitors, and internet search engines could revise their methodologies, which may adversely affect the placement of our search result page ranking. Any such changes could decrease user traffic to our mobile applications and websites and adversely affect the growth of our user base, which may in turn harm our business and operating results.
We may need additional capital, and we may be unable to obtain such capital in a timely manner or on acceptable terms, or at all.
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 markets and acquire complementary businesses and technologies, we may require additional capital from time to time. However, additional funds may not be available when we need them on reasonable terms, or at all. Our ability to obtain additional capital is subject to a variety of uncertainties, including:
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our market position and competitiveness in the industry where we operate; |
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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 recruitment services companies in China; and |
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economic, political and other conditions in China. |
If we are unable to obtain additional capital in a timely manner or on acceptable terms, or at all, our ability to continue to pursue our business objectives and respond to business opportunities,
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challenges or unforeseen circumstances could be significantly limited, and our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects could be materially and 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.
We face risks associated with the misconduct of our employees, business partners and their employees and other related personnel, and we may be subject to allegations, harassing or other detrimental conduct by third parties and other forms of negative publicity, which could harm our reputation and cause us to lose market share and users.
We rely on our employees to maintain and operate our business and have implemented internal policies to guide the actions of our employees. However, we do not have full control over every action of our employees, and any misbehavior of our employees could materially and adversely affect our reputation and business. For example, if our employees download pirated software to their work computers or perform other unauthorized actions on our technology systems, we may be exposed to security breaches. Despite the security measures we have implemented, our systems and procedures and those of our business partners may be vulnerable to security breaches, acts of vandalism, software viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming or human errors or other similar events caused by our employees, our business partners and their employees and other related personnel, which may disrupt our delivery of services or expose the identities and confidential information of our users and personnel. If an actual or perceived breach of our security occurs, the market perception of the effectiveness of our security measures could be harmed, we may lose current and potential users, and we may be exposed to legal and financial risks, including those from legal claims, regulatory fines and penalties, which in turn could adversely affect our business, reputation and results of operations.
With respect to employees, we could also in the future face a wide variety of claims, including discrimination (for example, based on gender, age, race or religious affiliation), sexual harassment, privacy, labor and employment claims. Often these cases raise complex factual and legal issues, and the result of any such claims are inherently unpredictable. Claims against us, whether meritorious or not, could require significant amounts of management time and corporate resources to defend, could result in significant media coverage and negative publicity, and could be harmful to our reputation and our brands. If any of these claims were to be determined adversely to us, or if we were to enter settlement arrangements, we could be exposed to monetary damages or be forced to change the way in which we operate our business, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We also work with our business partners in our business operation, and their performance affects the image of our brands. However, we do not directly supervise them in providing services to us or our users. Although we generally select business partners with strong reputation and track record, we may not be able to successfully monitor, maintain and improve the quality of their services. In the event of any unsatisfactory performance by our business partners and/or their employees, our business operation may be negatively impacted and our users may experience disruptions in services or decline in service quality, which may materially and adversely affect our reputation, our ability to retain and expand our user base, and our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Our online recruitment platform depends on effective interoperation with mobile and computer operating systems, hardware, networks, regulations, and standards that we do not control. Changes in our online recruitment platform or to those operating systems, hardware, networks, regulations, or standards may seriously harm our user retention, growth, and engagement. Our business depends on our ability to maintain and scale our technology infrastructure. Any service disruption in our services could damage our reputation, result in a potential loss of users and decrease in user engagement, and seriously harm our business.
Our online recruitment platform, especially its mobile applications, must remain interoperable with popular operating systems, such as iOS and Android, and related hardware. We have no control over these operating systems or hardware, and any changes to these systems or hardware that degrade the functionality of our services, or give preferential treatment to competitive online platforms, could seriously harm usage of our online recruitment platform. We plan to continue to introduce new services in the future. It may take time to optimize such services to function with these operating systems and hardware, thereby impacting the popularity of such services.
To deliver high quality products and services through our online recruitment platform, it is crucial that our online recruitment platform works well with a range of mobile technologies, systems, networks, regulations and standards that we do not control. In particular, any future changes to iOS or Android operating systems may impact the accessibility, speed, functionality and other performance aspects of our online recruitment platform.
Our business and the continuing performance, reliability and availability of our technology systems and online recruitment platform also depend on the performance and reliability of Chinas internet, mobile, and other infrastructures that are not under our control. Disruptions in internet infrastructure or the failure of telecommunications network operators to provide us with the bandwidth needed to provide our products and services may interfere with the speed and availability of our products and services on our online recruitment platform. If our online recruitment platform is unavailable when users attempt to access them, or if our online recruitment platform does not respond as quickly as users expect, users may not return to use our online recruitment platform as often in the future, or at all, and may use our competitors products or services instead. In addition, we have no control over the costs of the services provided by Chinas telecommunications operators. If mobile internet access fees or other charges to internet users increase, user traffic may decrease, which may in turn cause our revenues to significantly decrease.
We may, from time to time, be subject to legal proceedings during the course of our business operations. Our directors, management, shareholders and employees may also from time to time be subject to legal proceedings, which could adversely affect our reputation and results of operations.
From time to time, we are subject to allegations, and may be party to legal claims and regulatory proceedings, relating to our business operations and business partners. Such allegations, claims and proceedings may be brought by third parties, including users, employees, business partners, governmental or regulatory bodies, competitors or other third parties, and may include class actions. The outcome of litigation, particularly class action lawsuits, is difficult to assess or quantify. Plaintiffs in these types of lawsuits may seek recovery of very large or indeterminate amounts, and the magnitude of the potential loss relating to such lawsuits may remain unknown for substantial periods of time. We may incur significant expenses related to such proceedings, which may negatively affect our operating results if changes to our business operations are required. There may also be negative publicity associated with litigation that could decrease user acceptance of our online recruitment services, regardless of whether the allegations are valid or whether we are ultimately found liable. In addition, our directors, management, shareholders and employees may from time to time be subject to litigation,
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regulatory investigations, proceedings and/or negative publicity or otherwise face potential liability and expense in relation to commercial, labor, employment, securities or other matters, which could adversely affect our reputation and results of operations. As a result, litigation may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
After we become a publicly listed company, we may face additional exposure to claims and lawsuits. These claims could divert management time and attention away from our business and result in significant costs to investigate and defend, regardless of the merits of the claims. In some instances, we may elect or be forced to pay substantial damages if we are unsuccessful in our efforts to defend against these claims, which could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has continued to spread across the world and has created unique global and industry-wide challenges. COVID-19 has resulted in quarantines, travel restrictions, and the temporary closure of offices and facilities in China and many other countries. New COVID-19 variants have also emerged, potentially extending the period during which COVID-19 will negatively impact the global economy.
Our revenue growth was negatively impacted in the first quarter of 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic. We started to recover in late first quarter of 2020. People may spend less time at home or online and more time on outdoor activities going forward due to possibilities such as availability of effective vaccines and loosening of restrictions on travel and public gatherings. The increased unemployment and reduced income to both job seekers and businesses resulting from COVID-19 could also hinder the disposable income job seekers can spend on our products and services and lessen the hiring willingness and budgets of our enterprise users. In addition, we may need to make adjustments to operation hours, make work-from-home arrangements and even temporarily close our offices in the event that COVID-19 strikes in a future wave, and we may experience lower work efficiency and productivity during such period. While we might have benefited from the increased online traffic resulting from COVID-19 to our online recruitment platform, there is no guarantee that we can rely on such benefit in the future.
The potential downturn brought by and the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic may be difficult to assess or predict, and any associated negative impact on us will depend on many factors beyond our control. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our long-term results remains uncertain, and we are closely monitoring its impact on us. Our business, results of operations, financial conditions and prospects could be adversely affected directly, as well as indirectly to the extent that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic harms the Chinese and global economy in general. To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects our business and financial results, it may also heighten many of the other risks described in this Risk Factors section.
Our operating metrics are subject to inherent challenges in measurement, and real or perceived inaccuracies in those metrics may materially and adversely affect our business and operating results.
We regularly review operating metrics, such as the number of our paid enterprise customers and MAU, to evaluate growth trends, measure our performance and make strategic decisions. These metrics are calculated using internal company data and have not been validated by an independent third party. While these numbers are based on what we believe to be reasonable estimates for the applicable period of measurement, there are inherent challenges in measuring usage and user engagement across our large user base. Errors or inaccuracies in our metrics could result in incorrect
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business decisions and inefficiencies. For example, if a significant understatement or overstatement of the number of users were to occur, we may expend resources to implement unnecessary business measures or fail to take required actions to attract a sufficient number of users to satisfy our growth strategies.
Our measures of operating metrics may differ from estimates published or adopted by third parties, including but not limited to business partners, market and investment research organizations (including short-selling research firms), investors and media, or from similarly titled metrics used by our competitors or other companies in the relevant industries due to differences in methodology and assumptions. If these third parties do not perceive our operating metrics to be accurate representations of operations, or if we discover material inaccuracies in our operating metrics, our brand value and reputation may be materially harmed, our users and business partners may be less willing to allocate their resources or spending to us, and we may face lawsuits or disputes in relation to the inaccuracies. As a result, our business and operating results may be materially and adversely affected.
Computer and mobile malware, viruses, hacking and phishing attacks, spamming and improper or illegal use of our online recruitment platform may affect user experience, which could reduce our ability to attract users and materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Computer and mobile malware, viruses, hacking and phishing attacks have become more prevalent in our industry, have occurred on our online recruitment platform in the past, and may occur again in the future. Although it is difficult to determine what, if any, direct harm may result from an interruption or attack, any failure to maintain performance, reliability, security and availability of our online recruitment platform and technology infrastructure to the satisfaction of our users may seriously harm our reputation and our ability to retain existing users and attract new users.
In addition, spammers may use our online recruitment platform to send targeted and untargeted spam messages to users, which may affect user experience. In spamming activities, spammers typically create multiple user accounts for the purpose of sending spam messages. Although we attempt to identify and delete accounts created for spamming purposes, we may not be able to effectively eliminate all spam messages from our online recruitment platform in a timely fashion. Our actions to combat spam may also require diversion of significant time and focus of our technology team from improving our online recruitment platform. As a result, our users may use our online recruitment platform less or stop using them altogether, which may result in continuing operational costs to us.
If the software used in our online recruitment platform and technology systems contains undetected programming errors or vulnerabilities, our business could be adversely affected.
Our online recruitment platform and technology systems rely on software, including software developed or maintained internally and/or by third parties. In addition, our online recruitment platform and technology systems depend on the ability of such software to store and process large amount of data. The software on which we rely in the past has contained, and may now or in the future contain, undetected programming errors, bugs, or vulnerabilities. Some errors may only be discovered after the code has been released for external or internal use. Errors, vulnerabilities, or other design defects within the software on which we rely may result in a negative experience for users using our online recruitment platform, delay introductions of new features or enhancements, result in errors or compromise our ability to protect the data of our users and/or our intellectual property or lead to reductions in our ability to provide some or all of our services. In addition, any errors, bugs, vulnerabilities, or defects discovered in the software on which we rely, and any associated degradations or interruptions of service, could result in harm to our reputation and loss of users, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operation results.
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Our online recruitment platform and technology systems contain open source software, which may pose particular risk to our proprietary software and online recruitment platform features and functionalities in a manner that negatively affect our business.
We use open source software in our online recruitment platform and technology systems and will continue to use open source software in the future. To handle risks in this regard, we have set up an internal system that monitors any change in the source code of any open source software we use in our operation, made risk management plan for open source software, and increasingly invested in developing our proprietary software. Despite these risk management efforts, open source software licenses could be construed in a manner that imposes unanticipated conditions or restrictions on our ability to provide our services through the various features and functionalities of our online recruitment platform. Additionally, we may face claims from third parties claiming ownership of, or demanding release of, the open source software or derivative works that we developed using such software. These claims could result in litigation and could require us to make our software source code freely available, purchase a costly license or cease offering the implicated services unless and until we can re-engineer them to avoid infringement. This re-engineering process could require significant additional technology and development resources, and we may not be able to complete it successfully.
We are dependent on app stores to distribute our mobile applications.
We offer our online recruitment services through our online recruitment platform, an important component of which is our mobile applications. Our mobile applications are offered via app stores operated by third parties, such as Apple App Store and various Android app stores, which could suspend or terminate our users access to our mobile applications, increase access costs or change the terms of access in a way that makes our mobile applications less desirable or harder to access. As such, the promotion, distribution and operation of our mobile applications 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 Apples App Store or any Android app stores interpret or change their standard terms and conditions in a manner that is detrimental to us, or terminate their existing relationship with us, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. In the future, it is possible that compliance requirements of app stores may cause us to suspend our mobile applications from such stores. As a result, our ability to expand our user base may be hindered if potential users experience difficulties in or are barred from accessing our mobile applications. Any such incident may adversely affect our brands and reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to risks relating to third-party online payment platforms.
Currently, we collect payments for our services through third-party online payment systems. In all these online payment transactions, secured transmission of confidential information such as our users credit card numbers and personal information over public networks is essential to maintaining users trust and confidence on our online recruitment platform.
We do not have control over the security measures of our third-party online payment vendors. Any security breaches of the online payment systems that we use could expose us to litigation and possible liability for failing to secure confidential user information and could, among other things, damage our reputation and the perceived security of all of the online payment systems that we use. If a well-publicized internet or mobile network security breach were to occur, users may become reluctant to pay for our services even if the publicized breach did not involve payment systems or methods used by us. In addition, billing software errors could damage user confidence in these online payment systems. If any of the above were to occur and damage our reputation or the perceived security of the online payment systems we use, we may lose users and users may be discouraged from purchasing our services, which may have a material adverse effect on our business.
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In addition, there are currently only a limited number of reputable third-party online payment systems in China. If any of these major payment systems decides to cease to provide services to us, or significantly increase the percentage they charge us for using their payment systems for our services, our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Our results of operations are subject to fluctuations due to seasonality.
We experience fluctuations in our revenue streams which affect our ability to predict quarterly results. For example, in a given year, our revenue is typically higher during the fourth quarter as many enterprises usually make hiring plans in the fourth quarter and purchase recruitment services then. We typically experience lower growth in our first quarters as recruitment activities generally slow down around the Chinese New Year. Due to these factors, our revenues may vary materially from quarter to quarter and quarterly results may not be comparable to the corresponding periods of prior years. Such uncertainty makes it difficult for us to predict revenues for a particular quarter. Further, our quarterly sales and marketing expenses are generally the highest in the first quarter of every year as we increase our sales and branding activities during the Chinese New Year season. Therefore, actual results may differ significantly from our targets or estimated quarterly results, which could cause the price of our ADSs to fall.
We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property, which could cause us to be less competitive, and third-party infringements of our intellectual property rights may adversely affect our business.
We believe that our patents, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property are essential to our success. See also BusinessIntellectual Properties. We have devoted considerable time and energy to the development and improvement of our online recruitment platform and our technology system infrastructure.
We rely on a combination of patent, copyright and trademarks laws, trade secrets protection and other contractual restrictions for the protection of the intellectual property used in our business. Effective intellectual property protection may not be available or may not be sought, and contractual disputes may affect the use of the intellectual property governed by private contract. Although our contracts with users and business partners typically prohibit the unauthorized use of our brands, images and other intellectual property rights, there can be no assurance that they will always comply with these terms. These agreements may not effectively prevent the unauthorized use of our intellectual properties or disclosure of confidential information and may not provide an adequate remedy for such unauthorized use or disclosure of personal information. Although we enter into confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements with our employees, and we also have in place various relevant internal rules and polices that require compliance from our employees, these agreements could be breached, the internal rules and policies could be violated, we may be involved in disputes in respect of these agreements and internal rules and policies for which we may not have adequate remedies, and our proprietary technology, know-how or other intellectual property could otherwise become known to third parties. In addition, third parties may independently discover trade secrets and proprietary information, limiting our ability to assert any trade secret rights against such parties.
While we actively take steps to protect our proprietary rights, such steps may not be adequate to prevent the infringement or misappropriation of our intellectual property. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not registered certain trademarks for certain goods or services we use in our business. We also cannot assure our registered trademarks have covered an adequate scope of our existing and future business operations and as of the date of this prospectus, we are in the process of registering certain trademarks that are necessary based on the current scope of our business. However, there can be no assurance that any of our trademark applications will ultimately proceed to
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registration or will result in registration with adequate scope for our business, particularly if such requested trademarks are found to conflict with the registered trademarks owned by third parties, including our competitors. Some of our pending applications or registrations may be successfully challenged or invalidated by others. If our trademark applications are not successful, we may have to use different marks for affected services, or seek to enter into arrangements with any third parties who may have prior registrations, applications or rights, which might not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.
It is often difficult to maintain and enforce intellectual property rights in China. Statutory laws and regulations are subject to judicial interpretation and their enforcement may lack consistency. Accordingly, we may not be able to effectively protect our intellectual property rights or to enforce our related contractual rights in China. Preventing any unauthorized use of our proprietary technology, trademarks and other intellectual property is difficult and expensive, and litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights. Future litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources, and could disrupt our business, as well as materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We have been and may be in the future subject to intellectual property infringement claims or other allegations by third parties, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and prospects.
We have ever been and may in the future be subject to intellectual property infringement claims or other allegations by third party owners or right holders of patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and content for services we provide or for information or content displayed on, retrieved from or linked to, recorded, stored or made accessible on our online recruitment platform, or otherwise distributed to our users, including in connection with the music, movies and videos played, recorded, stored or made accessible on our online recruitment platform during user profile display or advertisement display, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and prospects.
Generally, companies in the internet-related industries are frequently involved in litigation based on allegations of infringement of intellectual property rights, unfair competition, invasion of privacy, defamation and other violations of other parties rights. The validity, enforceability and scope of protection of intellectual property rights in internet-related industries, particularly in China, are uncertain and still evolving. As we face increasing competition and as litigation becomes a more common method for resolving commercial disputes in China, we face a higher risk of being the subject of intellectual property infringement claims or other legal proceedings.
We allow users to upload text, pictures, audio, video and other content to our online recruitment platform and users to download, share, link to and otherwise access other content on our online recruitment platform. Under relevant PRC laws and regulations, online service providers, which provide storage space for users to upload works or links to other services or content, could be held liable for copyright infringement under various circumstances, including situations where the online service provider knows or should reasonably have known that the relevant content uploaded or linked to on its platform infringes upon the copyright of others and the online service provider failed to take necessary actions to prevent such infringement. We have procedures implemented to reduce the likelihood that content might be used without proper licenses or third-party consents. However, these procedures may not be effective in preventing the unauthorized posting or distribution of copyrighted content, and we may be considered failing to take necessary actions against such infringement. Therefore, we may face liability for copyright or trademark infringement, defamation, unfair competition, libel, negligence, and other claims based on the nature and content of the materials that are delivered, shared or otherwise accessed through our online recruitment platform.
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Defending claims is costly and can impose a significant burden on our management and employees, and there can be no assurance that favorable final outcomes will be obtained in all cases. Such claims, even if they do not result in liability, may harm our reputation. Any resulting liability or expenses, or changes required to be made to our online recruitment platform to reduce the risk of future liability, may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and prospects.
Our advertising content may subject us to penalties and other administrative actions.
Under PRC advertising laws and regulations, we are obligated to monitor our advertising content to ensure that such content is true and accurate and in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Violation of these laws and regulations may subject us to penalties, including fines, confiscation of our advertising income, orders to cease dissemination of the advertisements and orders to publish an announcement correcting the misleading information. In circumstances involving serious violations by us, PRC governmental authorities may force us to terminate our advertising operations or revoke our licenses. See RegulationRegulations Relating to Advertisement.
While we have made significant efforts to ensure that our advertisements are in full compliance with applicable PRC laws and regulations, we cannot assure you that all the content contained in such advertisements is true and accurate as required by the advertising laws and regulations, especially given the uncertainty in the interpretation of these PRC laws and regulations. If we are found to be in violation of applicable PRC advertising laws and regulations, we may be subject to penalties and our reputation may be harmed, which may negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Increasing focus with respect to environmental, social and governance matters may impose additional costs on us or expose us to additional risks. Failure to comply with the laws and regulations on environmental, social and governance matters may subject us to penalties and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The PRC government and public advocacy groups have been increasingly focused on environment, social and governance, or ESG, issues in recent years, making our business more sensitive to ESG issues and changes in governmental policies and laws and regulations associated with environment protection and other ESG-related matters. Investor advocacy groups, certain institutional investors, investment funds, and other influential investors are also increasingly focused on ESG practices and in recent years have placed increasing importance on the implications and social cost of their investments. Regardless of the industry, increased focus from investors and the PRC government on ESG and similar matters may hinder access to capital, as investors may decide to reallocate capital or to not commit capital as a result of their assessment of a companys ESG practices. Any ESG concern or issue could increase our regulatory compliance costs. If we do not adapt to or comply with the evolving expectations and standards on ESG matters from investors and the PRC government or are perceived to have not responded appropriately to the growing concern for ESG issues, regardless of whether there is a legal requirement to do so, we may suffer from reputational damage and the business, financial condition, and the price of our ADSs could be materially and adversely effected.
Existing or future strategic alliances, long-term investments and acquisitions may have a material and adverse effect on our business, reputation and results of operations.
We may enter into strategic alliances, including joint ventures or minority equity investments, with various third parties to further our business purpose from time to time. These alliances could subject us to a number of risks, including risks associated with sharing proprietary information, non-performance by the third party and increased expenses in establishing new strategic alliances, any of which may
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materially and adversely affect our business. We may have limited ability to monitor or control the actions of these third parties and, to the extent any of these strategic third parties suffers negative publicity or harm to their reputation from events relating to their business, we may also suffer negative publicity or harm to our reputation by virtue of our association with any such third party.
In addition, if appropriate opportunities arise, we may acquire additional assets, products, technologies or businesses that are complementary to our existing business. Future acquisitions and the subsequent integration of new assets and businesses into our own would require significant attention from our management and could result in a diversion of resources from our existing business, which in turn could have an adverse effect on our business operations. Acquisitions may not achieve our goals and could be viewed negatively by users, business partners or investors. Acquisitions could result in the use of substantial amounts of cash, potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, the occurrence of significant goodwill impairment charges, amortization expenses for other intangible assets and exposure to potential unknown liabilities of the acquired business. Moreover, the costs of identifying and consummating acquisitions may be significant. In addition to possible shareholders approval, we may also have to obtain approvals and licenses from relevant governmental authorities for the acquisitions and to comply with any applicable PRC laws and regulations, which could result in increased delay and costs.
Our business depends substantially on the continuing efforts of our executive officers and other key employees. If we lose their services or do not plan their succession effectively, our business operations and growth prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
Our future success depends heavily on the continuing services of our executive officers and other key employees. In particular, we rely on the expertise, experience and vision of our Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peng Zhao, as well as other members of our senior management team. If one or more of our executive officers or other key employees were unable or unwilling to continue their services with us or are otherwise subject to any legal or regulatory liabilities in their personal capacity or otherwise, we might not be able to replace them easily, in a timely manner, or at all. Competition for qualified talent is intense, there can be no assurance that we will be able to attract or retain qualified employees. As a result, our business may be materially and adversely affected, our financial condition and results of operations may be severely affected, and we may incur additional expenses to recruit, train and retain key personnel.
Moreover, if any of our executive officers or other key employees joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may lose know-how, trade secrets, business partners, user base and market share. Each of our executive officers and key employees has entered into an employment agreement, a confidentiality and intellectual property ownership agreement and a non-compete agreement. However, these agreements may be deemed invalid or unenforceable under PRC laws and other applicable laws and regulations in other jurisdictions. If any dispute arises between our executive officers or key employees and us, there can be no assurance that we would be able to enforce these agreements in China and other jurisdictions, where these executive officers and key employees may reside.
Effective succession planning is also important to the long-term success of our business. If we fail to ensure effective transfer of knowledge and smooth transitions involving key employees, it could significantly hinder our strategic planning and execution. The loss of senior management or any ineffective transitions in management could delay or prevent the achievement of our development and strategic objectives, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
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Competition for qualified personnel is often intense. If we are unable to recruit, train and retain sufficient qualified personnel while controlling our labor costs, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
Our ability to continue to conduct and expand our operations depends on our ability to attract and retain a large and growing number of qualified personnel in China and also globally. Our ability to meet our labor needs, including our ability to find qualified personnel to fill positions that become vacant, while controlling labor costs, is generally subject to numerous external factors, including the availability of a sufficient number of qualified persons in the markets where we operate, unemployment levels within those markets, prevailing wage rates, changing demographics, health and other insurance costs and adoption of new or revised employment and labor laws and regulations. If we are unable to locate, attract or retain qualified personnel, or manage leadership transition successfully, the quality of service we provide to users may decrease and our financial performance may be adversely affected. In addition, if our costs of labor or related costs increase for other reasons or if new or revised labor laws, rules or regulations or healthcare laws are adopted or implemented that further increase our labor costs, our financial performance could be materially and adversely affected.
We may not have sufficient insurance to cover our business risks, so that any uninsured occurrence of business disruption may result in substantial costs to us and the diversion of our resources, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
We provide social security insurance for our employees as required by PRC law, and we also provide supplemental commercial medical insurance for our employees. We do not maintain business interruption insurance or key-man insurance. We consider this practice to be reasonable in light of the nature of our business, which is in line with the practices of other companies of similar size in the same industry in China. In addition, insurance companies in China currently offer limited business-related insurance products. Any uninsured occurrence of business disruption, litigation or natural disaster, or significant damages to our uninsured equipment or facilities could disrupt our business operations, requiring us to incur substantial costs and divert our resources, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
If we fail to develop and maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud, and investor confidence and the market price of our ADSs may be adversely impacted.
Prior to this offering, we have been a private company with limited accounting personnel and other resources with which to address our internal control over financial reporting. In connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, we and our independent registered public accounting firm identified two material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. As defined in the standards established by the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB, 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.
The material weaknesses that have been identified relate to (i) our lack of sufficient competent financial reporting and accounting personnel with appropriate understanding of U.S. GAAP 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 SEC, and (ii) our lack of period-end financial closing policies and procedures for preparation of consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with U.S. GAAP and financial reporting requirements set forth by the SEC.
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Following the identification of the material weaknesses and other significant control deficiencies, we have taken measures and plan to continue to take measures to remediate these deficiencies. See Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsInternal Control Over Financial Reporting. However, the implementation of these measures may not fully address these deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting, and we cannot conclude that they have been fully remediated. Our failure to correct these deficiencies or our failure to discover and address any other deficiencies could result in inaccuracies in our financial statements and impair our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements and related regulatory filings on a timely basis. Moreover, ineffective internal control over financial reporting could significantly hinder our ability to prevent fraud.
After we become a public company in the United States, we will be subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, will require that we include a report from management on our internal control over financial reporting in our annual report on Form 20-F beginning with our annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. In addition, once we cease to be an emerging growth company as such term is defined in the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm must attest to and report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Our management may conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective. Moreover, even if our management concludes that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, our independent registered public accounting firm, after conducting its own independent testing, may issue a report that is qualified if it is not satisfied with our internal control over financial reporting or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant requirements differently from us. In addition, after we become a public company, our reporting obligations may place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources and systems for the foreseeable future. We may be unable to timely complete our evaluation testing and any required remediation.
During the course of documenting and testing our internal control procedures, in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404, we may identify other or more material weaknesses or deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, if we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, as these standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404. Generally speaking, if we fail to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment, 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 in turn limit our access to capital markets, harm our results of operations and lead to a decline in the trading price of our ADSs. Additionally, ineffective internal control over financial reporting could expose us to increased risk of fraud or misuse of corporate assets and subject us to potential delisting from the stock exchange on which we list, regulatory investigations and civil or criminal sanctions. We may also be required to restate our consolidated financial statements for prior periods.
We have granted and expect to continue to grant share-based awards in the future under our share incentive plan, which may result in increased share-based compensation expenses.
In order to attract and retain qualified employees, provide incentives to our directors and employees, and promote the success of our business, we adopted a share incentive plan in September 2020, which was amended and restated in May 2021 (as so amended and restated, the 2020 Share Incentive Plan). The maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares that may be issued under the 2020 Share Incentive Plan is 145,696,410, and upon the completion of this offering and commencing in 2022, it will be increased on the first day of each fiscal year by 1.5% of our total number of issued and outstanding shares on an as-converted basis on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar
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year; after five of such automatic annual increases, our board of directors will determine the amount of annual increases, if any, to the maximum number of ordinary shares issuable under the 2020 Share Incentive Plan. 121,109,435 options to purchase our Class A ordinary shares have been granted and outstanding, excluding options that were forfeited or canceled after the relevant grant dates. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 and the three months ended March 31, 2021, we recorded RMB34.3 million, RMB657.2 million (US$100.7 million) and RMB48.7 million (US$7.4 million) in share-based payment expenses, respectively.
We believe the granting of share-based awards is of significant importance to our ability to attract and retain key personnel and employees, and we will continue to grant share-based awards to employees in the future. As a result, our expenses associated with share-based payment expenses may increase, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
We face certain risks related to our leased properties.
We lease real properties in China from third parties primarily as office space. We have not registered some of our lease agreements for these properties with the PRC governmental authorities as required by PRC law. Although the failure to do so does not in itself invalidate the lease agreements, we may be ordered by the PRC government authorities to rectify such noncompliance and, if such noncompliance is not rectified within a given period of time, we may be subject to fines imposed by PRC government authorities ranging from RMB1,000 and RMB10,000 for each lease agreement that has not been registered with the relevant PRC governmental authorities. In addition, our use of certain leased properties does not comply with the approved use stipulated in the title certificates of such properties. Our lease agreements may be claimed as null and void by the relevant PRC governmental authorities, and we may not be able to continue to use such leased properties as a result of such non-compliance and may have to relocate to other premises. In addition, certain of our leased properties were subject to mortgage when we entered our lease agreements. If the ownership of such properties changes as a result of the foreclosure of the mortgage, we may not be able to enforce our rights to the leased properties under the respective lease agreements against the mortgagee. We cannot assure you that suitable alternative locations are readily available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, and if we are unable to relocate our affected operations in a timely manner, our operations may be adversely affected.
The ownership certificates or other similar proof of most of our leased properties have not been provided to us by the relevant lessors. Therefore, we cannot assure you that such lessors are entitled to lease the relevant real properties to us. If the lessors are not entitled to lease the real properties to us and the owners of such real properties decline to ratify the lease agreements between us and the respective lessors, we may not be able to enforce our rights to lease such properties under the respective lease agreements against the owners. As of the date of this prospectus, we are not aware of any claim or challenge brought by any third parties against us or our lessors with respect to the defects in our leasehold interests. If our lease agreements are claimed as null and void by the owners of the leased real properties, we could be required to vacate the properties and incur additional costs, in the event of which we could only initiate the claim against the lessors under relevant lease agreements for indemnities for their breach of the relevant leasing agreements. We cannot assure you that suitable alternative locations are readily available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, and if we are unable to relocate our officers in a timely manner, our operations may be interrupted.
We face risks related to natural and other disasters, including severe weather conditions or outbreaks of health epidemics, and other extraordinary events, which could significantly disrupt our operations.
In addition to the impact of COVID-19, our business could be materially and adversely affected by natural disasters, other health epidemics or other public safety concerns affecting the PRC, and
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particularly Beijing. Natural disasters may give rise to server interruptions, breakdowns, system failures, technology platform failures, internet failures or other operation interruptions for us and our business partners, which could cause the loss or corruption of data or malfunction of software or hardware as well as adversely affect our ability and the ability of our business partners to conduct daily operations. Our business could also be adversely affected if employees of ours or our business partners are affected by health epidemics. In addition, our results of operations could be adversely affected to the extent that any health epidemic harms the Chinese economy in general.
Our headquarters is located in Beijing, China, where most of our directors and management and the majority of our employees currently reside. Most of our system hardware and the back-up systems supplied by third-party cloud service providers are hosted in facilities located in China. Consequently, if any natural disasters, health epidemics or other public safety concerns were to affect China and Beijing in particular, our operation may experience material disruptions, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure
If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating some of our operations in China do not comply with PRC laws and regulations relating to the relevant industries, or if these laws and regulations or the interpretation of existing laws and regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations.
Foreign ownership in entities that provide internet and other related businesses, including but not limited to, the value-added telecommunication services, internet culture business and radio and television program services, is subject to restrictions under current PRC laws and regulations, unless certain exceptions are available. Specifically, the operation of certain value-added telecommunications services are considered restricted, and foreign ownership of an internet information 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. The provision of radio and television program services and the internet cultural services are considered prohibited.
We are a Cayman Islands company and our PRC subsidiaries are considered a foreign-invested enterprise. To ensure compliance with the PRC laws and regulations, we conduct our foreign investment-restricted business in China through Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd., or our VIE, and our VIE currently holds the value-added telecommunication business license and other licenses necessary for our operation of such restricted business, based on a series of contractual arrangements by and among Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd., or our WFOE, our VIE and its shareholders. These contractual agreements 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 call option to purchase all or part of the equity interests in our VIE when and to the extent permitted by PRC law. As a result of these contractual arrangements, we exert control over our VIE and consolidate financial results of our VIE in our financial statements under U.S. GAAP. See Corporate History and Structure for further details.
In the opinion of our PRC legal counsel, Tian Yuan Law Firm, (i) the ownership structures of our VIE and our WFOE in China are not in violation of mandatory provisions of applicable PRC laws and regulations currently in effect; and (ii) the agreements under the contractual arrangements among our WFOE, our VIE and its shareholders governed by PRC law are valid and binding upon each party to such agreements and enforceable against each party thereto in accordance with their terms and applicable PRC laws and 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
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of current or future PRC laws and regulations. Thus, the PRC government may ultimately take a view contrary to the opinion of our PRC legal 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 our PRC 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, or imposing other requirements with which we or our VIE may not be able to comply; |
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discontinuing or placing restrictions or onerous conditions on our operations; |
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placing restrictions on our right to collect revenues; |
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shutting down our servers or blocking our online recruitment platform; |
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requiring us to restructure our ownership structure or operations, including terminating the contractual arrangements with our VIE and deregistering the equity pledges of our VIE, which in turn would affect our ability to consolidate, derive economic interests from, or exert effective control over our VIE; |
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restricting or prohibiting our use of the proceeds from this offering or other of our financing activities to finance the business and operations of our VIE; or |
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taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to our business. |
Any of these events could cause significant disruption to our business operations and severely damage our reputation, which would in turn have a material adverse effect on 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 VIE that most significantly impact their economic performance, and/or our failure to receive the economic benefits and residual returns from our VIE, and we are not able to restructure our ownership structure and operations in a satisfactory manner, we may not be able to consolidate the financial results of our VIE in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
The contractual arrangements with our VIE and its shareholders may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control.
We have to rely on the contractual arrangements with our VIE and its shareholders to operate the business in areas where foreign ownership is restricted, including but not limited to, provision of certain value-added telecommunication services. These contractual arrangements, however, may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over our VIE. For example, our VIE and its shareholders could breach their contractual arrangements with us by, among other things, failing to conduct the operations of our VIE in an acceptable manner or taking other actions that are detrimental to our interests.
If we had direct ownership of our VIE in China, we would be able to exercise our rights as a shareholder to effect changes in the board of directors of our VIE, 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 VIE and its shareholders of their obligations under the contracts to exercise control over our VIE. The shareholders of our VIE may not act in the best interests of our company or may not perform their obligations under these contracts. 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
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legal proceedings and therefore will be subject to uncertainties in the PRC legal system. See Any failure by our VIE or its shareholders to perform their obligations under our contractual arrangements with them would have a material and adverse effect on our business.
Any failure by our VIE 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 VIE 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 VIE were to refuse to transfer their equity interests in our VIE 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. In addition, if any third parties claim any interest in such shareholders equity interests in our VIE, our ability to exercise shareholders rights or foreclose the share pledge according to the contractual arrangements may be impaired. If these or other disputes between the shareholders of our VIE and third parties were to impair our control over our VIE, our ability to consolidate the financial results of our VIE would be affected, which would in turn result in a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.
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. See Risks Relating to Doing Business in ChinaUncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us. Meanwhile, there are very few precedents and little formal guidance as to how contractual arrangements in the context of a consolidated VIE 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 VIE, and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively affected.
The shareholders of our VIE may have actual or potential conflicts of interest with us.
The shareholders of our VIE may have actual or potential conflicts of interest with us. These shareholders may breach, or cause our VIE to breach, or refuse to renew, the existing contractual arrangements we have with them and our VIE, which would have a material and adverse effect on our ability to effectively control our VIE and receive economic benefits from it. For example, the shareholders may be able to cause our agreements with our VIE to be performed in a manner adverse to us by, among other things, failing to remit payments due under the contractual arrangements to us on a timely basis. We cannot assure you that when conflicts of interest arise any or all of these shareholders will act in the best interests of our company or such conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
Currently, we do not have any arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest between these shareholders and our company, except that we could exercise our purchase option under the
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exclusive call option agreements with these shareholders to request them to transfer all of their equity interests in the VIE to a PRC entity or individual designated by us, to the extent permitted by PRC law. For Mr. Peng Zhao, who is our director and Chief Executive Officer and also a major shareholder of our VIE, we rely on him to abide by the laws of the Cayman Islands, which provide that directors and officers owe a fiduciary duty to the company that requires them to act in good faith and in what they believe to be the best interests of the company and not to use their position for personal gains. The shareholders of our VIE have executed powers of attorney to appoint our WFOE to vote on their behalf and exercise voting rights as shareholders of our VIE. If we cannot resolve any conflict of interest or dispute between us and the shareholders of our VIE, we would have to rely on legal proceedings, which could result in disruption of our business and subject us to substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.
The shareholders of our VIE may be involved in personal disputes with third parties or other incidents that may have an adverse effect on their respective equity interests in our VIE and the validity or enforceability of our contractual arrangements with our VIE and its shareholders. For example, in the event that any individual shareholder of our VIE divorces his or her spouse, the spouse may claim that the equity interest of our VIE held by such shareholder is part of their community property and should be divided between such shareholder and his or her spouse. If such claim is supported by the court, the relevant equity interest may be obtained by the shareholders spouse or another third party who is not subject to obligations under our contractual arrangements, which could result in a loss of the effective control over our VIE by us. Similarly, if any of the equity interests of our VIE is inherited by a third party with whom the current contractual arrangements are not binding, we could lose our control over our VIE or have to maintain such control by incurring unpredictable costs, which could cause significant disruption to our business and operations and harm our financial condition and results of operations.
Although under our current contractual arrangements, (i) our VIEs shareholders spouses have executed spousal consent letters under which the spouses agree not to assert any rights over the equity interest in our VIE held by these VIE shareholders, and (ii) it is expressly provided that our VIE and its shareholders shall not assign any of their respective rights or obligations to any third party without the prior written consent of our WFOE, we cannot assure you that these undertakings and arrangements will be complied with or effectively enforced. In the case any of them is breached or becomes unenforceable and leads to legal proceedings, it could disrupt our business, distract our managements attention and subject us to substantial uncertainties as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.
Contractual arrangements in relation to our VIE may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and they may determine that we or our VIE 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. We could face material and adverse tax consequences if the PRC tax authorities determine that the contractual arrangements in relation to our VIE 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 the taxable income of our VIE 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 VIE for PRC tax purposes, which could in turn increase its tax liabilities without reducing our PRC subsidiaries tax expenses. In addition, the PRC tax authorities may impose late payment fees and other penalties on our VIE for the adjusted but unpaid taxes according to the applicable regulations. Our financial position could be materially and adversely affected if our VIEs tax liabilities increase or if it is required to pay late payment fees and other penalties.
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Our current corporate structure and business operations may be substantially affected by the newly enacted Foreign Investment Law.
On March 15, 2019, the National Peoples Congress promulgated the PRC Foreign Investment Law, which took effect on January 1, 2020. Since it is relatively new, substantially uncertainties exist in relation to its interpretation and implementation. The PRC Foreign Investment Law does not explicitly classify whether VIEs that are controlled through contractual arrangements would be deemed as foreign invested enterprises if they are ultimately controlled by foreign investors. However, it has a catch-all provision under definition of foreign investment that includes investments made by foreign investors in China through other means as provided by laws, administrative regulations or other methods prescribed by the State Council. Therefore, it still leaves leeway for future laws, administrative regulations or provisions of the State Council to provide for contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment, at which time it will be uncertain whether our contractual arrangements will be deemed to be in violation of the market access requirements for foreign investment in the PRC and if yes, how our contractual arrangements should be dealt with.
The PRC Foreign Investment Law grants national treatment to foreign-invested entities, except for those foreign-invested entities that operate in industries specified as either restricted or prohibited from foreign investment in The Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for Access of Foreign Investment jointly promulgated by the Ministry of Commerce and the National Development and Reform Commission, or the NDRC, and took effect in July 2020. The PRC Foreign Investment Law provides that (i) foreign-invested entities operating in restricted industries are required to obtain market entry clearance and other approvals from relevant PRC government authorities;(ii) foreign investors shall not invest in any industries that are prohibited under the Negative List. If our control over our VIE through contractual arrangements are deemed as foreign investment in the future, and any business of our VIE is restricted or prohibited from foreign investment under the negative list effective at the time, we may be deemed to be in violation of the PRC Foreign Investment Law, the contractual arrangements that allow us to have control over our VIE may be deemed as invalid and illegal, and we may be required to unwind such contractual arrangements and/or restructure our business operations, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business operation.
Furthermore, if future laws, administrative regulations or provisions 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 and business operations.
We may lose the ability to use and enjoy assets held by our VIE that are critical to the operation of our business if our VIE declare bankruptcy or become subject to a dissolution or liquidation proceeding.
Our VIE holds certain assets that may be critical to the operation of our business. If the shareholders of our VIE breach the contractual arrangements and voluntarily liquidate our VIE, or if our VIE declares bankruptcy and all or part of its assets become subject to liens or rights of third-party creditors or are otherwise disposed of without our consent, 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. In addition, if our VIE undergoes an involuntary liquidation proceeding, third-party creditors may claim rights to some or all of its assets, thereby hindering our ability to operate our business, which could materially or adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Risks Relating to Doing Business in China
Changes in Chinas economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material and adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
The vast majority of our operations are located in China. Accordingly, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations may be influenced to a significant degree by political, economic and social conditions in China generally and by continued economic growth in China as a whole.
The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the amount of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. Although the Chinese government has implemented measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China are still owned by the government. In addition, the Chinese government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The Chinese government also exercises significant control over Chinas economic growth through allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.
While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. The online recruitment service industry is highly sensitive to general economic changes. Any adverse changes in economic conditions in China, in the policies of the Chinese government or in the laws and regulations in China could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China. Such developments could adversely affect our business and operating results, lead to a reduction in demand for our services and adversely affect our competitive position. The Chinese government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy, but may have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations. The growth rate of the Chinese economy has gradually slowed since 2010, and the impact of COVID-19 on the global and Chinese economy in 2020 is severe. Any prolonged slowdown in the global and Chinese economy may reduce the demand for our services and materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.
The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, prior court decisions may be cited for reference but 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.
Our WFOE is a foreign-invested enterprise and is subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign-invested enterprises, and our WFOE and our VIE are also subject to various Chinese laws and regulations generally applicable to companies incorporated in China. However, since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform 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 administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in
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interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of protection we enjoy 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 on a timely basis or at all, and which may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of any of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. In addition, any administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. Such uncertainties, including uncertainty over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights, and any failure to respond to changes in the regulatory environment in China could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.
Litigation and negative publicity surrounding China-based companies listed in the U.S. may result in increased regulatory scrutiny of us and negatively impact the trading price of the ADSs and could have a material adverse effect upon our business, including our results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and prospects.
We believe that litigation and negative publicity surrounding companies with operations in China that are listed in the U.S. have negatively impacted stock prices for such companies. Various equity-based research organizations have published reports on China-based companies after examining, among other things, their corporate governance practices, related party transactions, sales practices and financial statements that have led to special investigations and stock suspensions on national exchanges. Any similar scrutiny of us, regardless of its lack of merit, could result in a diversion of management resources and energy, potential costs to defend ourselves against rumors, decreases and volatility in the ADS trading price, and increased directors and officers insurance premiums and could have a material adverse effect upon our business, including our results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and prospects.
Our ADSs may be delisted under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act if the PCAOB is unable to inspect auditors who are located in China. The delisting of our ADSs, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. Additionally, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections deprives our investors with the benefits of such inspections.
The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCA Act, was enacted on December 18, 2020. The HFCA Act states if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the PCAOB for three consecutive years beginning in 2021, the SEC shall prohibit our shares or ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over the counter trading market in the U.S.
Our auditor, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this prospectus, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Since our auditor is located in China, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB has been unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the Chinese authorities, our auditor is currently not inspected by the PCAOB.
On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCA Act. We will be required to comply with these rules if the SEC identifies us as having a non-inspection year under a process to be subsequently established by the SEC. The SEC is assessing how to implement other requirements of the HFCA Act, including the listing and trading prohibition requirements described above.
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The SEC may propose additional rules or guidance that could impact us if our auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspection. For example, on August 6, 2020, the Presidents Working Group on Financial Markets, or the PWG, issued the Report on Protecting United States Investors from Significant Risks from Chinese Companies to the then President of the United States. This report recommended the SEC implement five recommendations to address companies from jurisdictions that do not provide the PCAOB with sufficient access to fulfil its statutory mandate. Some of the concepts of these recommendations were implemented with the enactment of the HFCA Act. However, some of the recommendations were more stringent than the HFCA Act. For example, if a company was not subject to PCAOB inspection, the report recommended that the transition period before a company would be delisted would end on January 1, 2022.
The SEC has announced that the SEC staff is preparing a consolidated proposal for the rules regarding the implementation of the HFCA Act to address the recommendations in the PWG report. It is unclear when the SEC will complete its rulemaking and when such rules will become effective and what, if any, of the PWG recommendations will be adopted. The implications of this possible regulation in addition to the requirements of the HFCA Act are uncertain. Such uncertainty could cause the market price of our ADSs to be materially and adversely affected, and our securities could be delisted or prohibited from being traded over-the-counter earlier than would be required by the HFCA Act. If our securities are unable to be listed on another securities exchange by then, such a delisting would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our ADSs when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with a potential delisting would have a negative impact on the price of our ADSs.
The PCAOBs inability to conduct inspections in China prevents it from fully evaluating the audits and quality control procedures of our independent registered public accounting firm. As a result, we and investors in our ordinary shares are deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our independent registered public accounting firms audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause investors and potential investors in our stock to lose confidence in our audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements.
In May 2013, the PCAOB announced that it had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on Enforcement Cooperation with the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, and the PRC Ministry of Finance, which establishes a cooperative framework between the parties for the production and exchange of audit documents relevant to investigations undertaken by the PCAOB in the PRC or by the CSRC or the PRC Ministry of Finance in the United States. The PCAOB continues to be in discussions with the CSRC and the PRC Ministry of Finance to permit joint inspections in the PRC of audit firms that are registered with the PCAOB and audit Chinese companies that trade on U.S. exchanges.
We may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.
We are a holding company, and we may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries for our cash and financing requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders and service any debt we may incur. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us only out of their accumulated after-tax profits upon satisfaction of relevant statutory conditions and procedures, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our PRC
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subsidiaries is required to set aside at least 10% of its accumulated profits each year, after making up previous years accumulated losses, if any, to fund certain reserve funds until the total amount set aside reaches 50% of its registered capital. For a detailed discussion of applicable PRC regulations governing distribution of dividends, see RegulationRegulations Relating to Dividend Distribution. Additionally, if our PRC subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries 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.
Any restriction on currency exchange may limit the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to use their Renminbi revenues to pay dividends to us. The PRC government may continue to strengthen its capital controls and our PRC subsidiaries dividends and other distributions may be subject to tightened scrutiny in the future. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries 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.
In addition, the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax at a rate of 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless reduced under treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC resident enterprises are tax resident. See 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.
Increases in labor costs and enforcement of stricter labor laws and regulations in China may adversely affect our business and our profitability.
Chinas overall economy and the average wage in China have increased in recent years and are expected to continue to grow. The average wage level for our employees has also increased in recent years. We expect that our labor costs, including wages and employee benefits, will continue to increase. Unless we are able to pass on these increased labor costs to those who pay for our services, our profitability and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
In addition, we have been subject to stricter regulatory requirements in terms of entering into labor contracts with our employees and paying various statutory employee benefits, including pensions insurance, housing provident fund, medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance and maternity insurance to designated government agencies for the benefit of our employees. Pursuant to the PRC Labor Contract Law and its implementation rules, employers are subject to stricter requirements in terms of signing labor contracts, minimum wages, paying remuneration, determining the term of employees probation and unilaterally terminating labor contracts. In addition, enterprises are forbidden to force laborers to work beyond the time limit and employers shall pay laborers for overtime work in accordance with the laws and regulations. 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.
We cannot assure you that we have complied, or as the interpretation and implementation of labor-related laws and regulations are still evolving, we cannot assure you that we will be able to comply with all labor-related law and regulations, including those relating to obligations to make social
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insurance payments, to contribute to the housing provident fund, and to make overtime payment and other similar payment payable by us to our employees. If we are deemed to have violated relevant labor laws and regulations, we could be required to provide additional compensation to our employees and be subject to orders by competent labor authorities for rectification, and failure to comply with the orders may further subject us to administrative fines. In such an event, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.
Our business may be negatively affected by the potential obligations if we fail to comply with social insurance and housing provident fund related laws and regulations.
We are required by PRC labor laws and regulations to pay various statutory employee benefits, including pensions insurance, medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance and housing provident fund, to designated government agencies for the benefit of our employees and associates. In October 2010, the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress promulgated the Social Insurance Law of PRC, effective on July 1, 2011 and amended on December 29, 2018. On April 3, 1999, the State Council promulgated the Regulations on the Administration of Housing Provident Fund, which was amended on March 24, 2002 and March 24, 2019. Companies registered and operating in China are required under the Social Insurance Law of PRC and the Regulations on the Administration of Housing Provident Fund to apply for social insurance registration and housing provident fund deposit registration within 30 days of their establishment and to pay for their employees different social insurance including pension insurance, medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance and maternity insurance to the extent required by law. We could be subject to orders by competent labor authorities for rectification if we fail to comply with such social insurance and housing provident fund related laws and regulations, and failure to comply with the orders may further subject us to administrative fines. The relevant government agencies may examine whether an employer has made adequate payments of the requisite statutory employee benefits, and employers who fail to make adequate payments may be subject to late payment fees, fines and/or other penalties. We engage third-party human resources agencies to pay social insurance and housing provident fund for some of our employees. Any failure to make such contribution by these third-party agents may directly expose us to penalties imposed by the local authorities and/or legal claims raised by our employees. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not received any notice from the relevant government authorities or any claim or request from these employees in this regard. If the relevant PRC authorities determine that we shall make supplemental social insurance and housing provident fund contributions or that we are subject to fines and legal sanctions in relation to our failure to make social insurance and housing provident fund contributions in full for our employees, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
Fluctuations in exchange rates could have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.
The conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, is based on rates set by the Peoples Bank of China. The Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. The value of Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by changes in Chinas political and economic conditions and by Chinas foreign exchange policies, among other things. 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.
Any significant appreciation or depreciation of Renminbi may materially and adversely affect our revenues, earnings and financial position, and the value of, and any dividends payable on, our ADSs in
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U.S. dollars. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive into Renminbi to pay our operating expenses, appreciation of Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, a significant depreciation of Renminbi against the U.S. dollar may significantly reduce the U.S. dollar equivalent of our earnings, which in turn could adversely affect the price of our ADSs.
Very limited hedging options are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may decide to enter into 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. As a result, fluctuations in exchange rates may have a material adverse effect on your investment.
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 or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries and our VIE, 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 subsidiaries and our VIE. We may make loans to our PRC subsidiaries and our VIE subject to the approval from or registration with governmental authorities and limitation on amount, we may make additional capital contributions to our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China, 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 the aforementioned ways of making loans or investments in PRC entities are subject to PRC regulations and approvals. For example, any loans to our PRC subsidiaries and our VIE are subject to applicable foreign loan registrations with the local counterpart of SAFE and limitation on amount under PRC law. If we decide to finance our wholly owned PRC subsidiary by means of capital contributions, these capital contributions are subject to filing and registration with certain PRC government authorities, including MOFCOM or its local counterparts and the SAMR through its Enterprise Registration System, the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System and the local counterpart of SAFE. In addition, an FIE shall use its capital pursuant to the principle of authenticity and self-use within its business scope.
SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Mode of Management of Settlement of Foreign Exchange Capital of Foreign Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, effective June 2015 and amended on December 2019, in replacement of a former regulation. 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 (unless otherwise permitted in the business license), the repayment of inter-enterprise loans or the repayment of bank 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 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
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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. Specifically, SAFE Circular 16 provides that the capital of an FIE shall not be used for the following purposes: (i) directly or indirectly used for payment beyond the business scope of such FIE or the payment prohibited by relevant laws and regulations; (ii) directly or indirectly used for investment in securities or investments in financial management other than banks principal-secured products unless otherwise provided by relevant laws and regulations; (iii) the granting of loans to non-affiliated enterprises, except where it is expressly permitted in the business license; and (iv) paying the expenses related to the purchase of real estate that is not for self-use (except for the foreign-invested real estate enterprises). 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 subsidiaries, which may adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business in China. On October 23, 2019, the SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Promoting the Convenience of Cross-border Trade and Investment, or the SAFE Circular 28, which, among other things, allows all foreign-invested companies to use Renminbi converted from foreign currency-denominated capital for equity investments in China, as long as the equity investment is genuine, does not violate applicable laws, and complies with the negative list on foreign investment. On April 10, 2020, the SAFE promulgated the Circular on Optimizing Administration of Foreign Exchange to Support the Development of Foreign-related Business, or SAFE Circular 8, under which eligible enterprises are allowed to make domestic payments by using their capital funds, foreign loans and the income under capital accounts of overseas listing without providing the evidentiary materials concerning authenticity of each expenditure in advance, provided that their capital use shall be authentic and conforms to the prevailing administrative regulations on the use of income under capital accounts. However, since the SAFE Circular 28 and SAFE Circular 8 are relatively new, it is unclear how SAFE and competent banks will carry them out in practice.
In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations on loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies, 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, or at all, with respect to future loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries or our VIE or its subsidiaries or with respect to future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiaries. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds 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.
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 RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. We receive substantially all of our revenues in RMB. Under our current corporate structure, our company in the Cayman Islands may rely on dividend payments from our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, subject to the condition that the remittance of such dividends outside of the PRC complies with certain procedures under PRC foreign exchange
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regulation, such as the overseas investment registrations by our shareholders or the ultimate shareholders of our corporate shareholders who are PRC residents. But approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities or delegated banks is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our ADSs.
PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit our PRC subsidiaries ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits to us or otherwise expose us or our PRC resident beneficial owners to liability and penalties under PRC law.
In July 2014, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents (including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities as well as foreign individuals that are deemed as PRC residents for foreign exchange administration purposes) to register with SAFE or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to the SAFE registrations in the event of any changes with respect to the basic information of the offshore special purpose vehicle, such as change of a PRC individual shareholder, name and operation term, or any significant changes with respect to the offshore special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contribution, share transfer or exchange, or mergers or divisions. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we make in the future. According to the Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Policies for the Foreign Exchange Administration of Direct Investment released on February 13, 2015 by the SAFE, local banks will examine and handle foreign exchange registration for overseas direct investment, including the initial foreign exchange registration and amendment registration, under SAFE Circular 37 from June 1, 2015. The PRC residents shall, by themselves or entrusting accounting firms or banks, file with the online information system designated by SAFE with respect to its existing rights under offshore direct investment each year prior to the requisite time.
If our shareholders or beneficial owners who are PRC residents do not complete their registration or change of the registration with the local SAFE branches or qualified local banks or complete annual filing of its existing rights under offshore direct investment, or fail to obtain the approval or complete the filing with NDRC or MOFCOM or their local counterparts relating to the overseas investment activities, our PRC subsidiaries may be prohibited from distributing to us its profits and proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation, and we may be restricted in our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries. 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 who directly or indirectly hold shares in our Cayman Islands holding company and who are known to us as being PRC residents to timely complete the foreign exchange registrations and the relevant changes and annual filings of its existing rights under offshore direct investment. 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 all shareholders or beneficial owners who are PRC residents to comply with SAFE registration requirements or other regulations relating to overseas investment activities issued by NDRC and MOFCOM. We cannot assure you that all shareholders or beneficial owners of ours who are PRC residents have complied with, and will in the future make, obtain or update any applicable registrations
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or approvals required by, SAFE regulations or other regulations relating to overseas investment activities issued by NDRC and MOFCOM.
The failure or inability of such shareholders or beneficial owners to comply with SAFE regulations, or failure by us to amend the foreign exchange registrations of our PRC subsidiaries, or other regulations relating to overseas investment activities issued by NDRC and MOFCOM, could subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, limit our PRC subsidiaries ability to make distributions or pay dividends to us or affect our ownership structure. As a result, our business operations and our ability to distribute profits to you could be materially and adversely affected.
Chinas M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for certain acquisitions of PRC companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.
A number of PRC laws and regulations have established procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities in China by foreign investors more time consuming and complex. In addition to the Anti-Monopoly Law of the PRC itself, these include the Rules on Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006, which was amended in 2009, and the Rules of the Ministry of Commerce on Implementation of Security Review System of Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the Security Review Rules, promulgated in 2011. These laws and regulations impose requirements in some instances that MOFCOM be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise. In addition, the Anti-Monopoly Law of the PRC requires that MOFCOM be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain thresholds are triggered. Moreover, the Security Review Rules specify that mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise national defense and security concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise national security concerns are subject to strict review by MOFCOM, and prohibit any attempt 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 relevant regulations to complete such transactions could be time consuming, and any required approval processes, including approval from MOFCOM, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.
The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission may be required in connection with this offering, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval.
The M&A Rules requires overseas special purpose vehicles that are controlled by PRC companies or individuals formed for the purpose of seeking a public listing on an overseas stock exchange through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies using shares of such special purpose vehicles or held by their shareholders as considerations to obtain the approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicles securities on an overseas stock exchange. However, the application of the M&A Rules remains unclear. If CSRC approval is required, it is uncertain whether it would be possible for us to obtain the approval. 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 legal counsel has advised us based on their understanding of the current PRC laws, regulations and rules that the CSRCs approval may not be required for the listing and trading of our
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ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in the context of this offering, given that: (i) the CSRC currently has not issued any definitive rule or interpretation concerning whether offerings like ours in this prospectus are subject to this regulation, (ii) our WFOE was incorporated as a wholly foreign-owned enterprise by means of direct investment rather than by merger or acquisition of equity interest or assets of a PRC domestic company owned by PRC companies or individuals as defined under the M&A Rules, and (iii) no explicit provision in the M&A Rules clearly classifies contractual arrangements as a type of acquisition transaction subject to such Rules.
However, our PRC legal counsel has further advised us that there remains some uncertainty as to how the M&A Rules will be interpreted or implemented in the context of an overseas offering and its opinions summarized above are subject to any new laws, regulations and rules or detailed implementations and interpretations in any form relating to the M&A Rules. We cannot assure you that relevant PRC government agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as our PRC legal counsel does. If it is determined that CSRC approval is required for this offering, we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies for failure to obtain or delay in obtaining CSRC approval for this offering. These sanctions may include fines and penalties on our operations in China, limitations on our operating privileges in China, delays in or restrictions on the repatriation of the proceeds from this offering into the PRC, restrictions on or prohibition of the payments or remittance of dividends by our subsidiaries in China, or other actions that could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our ADSs. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies may also take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt this offering before the settlement and delivery of the ADSs that we are offering. Consequently, if you engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to the settlement and delivery of the ADSs we are offering, you would be doing so at the risk that the 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.
Any failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration requirements for employee stock incentive 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 foreign exchange registration with respect to offshore special purpose companies. Our directors, executive officers and other employees who are PRC residents and have been granted share-based awards may follow SAFE Circular 37 to apply for the foreign exchange registration before we become a U.S. publicly listed company. Pursuant to the Notice on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plan of Overseas Publicly Listed Company, issued by SAFE in February 2012, employees, directors, supervisors and other senior management participating in any stock incentive plan of an overseas publicly listed company who are PRC citizens or who are non-PRC citizens residing in China for a continuous period of not less than one year, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with SAFE through a domestic qualified agent, which could be a PRC subsidiary of such overseas listed company or another qualified institution selected by such PRC subsidiary, and complete certain other procedures. 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 domestic qualified agent is required to amend the SAFE registration for any material change to the share incentive plan, the domestic qualified agent or the overseas entrusted institution or other material changes. We and our directors, executive officers and other employees who are PRC citizens or who reside in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year and
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who have been granted share-based awards are subject to these regulations upon the completion of this offering. Failure to complete the SAFE registrations may subject them to fines and legal sanctions and may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital into our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China and limit these subsidiaries ability to distribute dividends to us. We also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt additional incentive plans for our directors and employees under PRC law.
In addition, the State Administration of Taxation, or the SAT has issued certain circulars concerning employee share options and restricted shares. Under these circulars, our employees working in China who exercise share options or are granted restricted shares will be subject to PRC individual income tax. Our PRC subsidiaries have obligations to file documents related to employee share options or restricted shares with relevant tax authorities and to withhold individual income taxes of those employees who exercise their share options. 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 government authorities.
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 a de facto management body within the PRC is considered a PRC resident enterprise and will be subject to the 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 over and overall management of the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In 2009, the SAT 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 Circular 82 only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners like us, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the SATs general position on how the de facto management body test 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 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 that 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 we are a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we will be subject to the enterprise income tax on our global income at the rate of 25% and we will be required to comply with PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations. In addition, gains realized on the sale or other disposition of the ADSs or our ordinary shares may be subject to PRC tax, at a rate of 10% in the case of non-PRC enterprises unless otherwise reduced or exempted by relevant tax treaties or similar arrangements, or 20% in the case of non-PRC individuals, if such gains are deemed to be from PRC sources. It is unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of our company would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between
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their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise. Any such tax may reduce the returns on your investment in the ADSs.
In addition to the uncertainty as to the application of the resident enterprise classification, we cannot assure you that the PRC government will not amend or revise the taxation laws, rules and regulations to impose stricter tax requirements or higher tax rates. Any of such changes could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We may not be able to obtain certain benefits under relevant tax treaty on dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries to us through our Hong Kong subsidiary.
We are a holding company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and as such rely on dividends and other distributions on equity from our PRC subsidiaries to satisfy part of our liquidity requirements. Pursuant to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, a withholding tax rate of 10% currently applies to dividends paid by a PRC resident enterprise to a foreign enterprise investor, unless any such foreign investors jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for preferential tax treatment. Pursuant to the Arrangement between the Mainland of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation on Income, such withholding tax rate may be lowered to 5% if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns no less than 25% of a PRC enterprise. According to the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues concerning the Beneficial Owner in Tax Treaties, which became effective in April 2018, whether a resident enterprise is a beneficial owner that can apply for a low tax rate under tax treaties depends on an overall assessment of several factors, which may bring uncertainties to the applicability of preferential tax treatment under the tax treaties. Furthermore, the Administrative Measures for Non-Resident Enterprises to Enjoy Treatments under Treaties, which became effective in January 2020, requires non-resident enterprises to determine whether they are qualified to enjoy the preferential tax treatment under the tax treaties and file relevant report and materials with the tax authorities. There are also other conditions for enjoying the reduced withholding tax rate according to other relevant tax rules and regulations. See Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsTaxation. In the future we intend to re-invest all earnings, if any, generated from our PRC subsidiaries for the operation and expansion of our business in China. Should our tax policy change to allow for offshore distribution of our earnings, we would be subject to a significant withholding tax. We cannot assure you that our determination regarding our qualification to enjoy the preferential tax treatment will not be challenged by the relevant tax authority or we will be able to complete the necessary filings with the relevant tax authority and enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% under the arrangement with respect to dividends to be paid by our PRC subsidiaries to our Hong Kong subsidiary.
We face uncertainty with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.
In February 2015, SAT issued the Public Notice Regarding Certain Corporate Income Tax Matters on Indirect Transfer of Properties by Non-Resident Enterprises, or SAT Public Notice 7. SAT Public Notice 7 extends its tax jurisdiction to not only indirect transfers but also transactions involving transfer of other taxable assets, through the offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company. In addition, SAT Public Notice 7 provides certain criteria on how to assess reasonable commercial purposes and has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. SAT Public Notice 7 also brings challenges to both the foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of the taxable assets. Where a non-resident enterprise conducts an indirect transfer by transferring the taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise being the transferor, or the transferee, or the PRC entity which
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directly owned the taxable assets may report to the relevant tax authority such indirect transfer. Using a substance over form principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise unless otherwise reduced or exempted by relevant tax treaties or similar arrangements. On October 17, 2017, SAT issued the Bulletin on Issues Concerning the Withholding of Non-PRC Resident Enterprise Income Tax at Source, or SAT Bulletin 37, which came into effect on December 1, 2017 and amended on June 15, 2018. The SAT Bulletin 37 further clarifies the practice and procedure of the withholding of nonresident enterprise income tax.
We face uncertainties on the reporting and consequences of future 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. The PRC tax authorities may pursue such non-resident enterprises with respect to a filing or the transferees with respect to withholding obligation, and request our PRC subsidiaries to assist in the filing. As a result, we and non-resident enterprises in such transactions may become at risk of being subject to filing obligations or being taxed under SAT Public Notice 7 and SAT Bulletin 37, and may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with them or to establish that we and our non-resident enterprises should not be taxed under these regulations, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
If the custodians or authorized users of controlling non-tangible assets of our company, including our corporate chops and seals, fail to fulfill their responsibilities, or misappropriate or misuse these assets, our business and operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Under PRC law, legal documents for corporate transactions are executed using the chops or seal of the signing entity or with the signature of a legal representative whose designation is registered and filed with the relevant branch of the Administration for Market Regulation. Although we usually utilize chops to enter into contracts, the designated legal representatives of our WFOE and our VIE have the apparent authority to enter into contracts on behalf of these entities without chops and bind the entities. The designated legal representatives of our PRC entities have signed employment agreements with us or these PRC entities under which they agree to abide by various duties. In order to maintain the physical security of our chops and chops of our PRC entities, we generally store these items in secured locations accessible only by the authorized personnel in the administrative department of each of our subsidiaries. Although we monitor such authorized personnel, there is no assurance such procedures will prevent all instances of abuse or negligence. Accordingly, if any of our authorized personnel misuse or misappropriate our corporate chops or seals, we could encounter difficulties in maintaining control over the relevant entities and experience significant disruption to our operations. If a designated legal representative obtains control of the chops in an effort to obtain control over our PRC entities, we or our PRC entities would need to pass a new shareholder or board resolution to designate a new legal representative and we would need to take legal action to seek the return of the chops, apply for new chops with the relevant authorities, or otherwise seek legal redress for the violation of the representatives fiduciary duties to us, which could involve significant time and resources and divert management attention away from our regular business. In addition, the affected entities may not be able to recover corporate assets that are sold or transferred out of our control in the event of such a misappropriation if a transferee relies on the apparent authority of the representative and acts in good faith.
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If additional remedial measures are imposed on the big four PRC-based accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, in administrative proceedings brought by the SEC alleging such firms failure to meet specific criteria set by the SEC with respect to requests for the production of documents, we could fail to timely file future financial statements 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 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 accepts that future requests by the SEC for the production of documents will normally be made to the CSRC. The firms will receive matching Section 106 requests, and are 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 fail to meet specified criteria, the SEC retains authority to impose a variety of additional remedial measures on the firms depending on the nature of the failure. Remedies for any future noncompliance could include, as appropriate, an automatic six-month bar on a single firms performance of certain audit work, commencement of a new proceeding against a firm, or, in extreme cases, the resumption of the current proceeding against all four firms. If additional remedial measures are imposed on the Chinese affiliates of the big four accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, in administrative proceedings brought by the SEC alleging the firms failure to meet specific criteria set by the SEC with respect to requests for the production of documents, we could be unable to timely file future financial statements in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
In the event that the SEC restarts the administrative proceedings, 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 not to 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 ADSs 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 our ADSs from the Nasdaq Global Select Market or deregistration from the SEC, or both, which would substantially reduce or effectively terminate the trading of the ADSs in the United States.
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Risks Relating to Our ADSs and This Offering
There has been no public market for our shares or ADSs prior to this offering, and you may not be able to resell our ADSs at or above the price you paid, or at all.
Prior to this initial public offering, there has been no public market for our shares or ADSs. We will apply to list our ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Our shares will not be listed on any exchange or quoted for trading on any over-the-counter trading system. If an active trading market for our ADSs does not develop after this offering, the market price and liquidity of our ADSs will be materially and adversely affected.
Negotiations with the underwriters will determine the initial public offering price for our ADSs which may bear no relationship to their market price after the initial public offering. We cannot assure you that an active trading market for our ADSs will develop or that the market price of our ADSs will not decline below the initial public offering price.
The trading price of the ADSs is likely to be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to investors.
The trading price of the ADSs is likely to be volatile and could fluctuate widely due to factors beyond our control. This may happen because of broad market and industry factors, including the performance and fluctuation of the market prices of other companies with business operations located mainly in China that have listed their securities in the United States. The securities of some of these companies, including online recruitment services companies, have experienced significant volatility since their initial public offerings, including, in some cases, substantial price declines in their trading prices. The trading performances of other Chinese companies securities after their offerings may affect the attitudes of investors toward Chinese companies listed in the United States in general and consequently may impact the trading performance of the ADSs, regardless of our actual operating performance.
In addition to market and industry factors, the price and trading volume for the ADSs may be highly volatile for factors specific to our own operations, including the following:
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actual or anticipated variations in our revenues, earnings and cash flow; |
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the financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in these projections or our failure to meet these projections; |
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fluctuations in key operating metrics; |
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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 offerings, solutions and expansions by us or our competitors; |
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announcements of studies and reports relating to the quality of the services offered in our online recruitment platform or similar platforms of our competitors; |
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failure of securities analysts to initiate or maintain coverage of our company, changes in financial estimates by securities analysts who follow our company or our failure to meet these estimates or the expectations of investors; |
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detrimental adverse publicity about us, our services or our industry; |
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announcements of new regulations, rules or policies relevant to our business; |
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additions or departures of key personnel; |
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release of lockup or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding equity securities or sales of additional equity securities; |
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potential litigation or regulatory investigations; and |
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other events or factors, including those resulting from war, epidemics, incidents of terrorism or responses to these events. |
Any of these factors may result in large and sudden changes in the volume and price at which the ADSs will trade. Furthermore, the stock market in general experiences price and volume fluctuations that are often unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of companies like us. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our ADSs. Volatility or a lack of positive performance in our ADS price may also adversely affect our ability to retain key employees, most of whom have been granted equity incentives.
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 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 proposed 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.
Our authorized share capital will be divided into Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering (with certain shares remaining undesignated, with power for our directors to designate and issue such classes of shares as they think fit). 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 15 votes per share. We will issue 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. After this offering, the holder of Class B ordinary shares will have the ability to control matters requiring shareholders approval, including any amendment of our memorandum and articles of association. Any future issuances of Class B ordinary shares may be dilutive to the voting power of holders of Class A ordinary shares. Any conversions of Class B ordinary shares into Class A ordinary shares may dilute the percentage ownership of the existing holders of Class A ordinary shares within their class of ordinary shares. Such conversions may increase the aggregate voting power of the existing holders of Class A ordinary shares. In the event that we have multiple holders of Class B ordinary shares in the future and certain of them convert their Class B ordinary shares into Class A ordinary shares, the remaining holders who retain their Class B ordinary shares may experience increases in their relative voting power.
Upon the completion of this offering, Mr. Peng Zhao, our Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will beneficially own all of our issued Class B ordinary shares. These Class B ordinary shares will constitute % 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 option to purchase additional ADSs. As a result of the dual-class share structure and the concentration of ownership,
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holders of Class B ordinary shares will have considerable influence over matters such as decisions regarding mergers and consolidations, election of directors and other significant corporate actions. Such holders 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 our 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.
The dual-class structure of our ordinary shares may adversely affect the trading market for our ADSs.
Certain shareholder advisory firms have announced changes to their eligibility criteria for inclusion of shares of public companies on certain indices, including the S&P 500, to exclude companies with multiple classes of shares and companies whose public shareholders hold no more than 5% of total voting power from being added to such indices. In addition, several shareholder advisory firms have announced their opposition to the use of multiple class structures. As a result, the dual-class structure of our ordinary shares may prevent the inclusion of our ADSs representing Class A ordinary shares in such indices and may cause shareholder advisory firms to publish negative commentary about our corporate governance practices or otherwise seek to cause us to change our capital structure. Any such exclusion from indices could result in a less active trading market for our ADSs. Any actions or publications by shareholder advisory firms critical of our corporate governance practices or capital structure could also adversely affect the value of our ADSs.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding the ADSs, the market price for our ADSs and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our ADSs will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. If research analysts do not establish and maintain adequate research coverage or if one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our ADSs or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price for our ADSs would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which, in turn, could cause the market price or trading volume for our ADSs to decline.
We currently do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future after this offering and 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, subject to certain requirements of Cayman Islands law. In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our directors. Under Cayman Islands law, a Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend out of either profit or share premium account, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid out of the share premium account if this would result in the company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business immediately following the date on which the dividend is proposed to be paid. Even if our board of directors decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future
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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.
Because our initial public offering price is substantially higher than our net tangible book value per share, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution.
If you purchase ADSs in this offering, you will pay more for your ADSs than the amount paid by our existing shareholders for their ordinary shares on a per ADS basis. As a result, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution of approximately US$ per ADS, representing the difference between the initial public offering price of US$ per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated public offering price range shown on the front cover of this prospectus, and our net tangible book value per ADS as of , 2021, after giving effect to the net proceeds we receive from this offering. See Dilution for a more complete description of how the value of your investment in the ADSs will be diluted upon the completion of this offering.
Techniques employed by short sellers may drive down the market price of the ADSs.
Short selling is the practice of selling securities that the seller does not own but rather has borrowed from a third party with the intention of buying identical securities back at a later date to return to the lender. The short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the value of the securities between the sale of the borrowed securities and the purchase of the replacement shares, as the short seller expects to pay less in that purchase than it received in the sale. As it is in the short sellers interest for the price of the security to decline, many short sellers publish, or arrange for the publication of, negative opinions regarding the relevant issuer and its business prospects in order to create negative market momentum and generate profits for themselves after selling a security short. These short attacks have, in the past, led to selling of shares in the market.
Public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China have been the subject of short selling. Much of the scrutiny and negative publicity has centered on allegations of a lack of effective internal control over financial reporting resulting in financial and accounting irregularities and mistakes, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud. As a result, many of these companies are now conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations and, in the interim, are subject to shareholder lawsuits and/or SEC enforcement actions.
It is not clear what effect such negative publicity could have on us. If we were to become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we could have to expend a significant amount of resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend ourselves. While we would strongly defend against any such short seller attacks, we may be constrained in the manner in which we can proceed against the relevant short seller by principles of freedom of speech, applicable state law or issues of commercial confidentiality. Such a situation could be costly and time-consuming, and could distract our management from growing our business. Even if such allegations are ultimately proven to be groundless, allegations against us could severely impact our business operations, and any investment in the ADSs could be greatly reduced or even rendered worthless.
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The sale or availability for sale of substantial amounts of the ADSs could adversely affect their market price.
Sales of substantial amounts of the ADSs in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of the ADSs and could materially impair our ability to raise capital through equity offerings in the future. 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 the ADSs. Upon the completion of this offering, we will have ordinary shares issued and outstanding, among which ordinary shares are in the form of ADSs, which are freely transferable without restriction or additional registration under the Securities Act. The remaining ordinary shares outstanding will be available for sale, subject to volume and other restrictions as applicable under Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act. Certain holders of our ordinary shares may cause us to register under the Securities Act the sale of their shares, subject to the applicable lock-up period. Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in ADSs representing these shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration. Sales of these registered shares in the form of ADSs in the public market could cause the price of our ADSs to decline.
Because the amount, timing, and whether or not we distribute dividends at all are entirely at the discretion of our board of directors, you must rely on price appreciation of our ADSs for return on your investment.
Our board of directors has discretion as to whether to distribute dividends, subject to certain requirements of Cayman Islands law. In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our directors. Under Cayman Islands law, a Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend out of either profit or share premium account provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid out of the share premium account if this would result in the company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business immediately following the date on which the dividend is proposed to be paid. Even if our board of directors decides 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 the ADSs will likely depend entirely upon any future price appreciation of our ADSs. There is no guarantee that the ADSs will appreciate in value after our initial public offering or even maintain the price at which you purchased the ADSs. You may not realize a return on your investment in the ADSs, and you may even lose your entire investment in the ADSs.
There can be no assurance that we will not be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes for any taxable year, which could subject United States investors in our ADSs or ordinary shares to significant adverse United States income tax consequences.
A non-U.S. corporation, such as our company, will be classified as a passive foreign investment company, or 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 (generally 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). Although the law in this regard is not entirely clear, we treat our VIE 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. As a result, we consolidate their results
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of operations in our consolidated U.S. GAAP financial statements. If it were determined, however, that we are not the owner of our VIE 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 our VIE for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and based on the current and anticipated value of our assets and composition of our income and assets (taking into account the expected cash proceeds from, and our anticipated market capitalization following, this offering), we do not presently expect to be a PFIC for the current taxable year or the foreseeable future.
However, while we do not expect to be or become a PFIC, no assurance can be given in this regard because the determination of whether we are or will become a PFIC for any taxable year is a fact-intensive inquiry made annually that depends, in part, upon the composition of our income and assets. Fluctuations in the market price of our ADSs may cause us to be or become a PFIC for the current or subsequent taxable years because the value of our assets for the purpose 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). 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.
If we were to be or become a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder (as defined in TaxationUnited States Federal Income Tax Considerations) holds our ADSs or ordinary shares, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could apply to such U.S. Holder. See TaxationUnited States Federal Income Tax ConsiderationsPassive Foreign Investment Company Rules.
Our post-offering 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.
Our post-offering memorandum and articles of association contain certain provisions to limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company or cause us to engage in change-of-control transactions, including a provision that grants authority to our board of directors to establish and issue from time to time one or more series of preferred shares without action by our shareholders and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights associated with our ordinary shares in the form of ADSs. These provisions could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of the opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over the prevailing market price by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transactions.
Our post-offering memorandum and articles of association and the deposit agreement provide that the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, if the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a particular dispute, the state courts in New York County, New York) is the exclusive judicial forum within the U.S. for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising out of or relating in any way to the federal securities laws of the United States, and any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating in any way to the ADSs or the deposit agreement, which could limit the ability of holders of our ordinary shares, the ADSs or other securities to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us, our directors and officers, the depositary, and potentially others.
Our post-offering memorandum and articles of association provide that the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, if the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a particular dispute, the state courts in New
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York County, New York) is the exclusive forum within the United States for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising out of or relating in any way to the federal securities laws of the United States, regardless of whether such legal suit, action, or proceeding also involves parties other than our company. Our deposit agreement with the depositary bank also provides that the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, if the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a particular dispute, the state courts in New York County, New York) will have jurisdiction to hear and determine any suit, action, or proceeding and to settle any dispute between the depositary bank and us that does not involve any other person or party that may arise out of or relate in any way to the deposit agreement, including claims under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. Holders and beneficial owners of our ADSs, by holding an ADS or an interest therein, understand and irrevocably agree that any legal suit, action, or proceeding against or involving us or the depositary bank arising out of or related in any way to the deposit agreement, ADSs, or the transactions contemplated thereby or by virtue of ownership thereof, including without limitation claims under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, may only be instituted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, if the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks jurisdiction or such designation of the exclusive forum is, or becomes, invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, in the state courts of New York County, New York). However, the enforceability of similar federal court choice of forum provisions has been challenged in legal proceedings in the United States, and a court could find this type of provision to be inapplicable, unenforceable, or inconsistent with other documents relevant to the filing of such lawsuits. If a court were to find the federal court choice of forum provision contained in our post-offering memorandum and articles of association or our deposit agreement with the depositary bank to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions. If upheld, the forum selection clause in our post-offering memorandum and articles of association, as well as the forum selection provisions in the deposit agreement, may limit a security-holders ability to bring a claim against us, our directors and officers, the depositary bank, and potentially others in his or her preferred judicial forum, and this limitation may discourage such lawsuits. In addition, the Securities Act provides that both federal and state courts have jurisdiction over suits brought to enforce any duty or liability under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Accepting or consent to this forum selection provision does not constitute a waiver by you of compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. You may not waive compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. The exclusive forum provision in our post-offering memorandum and articles of association will not operate so as to deprive the courts of the Cayman Islands from having jurisdiction over matters relating to our internal affairs.
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 Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the Companies Act) 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
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addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have the 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 or to obtain copies of lists of shareholders of these companies. Our directors have discretion under our memorandum and articles of association that will become effective immediately prior to completion of this offering 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 management, members of our board of directors or 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 Act of the Cayman Islands and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders, see Description of Share CapitalOur Post-Offering Memorandum and Articles of AssociationDifferences in Corporate Law.
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. However, we conduct substantially all of our operations in China and most of our assets are located in China. In addition, all of our directors and senior executive officers reside within China for at least a significant portion of the time and most are PRC nationals. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect service of process upon us or our management residing in China. It may also be difficult for you to enforce in U.S. courts of the 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. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands or the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state. On January 9, 2021, MOFCOM promulgated the Order of the Ministry of Commerce of the Peoples Republic of China, or Order No. 1, with immediate effect. Under Order No. 1, a citizen, if legal person or other organization of China is prohibited or restricted by foreign legislation and other measures from engaging in normal economic, trade and related activities with a third state (or region) or its citizens, legal persons or other organizations, the citizen, legal person or other organization shall truthfully report such matters to MOFCOM within 30 days. Upon assessment and confirmation that there exists unjustified extra-territorial application of foreign legislation and other measures, MOFCOM will issue a prohibition order to prevent the relevant foreign legislation and other measures from being accepted, executed, or observed, but such a citizen, legal person or other organization may apply to MOFCOM for an exemption from compliance with such prohibition order. However, since Order No. 1 is relatively new, its enforcement involves uncertainty in practice.
The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of written arrangement with the United States that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they
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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.
It may be difficult for overseas regulators to conduct investigation or collect evidence within China.
Shareholder claims or regulatory investigation that are common in the United States generally are difficult to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to providing information needed for regulatory investigations or litigation initiated outside China. Although the authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities regulatory authorities of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, such cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the Unities States may not be efficient in the absence of mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law, or Article 177, which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. While detailed interpretation of or implementation rules under Article 177 have yet to be promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within China may further increase difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests. See also Risks Relating to Our ADSs and This OfferingYou 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 for risks associated with investing in us as a Cayman Islands company.
[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. However, we cannot make such rights available to you in the United States unless we register both the rights and the securities to which the rights relate under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements is available. 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 not receive cash dividends if the depositary decides it is impractical to make them available to you.
The depositary will pay cash dividends on the ADSs only to the extent that we decide to distribute dividends on our ordinary shares or other deposited securities, and we do not have any present plan to pay any cash dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. To the extent that there is a distribution, the depositary of our ADSs has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on our ordinary shares or other deposited securities after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of ordinary shares your ADSs represent. However, the depositary may, at its discretion, decide that it is impractical to make a distribution available to any holders of ADSs. For example, the depositary may determine that it is not practicable to distribute certain property through the mail, or that the value of
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certain distributions may be less than the cost of mailing them. In these cases, the depositary may decide not to distribute such property to you.]
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. Our management has discretion over the use of proceeds we receive from this offering, and we could spend the proceeds we receive from this offering in ways our ADS holders may not agree with or that do not yield a favorable return, or no return at all. Our actual use of these proceeds may differ substantially from our plans, if any, in the future. 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.
[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 the 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.]
We will incur increased costs as a result of being a public company, particularly after we cease to qualify as an emerging growth company.
We have 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 the Nasdaq Global Select Market, impose various requirements on the corporate governance practices of 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.
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 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.
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In addition, 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.
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 qualify as 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:
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the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K; |
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the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents, or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; |
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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; |
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the selective disclosure rules by issuers of material nonpublic information under Regulation FD; and |
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certain audit committee independence requirements in Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act. |
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 as press releases, distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Global Select Market. 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 that 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.
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. Therefore, we 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, or Section 404, in the assessment of the emerging growth companys internal control over financial reporting and permission to delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. As a result, if we elect not to comply with such reporting and other requirements, in particular the auditor attestation requirements, our investors may not have access to certain information they may deem important.
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, and we have elected to take advantage of such exemptions. This election allows us to delay the adoption of new or revised
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accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies, and as a result of this election our financial statements may not be comparable to those of companies that comply with public company effective dates, including other emerging growth companies that have not made this election.
We cannot predict if investors will find our ADSs less attractive or our company less comparable to certain other public companies because we may rely on more of these exemptions and elections. If some investors find our ADSs less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our ADSs and our ADS price may be more volatile.
[We will be a controlled company within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules and, as a result, may rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that provide protection to shareholders of other companies.
We will be a controlled company as defined under the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules because Mr. Peng Zhao, our Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will beneficially own more than 50% of our total voting power immediately after the completion of this offering. For so long as we remain a controlled company under that definition, we are permitted to elect to rely on, and may rely on, certain exemptions from corporate governance rules, including an exemption from the 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.]
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 listing standards; these practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with such corporate governance listing standards.
After we are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, we will be subject to the Nasdaq Stock Markets corporate governance listing standards. However, Nasdaq Stock Markets 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 Markets corporate governance listing standards. For example, Cayman Islands does not require us to comply with the following corporate governance listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market: (i) having the majority of our board of directors composed of independent directors, (ii) having a minimum of three members in our audit committee, (iii) holding annual shareholders meetings, (iv) having a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors, and (v) having a nominating and corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors. We do not intend to hold annual shareholders meetings and annual elections of directors after the completion of this offering. If we choose to follow additional home country practices in the future, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they would otherwise enjoy under the Nasdaq Stock Markets corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.
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 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. As an ADS holder, you will only be able to exercise the voting rights carried by the underlying Class A ordinary shares which are represented by your ADSs indirectly by giving voting
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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. Upon receipt of your voting instructions, the depositary will try, as far as is practicable, to vote the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs in accordance with your instructions. If we ask for your instructions, then upon receipt of your voting instructions, the depositary will try to vote the underlying Class A ordinary shares in accordance with these 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 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 days. When a general meeting is convened, you may not receive sufficient advance notice of the meeting to withdraw the 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 effective immediately prior to 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 notice of shareholder meetings sufficiently in advance of such 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 shares underlying your ADSs are voted and you may have no legal remedy if the shares underlying your ADSs are not voted as you requested. In addition, in your capacity as an ADS holder, you will not be able to call a shareholders meeting. Except in limited circumstances, the depositary for our ADSs will give us a discretionary proxy to vote the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs if you do not vote at shareholders meetings, which could adversely affect your interests.
[We are entitled to amend the deposit agreement and to change the rights of ADS holders under the terms of such agreement, or to terminate the deposit agreement, without the prior consent of the ADS holders.
We are entitled to amend the deposit agreement and to change the rights of the ADS holders under the terms of such agreement, without the prior consent of the ADS holders. We and the depositary may agree to amend the deposit agreement in any way we decide is necessary or advantageous to us. Amendments may reflect, among other things, operational changes in the ADS program, legal developments affecting ADSs or changes in the terms of our business relationship with the depositary. In the event that the terms of an amendment impose or increase fees or charges (other than in connection with foreign exchange control regulations, and taxes and other governmental charges, delivery and other such expenses) or materially prejudice an existing substantial right of the ADS holders, ADS holders will only receive days advance notice of the amendment, and no prior consent of the ADS holders is required under the deposit agreement. Furthermore, we may decide to terminate the ADS facility at any time for any reason. For example, terminations may occur when we decide to list our shares on a non-U.S. securities exchange and determine not to continue to
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sponsor an ADS facility or when we become the subject of a takeover or a going-private transaction. If the ADS facility will terminate, ADS holders will receive at least days prior notice, but no prior consent is required from them. Under the circumstances that we decide to make an amendment to the deposit agreement that is disadvantageous to ADS holders or terminate the deposit agreement, the ADS holders may choose to sell their ADSs or surrender their ADSs and become direct holders of the underlying common shares, but will have no right to any compensation whatsoever.]
[ADS 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 United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, if the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a particular dispute, in the state courts in New York County, New York) shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine claims arising out of or relating in any way to the deposit agreement (including claims arising under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act) 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 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 state and federal law. To our knowledge, the enforceability of a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver in connection with claims arising under the 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 waives 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 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 or the depositary, lead to increased costs to bring a claim, limited access to information and other imbalances of resources between such holder and us, or limit such holders ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that such holder finds favorable. If a lawsuit is brought against us 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 extend 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 shall relieve us or the depositary from our respective obligations to comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act nor serve as a waiver by any holder or beneficial owner of ADSs of compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.]
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[The depositary for the ADSs will give us a discretionary proxy to vote our ordinary shares underlying your ADSs if you do not vote at shareholders meetings, except in limited circumstances, which could adversely affect your interests.
Under the deposit agreement for the ADSs, if you do not vote, the depositary will give us a discretionary proxy to vote our ordinary shares underlying your ADSs at shareholders meetings unless:
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we have instructed the depositary that we do not wish a discretionary proxy to be given; |
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we have informed the depositary that there is substantial opposition as to a matter to be voted on at the meeting; |
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a matter to be voted on at the meeting may have a material adverse impact on shareholders; or |
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the voting at the meeting is to be made on a show of hands. |
The effect of this discretionary proxy is that if you do not vote at shareholders meetings, you cannot prevent our ordinary shares underlying your ADSs from being voted, except under the circumstances described above. This may make it more difficult for shareholders to influence the management of our company. Holders of our ordinary shares are not subject to this discretionary proxy.]
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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 future business development, financial condition and results of operations; |
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the expected growth of the online recruitment service industry in China; |
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our expectations regarding the prospects of our business model and demand for and market acceptance of our services; |
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our expectations regarding maintaining and strengthening our relationships with users, business partners and other stakeholders; |
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competition in our industry; |
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our proposed use of proceeds from this offering; |
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relevant government policies and regulations relating to our industry; |
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general economic and business conditions globally and in China; and |
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assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. |
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 SummarySummary of Risk Factors, 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 includes projections based on a number of assumptions. Our industry 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 the ADSs. In addition, the rapidly evolving nature of this 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
77
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.
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$ , or approximately US$ if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by us. These estimates are based upon an assumed initial public offering price of US$ per ADS, which is the midpoint of the price range shown on the front 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$ , assuming the number of ADSs offered by us, as set forth on the front cover of this prospectus, remains the same 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 40% for investment in technology infrastructure and research and development to upgrade our service offerings and to improve technology capabilities in areas such as AI and big data analytics; |
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approximately 35% for marketing activities to drive user growth and to expand into a wider user base and more geographical markets; |
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approximately 15% for exploration of new product and service offerings, such as providing other human resource services; and |
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the balance for general corporate purposes, which may include 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 relating 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.
To the extent that the net proceeds we receive from this offering are not immediately applied for the above purposes, we plan to invest the net proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing, debt instruments or demand deposits.
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 consolidated 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, or at all. See Risk FactorsRisks Relating 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 or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries and our VIE, 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 discretion on whether to distribute dividends, subject to certain requirements of Cayman Islands law. 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 account, and provided always that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid out of the share premium account if this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business immediately following the date on which the dividend is proposed to be paid. Even if we decide 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 Relating to Dividend Distribution.
If we pay any dividends on our ordinary shares, we will pay those dividends which are payable in respect of the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by the ADSs to the depositary, as the registered holder of such Class A ordinary shares, and the depositary then will pay such amounts to the ADS holders in proportion to the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by 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 March 31, 2021:
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on an actual basis; |
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on a pro forma basis to reflect the automatic conversion and the re-designation of the issued and outstanding preferred shares on a one-for-one basis into Class A ordinary shares 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 the re-designation of the issued and outstanding preferred shares on a one-for-one basis into Class A ordinary shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering, (ii) the issuance of 24,745,531 Class B ordinary shares to TECHWOLF LIMITED, a British Virgin Islands company, at a par value of US$0.0001 per share, immediately after the listing of our ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market; and (iii) the issuance and sale of Class A ordinary shares in the form of ADSs by us in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of US$ per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated range of the initial public offering price shown on the front cover of this prospectus, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs. |
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 March 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0.0001 par value; 60,000,000 authorized, issued and outstanding on an actual basis, and none issued and outstanding on a pro forma or a pro forma as adjusted basis) |
36,772 | 5,612 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Series B convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value; 40,000,000 authorized, issued and outstanding on an actual basis, and none issued and outstanding on a pro forma or a pro forma as adjusted basis) |
69,104 | 10,547 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Series C convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value; 147,068,133 authorized, issued and outstanding on an actual basis, and none issued and outstanding on a pro forma or a pro forma as adjusted basis) |
486,203 | 74,209 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Series D convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value; 60,856,049 authorized, issued and outstanding on an actual basis, and none issued and outstanding on a pro forma or a pro forma as adjusted basis) |
386,869 | 59,048 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Series E convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value; 144,073,367 authorized, issued and outstanding on an actual basis, and none issued and outstanding on a pro forma or a pro forma as adjusted basis) |
1,873,758 | 285,992 | | |
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As of March 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | Pro Forma |
Pro Forma As
Adjusted(1) |
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(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | US$ | RMB | US$ | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
Series F convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value; 99,354,585 authorized, issued and outstanding on an actual basis, and none issued and outstanding on a pro forma or a pro forma as adjusted basis) |
2,930,151 | 447,228 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Subscription receivables from shareholders |
(103,596 | ) | (15,812 | ) | | | ||||||||||||||||||
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Total Mezzanine Equity |
5,679,261 | 866,824 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shareholders (Deficit)/Equity: |
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Ordinary shares (US$0.0001 par value; 827,539,829 Class A ordinary shares and 121,108,037 Class B ordinary shares authorized, 15,375,468 Class A ordinary shares and 116,084,870 Class B ordinary shares issued, and 11,717,615 Class A ordinary shares and 116,084,870 Class B ordinary shares outstanding on an actual basis; 563,069,749 Class A ordinary shares and 116,084,870 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma basis; Class A ordinary shares and 140,830,401 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma as adjusted basis) |
80 | 12 | 446 | 68 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Treasury shares (3,657,853 shares on an actual, a pro forma, or a pro forma as adjusted basis) |
| | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital(2) |
366,366 | 55,918 | 6,045,261 | 922,686 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(104,419 | ) | (15,936 | ) | (104,419 | ) | (15,936 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(2,798,224 | ) | (427,092 | ) | (2,798,224 | ) | (427,092 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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|
|
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|
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Total Shareholders (Deficit)/Equity(2) |
(2,536,197 | ) | (387,098 | ) | 3,143,064 | 479,726 | ||||||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total Mezzanine Equity and Shareholders (Deficit)/Equity(2) |
3,143,064 | 479,726 | 3,143,064 | 479,726 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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|
(1) |
The pro forma as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only. Our additional paid-in capital, total shareholders (deficit)/equity and total mezzanine equity and shareholders (deficit)/equity 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) |
A US$1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of US$ per ADS, which is the midpoint of the estimated range of the initial public offering price shown on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) each of additional paid-in capital, total shareholders (deficit)/equity and total mezzanine equity and shareholders (deficit)/equity by US$ million. |
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If you invest in the 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 March 31, 2021 was approximately US$ million, or US$ per ordinary share and US$ per ADS. Net tangible book value represents the amount of our total consolidated assets less the amount of our total consolidated liabilities and total mezzanine equity. Dilution is determined by subtracting net tangible book value per ordinary share, after giving effect to (i) the additional proceeds we will receive from this offering, and (ii) the issuance of 24,745,531 Class B ordinary shares to TECHWOLF LIMITED, a British Virgin Islands company, at a par value of US$0.0001 per share, immediately after the listing of our ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, from the assumed initial public offering price of US$ per Class A ordinary share, which is the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the front cover 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 (including the aforementioned 24,745,531 Class B ordinary shares to be issued to TECHWOLF LIMITED after the listing of our ADSs).
Without taking into account any other changes in pro forma net tangible book value after March 31, 2021, 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, which is the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range, 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 March 31, 2021 would have been US$ , 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 , 2021 |
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, the issuance of Class B ordinary shares to TECHWOLF LIMITED, and this offering |
US$ | US$ | ||
Amount of dilution in net tangible book value to new investors in this offering |
US$ | US$ |
A US$1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of US$ per ADS would increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after giving effect to this offering by US$ , the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per 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
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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 front cover of this prospectus, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
The following table summarizes, on a pro forma as adjusted basis as of December 31, 2020, 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 ADS paid before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The total number of ordinary shares does not include ordinary shares underlying the ADSs issuable upon the exercise of the option to purchase additional ADSs granted to the underwriters.
Ordinary Shares
Purchased |
Total
Consideration |
Average Price
Per Ordinary Share |
Average Price
Per ADS |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Number | Percent | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||||||||||||
Existing shareholders |
US$ | % | US$ | US$ | ||||||||||||||||||||
New investors |
US$ | % | US$ | US$ | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Total |
US$ | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
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 the ADSs and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.
The discussion and tables above assume no exercise of options outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. As of the date of this prospectus, there are 121,109,435 outstanding options with a weighted average exercise price of US$1.37 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 in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability in order to enjoy the following benefits:
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political and economic stability; |
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an effective judicial system; |
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a favorable tax system; |
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the absence of exchange control or currency restrictions; and |
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the availability of professional and support services. |
However, certain disadvantages accompany incorporation in the Cayman Islands. These disadvantages include but are not limited to:
|
the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and these securities laws provide significantly less protection to investors as compared to the United States; and |
|
Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States. |
Our post-offering memorandum and articles of association do not contain provisions requiring that disputes, including those arising under the securities laws of the United States, between us, our officers, directors and shareholders, be arbitrated.
Substantially all of our operations are conducted in China, and a majority of our assets are located in China. The majority of our directors and executive officers are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States and a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for a shareholder to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons, or to enforce against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
We have appointed Cogency Global Inc., located at 122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10168, as our agent upon whom process may be served in any action brought against us under the securities laws of the United States.
We have been advised by Harney Westwood & Riegels, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law, 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. We have also been advised by Harney Westwood & Riegels that there is currently no statutory enforcement or treaty between the United States and the Cayman Islands providing for enforcement of judgments. However, a judgment obtained in the United States may be recognized and enforced in the courts of the Cayman Islands at common law, without any re-examination on 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 (a) is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction, (b) is final, (c) is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty, and (d) was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or public policy of the Cayman Islands.
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Tian Yuan Law Firm, our counsel as to PRC law, has advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of China would:
|
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 |
|
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. |
Tian Yuan Law Firm 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 and other applicable laws and regulations 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 the PRC 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 if they can establish sufficient nexus to the PRC for a PRC court to have jurisdiction, and meet other procedural requirements, including, among others, the plaintiff must have a direct interest in the case, and there must be a concrete claim, a factual basis and a cause for the suit. It will be, however, difficult for U.S. shareholders to originate actions against us in the PRC 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 the ADSs or ordinary shares, to establish a connection to the PRC 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 operations by setting up Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd., or our VIE, in December 2013. Our holding company, KANZHUN LIMITED, was incorporated in January 2014 to facilitate offshore financing.
In February 2014, KANZHUN LIMITED established a wholly owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, Techfish Limited. In May 2014, Techfish Limited established a wholly owned subsidiary in China, Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd., or our WFOE. In May 2014, we gained control over our VIE through our WFOE by entering into a series of contractual arrangements with our VIE and its sole shareholder then. The contractual arrangements with our VIE were subsequently replaced and superseded by updated agreements as a result of change in our VIEs shareholders in December 2014, June 2016, February 2017, and February 2020.
The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure, including our significant subsidiaries and our VIE, as of the date of this prospectus:
Note:
(1) |
Shareholders of our VIE and their respective shareholdings in our VIE and relationships with our company are (i) Mr. Peng Zhao (99.5%), our Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; and (ii) Ms. Xu Yue (0.5%), our employee. See Risk FactorsRisks Relating to Our Corporate StructureThe shareholders of our VIE may have actual or potential conflicts of interest with us. |
Contractual Arrangements with Our VIE and Its Shareholders
Current PRC laws and regulations impose certain restrictions or prohibitions on foreign ownership of companies that engage in value-added telecommunication services and certain other businesses.
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We are an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Our WFOE is our PRC subsidiary and is a foreign-invested enterprise under PRC Laws. To comply with PRC laws and regulations, we conduct certain of our business in the PRC through our VIE based on a series of contractual arrangements by and among our WFOE, our VIE and its shareholders.
Our contractual arrangements with our VIE and its shareholders allow 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 call option to purchase all or part of the equity interests in our VIE when and to the extent permitted by PRC law.
As a result of our direct ownership in our WFOE and the contractual arrangements with our VIE, we are regarded as the primary beneficiary of our VIE, and we treat our VIE as our consolidated affiliated entity under U.S. GAAP. We have consolidated the financial results of our VIE in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
The following is a summary of the currently effective contractual arrangements by and among our WFOE, our VIE and its shareholders.
Agreements that provide us with effective control over our VIE
Powers of Attorney. Pursuant to the powers of attorney executed by our VIEs shareholders on February 21, 2020, each of them irrevocably authorized our WFOE or its designee(s) to act on their respective behalf as proxy attorney, to the extent permitted by law, to exercise all rights of shareholders concerning all the equity interest held by each of them in our VIE, including but not limited to attending shareholders meetings, signing the resolutions and minutes of such meetings, designating and appointing legal representatives, directors and senior management of our VIE, and exercising all the other rights as shareholders that it is entitled under relevant PRC laws and regulations and the articles of association of our VIE, including but not limited to voting rights the right to sell, transfer, pledge or dispose of all the equity held in part or in whole. The powers of attorney remain irrevocably effective as long as such VIE shareholders remain as our VIEs shareholders.
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement. Under the equity interest pledge agreement among our WFOE, our VIE and its shareholders dated February 21, 2020, our VIEs shareholders pledged all of their equity interests of our VIE to our WFOE as security for the payment of service fees pursuant to the exclusive technology development, consulting and service agreement by the VIE. If any of the specified events of default occurs, our WFOE may exercise the right to enforce the pledge immediately. Our WFOE may transfer all or any of its rights and obligations under the equity interest pledge agreement to its designee(s) at any time. The agreement will remain in effect until the full payment of the service fees and the fulfillment of all the obligations under the exclusive technology development, consulting and service agreement.
We have completed the registration of the equity interest pledge under the equity interest pledge agreement in relation to our VIE with the relevant office of the State Administration for Market Regulation in accordance with applicable PRC laws and regulations.
Agreements that allow us to receive economic benefits from our VIE
Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service agreement. Pursuant to the exclusive technology development, consulting and service agreement between our WFOE and our VIE dated February 10, 2017, our WFOE has the exclusive right to provide our VIE services, including but not limited to, research, development, application and implementation of technology, daily maintenance, monitor, debugging, and troubleshooting of computer network system, consulting
88
services for the procurement of software and hardware systems, and training and technical support services. In exchange, our WFOE is entitled to receive a service fee from our VIE on a quarterly basis at an amount as approved by our WFOE and the board of our company (including the director(s) appointed by preferred shareholders). The agreement has a term of 10 years unless otherwise terminated by our WFOE and our VIE and may be extended at the end of each term with the prior written consent of our WFOE for a further 10 years or otherwise as agreed by our WFOE and our VIE.
Agreements that provide us with the option to purchase the equity interests in our VIE
Exclusive Call Option Agreement. Under the exclusive call option agreement among our WFOE, our VIE and its shareholders dated February 21, 2020, each of the shareholders of our VIE has irrevocably granted our WFOE an exclusive call option to purchase, or designate a third-party to purchase, all or any part of their equity interests in our VIE at a purchase price of RMB100 or equal to the lowest price permissible by the then-applicable PRC laws and regulations at our WFOEs sole and absolute discretion to the extent permitted by PRC law. The shareholders of our VIE shall promptly give all considerations they received from the exercise of the options to our WFOE or its designee(s). Our VIE and/or its shareholders covenant that, without our WFOEs or our companys prior written consent, they will not, among other things, (i) sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of their equity interests in our VIE, or create any encumbrance on their equity interests in our VIE, except for those encumbrances created by our VIEs shareholders on our VIE under the equity interest pledge agreement; (ii) amend our VIEs articles of association, or change our VIEs registered capital or shareholding structure; (iii) cause our VIE to enter into any material contract, being contracts with value exceeding RMB50,000, except in the ordinary course of business; (iv) allow our VIE to incur, inherit, guarantee or permit any debts, except for those payables incurred in the ordinary course of business but not incurred by way of borrowing; (v) merge or consolidate our VIE with any other entity or acquire or invest in any other entity; (vi) distribute any dividend, however, upon request by our WFOE, our VIE shall immediately distribute all distributable profits to its shareholders; or (vii) sell, transfer, mortgage or otherwise dispose of any of our VIEs assets or allow any encumbrance of any assets. The exclusive call option agreement has a term of 10 years and may be extended unilaterally by our WFOE for a further 10 years.
Spousal Consent Letter. Pursuant to the spousal consent letter executed by the spouses of both shareholders of our VIE on February 21, 2020, the signing spouse unconditionally and irrevocably agreed that the equity interest in our VIE held by and registered in the name of such shareholder be disposed of in accordance with the exclusive call option agreement, the equity interest pledge agreement, and the power of attorney described above, and that such shareholder may perform, amend or terminate such agreements without the signing spouses consent. Additionally, the signing spouse agreed not to assert any rights over the equity interest in our VIE held by such shareholder. In addition, in the event that the signing spouse obtains any equity interest in our VIE held by such shareholder for any reason, she agrees to be bound by and upon request by our WFOE sign any legal documents substantially similar to the contractual arrangements described above, as may be amended from time to time.
In the opinion of Tian Yuan Law Firm, our PRC legal counsel:
|
the ownership structures of our VIE and our WFOE in China, both currently and immediately after giving effect to this offering, are not in violation of applicable PRC laws and regulations currently in effect; and |
|
the contractual arrangements between our WFOE, our VIE and its shareholders governed by PRC law are valid, binding and enforceable, and will not result in any violation of applicable PRC laws and regulations currently in effect. |
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However, our PRC legal counsel has also advised us 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 take a view that is contrary to the opinion of our PRC legal counsel. It is uncertain whether any new PRC laws or regulations relating to VIE structures will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide. If we or our VIE are found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, or fail to obtain or maintain any of the required permits or approvals, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities would have broad discretion to take action in dealing with such violations or failures. See Risk FactorsRisks relating to Our Corporate StructureIf the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating some of our operations in China do not comply with PRC laws and regulations relating to the relevant industries, or if these laws and regulations or the interpretation of existing laws and regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations, Risk FactorsRisks Relating to Our Corporate StructureOur current corporate structure and business operations may be substantially affected by the newly enacted Foreign Investment Law and Risk FactorsRisks Relating to Doing Business in ChinaUncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.
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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 and selected consolidated cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statement included elsewhere in this prospectus. The following selected consolidated statements of comprehensive loss data for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, selected consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 2021, and selected consolidated statements of cash flows data for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 have been derived from our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus and have been prepared on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments, that we consider necessary for a fair statement of our financial position and results of operations for the periods presented. 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 do not necessarily indicate results expected for any 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, |
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except for share amount and per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Selected Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Loss: |
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Revenues: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Online recruitment services to enterprise customers |
986,859 | 1,927,178 | 295,353 | 279,110 | 782,156 | 119,380 | ||||||||||||||||||
Others |
11,861 | 17,181 | 2,633 | 3,501 | 6,379 | 974 | ||||||||||||||||||
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|
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|
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Total revenues |
998,720 | 1,944,359 | 297,986 | 282,611 | 788,535 | 120,354 | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating cost and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of revenues(1) |
(137,812 | ) | (240,211 | ) | (36,814 | ) | (37,851 | ) | (106,856 | ) | (16,309 | ) | ||||||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses(1) |
(916,832 | ) | (1,347,532 | ) | (206,518 | ) | (376,522 | ) | (618,537 | ) | (94,407 | ) | ||||||||||||
Research and development expenses(1) |
(325,569 | ) | (513,362 | ) | (78,676 | ) | (104,801 | ) | (163,767 | ) | (24,996 | ) | ||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses(1) |
(132,999 | ) | (797,008 | ) | (122,147 | ) | (45,651 | ) | (81,712 | ) | (12,472 | ) | ||||||||||||
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|
|
|
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|
|
|
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Total operating cost and expenses |
(1,513,212 | ) | (2,898,113 | ) | (444,155 | ) | (564,825 | ) | (970,872 | ) | (148,184 | ) | ||||||||||||
Other operating income, net |
2,573 | 8,849 | 1,356 | 1,363 | 2,318 | 354 | ||||||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Loss from operations |
(511,919 | ) | (944,905 | ) | (144,813 | ) | (280,851 | ) | (180,019 | ) | (27,476 | ) | ||||||||||||
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Financial income, net |
145 | 3,098 | 475 | 351 | 1,961 | 299 | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign exchange gain/(loss) |
1 | (5,074 | ) | (778 | ) | (1,121 | ) | 464 | 71 | |||||||||||||||
Investment income |
9,718 | 9,095 | 1,394 | 5,439 | 2,811 | 429 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other expenses |
| (4,109 | ) | (630 | ) | (2,650 | ) | (1,396 | ) | (213 | ) | |||||||||||||
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|
|
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For the Year Ended December 31, |
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except for share amount and per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loss before income tax expense |
(502,055 | ) | (941,895 | ) | (144,352 | ) | (278,832 | ) | (176,179 | ) | (26,890 | ) | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
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|
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Net loss |
(502,055 | ) | (941,895 | ) | (144,352 | ) | (278,832 | ) | (176,179 | ) | (26,890 | ) | ||||||||||||
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Accretion on convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
(232,319 | ) | (283,981 | ) | (43,522 | ) | (64,794 | ) | (92,263 | ) | (14,082 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders |
(734,374 | ) | (1,225,876 | ) | (187,874 | ) | (343,626 | ) | (268,442 | ) | (40,972 | ) | ||||||||||||
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Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted |
(6.86 | ) | (11.03 | ) | (1.69 | ) | (3.20 | ) | (1.97 | ) | (0.30 | ) | ||||||||||||
Pro forma net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted(2) (unaudited) |
(0.29) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Pro forma weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding, basic and diluted(2) (unaudited) |
687,607,676 |
Note:
(1) |
Share-based compensation expenses were allocated as follows: |
For the Year Ended December 31, |
For the Three Months
Ended March 31, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of revenues |
944 | 1,920 | 294 | 257 | 3,485 | 532 | ||||||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses |
8,443 | 21,473 | 3,291 | 4,557 | 1,946 | 297 | ||||||||||||||||||
Research and development expenses |
13,595 | 30,883 | 4,733 | 4,972 | 16,572 | 2,529 | ||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
11,268 | 602,960 | 92,408 | 6,485 | 26,655 | 4,069 | ||||||||||||||||||
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
34,250 | 657,236 | 100,726 | 16,271 | 48,658 | 7,427 | |||||||||||||||||||
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(2) |
Unaudited pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share was computed to give effect to (1) the automatic conversion of all issued and outstanding convertible preferred shares into 551,352,134 ordinary shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering, using the if converted method as if the conversion and reclassification had occurred as of the beginning of the year; and (2) recording unrecognized compensation expense related to certain stock options with direct connection with the completion of this offering as if the performance condition for these stock option had been achieved. The following table presents the reconciliations (i) from net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders to pro forma net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, and (ii) from weighted average ordinary shares outstanding to pro forma weighted average ordinary shares outstanding. |
(in RMB in thousands, except for share and per share data)
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For the Three
Months Ended March 31, 2021 |
||||
Numerator |
||||
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders |
(268,442 | ) | ||
Pro forma adjustment of conversion of preferred shares |
92,263 | |||
Pro forma adjustment of share-based compensation expenses |
(22,154 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Numerator for pro forma basic and diluted loss per share |
(198,333 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Denominator |
||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing net loss per share |
136,255,542 | |||
Pro forma effect of conversion of preferred shares |
551,352,134 | |||
|
|
|||
Denominator for pro forma basic and diluted loss per share |
687,607,676 | |||
|
|
|||
Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted |
(0.29 | ) |
The following table presents our selected consolidated balance sheets data as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 and as of March 31, 2021:
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The following table presents our selected consolidated cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 and for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021:
For the Year Ended December 31, |
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, |
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RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Selected Consolidated Cash Flow Data: |
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Net cash (used in)/generated from operating activities |
(105,663 | ) | 395,911 | 60,676 | (279,342 | ) | 165,335 | 25,235 | ||||||||||||||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities |
(1,223,803 | ) | 467,305 | 71,617 | 1,070,370 | (76,498 | ) | (11,675 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net cash generated from/(used in) financing activities |
993,475 | 2,882,112 | 441,703 | 1,048,706 | (12,192 | ) | (1,861 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
43,113 | (154,480 | ) | (23,675 | ) | 29,077 | 26,432 | 4,034 | ||||||||||||||||
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Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(292,878 | ) | 3,590,848 | 550,321 | 1,868,811 | 103,077 | 15,733 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period |
700,233 | 407,355 | 62,430 | 407,355 | 3,998,203 | 610,245 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period |
407,355 | 3,998,203 | 612,751 | 2,276,166 | 4,101,280 | 625,978 | ||||||||||||||||||
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MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our actual results may differ materially from those we currently anticipate as a result of many factors, including those we describe under Risk Factors and elsewhere in this prospectus. See Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.
Overview
We are the largest online recruitment platform in China, as measured by average MAU in 2020, according to the CIC Report, We connect job seekers and enterprise users in an efficient and seamless manner mainly through our highly interactive BOSS Zhipin mobile app, which together with our other mobile apps and mini programs create a vibrant network. We are relentlessly focused on enhancing user experience by delivering efficient, intuitive and convenient experience to them throughout the recruitment cycle.
We have a large and fast growing pool of job seekers consisting of white and gold-collar users, blue-collar users and college students. We also serve an extensive network of employers covering small, mid-sized and large businesses. Leveraging our large user base, we provide enterprise users with a wide range of services which give employers the flexibility to either purchase our services in small scale and on demand or subscribe annually to enjoy all of our services. Our service offerings allow enterprise users to take advantage of our online recruiting platform and access massive quality talents in a cost effective way.
We have achieved significant growth. Our average MAU grew by 73.2% from 11.5 million in 2019 to 19.8 million in 2020 and from 14.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020 to 24.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021, representing growth of 71.8%. Our revenues increased by 94.7% from RMB998.7 million in 2019 to RMB1,944.4 million (US$298.0 million) in 2020 and from RMB282.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 to RMB788.5 million (US$120.4 million) for the three months ended March 31, 2021, representing growth of 179.0%. Our calculated cash billings increased by 89.7% from RMB1,334.0 million in 2019 to RMB2,529.9 million (US$387.7 million) in 2020 and from RMB310.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 to RMB1,182.4 million (US$180.5 million) for the three months ended March 31, 2021, representing growth of 281.0%. We recorded net losses of RMB502.1 million, RMB941.9 million (US$144.4 million) and RMB176.2 million (US$26.9 million) in 2019, 2020 and the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively. Our adjusted net losses were RMB467.8 million, RMB284.7 million (US$43.6 million) and RMB127.5 million (US$19.5 million) in 2019, 2020 and for the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively. Our operating cash flow turned positive and reached RMB395.9 million (US$60.7 million) in 2020 and RMB165.3 million (US$25.2 million) for the three months ended March 31, 2021. For discussions of our calculated cash billings and adjusted net loss and reconciliation of calculated cash billings to revenues and reconciliation of adjusted net loss to net loss, see Non-GAAP Financial Measures for details.
Key Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
Our business and results of operations are affected by a number of general factors that impact Chinas online recruitment service market, including, among others:
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Chinas overall economic growth and development, along with its structural transformation into a service-based and technology-driven economy; |
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greater challenges in hiring leading to the increasing adoption of recruitment services; |
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digitalization of the recruitment industry; |
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the emergence of the direct recruitment model; |
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growth of the blue-collar sector; |
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the high growth potential in online penetration among employers; |
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competitive landscape of Chinas online recruitment service industry and our market position therein; and |
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government policies and regulations affecting Chinas online recruitment service industry. |
Unfavorable changes in any of these general conditions could negatively impact demand for our services and materially and adversely affect our results of operations. While our business is influenced by these general factors, our results of operations are more directly affected by the following company-specific factors.
Our ability to expand our large and active user base
A large and active user base is the core reason why job seekers and enterprise users are attracted to and continue to use our online recruitment platform, as enterprise users primarily look for a large talent pool to recruit from and job seekers value access to a multitude of actively hiring employers when using recruitment services. We must be able to grow our MAU, which we view as a key indicator of the size of our active user base, in order to support our business development. Our average MAU grew by 73.2% from 11.5 million in 2019 to 19.8 million in 2020 and further increased to 24.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Whether we can continue to grow our MAU mainly depends on our ability to provide superior user experience. To this end, we will continue to focus on providing a personalized user experience through enhancing our AI and big data technology capabilities that power the matching between job seekers and enterprise users, offering more efficient and flexible communication methods for our users, and improving the reliability of our online recruitment platform.
Our acquisition of paid enterprise customers
Growth in the number of paid enterprise customers, who include enterprise users and company accounts that have paid for our online recruitment services, is a key driver of our revenue growth, as substantially all of our revenues comes from providing online recruitment services to paid enterprise customers. The continued growth of our business therefore depends on our acquisition of paid enterprise customers. The number of our paid enterprise customers increased by 80.1% from 1.24 million in 2019 to 2.23 million in 2020. Our paid enterprise customers increased by 120.0% from 1.31 million in the twelve months ended March 31, 2020 to 2.89 million in the twelve months ended March 31, 2021. In order to improve our acquisition of paid enterprise customers, we will continue to focus our resources on maintaining relationships with existing enterprise users, improving service quality, converting free enterprise users and their companies to paid enterprise customers, exploring new services, features and functionalities responsive to user needs, promoting awareness of our brands, and marketing our services to a wider user group and in more geographical markets.
Our ability to expand our services to existing paid enterprise customers
We believe that there is a significant opportunity for cross selling more of our online recruitment services to our existing paid enterprise customers. Among our paid enterprise customers, those who contributed revenues of RMB5,000 or more to us in a twelve-month period ended on the end of a given period accounted for the majority of our revenue source in 2019, 2020 and the three months ended March 31, 2021. Paid enterprise customers who contributed RMB5,000 or more, but less than
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RMB50,000 of revenues to us in a twelve-month period ended on the end of a given period, or mid-sized customers, contributed 36.4%, 35.8% and 31.1% of our total revenues in 2019, 2020 and the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively. In addition, paid enterprise customers who contributed RMB50,000 or more of revenues to us in a twelve-month period ended on the end of a given period, or key accounts, contributed 15.6%, 17.0% and 17.7% of our total revenues in 2019, 2020 and the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively. We value key accounts because they typically are large enterprises with steady demand for our online recruitment services and a stable recruiting budget. The number of key accounts increased by 92.9% from 970 in 2019 to 1,871 in 2020 and by 107.7% from 1,123 in the twelve months ended March 31, 2020 to 2,332 in the twelve months ended March 31, 2021.
The consistent revenue contribution of mid-size customers and key accounts speaks to the importance of expanding our services to existing paid enterprise customers, which will increase their spending and move more of our paid enterprise customers into the mid-sized and key account groups. To expand our services to existing paid enterprise customers, we plan to introduce new service offerings, better educate existing paid enterprise customers about the value of additional services, and recommend more customized services to each paid enterprise customers based on analysis of its historical hiring behaviors.
Our ability to promote our brands and market our services more effectively
Our investment in branding, marketing and promotional activities contributes to our user acquisition, and whether such investment is cost-effective has a significant impact on our results of operations. To achieve maximum return for our branding and marketing investments, we set and adjust our branding and marketing strategies based on data analytics of factors such as occupational structure, average income of target demographics, and characteristics of different marketing channels. Our sales and marketing expenses represented 91.8% and 69.3% of our revenues in 2019 and 2020, respectively; in the three months ended March 31, 2020 and the three months ended March 31, 2021, this percentage is 133.2% and 78.4%, respectively. The declining proportion of our sales and marketing expense to revenues signifies higher efficiency of our branding, marketing and promotional activities during the period, but we will need to continue to monitor and manage our sales and marketing expenses if we are to achieve profitability in the future.
Our ability to enhance our operating efficiency
Our results of operations are further affected by our operating efficiency in aspects other than sales and marketing, as measured by our total operating costs and expenses excluding sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of our revenues. Certain items of our operating costs and expenses, including our research and development expenses, have trended downwards as a percentage of our revenues from 2019 to 2020 and from the three months ended March 31, 2020 to the three months ended March 31, 2021. As our business grows further, we expect to improve the efficiency and utilization of our personnel, and leverage our scale to achieve greater operating leverage.
Key Components of Results of Operations
Revenues
We derive substantially all of our revenues from paid enterprise customers on our online recruitment platform. We provide online recruitment services to enterprise users and companies that help them better access and interact with job seekers.
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Operating costs and expenses
Our operating costs and expenses consist of cost of revenues, sales and marketing expenses, research and development expenses, and general and administrative expenses.
Cost of revenues. Our cost of revenues primarily consist of third-party payment processing costs, payroll and other employee-related costs, and server and bandwidth costs.
Sales and marketing expenses. Our sales and marketing expenses primarily consist of (i) advertising expenses, including expenses relating to our online traffic acquisition and branding activities, (ii) payroll and other employee-related expenses for our sales and marketing staff, and (iii) other miscellaneous expenses for our sales functions. Our advertising expenses are mainly incurred to (i) promote our brands through marketing campaigns, TV commercials and outdoor advertisements, (ii) manage public relations for pro bono events, and (iii) purchase online traffic acquisition services, such as those that enhance our exposure on social media and priority in search results in app stores and search engines. The following table sets forth the components of our sales and marketing expenses by amounts and percentages of our revenues for the periods presented.
For the Year Ended December 31, | For the Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | % | RMB | US$ | % | RMB | % | RMB | US$ | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except for percentages) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses: |
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Advertising expenses |
538,940 | 54.0 | 812,415 | 124,508 | 41.8 | 276,824 | 98.0 | 427,337 | 65,224 | 54.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Payroll and other employee-related expenses |
335,912 | 33.6 | 470,644 | 72,129 | 24.2 | 86,950 | 30.8 | 166,798 | 25,458 | 21.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Others |
41,980 | 4.2 | 64,473 | 9,881 | 3.3 | 12,748 | 4.4 | 24,402 | 3,725 | 3.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total |
916,832 | 91.8 | 1,347,532 | 206,518 | 69.3 | 376,522 | 133.2 | 618,537 | 94,407 | 78.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Research and development expenses. Our research and development expenses primarily consist of payroll and other employee-related expenses for our research and development staff.
General and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses primarily consist of payroll and other employee-related expenses for our managerial and administrative staff.
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.
Hong Kong
Our subsidiary in Hong Kong is subject to 16.5% Hong Kong profit tax for its taxable income earned. Additionally, payments of dividends by our subsidiary in Hong Kong to our company are not
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subject to any Hong Kong withholding tax. No provision for Hong Kong profits tax was made as we had no estimated assessable profit that was subject to Hong Kong profits tax during 2019 and 2020.
PRC
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law effective from January 1, 2008, our PRC subsidiaries and our VIE are subject to the statutory rate of 25%, subject to preferential tax treatments available to qualified enterprises as stipulated under PRC tax laws and regulations.
Enterprises that qualify as high and new technology enterprises are entitled to a preferential rate of 15% for three years. Enterprises that qualify as small low-profit enterprises are entitled to a preferential rate of 20%.
Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd., or our VIE, was certified as a high and new technology enterprise under the relevant PRC laws and regulations, and accordingly was eligible for a preferential tax rate of 15% in each of 2019 and 2020. Our WFOE was subject to an enterprise income tax rate of 20% in 2019 and 2020.
If our company in the Cayman Islands or any of our subsidiaries outside of China were deemed 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 Relating 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.
We are subject to VAT at a rate of approximately 3% for small-scale-VAT-payer entities or 6% for general-VAT-payer entities on the services and solutions we provide to our customers, less any deductible VAT we have already paid or borne in accordance with PRC law. We are also subject to surcharges on VAT payments in accordance with PRC law.
Pursuant to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, a 5% or 10% withholding tax is levied on dividends declared to our intermediary holding company in Hong Kong from China effective from January 1, 2008. See Risk FactorsRisks Relating to Doing Business in ChinaWe may not be able to obtain certain benefits under relevant tax treaty on dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries to us through our Hong Kong subsidiary.
Impact of COVID-19
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted China and the rest of the world, and it has resulted in quarantines, travel restrictions, and the temporary closure of offices and facilities in China and many other countries. Our revenue growth was negatively impacted in the first quarter of 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic. We started to recover in late first quarter of 2020. The potential downturn brought by and the duration of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may be difficult to assess or predict, and any associated negative impact on us will depend on many factors beyond our control, such as the availability and effectiveness of any vaccines. While we might have benefited from the increased online traffic resulting from COVID-19 to our online recruitment platform, there is no guarantee that we can rely on such benefit in the future. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our long-term results remains uncertain, and we are closely monitoring its impact on us. See Risk FactorsRisks Relating to Our Business and IndustryThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated results of operations for the periods presented, both in absolute amounts and as percentages of our total revenues.
For the Year Ended December 31, | For the Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | % | RMB | US$ | % | RMB | % | RMB | US$ | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except for percentages) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: |
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Online recruitment services to enterprise customers |
986,859 | 98.8 | 1,927,178 | 295,353 | 99.1 | 279,110 | 98.8 | 782,156 | 119,380 | 99.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Others |
11,861 | 1.2 | 17,181 | 2,633 | 0.9 | 3,501 | 1.2 | 6,379 | 974 | 0.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total revenues |
998,720 | 100.0 | 1,944,359 | 297,986 | 100.0 | 282,611 | 100.0 | 788,535 | 120,354 | 100.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating cost and expenses: |
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Cost of revenues(1) |
(137,812 | ) | (13.8 | ) | (240,211 | ) | (36,814 | ) | (12.4 | ) | (37,851 | ) | (13.4 | ) | (106,856 | ) | (16,309 | ) | (13.6 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses(1) |
(916,832 | ) | (91.8 | ) | (1,347,532 | ) | (206,518 | ) | (69.3 | ) | (376,522 | ) | (133.2 | ) | (618,537 | ) | (94,407 | ) | (78.4 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Research and development expenses(1) |
(325,569 | ) | (32.6 | ) | (513,362 | ) | (78,676 | ) | (26.4 | ) | (104,801 | ) | (37.1 | ) | (163,767 | ) | (24,996 | ) | (20.8 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses(1) |
(132,999 | ) | (13.3 | ) | (797,008 | ) | (122,147 | ) | (41.0 | ) | (45,651 | ) | (16.2 | ) | (81,712 | ) | (12,472 | ) | (10.4 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Total operating cost and expenses |
(1,513,212 | ) | (151.5 | ) | (2,898,113 | ) | (444,155 | ) | (149.1 | ) | (564,825 | ) | (199.9 | ) | (970,872 | ) | (148,184 | ) | (123.1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other operating income, net |
2,573 | 0.3 | 8,849 | 1,356 | 0.5 | 1,363 | 0.5 | 2,318 | 354 | 0.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Loss from operations |
(511,919 | ) | (51.3 | ) | (944,905 | ) | (144,813 | ) | (48.6 | ) | (280,851 | ) | (99.4 | ) | (180,019 | ) | (27,476 | ) | (22.8 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Financial income, net |
145 | 0.0 | 3,098 | 475 | 0.2 | 351 | 0.1 | 1,961 | 299 | 0.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign exchange gain/(loss) |
1 | 0.0 | (5,074 | ) | (778 | ) | (0.3 | ) | (1,121 | ) | (0.4 | ) | 464 | 71 | 0.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment income |
9,718 | 1.0 | 9,095 | 1,394 | 0.5 | 5,439 | 1.9 | 2,811 | 429 | 0.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other expenses |
| | (4,109 | ) | (630 | ) | (0.2 | ) | (2,650 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (1,396 | ) | (213 | ) | (0.2 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Loss before income tax expense |
(502,055 | ) | (50.3 | ) | (941,895 | ) | (144,352 | ) | (48.4 | ) | (278,832 | ) | (98.7 | ) | (176,179 | ) | (26,890 | ) | (22.3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
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Net loss |
(502,055 | ) | (50.3 | ) | (941,895 | ) | (144,352 | ) | (48.4 | ) | (278,832 | ) | (98.7 | ) | (176,179 | ) | (26,890 | ) | (22.3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Non-GAAP financial measures: |
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Calculated cash billings(2) |
1,333,974 | 133.6 | 2,529,888 | 387,722 | 130.1 | 310,342 | 109.8 | 1,182,358 | 180,463 | 149.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted net loss(2) |
(467,805 | ) | (46.8 | ) | (284,659 | ) | (43,626 | ) | (14.6 | ) | (262,561 | ) | (92.9 | ) | (127,521 | ) | (19,463 | ) | (16.2 | ) |
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Notes: |
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(1) |
Share-based compensation expenses were allocated as follows: |
For the Year Ended
December 31, |
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, |
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2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation expenses: |
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Cost of revenues |
944 | 1,920 | 294 | 257 | 3,485 | 532 | ||||||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses |
8,443 | 21,473 | 3,291 | 4,557 | 1,946 | 297 | ||||||||||||||||||
Research and development expenses |
13,595 | 30,883 | 4,733 | 4,972 | 16,572 | 2,529 | ||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
11,268 | 602,960 | 92,408 | 6,485 | 26,655 | 4,069 | ||||||||||||||||||
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34,250 | 657,236 | 100,726 | 16,271 | 48,658 | 7,427 | |||||||||||||||||||
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For discussions of calculated cash billings and its reconciliation to revenues and discussions of adjusted net loss and its reconciliation to net loss , see Non-GAAP Financial Measures. |
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Calculated cash billings
Calculated cash billings is a non-GAAP financial measure. Calculated cash billings consists of our revenues plus the change in our deferred revenue in a given period. We derived calculated cash billings by adding the change in deferred revenue to our revenues. Our management uses calculated cash billings to measure and monitor our sales growth because we generally bill our paid enterprise customers at the time of sale, but may recognize a portion of the related revenue ratably over time. We consider calculated cash billings to provide valuable insights into the cash that will be generated from our sales and a valuable measure for monitoring our service demand and financial performance.
This non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, its most directly comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of the historical non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable GAAP measure has been provided in the financial statement tables included below. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of the historical non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. As calculated cash billings has material limitations as an analytical metric and may not be calculated in the same manner by all companies, it may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. In light of the foregoing limitations, you should not consider calculated cash billings as a substitute for, or superior to, revenues prepared in accordance with GAAP. We encourage investors and others to review our financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.
We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using calculated cash billings only as a supplemental measure. The table below sets forth a reconciliation of our calculated cash billings to revenues for the periods indicated:
For the Year Ended December 31, | For the Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Revenues |
998,720 | 1,944,359 | 297,986 | 282,611 | 788,535 | 120,354 | ||||||||||||||||||
Add: |
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Change in deferred revenue |
335,254 | 585,529 | 89,736 | 27,731 | 393,823 | 60,109 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Calculated cash billings |
1,333,974 | 2,529,888 | 387,722 | 310,342 | 1,182,358 | 180,463 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Adjusted Net Loss
We use adjusted net loss, a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes. Adjusted net loss represents net loss excluding share-based compensation expenses, and such adjustment has no impact on income tax.
We present this non-GAAP financial measure because it is used by our management to evaluate our operating performance and formulate business plans. Adjusted net loss enables our management to assess our operating results without considering the impact of share-based compensation expenses, which are non-cash charges. We believe that adjusted net loss helps identify underlying trends in our business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of certain expenses that are included in net loss. We also believe that the use of the non-GAAP measure facilitates investors assessment of our operating performance. We believe that adjusted net loss provides useful information about our operating results, enhances the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects and allows for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by our management in its financial and operational decision making.
Adjusted net loss should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to net loss or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of our operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review our historical adjusted net loss to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, net loss. Adjusted net loss presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to our data. We encourage investors and others to review our financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.
The table below sets forth a reconciliation of our net loss to adjusted net loss for the periods indicated:
For the Year Ended December 31, |
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, |
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2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
502,055 | 941,895 | 144,352 | 278,832 | 176,179 | 26,890 | ||||||||||||||||||
Minus: |
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Share-based compensation expenses |
34,250 | 657,236 | 100,726 | 16,271 | 48,658 | 7,427 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Adjusted net loss |
467,805 | 284,659 | 43,626 | 262,561 | 127,521 | 19,463 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to three months ended March 31, 2020
Revenues
Our revenues primarily come from online recruitment services provided to paid enterprise customers, and increased by 179.0% from RMB282.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020 to RMB788.5 million (US$120.4 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2021. This increase was primarily the result of the growth of our paid enterprise customers due to the strength of our innovative business model and as business activities and recruitment demand gradually recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. Our paid enterprise customers increased by 120.0% from 1.31 million in the twelve months ended March 31, 2020 to 2.89 million in the twelve months ended March 31, 2021. Particularly, revenues from mid-sized customers increased by 123.0% from RMB109.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020 to RMB245.1 million (US$37.4 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2021, while revenues from key accounts increased by 167.7% from RMB52.2 million to
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RMB139.8 million (US$21.3 million) in the same period. The number of our key accounts increased by 107.7% from 1,123 in the twelve months ended March 31, 2020 to 2,332 in the twelve months ended March 31, 2021.
The growth of our paid enterprise customers across the spectrum was driven by the increase in our average MAU, which grew by 71.8% from 14.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020 to 24.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Cost of revenues
Our cost of revenues increased by 182.3% from RMB37.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020 to RMB106.9 million (US$16.3 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2021, primarily driven by our business growth and the expansion of our user base.
Sales and marketing expenses
Our sales and marketing expenses increased by 64.3% from RMB376.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020 to RMB618.5 million (US$94.4 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2021, primarily due to an increase of RMB150.5 million (US$23.0 million), or 54.4%, in advertising expenses and an increase of RMB79.8 million (US$12.2 million), or 91.8%, in payroll and other employee-related expenses for our sales and marketing staff, as we enhanced our marketing efforts during the 2021 Chinese New Year.
Research and development expenses
Our research and development expenses increased by 56.3% from RMB104.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020 to RMB163.8 million (US$25.0 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2021, which was mainly attributable to an increase in payroll and other employee-related expenses as we hired more research and development staff.
General and administrative expenses
Our general and administrative expenses increased by 79.0% from RMB45.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020 to RMB81.7 million (US$12.5 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2021, which was mainly attributable to an increase in employee-related expenses associated with the increase in the number of our general and administrative staff.
Loss from operations
As a result of the foregoing, we incurred RMB280.9 million of loss from operations in the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to a loss from operations of RMB180.0 million (US$27.5 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Income tax expense
We did not pay any income tax or receive any income tax benefit in in the three months ended March 31, 2020 and in the three months ended March 31, 2021, mainly because we had no taxable income in those periods.
Net loss
As a result of the foregoing, our net loss was RMB278.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to a net loss of RMB176.2 million (US$26.9 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2021.
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Year Ended December 31, 2020 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2019
Revenues
Our revenues primarily comes from online recruitment services provided to paid enterprise customers, and they increased by 94.7% from RMB998.7 million in 2019 to RMB1,944.4 million (US$298.0 million) in 2020. This increase was primarily due to the growth of our paid enterprise customers, which increased by 80.1% from 1.24 million in 2019 to 2.23 million in 2020. Particularly, revenues from mid-sized customers increased by 91.7% from RMB363.3 million in 2019 to RMB696.3 million (US$106.7 million) in 2020, while revenues from key accounts increased by 112.3% from RMB155.8 million to RMB330.8 million (US$50.7 million) in the same periods. The number of our key accounts increased by 92.9% from 970 in 2019 to 1,871 in 2020.
The growth of our paid enterprise customers across the spectrum was driven by the increase in our average MAU during the same period, which grew by 73.2% from 11.5 million in 2019 to 19.8 million in 2020.
Cost of revenues
Our cost of revenues increased by 74.3% from RMB137.8 million in 2019 to RMB240.2 million (US$36.8 million) in 2020. This increase was mainly attributable to increases in third-party payment processing costs, payroll and other employee-related costs, and server and bandwidth costs, which were due to our expanding user base and increased transaction volume.
Sales and marketing expenses
Our sales and marketing expenses increased by 47.0% from RMB916.8 million in 2019 to RMB1,347.5 million (US$206.5 million) in 2020, primarily due to an increase of RMB273.5 million (US$41.9 million), or 50.7%, in advertising expenses and an increase of RMB134.7 million (US$20.6 million), or 40.1%, in payroll and other employee-related expenses for our sales and marketing staff, which were mainly due to our enhanced marketing efforts to acquire more active users.
Research and development expenses
Our research and development expenses increased by 57.7% from RMB325.6 million in 2019 to RMB513.4 million (US$78.7 million) in 2020, which was mainly attributable to an increase in payroll and other employee-related expenses for our research and development staff.
General and administrative expenses
Our general and administrative expenses increased by 499.3% from RMB133.0 million in 2019 to RMB797.0 million (US$122.1 million) in 2020, which was mainly attributable to an increase of RMB533.1 million (US$81.7 million) in share-based compensation expense due to an issuance of Class B ordinary shares to our Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peng Zhao.
Loss from operations
As a result of the foregoing, we incurred RMB944.9 million (US$144.8 million) of loss from operations in 2020, as compared to a loss from operations of RMB511.9 million in 2019.
Income tax expense
We did not pay any income tax or receive any income tax benefit in 2019 and 2020, mainly because we had no taxable income in those periods.
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Net loss
As a result of the foregoing, our net loss was RMB941.9 million (US$144.4 million) in 2020, as compared to a net loss of RMB502.1 million in 2019.
Selected Quarterly Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our unaudited consolidated quarterly results of operations for the periods indicated. 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 includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments, that our management considered necessary for a fair statement of our financial position and operating results for the quarters presented.
Our quarterly revenues generally increased over these periods, subject to certain seasonal fluctuations.
For the Three Months Ended, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 31, | June 30, |
September
30, |
December
31, |
March 31, | June 30, |
September
30, |
December
31, |
March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2019 | 2019 | 2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: |
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Online recruitment services to enterprise customers |
162,605 | 238,953 | 285,134 | 300,167 | 279,110 | 421,475 | 585,556 | 641,037 | 782,156 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Others |
2,115 | 2,657 | 3,200 | 3,889 | 3,501 | 5,008 | 4,576 | 4,096 | 6,379 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total net revenues |
164,720 | 241,610 | 288,334 | 304,056 | 282,611 | 426,483 | 590,132 | 645,133 | 788,535 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Operating cost and expenses: |
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Cost of revenues(1) |
(27,162 | ) | (31,969 | ) | (38,069 | ) | (40,612 | ) | (37,851 | ) | (54,221 | ) | (68,885 | ) | (79,254 | ) | (106,856 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses(1) |
(304,946 | ) | (180,347 | ) | (199,761 | ) | (231,778 | ) | (376,522 | ) | (366,396 | ) | (283,595 | ) | (321,019 | ) | (618,537 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Research and development expenses(1) |
(65,467 | ) | (70,965 | ) | (88,008 | ) | (101,129 | ) | (104,801 | ) | (117,014 | ) | (139,592 | ) | (151,955 | ) | (163,767 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses(1) |
(24,944 | ) | (23,132 | ) | (31,562 | ) | (53,361 | ) | (45,651 | ) | (58,640 | ) | (67,052 | ) | (625,665 | ) | (81,712 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Total operating cost and expenses |
(422,519 | ) | (306,413 | ) | (357,400 | ) | (426,880 | ) | (564,825 | ) | (596,271 | ) | (559,124 | ) | (1,177,893 | ) | (970,872 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Other operating income, net |
| 332 | 885 | 1,356 | 1,363 | 2,332 | 3,400 | 1,754 | 2,318 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Loss from operations |
(257,799 | ) | (64,471 | ) | (68,181 | ) | (121,468 | ) | (280,851 | ) | (167,456 | ) | 34,408 | (531,006 | ) | (180,019 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Financial income, net |
(271 | ) | 25 | 135 | 256 | 351 | 111 | 504 | 2,132 | 1,961 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign exchange (loss) /gain |
1 | | 2 | (2 | ) | (1,121 | ) | (2 | ) | (1,099 | ) | (2,852 | ) | 464 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment income |
| 466 | 4,145 | 5,107 | 5,439 | 148 | 734 | 2,774 | 2,811 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other expenses |
| | | | (2,650 | ) | (184 | ) | (746 | ) | (529 | ) | (1,396 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Loss before income tax expense |
(258,069 | ) | (63,980 | ) | (63,899 | ) | (116,107 | ) | (278,832 | ) | (167,383 | ) | 33,801 | (529,481 | ) | (176,179 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
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Net loss |
(258,069 | ) | (63,980 | ) | (63,899 | ) | (116,107 | ) | (278,832 | ) | (167,383 | ) | 33,801 | (529,481 | ) | (176,179 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Non-GAAP financial measures: |
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Calculated cash billings(2) |
256,123 | 305,024 | 364,642 | 408,185 | 310,342 | 524,663 | 754,809 | 940,074 | 1,182,358 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted net (loss)/income(2) |
(252,341 | ) | (56,777 | ) | (54,207 | ) | (104,480 | ) | (262,561 | ) | (143,406 | ) | 52,300 | 69,008 | (127,521 | ) |
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Notes:
(1) |
Share-based compensation expenses were allocated as follows: |
For the Three Months Ended, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 31, | June 30, |
September
30, |
December
31, |
March 31, | June 30, |
September
30, |
December
31, |
March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2019 | 2019 | 2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation expenses: |
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Cost of revenues |
216 | 220 | 228 | 280 | 257 | 375 | 307 | 981 | 3,485 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses |
1,810 | 1,846 | 2,150 | 2,637 | 4,557 | 6,331 | 2,080 | 8,505 | 1,946 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Research and development expenses |
2,777 | 3,093 | 3,544 | 4,181 | 4,972 | 7,968 | 7,451 | 10,492 | 16,572 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
925 | 2,044 | 3,770 | 4,529 | 6,485 | 9,303 | 8,661 | 578,511 | 26,655 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5,728 | 7,203 | 9,692 | 11,627 | 16,271 | 23,977 | 18,499 | 598,489 | 48,658 |
(2) |
The following table reconciles, for the periods presented, our calculated cash billings to revenues and our adjusted net (loss)/income to net (loss)/income. See Non-GAAP Financial Measures. |
For the Three Months Ended, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 31,
2019 |
June 30,
2019 |
September 30,
2019 |
December 31,
2019 |
March 31,
2020 |
June 30,
2020 |
September 30,
2020 |
December 31,
2020 |
March 31,
2021 |
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RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
164,720 | 241,610 | 288,334 | 304,056 | 282,611 | 426,483 | 590,132 | 645,133 | 788,535 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Add: |
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Change in deferred revenue |
91,403 | 63,414 | 76,308 | 104,129 | 27,731 | 98,180 | 164,677 | 294,941 | 393,823 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Calculated cash billings |
256,123 | 305,024 | 364,642 | 408,185 | 310,342 | 524,663 | 754,809 | 940,074 | 1,182,358 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Net (loss)/income |
(258,069 | ) | (63,980 | ) | (63,899 | ) | (116,107 | ) | (278,832 | ) | (167,383 | ) | 33,801 | (529,481 | ) | (176,179 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Add: |
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Share-based compensation |
5,728 | 7,203 | 9,692 | 11,627 | 16,271 | 23,977 | 18,499 | 598,489 | 48,658 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Adjusted net (loss)/income |
(252,341) | (56,777) | (54,207) | (104,480) | (262,561 | ) | (143,406) | 52,300 | 69,008 | (127,521 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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We experienced seasonal fluctuations in our results of operations for the periods presented. See Seasonality. The trend we have experienced in the past may not apply to, or be indicative of, our future results of operations.
Seasonality
Our results of operations are subject to seasonal fluctuations in market conditions primarily due to enterprise users purchasing patterns. For example, in a given year, our revenue is typically higher during the fourth quarter as many enterprises usually make hiring plans in the fourth quarter and purchase recruitment services then. We typically experience lower growth in our first quarters as recruitment activities generally slow down around the Chinese New Year. Our quarterly sales and marketing expenses are generally the highest in the first quarter of every year as we increase our sales and branding activities during the Chinese New Year season. Overall, the historical seasonality of our business has been relatively mild, but the seasonal trends that we have experienced in the past may not be indicative of our future operating results. See also Risk FactorsRisks Relating to Our Business and IndustryOur results of operations are subject to fluctuations due to seasonality.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
To date, we have financed our operations primarily through cash flows from operations and cash generated by historical equity financing activities. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020 and March 31, 2021, our cash and cash equivalents were RMB407.4 million, RMB3,998.2 million (US$612.8 million) and RMB4,101.3 million (US$626.0 million), respectively. Our cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of cash on hand, cash in bank, time deposits and highly liquid investments with a maturity of generally three months or less. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020 and March 31, 2021, our short-term investments were RMB1,142.0 million, RMB536.4 million (US$82.2 million) and RMB550.3 million (US$84.0 million), respectively. Short-term investments consist of wealth management products purchased from commercial banks and investment banks, with a fixed or variable interest rate and a maturity of under one year.
We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents and expected proceeds from this offering will be sufficient to meet our current and anticipated working capital requirements and capital expenditures for the twelve-month period after the completion of this offering. We may, however, need additional cash resources in the future if we experience changes in business conditions or other developments. We may also need additional cash resources in the future if we identify and wish to pursue opportunities for investment, acquisition, capital expenditure or similar actions.
As of March 31, 2021, 11.1% and 88.9% of our cash and cash equivalents were held in and outside of mainland China, respectively, with 3.4% of our cash and cash equivalents being held by our VIE. As of the same date, 9.5% of our cash and cash equivalents were denominated in Renminbi and 88.9% were denominated in U.S. dollars.
Although we consolidate the results of our VIE, we only have access to the assets or earnings of our VIE through our contractual arrangements with our VIE 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.
All of our revenues have been, and we expect at least a substantial majority of them will likely continue to be, in the form of Renminbi. 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 SAFE approval as long as certain routine procedural requirements are fulfilled. Therefore, our PRC subsidiaries are allowed to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior SAFE approval by following certain routine procedural requirements. However, current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us only out of its accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. Each of our PRC subsidiaries is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits after making up previous years accumulated losses each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds until the total amount set aside reaches 50% of its registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. Historically, our PRC subsidiaries have not paid dividends to us, and they will not be able to pay dividends until they generate accumulated profits. Furthermore, capital account transactions, which include foreign direct investment and loans, must be approved by and/or registered with SAFE, its local branches and certain local banks.
As a Cayman Islands exempted company and offshore holding company, we are permitted under PRC laws and regulations to provide funding to our PRC subsidiaries only through loans or capital contributions, subject to the filing, approval or registration of government authorities and limits on the amount of loans. This may delay us from using the proceeds from this offering to make loans or capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries. See Risk FactorsRisks Relating to Doing Business in China
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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 or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries and our VIE, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods presented:
For the Year Ended December 31, |
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, |
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2019 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Summary Consolidated Cash Flow Data: |
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Net cash (used in)/generated from operating activities |
(105,663 | ) | 395,911 | 60,676 | (279,342 | ) | 165,335 | 25,235 | ||||||||||||||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities |
(1,223,803 | ) | 467,305 | 71,617 | 1,070,370 | (76,498 | ) | (11,675 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net cash generated from/(used in) financing activities |
993,475 | 2,882,112 | 441,703 | 1,048,706 | (12,192 | ) | (1,861 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
43,113 | (154,480 | ) | (23,675 | ) | 29,077 | 26,432 | 4,034 | ||||||||||||||||
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Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(292,878 | ) | 3,590,848 | 550,321 | 1,868,811 | 103,077 | 15,733 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period |
700,233 | 407,355 | 62,430 | 407,355 | 3,998,203 | 610,245 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period |
407,355 | 3,998,203 | 612,751 | 2,276,166 | 4,101,280 | 625,978 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Operating activities
Net cash generated from operating activities in the three months ended March 31, 2021 was RMB165.3 million (US$25.2 million). The difference between this net cash generated from operating activities and the net loss of RMB176.2 million (US$26.9 million) in the same period was due to adjustments for non-cash items that primarily include share-based compensation of RMB48.7 million (US$7.4 million), amortization of right-of-use assets of RMB21.3 million (US$3.2 million) and depreciation and amortization expense of RMB17.1 million (US$2.6 million), as well as cash released from a decrease in working capital mainly resulting from an increase of RMB393.8 million (US$60.1 million) in deferred revenue and an increase of RMB75.3 million (US$11.5 million) in accounts payable, both of which reflected the increasing scale of our business and our growing user base, partially offset by a RMB105.0 million (US$16.0 million) increase in prepayments and other current assets, a RMB89.9 million (US$13.7 million) decrease in other payable and accrued liabilities and a RMB17.3 million (US$2.6 million) decrease in operating lease liabilities.
Net cash generated from operating activities in 2020 was RMB395.9 million (US$60.7 million). The difference between this net cash generated from operating activities and the net loss of RMB941.9 million (US$144.4 million) in the same period was due to adjustments for non-cash items that primarily include share-based compensation of RMB657.2 million (US$100.7 million), amortization of right-of-use assets of RMB66.9 million (US$10.3 million) and depreciation and amortization expense of RMB41.1 million (US$6.3 million), as well as cash released from a decrease in working capital
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mainly resulting from an increase of RMB585.5 million (US$89.7 million) in deferred revenue and an increase of RMB130.5 million (US$20.0 million) in other payables and accrued liabilities, both of which reflected the increasing scale of our business and our growing user base, partially offset by a RMB71.8 million (US$11.0 million) decrease in operating lease liabilities, a RMB46.1 million (US$7.1 million) increase in prepayments and other current assets, and a RMB22.7 million (US$3.5 million) decrease in accounts payable.
Net cash used in operating activities in 2019 was RMB105.7 million. The difference between this net cash used in operating activities and the net loss of RMB502.1 million in the same period was primarily due to adjustments for non-cash items that primarily include amortization of right-of-use assets of RMB39.5 million, share-based compensation of RMB34.3 million and depreciation and amortization expense of RMB18.1 million, as well as cash released from a decrease in working capital mainly resulting from an increase of RMB335.3 million in deferred revenue and an increase of RMB79.3 million in other payable and accrued liabilities, both of which reflected the increasing scale of our business and our growing user base, partially offset by a RMB42.7 million decrease in operating lease liabilities and a RMB28.2 million increase in amounts due from related parties.
Investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2021 was RMB76.5 million (US$11.7 million), primarily due to purchase of short-term investments of RMB570.0 million (US$87.0 million) and purchase payments for of property, equipment and software of RMB61.5 million (US$9.4 million), partially offset by proceeds from maturity of short-term investments of RMB555.0 million (US$84.7 million).
Net cash generated from investing activities in 2020 was RMB467.3 million (US$71.6 million), primarily due to proceeds from sale and maturity of short-term investments of RMB2,439.9 million (US$373.9 million), partially offset by cash purchase payments for short-term investments of RMB1,834.4 million (US$281.1 million) and cash purchase payments for property, equipment and software of RMB138.2 million (US$21.2 million).
Net cash used in investing activities in 2019 was RMB1,223.8 million, consisting primarily of cash purchase payments for short-term investments of RMB1,171.9 million.
Financing activities
Net cash used in financing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2021 was RMB12.2 million (US$1.9 million), primarily due to the repurchase of Class B ordinary shares from TECHWOLF LIMITED for a total cash consideration of RMB11.6 million (US$1.8 million).
Net cash generated from financing activities in 2020 was RMB2,882.1 million (US$441.7 million), consisting of proceeds of RMB2,803.1 million (US$429.6 million) from issuance of convertible redeemable preferred shares, net of issuance cost, and proceeds of RMB79.0 million (US$12.1 million) from issuance of our Class A ordinary shares.
Net cash generated from financing activities in 2019 was RMB993.5 million, consisting of proceeds of RMB993.5 million from issuance of convertible redeemable preferred shares, net of issuance cost.
Capital Expenditures
We incurred capital expenditures of RMB64.0 million in 2019, RMB138.2 million (US$21.2 million) in 2020 and RMB61.5 million (US$9.4 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2021. Capital
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expenditures primarily represent cash we paid for the purchase of servers and other electronic equipments. We intend to fund our future capital expenditures with our existing cash balance and proceeds from this offering. We will continue to incur capital expenditures to meet the expected growth of our business.
Contractual Obligations
The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2020:
Payment Due by Period | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total |
Less than 1
year |
13 years | 35 years |
More than 5
years |
||||||||||||||||
(in RMB thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operating lease commitments |
150,266 | 62,358 | 49,970 | 28,027 | 9,911 | |||||||||||||||
Advertising commitments |
107,694 | 60,641 | 47,053 | | |
Except for those disclosed above, we did not have any significant capital or other commitments, long-term obligations, or guarantees as of December 31, 2020.
Off-Balance Sheet Commitments and Arrangements
We have not entered into any financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any unconsolidated 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. Moreover, 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.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
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 experience 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.
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Revenue Recognition
We accounted for revenue under ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and all periods have been presented under ASC 606. Consistent with the criteria of Topic 606, we recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to receive in exchange for those services.
To achieve that core principle, we apply the five steps defined under Topic 606: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. We assess our revenue arrangements against specific criteria in order to determine if we are acting as principal or agent. Revenue arrangements with multiple performance obligations are divided into separate distinct services. Revenue is recognized upon the transfer of control of promised services to a customer. Revenue is recorded net of value-added tax.
We generate revenue by providing services to enterprise customers and job seekers to assist in the recruitment process over mobile apps and websites, which means matching enterprise customers with suitable job seekers through AI matching technology, and stimulating real time interaction between them via in-app communication tools.
Online recruitment services offered to enterprise customers
We provide online recruitment support services carrying different kinds of features on our platforms, mainly including paid job postings, bulk invite-sending tools, message sending tools and other services. Enterprise customers could also purchase subscription packages which contain an array of features, including popular in-demand job postings and interaction privilege with job seekers during the subscription period.
Based on the historical pattern by which we satisfy its performance obligation and how enterprise customers benefit from our performance obligations, we recognize our revenue from the services provided under two models: time-based model and item-based model.
Time-based model
Under the time-based model, our obligation is to deliver corresponding services to enterprise customers during a particular subscription period, a certain paid job posting display period, or a certain privilege period for virtual tools such as message sending, etc., ranging from one month up to one year. For the services covered within a particular subscription package, they have the same contract period length during the subscription period. We record the upfront cash payment from the enterprise customers as deferred revenue and then recognize the revenue on a straight-line basis over the subscription period in which the enterprise customers are entitled to the corresponding privileges, as we are standing ready to provide services and a time-based measure of progress best reflects the satisfaction of the performance obligations.
Item-based model
Under the item-based model, our obligation is to deliver corresponding services in the form of other various virtual tools. Revenues for services provided in form of such virtual tools are recognized at the point in time when the services are provided to the enterprise customers. We record the upfront cash payment from the enterprise customers as part of deferred revenue, and then recognize the revenue at the point in time upon we deliver the corresponding services or at the point when the virtual tools expire.
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Other services
Other services mainly represent paid value-added services offered to job seekers, including priority placement of their professional profiles, increased resume exposure to enterprise customers, candidate competitive analysis, message filtering services and five-dimensional personality test, etc.
Arrangements with multiple performance obligations
Our contracts with enterprise customers may include bulk sales of services in the form of virtual tools and services contained in subscription packages, therefore multiple performance obligations exist. For those services in the form of virtual tools and contained in subscription packages included in bulk sales, the selling prices are consistently made references of the standalone selling prices when sold separately. We allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation based on the relative standalone selling prices, considering bulk sale price discounts offered to certain enterprise customers where applicable.
Deferred revenue
We record deferred revenue when we receive enterprise customers payments in advance of transferring control of service to the enterprise customers. Substantially all deferred revenue at the beginning of 2019 and 2020 was recognized as revenue during the annual fiscal period, and substantially all deferred revenue at the beginning of 2021 is expected to be recognized as revenue during the subsequent annual period.
Remaining performance obligations
Remaining performance obligations represent the amount of contracted future revenue not yet recognized as the amounts relate to undelivered performance obligations. Substantially all of Groups contracts are less than one year in duration. As such, we have elected to apply the practical expedient which allows an entity to exclude disclosures about its remaining performance obligations if the performance obligation is part of a contract that has an original expected duration of one year or less.
Share-based Compensation
We grant share options to our management, other key employees and eligible nonemployees (collectively, Share-based Awards). We account for these share-based awards in accordance with ASC 718 CompensationStock Compensation.
The Share-based Awards with service conditions only are measured at the grant date fair value of the awards and recognized as expenses using the straight-line method, net of estimated forfeitures, if any, over the requisite service period. The Share-based Awards that are subject to both service conditions and the occurrence of an initial public offering (IPO) or change of control as a performance condition, are measured at the grant date fair value. Cumulative share-based compensation expenses for the awards that have satisfied the service condition will be recorded upon the completion of the IPO, using the graded-vesting method.
For nonemployees share-based awards, we adopted ASU 2018-07 Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting for the periods presented. In accordance with ASU 2018-07, it clarifies that equity-classified nonemployee share-based awards are measured at the grant date. Nonemployee Share-based Awards are measured at the grant date fair value of the awards and recognized as expenses using a straight-line method over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period.
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Fair value of options
In order to attract and retain the right talent, we offer share-based compensation incentives to our employees, directors and consultants. We used a Binomial Option Pricing model to determine the total fair value of the awarded options, which is to be expensed over the vesting period. Significant estimate on assumptions, such as the grant date share price, expected volatility, expected early exercise multiple, option life, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield, are required to derive such expense amounts. As we continue to grow and move into key stages of product development, we expect to continue offering share-based incentives to our employees, directors and consultants and the amount of expenses may increase in future.
The assumptions used in share-based compensation expense recognition represent managements best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and application of management judgment. If factors change or different assumptions are used, the share-based compensation expenses could be materially different for any period. Moreover, the estimates of fair value of the awards are not intended to predict actual future events or the value that ultimately will be realized by grantees who receive share-based awards.
Key assumptions are set forth as follows:
Year Ended December 31 |
For the Three
Months Ended March 31 |
|||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | ||||||||||
Exercise price (US$) |
0.0001 -1.8 | 0.05 - 5.33 | 0.0001 - 5.33 | |||||||||
Fair value of the ordinary shares on the date of option grant (US$) |
1.01 - 1.52 | 1.84 - 3.27 | 6.78 | |||||||||
Risk-free interest rate |
1.80% - 2.76 | % | 0.82% - 1.70 | % | 1.96 | % | ||||||
Option life (in years) |
10 | 10 | 10 | |||||||||
Expected dividend yield |
0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||||
Expected volatility |
56.1% - 57.8 | % | 56.5% - 59.0 | % | 59.8 | % | ||||||
Expected early exercise multiple |
2.2x - 2.8x | 2.2x - 2.8x | 2.2x - 2.8x |
|
Fair value of the ordinary shares on the date of option grant (US$)Because our ordinary shares are not yet publicly traded, we are required to estimate the fair value of our ordinary shares, as discussed in Ordinary Share Valuation below. |
|
Risk-free interest rateThe risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield for our risk-free interest rate that corresponds with the expected term. |
|
Option life (in years)We adopted option life in accordance with the contractual terms of the options. |
|
Expected dividend yieldWe have no history of paying cash dividends on our ordinary shares and do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. |
|
Expected volatilityWe adopted the average volatility of the comparable companies as the proxy of the expected volatility of the underlying share. The volatility of each comparable company was based on the historical daily stock prices for a period with length commensurate to the remaining maturity life of the stock options. |
|
The expected early exercise multiple was estimated as the average ratio of the stock price to the exercise price when employees would decide to voluntarily exercise their vested options. As we did not have sufficient information of past employee exercise history, it was estimated by referencing to a widely accepted academic research publication. |
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Mezzanine Equity
Mezzanine equity represents the Series A, Series B, Series C, Series D, Series E and Series F convertible preferred shares (collectively, the Preferred Shares) issued by us. Preferred Shares are contingently redeemable upon the occurrence of an event that is outside of our control. Therefore, we classify the Preferred Shares as mezzanine equity.
Fair value of ordinary shares
Prior to our initial public offering, we were a private company with no quoted market prices for our ordinary shares. We therefore needed to make estimates of the fair value of our ordinary shares at various dates for the purpose of determining the fair value of our ordinary shares at the date of the grant of share-based compensation awards to our employees as one of the inputs into determining the grant date fair value of the award.
We estimated the fair value of our companys ordinary share as of various dates during the period from January 2014 to December 2020 with the assistance from an independent third-party valuation firm. The fair value assessment of the ordinary shares is conducted in accordance with the guidance provided by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Guide, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation.
To estimate the fair value of the ordinary shares at each valuation date, we firstly derived the total equity value of our company using market approach or income approach. The market approach, specifically the backsolve method, is adopted when preferred share transactions with unrelated parties occurred close to the valuation dates, otherwise, income approach, specifically the discounted cash flow method, is adopted. The income approach is based on our projected cash flows using managements best estimates as of each valuation date and involves applying appropriate discount rates to estimated cash flows that are based on earnings forecasts.
We then derived the value of each class of shares (including the ordinary shares) by allocating equity value to each class of shares under a hybrid framework which includes a probability weighted option pricing model (OPM) and an analysis assuming an IPO as a possible future event, we considered the following different scenarios under this hybrid framework: (1) liquidation scenario, (2) redemption scenario and (3) IPO conversion scenario. Under the liquidation and redemption scenarios, since holders of preferred shares would have priority over ordinary shares or receive a redemption amount or convert to ordinary shares, respectively, the Option Pricing Method was used to allocate equity value.
Option Pricing Method treats the preferred and ordinary shares as call options with distinct claims on our companys total equity value on liquidation preference or redemption amount of the preferred shares. The options exercise price is based on a comparison with the total equity value, which is determined based on the liquidation preference or redemption amount under the applicable scenario. The characteristics of each class of shares, including the conversion ratio, the redemption provision and any liquidation preference of the preferred shares, determine the class of shares claim on the equity value. Black-Scholes model was used to price the call option. After deriving the values of the preferred and ordinary shares under each of the scenarios, by the method described above, probabilities of each scenario were applied to arrive at the probability weighted value of each class of shares.
After deriving the values of the preferred and ordinary shares under each of the scenarios, by the method described above, probabilities of each scenario were applied to arrive at the probability weighted value of each class of shares. After the allocation above, discount for lack of marketability for ordinary shares was applied to arrive at the fair value per share of ordinary shares on a non-marketable basis.
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The following table sets forth the fair value of our ordinary shares estimated at the grant dates of options with the assistance from an independent valuation firm.
Date of Valuation |
Fair Value Per Share
(US$) |
DLOM for ordinary
shares |
WACC |
Valuation Method |
||||||||||
2019/3/8 |
1.01 | 25 | % | NA | backsolve method | |||||||||
2019/7/4 |
1.07 | 24 | % | NA | backsolve method | |||||||||
2019/9/30 |
1.33 | 23 | % | 22 | % | discounted cash flow method | ||||||||
2019/12/31 |
1.52 | 23 | % | 22 | % | discounted cash flow method | ||||||||
2020/2/10 |
1.84 | 19 | % | NA | backsolve method | |||||||||
2020/6/30 |
2.23 | 19 | % | 21 | % | discounted cash flow method | ||||||||
2020/9/30 |
2.74 | 19 | % | 21 | % | discounted cash flow method | ||||||||
2020/11/27 |
3.27 | 18 | % | NA | backsolve method | |||||||||
2021/3/31 |
6.78 | 8 | % | 20 | % | discounted cash flow method |
The option-pricing method was used to allocate equity value of our company to preferred and ordinary shares, taking into account the guidance prescribed by the AICPA Audit and Accounting Practice Aid. This method requires 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 and management. The other major assumptions used in calculating the fair value of ordinary shares include:
|
Weighted average cost of capital, or WACC: The WACCs were determined in consideration of factors including risk-free rate, comparative industry risk, equity risk premium, company size and non-systematic risk factors. |
|
Comparable companies: In deriving the WACCs, which are used as the discount rates under the income approach, certain publicly traded companies in the internet industry were selected for reference as our guideline companies. |
|
Discount for lack of marketability, or DLOM: DLOM was quantified by the protective put options mode. Under this option-pricing method, which assumed that the put option is struck at the 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. This option pricing method is one of the methods commonly used in estimating DLOM as it can take into consideration factors such as timing of a liquidity event, for instance an initial public offering, and estimated volatility of our shares. The farther the valuation date is from an expected liquidity event, the higher the put option value is and thus the higher the implied DLOM is. The lower DLOM is used for the valuation, the higher the determined fair value of the ordinary shares becomes. |
The determination of the equity value requires complex and subjective judgments to be made regarding prospects of the industry and the products at the valuation date, our projected financial and operating results, our unique business risks and the liquidity of our shares.
The fair value of our ordinary shares increased from US$1.01 in March 2019 to US$1.52 in December 2019, which was primarily due to (i) in March and July 2019, we issued Series E-1 and Series E-2 preferred shares to certain investors, which provided us with additional capital for business expansion and contributed to the increase in fair value of our ordinary shares during this period and (ii) the growth of our business and improvement in our financial performance.
The fair value of our ordinary shares further increased from US$1.52 in December 2019 to US$3.27 in November 2020, which was primarily due to (i) in February and November 2020, we issued Series F and Series F+ preferred shares to certain investors, which provided us with additional capital for business expansion and contributed to the increase in fair value of our ordinary shares during this period and (ii) the growth of our business and the improvement in our financial performance and an
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updated business outlook based on a review of our actual financial performance due to the continuous development of our businesses.
Fair value of our ordinary shares further increased from US$3.27 in November 2020 to US$6.78 in March 2021 primarily due to: (i) the continued strong growth of our business, as measured in terms of number of verified enterprise users and verified enterprises, MAU and total revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2021; (ii) a review of our actual financial performance achieved during the three months ended March 31, 2021, which made our projected financials less uncertain and decreased our discount rate from 21% in November 2020 to 20% in March 2021; (iii) as we progressed further towards IPO, we further increased our estimated probability of IPO, which improved the fair value of our ordinary shares given decrease of premium value of prevailing rights associated with our convertible preferred shares under the hybrid equity allocation valuation framework; (iv) as we approached IPO, we estimated a lack of marketability discount rate decreased from 18% in November 2020 to 8% in March 2021; and (v) the capital market continued to reward high growth software companies in expanding addressable markets with exposure to favorable industry trends such as online service provider. The trading multiples of comparable companies engaged in online business industry has significantly increased from November 2020 to March 2021 since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.
Holding Company Structure
KANZHUN LIMITED is a holding company with no material operations of its own. We conduct our operations primarily through our PRC subsidiaries and our VIE in China. As a result, KANZHUN LIMITEDs ability to pay dividends depends upon dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries. If our existing PRC subsidiaries 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 subsidiaries in China are permitted to pay dividends to us only out of its retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Under PRC law, each of our PRC subsidiaries and our VIE 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 such reserve funds reach 50% of their registered capital. In addition, our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China and our VIE may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to a surplus fund at their 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 subsidiaries have not paid dividends and will not be able to pay dividends until they generate accumulated profits and meet the requirements for statutory reserve funds.
Inflation
To date, 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 2019 and 2020 were increases of 4.5% and 0.2%, 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
All of our revenues and substantially all of our expenses are denominated in RMB. The majority of our bank balances and cash are denominated in U.S. dollars. We do not believe that we currently
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have any significant direct foreign exchange risk and therefore have not used any derivative financial instruments to hedge exposure to such risk. However, we monitor our currency risk exposure by periodically reviewing foreign currency exchange rates and will consider hedging significant foreign currency exposure should the need arise. Although our exposure to foreign exchange risks should be limited in general, the value of your investment in the ADSs will be affected by the exchange rate between U.S. dollar and RMB because the value of our business is effectively denominated in RMB, while the ADSs will be traded in U.S. dollars.
The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by changes in Chinas political and economic conditions and by Chinas foreign exchange policies, among other things. In July 2005, the PRC government changed its decades-old policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar, and the Renminbi appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over the following three years. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation subsided 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. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future.
To the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into RMB for our operations, appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount we receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert RMB into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or ADSs or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the RMB would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amounts available to us.
We estimate that we will receive net proceeds of approximately US$ million from this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by us, based on the assumed initial offering price of US$ per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus. Assuming that we convert the full amount of the net proceeds from this offering into RMB, a 10% appreciation of the U.S. dollar against RMB, from a rate of RMB6.5518 to US$1.0000, the rate in effect as of March 31, 2021, to a rate of RMB7.2070 to US$1.0000, will result in an increase of RMB million in our net proceeds from this offering. Conversely, a 10% depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the RMB, from a rate of RMB6.5518 to US$1.0000, the rate in effect as of March 31, 2021, to a rate of RMB5.8966 to US$1.0000, will result in a decrease of RMB million in our net proceeds from this offering.
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 market 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 that we receive from this 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.
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Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Prior to this offering, we have been a private company with limited accounting personnel and other resources with which to 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 two material weaknesses 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 a 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.
The material weaknesses that have been identified relate to (i) our lack of sufficient competent financial reporting and accounting personnel with appropriate understanding of U.S. GAAP 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 SEC, and (ii) our lack of period-end financial closing policies and procedures for preparation of consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with U.S. GAAP and financial reporting requirements set forth by the SEC.
We have implemented and plan to implement a number of measures to address the material weaknesses that has been identified in connection with the audits of our consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020. We have hired additional qualified financial and accounting staff with working experience of U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting requirements. Furthermore, we will continue to further strengthen our reporting process and our compliance process, including establishing a comprehensive accounting policies and procedures manual in line with U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting requirements, to allow early detection, prevention and resolution of potential compliance issues with U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting requirements. We intend to conduct more U.S. GAAP accounting and SEC reporting training programs and send our financial staff to attend external U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting training courses. We also intend to hire additional resources to strengthen the financial reporting function and set up a financial and system control framework in line with U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting requirements. However, we cannot assure you that all these measures will be sufficient to remediate our material weaknesses in time, or at all. See Risk FactorsRisks Relating to Our Business and IndustryIf we fail to develop and maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud, and investor confidence and the market price of our ADSs may be adversely impacted.
As a company with less than US$1.07 billion in revenues for fiscal year of 2020, 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.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
A list of recently issued accounting pronouncements that are relevant to us is included in note 2 of our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
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The information presented in this section has been derived from an industry report dated March 2021 and a user survey, each commissioned by us and prepared by CIC, an independent research firm, to provide information regarding our industry and our market position in China. We refer to this report as the CIC Report and the survey as the CIC Survey.
MASSIVE AND FAST-GROWING HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES MARKET IN CHINA
Chinas human resource service market size in terms of revenue reached approximately RMB565.1 billion in 2020, and is expected to continue to grow to reach approximately RMB1,299.0 billion by 2025, representing a CAGR of 18.1% between 2020 and 2025. Chinas human resource service market is still at the early stage of development compared with the developed markets, presenting significant growth potential. The human resource service market size as percentage of nominal GDP in China was 0.6% in 2020, lower than that of 1.9% in the UK, 1.6% in Japan, and 0.9% in the US, according to the CIC Report, National Bureau of Statistics, and International Monetary Fund. The human resource service market size as percentage of nominal GDP in both China and these developed markets are expected to see an increase in the next five years.
Human resource service market in China can be categorized into four segments: recruitment services, human resource outsourcing and management services, payroll and personnel services, and others. Recruitment services refer to online or offline talent acquisition solutions which help connect recruiters and job seekers, and facilitate the hiring process. Human resource outsourcing and management services include flexible employment, business process outsourcing, and labor dispatch service. Payroll and personnel services include personnel management, and payroll and benefits outsourcing services. Others include talent training and development, human resource information system, human resource consulting, etc.
Fast-growing human resource service market in China
Note:
(1) |
Human resource service market excludes the freelance job platform market. |
(2) |
In the flexible employment business, service providers sign labor contracts with talents, and thus labor costs and service premium received from customers are included in revenue. Revenues do not include salary and social insurance collections |
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in the personnel management, payroll or benefits outsourcing, and labor dispatch business. Only service premiums are counted in the revenues of these businesses. |
The following factors are and will continue to be the major drivers of the fast growing human resource service market in China.
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Talent and human resource service demand increases massively driven by thriving China private sector companies and rapid expansion of new economy businesses. The number of private sector companies in China increased from 8.5 million in 2010 to 35.2 million in 2019, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. |
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Enterprises in China are facing increasingly fierce competition, and need to focus on core business. They eagerly seek efficient and cost-effective solutions from professional human resource service providers as the labor cost continues to grow. |
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Favorable government policies and increasing public expenditure on human resources promote the sustainable development of the market. |
EVOLVING RECRUITMENT SERVICES MARKET IN CHINA
Greater |
challenges in hiring leads to the increasing adoption of recruitment services |
Recruitment service market is a major segment of Chinas human resource service market, and sits upstream of the human resource service value chain. It is also the fastest-growing segment in Chinas human resource service market between 2020 and 2025. The size of the recruitment service market in China totaled approximately RMB170.8 billion in 2020 in terms of revenue, and is expected to continue to grow to reach approximately RMB446.0 billion in 2025, representing a CAGR of approximately 21.2% for the period of 2020 to 2025. The growth of the recruitment service market in China is primarily driven by the following factors:
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The growth of Chinas economy has outpaced the growth in labor supply, as a result, recruitment has become more difficult and expensive. The trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. |
Talent demand outstripping supply in China
Source: |
MOHRSS (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of PRC), CIC Report |
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Chinas urbanization rate grew from approximately 50% in 2010 to over 60% in 2020, and is expected to increase to approximately 70% by 2030, according to the CIC Report and National Bureau of Statistics. The ongoing urbanization changes the mix of labor forces structurally, and generates great demands for urban labor forces, especially blue-collar workers in the tertiary sector and white-collar workers. |
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The younger generations (16-to-35-year-olds) job-hopping frequency is more than twice of that of the older generation, according to the CIC Survey, and will continue to grow in the future. The average job-switching frequency for non-farm employees in China is expected to increase from 1.8 times per year in 2020 to 2.1 times per year in 2025. |
Digitalization of recruitment industry meets the demands for more efficient, cost-effective and user-friendly solutions
Chinas recruitment service market can be divided into online and offline recruitment markets. Online recruitment refers to the recruitment process in which job seekers and recruiters obtain recruitment information via third-party job websites, mobile applications or mini programs. For offline recruitment, candidates learn about job opportunities primarily through offline events or offline contacts made by recruiting agencies such as headhunting firms and recruitment process outsourcing agencies.
Similar to other industries that are reshaped by the development of mobile internet, the recruitment service market has been gradually moving online. Online recruitment provides a more efficient, cost-effective and user-friendly job hunting and recruiting process compared with offline recruitment. According to the CIC Report, cost per hire for online recruitment was approximately one fifth of that for offline recruitment in China as of 2020. The number of mobile internet users in China increased from 302.7 million in 2010 to 985.8 million in 2020, with a CAGR of 12.5% for the same period, according to the CNNIC. The wide adoption of mobile internet has further accelerated the digitalization across the recruitment value chain. With job seekers and employers increasingly embarking their job hunting and recruitment journeys online, Chinas online recruitment markets size in terms of revenue is expected to increase from RMB55.1 billion in 2020 to RMB223.4 billion in 2025, representing a CAGR of 32.3%. During the same period, the contribution of online recruitment to the total market size is estimated to increase from approximately 32% in 2020 to approximately 50% in 2025.
Chinas online recruitment market outpaces the overall recruitment service market
Note: |
The online recruitment market size excludes revenue generated from job seekers. |
Compared with the developed markets like the US, the online recruitment market in China is at an early stage of development. According to the CIC Report, the online recruitment penetration rate for job seekers was approximately 17.9% in China, approximately half of that of the US market in 2020, indicating a significant growth potential. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has also affected the
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job-hunting behaviors and further accelerated the penetration for online recruitment. The online recruitment penetration rate for job seekers in China is expected to increase to reach approximately 34.9% by 2025.
THE FLOURISHING ONLINE RECRUITMENT MARKET IN CHINA
Emergence |
of direct recruitment model |
Service providers in Chinas online recruitment market primarily include online recruitment platforms, online classifieds, and online portals offered by recruiting agencies. Online recruitment platforms are defined as online marketplaces that focus on talents and jobs matching.
The traditional resume-centric, search-based model cannot fully fulfill users needs for a convenient and efficient recruitment process, which leads to a comparatively low online recruitment penetration in China. Under the resume-centric model, job seekers upload resumes to online recruitment platforms, and recruiters then download resumes at their discretion before they contact job seekers to arrange for interviews. The recruitment process with massive resume downloading and one-way communication is redundant and inefficient. On a search-based platform, job seekers and recruiters have to manually conduct job or candidate searches by entering keywords and screening for relevant information, which was time-consuming and inefficient. It also requires job seekers and recruiters to have a deep and precise understanding of the type of job or candidate they are looking for. In addition, the traditional model is characterized by an uneven traffic distribution where the online traffic is heavily tilted towards large enterprises and top job seekers. SMEs and many average job seekers therefore receive insufficient exposures, while top job seekers and large enterprises may be distracted by too many reach-outs.
The expansion of mobile internet user base enables the transition of online recruitment service from desktop to mobile in China, which is a more hospitable environment for direct chatting functionality. BOSS Zhipin is the first to introduce the direct recruitment model at scale among online recruitment platforms in China.
In contrast to the traditional resume-centric, search-based model, the direct recruitment model features (i) direct chat between job seekers and recruiters, and resume delivery upon mutual consent, and (ii) AI-enabled recommendation system. The direct recruitment model propels meaningful interaction between job seekers and recruiters, and as a result, delivers better user experience and high job hunting and recruitment efficiency.
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Comparison of direct recruitment model and traditional resume-centric, search-based model
Blue-collar sector is the largest growth contributor and white-collar sector continues to expand
By 2020, the population of white-collar workers, blue-collar workers and gold-collar workers in China reached approximately 178.6 million, 395.1 million and 12.4 million respectively. White-collar workers and gold-collar workers refer to people who perform professional, desk, managerial, or administrative work, among which gold-collar workers earn an annual salary above RMB250,000. Blue-collar workers usually refer to people who perform manual or service-related work in the secondary sectors such as manufacturing and construction industry and the tertiary sector such as accommodation and catering industry, and local life service industry.
Blue-collar workers feature a larger population base, higher job-switching frequency, and higher growth potential for the penetration of recruitment services. In the past, blue-collar workers in China conduct job hunting mainly through referrals by acquaintances or walk-ins, which resulted in asymmetry and limitation in recruitment information. Blue-collar workers value the authenticity of and easy access to job information, abundant opportunities, and immediate feedback provided by employers when they look for a new job, while recruiters of blue-collar jobs are usually cost sensitive.
Traditional model cannot effectively address these fundamental issues in blue-collar recruitment which are now being resolved by the direct recruitment model. The online recruitment penetration rate for blue-collar workers in China is estimated to grow from 13.0% in 2020 to 29.9% in 2025.
Meanwhile, the market size of Chinas online recruitment for blue-collar workers in terms of revenue is expected to reach RMB128.4 billion in 2025, with a CAGR of 41.4% between 2020 and 2025, outgrowing the overall online recruitment market. White-collar workers, traditionally the largest user group for online recruitment, are still experiencing a rising service penetration rate, which is expected to grow from 50.8% in 2020 to 64.9% in 2025. The market size of Chinas online recruitment for white-collar workers in terms of revenue is expected to increase to RMB85.7 billion in 2025, with a CAGR of 24.3% from 2020.
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Blue-collar workers grow much faster than other groups within online recruitment market
Increasing penetration for all groups, while blue-collar workers have highest growth potential
Chinas online recruitment penetration rate by type of employees
Note: The online recruitment penetration rate for job-seekers refers to the percentage of job changes in which the job-seekers provide complete personal information and obtain job information online (i.e., via third-party job websites, mobile applications or mini programs).
High growth potential in online penetration among employers
The number of enterprises in China, according to the State Administration for Market Regulation, increased from approximately 21.9 million in 2015 to approximately 42.9 million in 2020, representing a CAGR of 14.5% between 2015 and 2020. According to the CIC Report, cost per hire for online recruitment was approximately one fifth of that for offline recruitment in 2020. Efficient and cost-effective online recruitment solution is attracting more enterprise customers. The online recruitment penetration rate for enterprises in China is expected to continue to grow from 24.8% in 2020 to 36.1% in 2025.
The emerging direct recruitment model is SME-friendly and allows more managerial people to participate in the recruitment process early on. SMEs, as the largest segment of Chinas enterprises in terms of entity number, were historically underserved and have a massive demand for cost-effective talent acquisition service. With growing number of companies adopting flat organizational structures, more traditionally non-professional recruitment personnel are becoming recruitment decision makers, which creates significant incremental demand for efficient online recruitment service.
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Enterprises increasing adoption of online recruitment services in China
Source: State Administration for Market Regulation, CIC Report
Note: The online recruitment penetration rate for enterprises refers to the percentage of online recruitment users among the total number of enterprises, excluding individual businesses.
FUTURE TRENDS OF ONLINE RECRUITMENT MARKET
Incremental demand better captured by players with the direct recruitment model. The new direct recruitment model has unleashed incremental online recruitment service demand from businesses. Players that have embraced this model are best positioned to capture such demand, thereby deepening their competitive moat and reinforcing their market leading position.
Increasing emphasis on job-seeker-centric experience. As the demand for talents exceeds the number of talents available in the job market in China, job seekers now have more bargaining power in the recruitment process. Online recruitment platforms thus increasingly focus on fulfilling the demands of job-seekers and strive to provide a more job-seeker-centric experience. As job seekers value their privacy and the authenticity of job postings, online recruitment platforms need to ensure the authenticity of the information posted and better protect user privacy.
Enterprise-wide engagement in recruitment. Nowadays, more individuals within a company join the recruitment process, including executives or middle-level managers of large enterprises and SME and micro business owners, who are themselves supervisors. The involvement of the management team or supervisors usually simplifies the recruitment process, and allows candidates to directly communicate with the final decision-makers. Compared to recruiting professionals, the management team and supervisors can better and more effectively assess the candidates capabilities.
Digitalization across the recruitment value chain. Many steps within the recruitment process are still carried out offline, presenting significant opportunities for online recruitment platforms to digitalize the entire job hunting and recruitment process. Furthermore, building upon a large and loyal customer base, online recruitment platforms can provide more service offerings for employers and job seekers.
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COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE OF ONLINE RECRUITMENT MARKET
Chinas online recruitment market remains fragmented. Market participants in Chinas online recruitment market primarily include online recruitment platforms, online classifieds, and online portals offered by recruiting agencies.
The online recruitment platforms with a direct recruitment model are usually able to bring more interaction, higher hiring efficiency, and better user experience, so as to attract more users. As the pioneer of the direct recruitment model in China, BOSS Zhipin is the largest online recruitment platform in China in terms of average MAU, with the number reaching 19.8 million as of 2020. Among the top five online recruitment platforms in China in terms of average MAU, BOSS Zhipin had the highest year-over-year growth of average MAU (73.2%) in 2020, and the highest ratio of average DAU to average MAU in both 2019 (26.4%) and 2020 (26.4%). BOSS Zhipins average MAU increased to 24.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021 from 14.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020, with its MAU reaching 30.6 million in March 2021. BOSS Zhipins average DAU as a percentage of MAU reached 28.8% in March 2021. BOSS Zhipin includes both job seekers and enterprise users in calculating average MAU and average DAU, which is consistent with the way the other four of the top five online recruitment platforms in China calculate the same metrics.
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Our Vision
Redefine every individuals career development with technology and a passion towards delivering user satisfaction, by optimizing efficiency, equality and choice.
Pain Points Our Industry Faces
The online recruitment industry in China has traditionally suffered from two pain points: job seekers find it difficult to locate suitable job positions, and employers find it hard to secure suitable job candidates. Job seekers and employers keep walking past each other in the dark, yearning for a new platform that can deliver unprecedented efficiency.
We believe three common characteristics of traditional industry players caused such pain points.
First, limited functionality beyond submission and downloading of resumes. Information flows one wayfrom job seekers to employers, via a few pages of stylized introductions, often receiving tardy responses, if any.
Second, a search-based model that unevenly drives internet traffic towards the topfavoring candidates with stellar credentials and well-known corporations with deep pockets, leaving behind the vast majority of average job seekers and SMEs with tremendous unmet demand.
Third, an inability to attract Bosses at scale, relying instead only on recruitment professionals. This resulted from the inefficiencies stemming from the two abovementioned common characteristics. Bosses, including executives, middle-level managers of large enterprises and SMEs, as well as micro business owners, are the only people who truly understand what attributes define the best candidates for a particular job position. This fact is accentuated by the paradigm shift in the Chinese economy towards the next stage of advanced development, and the urgency for businesses to attract a more specialized workforce that can cope with intensified competition.
Who We Are
Cognizant of the industry pain points and their root causes, our founders set out seven years ago to create a transformative product that promotes two-way interactive communication, focuses on intelligent recommendations that is empowering, and brings Bosses onboard the recruitment process. The result was BOSS Zhipina mobile-native product that promotes instant direct chats between Bosses and job seekers, delivers accurate matching results, and is powered by proprietary AI algorithms and big data insights. This proved to be exactly what the industry needed. Despite being a late comer, we have become the largest online recruitment platform in China, as measured by average MAU in 2020, according to the CIC Report.
Our operating philosophy highly respects job seekers, and we are committed to empowering them by giving them more say in the recruitment process. We do not allow enterprise users to access job seekers resumes unless job seekers give express consent. Job seekers can also make their information selectively visible to different types of enterprise users. We believe the superior user experience we provide to individual job seekers attracts them to our platform. Enterprise users also benefit from our operating philosophy as it creates massive opportunities for them to connect with job seekers efficiently.
Our Platform
We connect job seekers and enterprise users in an efficient and seamless manner mainly through our highly interactive BOSS Zhipin mobile app, which together with our other mobile apps and mini
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programs create a vibrant network. We are relentlessly focused on enhancing user experience by delivering efficient, intuitive and convenient experience to them throughout the recruitment cycle.
Job seekers: We have a large and fast growing pool of job seekers consisting of white and gold-collar users, blue-collar users and college students.
Enterprise users: We serve an extensive network of employers covering small, mid-sized and large businesses. Bosses and recruiting professionals of companies of all sizes, including large and small businesses, are the enterprise users of our platform.
Bosses: Bosses refer to executives or middle-level managers of large enterprises and SMEs and micro business owners, who themselves are supervisors. As of March 31, 2021, 66% of our verified enterprise users are not professional recruiting personnel, and we categorize these people as Bosses.
Recruiting professionals: We also serve recruiting professionals, including human resource officers and specialized hiring function employees of an employer, headhunters and hiring staff from human resource agencies.
We pioneered these features in the online recruiting industry:
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Getting the Bosses involved early on. We get the Bosses involved on our platform from day one of our operation. Bosses are the key decision makers who can better assess candidates capabilities, such as their soft skills and cultural fit, and more efficiently identify the best people for their businesses. Our innovative model facilitates direct interaction between job seekers and Bosses, meeting the Bosses underserved demands to directly participate in the recruiting process at an early stage, and allows us to amass a large number of Bosses. |
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Mobile-native. We started as a mobile app, and we were built for the era of mobile internet, whereas other recruitment platforms were mainly born in the PC age and later piecemeal adapted a mobile interface. We had the largest average MAU in 2020 among online recruitment platforms in China, according to the CIC Report. Our user interface and service design are centered around our mobile offerings, and we provide social-media-app type of |
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enjoyable and intuitive user experience. Our highly interactive mobile-native platform improves user experience and recruitment efficiency by enabling job seekers and enterprise users to engage in meaningful communication anytime, anywhere and receive quick responses. |
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Recommendation-based. Since our inception, we have provided targeted job and candidate matches and recommendations by leveraging our massive high quality data and proprietary technology infrastructure, unlike traditional search-based model. The job and candidate recommendation function of our platform uses a feed stream format, which leverages large, live datasets to deliver accurate and tailored matching results for both job seekers and enterprise users. |
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Direct chat. Either job seekers or enterprise users can initiate direct chat with their counterparties on our platform throughout the recruitment process. Direct chatting ensures that our users are active with real demands for job opportunities or candidates, and users can confirm each others intentions and their suitability before the interview. Therefore, direct chatting makes the job hunting experience highly informative and efficient. |
We highly respect job seekers and are committed to better empowering them by giving them more say in the recruitment process. It is the job seekers themselves, not our platform, who decide which enterprise users can gain access to the job seekers resumes. This provides a powerful protection of job seekers privacy. We are also devoted to protecting job seekers against false information and frauds. We place great emphasis on the importance of ensuring the information presented on our platform is verified and authentic. We use a screening and monitoring system to examine and verify the authenticity of the job openings posted by enterprise users and leverage our advanced technology to detect and respond to threats and frauds continuously.
We believe our technology capabilities are at the core of our platform. Our proprietary AI infrastructure optimizes the analytics of large datasets consisting of massive static and dynamic data contributed by our extensive active user base and highly interactive platform. Our platform generates more data as we digitalize more steps across the recruitment value chain, we are able to gather more data to feed into our AI infrastructure. Our access to data combined with advanced data analytics and AI technology ensures the accuracy and completeness of the recommendation algorithm. Rapid product iteration and constant upgrading of our matching system further enable us to provide more accurate job and candidate matching results.
We adopt an ecosystem-friendly revenue model that balances the supply and demand of jobs and candidates. Most of our enterprise users can use our basic services for free, including posting jobs, browsing mini resumes, chatting with job seekers, hosting video and audio interviews and sending offers. For certain positions where the demand exceeds the supply of job seekers to a certain degree, we charge enterprise users a fee for posting such jobs. Enterprise users can also purchase our value-added services to facilitate their recruitment process. We had served 11.4 million verified enterprise users and 5.5 million verified enterprises as of December 31, 2020. Our verified enterprise users and verified enterprises reached 13.0 million and 6.3 million as of March 31, 2021, respectively. In 2020 and the twelve months ended March 31, 2021, we had 2.23 million and 2.89 million paid enterprise customers, respectively.
We have achieved significant growth. Our average MAU grew by 73.2% from 11.5 million in 2019 to 19.8 million in 2020 and from 14.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020 to 24.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021, representing growth of 71.8%. Our revenues increased by 94.7% from RMB998.7 million in 2019 to RMB1,944.4 million (US$298.0 million) in 2020 and from RMB282.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 to RMB788.5 million (US$120.4 million) for the three months ended March 31, 2021, representing growth of 179.0%. Our calculated cash billings increased by 89.7% from RMB1,334.0 million in 2019 to RMB2,529.9 million (US$387.7 million)
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in 2020 and from RMB310.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 to RMB1,182.4 million (US$180.5 million) for the three months ended March 31, 2021, representing growth of 281.0%. We recorded net losses of RMB502.1 million, RMB941.9 million (US$144.4 million) and RMB176.2 million (US$26.9 million) in 2019, 2020 and the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively. Our adjusted net losses were RMB467.8 million, RMB284.7 million (US$43.6 million) and RMB127.5 million (US$19.5 million) in 2019, 2020 and for the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively. Our operating cash flow turned positive and reached RMB395.9 million (US$60.7 million) in 2020 and RMB165.3 million (US$25.2 million) for the three months ended March 31, 2021. For discussions of our calculated cash billings and adjusted net loss and reconciliation of calculated cash billings to revenues and reconciliation of adjusted net loss to net loss, see Non-GAAP Financial Measures for details.
We include both job seekers and enterprise users when calculating key metrics, including MAU and DAU. The number of job seekers and enterprise users provide insights to our managements evaluation of user engagement, customer billings and revenue generation. First, in terms of user engagement, active job seekers and enterprise users are both integral to increasing overall user engagement. Our platform has developed powerful network effects, which rely on the active participation and engagement from both job seekers and enterprise users in the recruitment process on the platform. The increase in the number of job seekers and enterprise users generates more interactions and facilitates the effective connection between jobs and candidates, thereby increasing user engagement. Second, in terms of customer billings and revenue generation, we view the scale of our user base and interaction between job seekers and enterprise users as the keys to creating value and generating monetization opportunities. In addition, we serve individuals during their entire career life cycles. Individuals who join our platform as job seekers at one time and enjoy our services may at another time come back as paid enterprise customers, recruiting on behalf of enterprises. Therefore, every user is potentially fee paying and important to the prosperity of our platform.
Our Industry Opportunities
Leveraging our first-mover advantage, innovative business model and market leadership, we believe we can capitalize on the following market trends:
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Large population of potential job seekers with increasing penetration rate of online recruitment, primarily driven by mobile adoption. The total population of non-farm employees in China is expected to reach 612 million in 2025. The penetration rate of online recruitment for job seekers increased from 11.3% in 2015 to 17.9% in 2020, and is expected to reach 34.9% in 2025, according to the CIC Report. The shift from PC to mobile is an ongoing industry trend, and we leapfrogged our peers to build a mobile-native online recruitment platform. Job seekers, especially those from younger generations, are switching their jobs more frequently. Due to the proliferation of mobile internet and smart devices, job seekers are increasingly using online recruitment platforms when looking for jobs and especially value those platforms that can match them with the most suitable jobs more efficiently and conveniently. |
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Significant market potential arising from enterprises growing recruitment needs and the increasing penetration of online recruitment service market. As a result of Chinas economic growth and the disparity between supply and demand in the labor markets, offline recruiting is typically less efficient and cannot meet enterprise users pressing hiring demands. Online recruiting platforms significantly improve the recruitment efficiency and reduce the recruitment cost through technology and innovation. According to the CIC Report, the cost per hire for online recruitment services was approximately one fifth of that for offline recruitment services in 2020. Therefore, more and more businesses begin to turn to online recruitment platforms. The penetration rate of online recruitment for employers in China has increased from |
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16.9% in 2015 to 24.8% in 2020, and it is expected to reach 36.1% in 2025, according to the CIC Report. In addition to the wider adoption across enterprises for online recruitment solutions, the direct recruitment model attracts more enterprise users across different departments within the same company, further expanding the user base for online recruitment platforms. |
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Massive blue-collar market opportunity. Blue-collar recruitment is a market with massive opportunities. Blue-collar workers are the largest group of employees which accounted for 67% of non-farm employees in China. In addition, blue-collar workers generally switch jobs more frequently. According to the CIC Report, in 2025 the average frequency of switching jobs is expected to reach 2.1 times per year for non-farm employees in China. Such high frequency is primarily attributed to blue-collar employees. Enterprises with blue-collar recruiting needs also generally come with a high volume of vacancies. Urbanization has brought structural changes that create even more growth opportunities for blue-collar online recruitment. According to the CIC Report, the online penetration rate for blue-collar job seekers was 13.0% in 2020 and is expected to grow to 29.9% in 2025, and at the same time the revenue for blue-collar online market was RMB22.8 billion in 2020, and is expected to reach RMB128.4 billion in 2025. |
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Rich opportunities for digitalization across recruitment value chain. Digitalization has led to new technology and created new mode of interaction between people, unlocking untapped potential in the recruitment value chain. Right now, many steps within the recruitment process are still carried out offline, presenting significant opportunities for online recruitment platforms to digitalize the entire job hunting and recruitment process. |
Strengths
We believe the following strengths have contributed to our success:
Largest online recruitment platform with full spectrum of user coverage, contributing to stronger network effect
We are the largest online recruitment platform in China. We had a total of 76.7 million verified job seekers and 11.4 million verified enterprise users as of December 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2021, our verified job seekers and verified enterprise users reached 85.8 million and 13.0 million, respectively.
Serving different groups of people at the same time is a challenge for our peers. However, we have achieved full user coverage of white and gold-collar users, blue-collar users and college students, and have served a full spectrum of employers, large and small, in numerous industries and from diverse geographical areas. As of March 31, 2021, white and gold-collar users, blue-collar users, and college students accounted for 55.0%, 28.8%, and 16.2% of our job seeker user base, respectively. We serve all 2020 Fortune China 500 companies. Out of the total number of verified enterprises, 82.6% had less than 100 employees as of March 31, 2021. Our data-driven recommendations deliver a tailored and efficient job hunting and recruitment experience for all of our users and ensure the co-existence of our diverse user base on one mobile app. Job seekers are less distracted by employers offering jobs that are unrelated to their job pursuits, and employers will receive candidate recommendations that we believe meet their requirements.
Benefiting from our large and diverse user base, our platform has developed a powerful network effect. As more job seekers join our platform, more employers will come, bringing more job opportunities, which in turn attract more job seekers, forming a virtuous cycle. The extensive user coverage of our platform allows us to fulfill the cross job-function category and cross geographic recruitment needs of enterprise users, which offers them significantly more choices and increases the
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possibility of matching the right candidate with the right job, forming an even larger network of job seekers and employers. As of December 31, 2020, our verified job seekers and verified enterprise users experienced a year-on-year growth of 71.4% and 76.6%, respectively. As of March 31, 2021, our verified job seekers and verified enterprise users experienced a year-on-year growth of 64.9% and 84.9%, respectively.
Innovative model delivers higher recruitment efficiency and drives rapid expansion
We are the first to introduce a mobile-native, recommendation-based, and direct recruitment model that transformed the incumbent market practice in Chinas online recruitment industry. Even though it is not hard for our industry peers to come up with a similar looking user interface, the effective communication between job seekers and enterprise users propelled by our innovative model is hard to emulate.
Our recommendation-driven model provides an intuitive user experience and delivers accurate and tailored matching results. Our instant messaging function instills flexibility in the communication process, provides prompt feedback to users and enables frequent interaction. The convenience and efficiency brought by this model have attracted Bosses, who are not professional recruiters, to join our platform and directly communicate with job seekers, creating new scenarios that meet their underserved demands to get involved in the recruitment process early on. As the final decision-makers in the hiring process and future business supervisors, Bosses provide more accurate evaluations of candidates. Job seekers can also gain a deeper understanding of employers recruitment needs through directly communicating with Bosses.
Our large Boss user base, feeds-based recommendation function and the direct recruitment model address the low efficiencies in the industry. We also empower individual users (both job seekers and enterprise users) to actively participate in the recruiting process and serve the traditionally underserved talents and SMEs as online traffic is heavily tilted towards large enterprises and top job seekers on other platforms. This allows us to fulfill unmet demands and create incremental market opportunities.
As a result of our powerful and innovative model, we have achieved rapid growth ahead of our peers. We are the fastest growing company in terms of growth of average MAUs in 2020 among Chinas top five online recruitment platforms, according to the CIC Report. Our revenues increased by 94.7% from RMB998.7 million in 2019 to RMB1,944.4 million (US$298.0 million) in 2020. Our revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was RMB788.5 million (US$120.4 million), representing an increase of 179.0% from RMB282.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
Superior individual user experience brings about stronger user loyalty and brand recognition
We are driven by our relentless focus on superior individual user experience to better serve job seekers, Bosses, HRs and other recruiting individuals. We offer an intuitive user interface, easy-to-use
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service features, and flexible usage in addition to the efficient job hunting and recruitment user experience brought by our innovative model. We are committed to giving more say to job seekers by giving enterprise users access to job seekers contact information and full resume only upon job seekers express consent. This protects the privacy of job seekers and increases their trust towards our platform. The direct recruitment model also brings about a superior user experience by allowing employers to enjoy high recruitment efficiency.
The exceptional user experience we provide increases the loyalty of our users and ensures an elevated user engagement. In 2020, our average DAU as percentage of average MAU reached 26.4% which was the highest among top five online recruitment platforms in China as of 2020, according to the CIC Report. Our average DAU as a percentage of average MAU reached 28.8% in March 2021. In 2020 and the three months ended March 31, 2021, our platform generated an average of 1.9 billion and 2.4 billion chat messages every month, respectively.
The high loyalty brought about by our superior user experience allows us to grow with our users throughout their career lifecycle, continually fulfilling their job hunting and employment needs. In addition, loyal and active users help us build our brand awareness, which in turn delivers a viral marketing effect. Increasingly, more job seekers and enterprise users are attracted to our platform by word of mouth. Furthermore, we take a bottom-up approach to expand our presence within a business as one loyal and satisfied user will introduce us to Bosses and recruiting professionals from another team or division of the company. As more users within a company have experienced our highly efficient and quality services, we can foster larger-scale and deeper cooperation with the company. Among the employers that have an annual revenue of more than RMB200,000 in 2020 and have verified enterprise users registered with us since 2017, an average of 148 enterprise users within each company use our platform in 2017; the number increased significantly to an average of 293 in 2018 and 479 in 2019, and further increased to 784 in 2020.
Industry-leading technology capabilities powered by data insights that fuel accurate recommendations
We believe in the strength of technology. Our core competitive strengths derive from our massive multidimensional data insights, powerful AI algorithm and big data capacity which enable us to effectively process the data and continuously improve our two-way matching accuracy. Accurate matching results allow us to attract more users and accumulate more data, which in turn improves the matching efficiency and optimizes the user experience, creating a positive feedback loop.
Our online platform generates a high level of interaction, which provides us with massive multidimensional data. We are committed to digitalizing and intellectualizing the entire recruitment process. The digitalization of each phase of the recruitment process and the high frequency and high quality interactions between our users together generate considerable behavioral data, which is being continuously fed back into our AI engine.
In addition to our vast data reserve and big data capabilities, our strong AI technology is also a pillar that allows us to provide more accurate job and candidate matching. We are continuously improving and optimizing our proprietary AI algorithm to achieve rapid iteration. Our algorithm picks up tiny changes of preference demonstrated through each users interaction on our platform, processes these actions instantly through our AI models and provides users with refined matching results within seconds. We continuously improve our recommendation engine by leveraging our natural language processing capability and profound understanding of professional profiles, job descriptions and user interaction data. The use of our algorithm and data capability also helps to ensure the authenticity of information.
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Multipronged go-to-market strategy that best serves diverse user demands
We have adopted an ecosystem-friendly monetization model which balances the supply and demand on our platform, meanwhile enhances user experience. Users can try out our service for free, and we also offer a flexible purchase option. For non-recruiting professionals and SMEs with massive and scattered recruitment needs, we allow them to conduct self-service, small amount and short-term purchases. For businesses with large and long-term recruitment service procurement needs, our direct sales team provides high-quality pre-sale planning and after-sales services to ensure the satisfaction of these enterprise users.
Our direct sales team generates all of our sales leads by locating existing users that have indicated a purchase demand. We have full control over our sales activities and do not rely on any third party to obtain users or increase monetization. Our proprietary AI-driven CRM system identifies enterprise users that have a demand and willingness to engage in bulk purchases and push the sales leads to our direct sales team. The sales team can then approach potential paying enterprise users in a targeted way to provide customized service support. This unique sales model has resulted in high sales efficiency.
Visionary management team with deep industry expertise
We have a visionary, experienced and entrepreneurial management team. The majority of our management team has been with us since our inception. Our management team is strategically savvy and has successfully built a platform that is transforming the online recruitment industry in China.
Mr. Peng Zhao is recognized as a leading figure in the Chinese human resources and internet sectors with over 22 years of industry experience. Acting on industry insight, Mr. Zhao has led our company on the waves of innovations in the industry and built our recruitment platform, which has successfully transformed Chinas online recruitment industry and lays a solid foundation to achieve our vision.
Over the years, we have always stayed true to our original philosophy: focus on users, value technology, appreciate simplicity, and encourage self-motivation. We believe our powerful corporate culture is indispensable from what we have achieved today.
Strategies
We seek to connect and empower job seekers and enterprise users through technology and innovation. We plan to attract more users, including both job seekers and enterprise users to our platform, further enhance our user experience, and improve our brand equity by focusing on the following key growth strategies.
Continuously improve our user experience and increase the breadth and depth of service offerings
We will continue to improve user experience to increase user engagement and retention. We are committed to tailoring our services to better serve them.
We will further deploy our multipronged go-to-market strategy to serve more enterprises users, expand our presence within the same enterprises and increase the breadth and depth of our service offerings.
We plan to further digitalize the recruitment processes and offer more services to users, for example, we are also providing video and audio interviews and employee onboarding, paving the way for future closed-loop recruitment services.
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Further increase our presence in different user groups, especially blue-collar users
We plan to continue to drive the robust growth of our user base across the full user spectrum by optimizing our services, strengthening our branding and sales efficiencies.
We view the growth of blue-collar user as an important growth driver and our business model has been proven to be effective for blue-collar recruiting. We will continue to improve our service quality and user experience to grow our blue-collar user base.
Continue to invest in technological innovations and deepen our data insights
We will continue to invest in technology talent and infrastructure, which is the core of our technology strength. We plan to expand our investment in technology talent by expanding our technology team and further attract talent with expertise on key technologies. Meanwhile, we will continue to strengthen investment in deep learning and recommendation algorithm, enhance career knowledge graph, deepen our understanding of various occupations and industries to provide more accurate and professional career services. We will continue to strengthen our data security and user privacy through technology advancement and the continuous deployment of a variety of technical solutions.
Explore other potential sectors in the human resource service market and achieve full coverage of users career lifecycle
The unique market position we hold and the powerful network effect of our platform make us well-positioned to enter other human resource service markets beyond online recruitment, further explore opportunities to provide better solutions and create value with our industry leading technology and data capabilities. These markets include human resource planning, career development, performance management, compensation and benefits management and employment relationship management, covering the entire career lifecycle of talents.
Why Users Love Us
Convenience. We were built for the era of mobile internet. Our mobile apps offer a social-media-apps type of easy and enjoyable user experience. We provide informative feed on job and candidate recommendations, which allow users to browse job postings and candidate information, connect and interact. Compared with the traditional job search and recruiting process that requires significant time and effort, our mobile-native platform and proprietary matching system demand little time and effort beyond scrolling, clicking and messaging.
Highly Interactive. We transformed how job seekers and employers interact in the online recruiting industry. Our instant messaging function propels direct and effective conversations between job seekers and enterprise users, especially Bosses, the executives or managers of businesses, generating new excitement in the industry. We make real time interaction between job seekers and enterprise users possible, significantly stimulating user enthusiasm, increasing user retention, and cultivating a more engaged and loyal user base.
Efficient. We make online job hunting and recruiting more efficient. Extensive user interaction facilitated by our innovative business model generates a large amount of multidimensional behavioral data. Such behavioral insight combined with our extensive static user profile information form our comprehensive datasets which are processed by our advanced analytics and self-evolving AI technology, to deliver curated matching results tailored to users needs and preferences. Taking advantage of the wide scale exposure to candidates and job positions and further refine our matching results by analyzing the matching success rate, we connect the right person with the right job.
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Privacy. We highly value job seekers privacy and are committed to safeguarding their information. Enterprise users are not allowed to access job seekers full resume or their contact information without job seekers express consents. Job seekers can also easily make their information selectively visible to enterprise users. Our privacy protection mechanisms help foster a trustworthy and credible platform.
Job Hunting and Recruitment Journey on BOSS Zhipin App
The below flowchart illustrates the user journey we offer to our job seekers and enterprise users.
Job seeker page
We have transformed the stressful process of browsing job openings to an adventure as easy and engaging as exploring social media. Job seekers job hunting experience on our platform begins by registering with us. They are required to provide basic personal and professional information, such as name, educational background and employment status.
The information of the job seekers we acquire through the registration process is used for identity verification and is stored as a mini resume, which does not contain job seekers personal contact information, to be viewed by interested enterprise users. Job seekers can easily switch their privacy settings to make their mini resumes selectively visible to enterprise users. This is especially useful for job seekers who search for their next employment sporadically. Job seekers can also choose not to receive certain job recommendations, including job openings posted by headhunters or jobs in a different city. Information such as desired position and salary expectation are processed by our advanced AI technology to provide customized job opening recommendations.
Enterprise user page
Bosses and recruiting professionals from different employers can set up their own personal accounts as enterprise users to join our platform and interact with job seekers. We require them to provide key information such as their names, job titles and the name of their employers. They can also
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choose to provide related personal and professional information, including their work experience, education background and business partners. Enterprise users can also post their experiences working at the company, tell a story about why they love the company and their jobs, and why job seekers should consider joining the company. Job seekers can easily browse the full range of job positions offered by an enterprise user, in addition to the ones that we have recommended. After setting up their user page, enterprise users can post job openings on our platform. Our unique enterprise user page gives more depth to a companys corporate image and foster more interaction between job seekers and enterprise users.
Tailored matching and connecting
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Our typical user experience begins from the main feed, where users scroll through the recommended job postings or candidate listings and other customized professional content from the platform. To save our users from constantly modifying search inputs and getting less relevant results, we leverage our proprietary algorithms and machine learning technologies to match and connect the right person with the right position through our curated job posting and candidate recommendations. This goes beyond the traditional search-based model where users need to type in key words to find suitable job postings.
Our platform generates and aggregates massive unique data points, including user reviews, reach-outs, messaging, resume delivery and exchange of contact information. Informed by this rich and growing dataset, we leverage machine learning technologies to build and refine our advanced proprietary algorithms that enable customized job recommendation for our users at a massive scale. For example, each users every action or inaction to either review or ignore a recommendation delivers a feedback to our data system. These feedbacks, conveying each individuals current likings and preferences, are instantly processed by our AI models and immediately reflected in the new job openings or candidates recommended to the user. Customized matching significantly improves the efficiency of job hunting and recruitment and enhances user experience which in turn elevate user engagement.
In addition, our data-driven tailored matching ensures that enterprise users (or job seekers) are connected with candidates (or job opportunities) that they are likely to be interested in. For example, gold-collar users are unlikely to be reached by enterprise users offering entry-level positions while college students will receive recommendations of such job openings that meet their expectations. This allows us to achieve two seemingly competing goals at the same time, which is the ability to offer tailored and focused experience while achieving a full spectrum of user coverage mainly through one mobile platform.
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Instant messaging
We propel direct conversation between enterprise users and job seekers through our instant messaging function. Our job seeker recommendation system enables enterprise users to access our large job seeker pool to find, connect and interact with qualified job seekers. After reviewing their professional profiles, enterprise users can initiate direct conversation with job seekers to tell them more about their companies or a specific opportunity. Job seekers can also reach out to enterprise users to express their interests in a specific position through text and voice messages, emoticons and pictures.
In a traditional online recruiting process, a job seekers only interaction with the employers on the platform is to mass submit his or her resume. They would then be put through usually weeks of waiting before they could hear back from the employer, and often times, they just never hear back. This dynamic makes it difficult for job seekers to manage their expectations, resulting in low engagement with the recruiting platform. Our instant messaging function, on the other hand, allows seekers to better manage their job hunting journey as they can expect to receive responses from enterprise users within a short time. Enterprise users can reach out to suitable job seekers who are recommended to them through our advanced AI matching technology or who have browsed the postings. Job seekers can also proactively approach enterprise users through our instant messaging function. Failure to receive any responses within a day to two incentivizes job seekers to move on and look for other employment opportunities.
Our instant messaging function encourages continued interaction between enterprise users and job seekers in every step along the recruiting process. Real time interaction between job seekers and enterprise users significantly drives user enthusiasm, increases user retention and fosters a highly engaged user base.
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The instant and close interaction created by our instant messaging feature also attracts many Bosses with recruiting needs to communicate directly with job seekers. Bosses are willing to attract, screen, or communicate with candidates. They have a clear understanding of desired candidate attributes, interested in taking a first crack to communicate, attract or screen candidates and are often the key decision makers in the recruiting process. In addition, our instant messaging function is particularly appealing to traditionally underserved SME employers, who are eager to attract quality candidates. As of March 31, 2021, 66% of our verified enterprise users are Bosses.
Resume delivery based on mutual consent
We firmly believe that recruiting is a two-way street. We are committed to transforming the recruiting process by empowering job seekers and giving them more say.
We put job seekers back to the pilot seat by giving them more control in the job hunting process. Enterprise users do not automatically have full access to job seekers resumes. They only have access to job seekers mini resumes, which contains the job seekers personal strengths, job expectations, employment history and educational background, but does not include their personal contact information. Enterprise users are thus motivated to engage in meaningful conversations with job seekers to confirm mutual interest before inviting them to deliver resumes. For example, to attract quality job seekers and gain access to their resumes, enterprise users may need to proactively reach out to these job seekers, demonstrate benefits of the job and answer their questions. Similarly, job seekers cannot submit their resumes to an enterprise user without the enterprise users consent. Our tailored matching and connecting combined with the safeguarded effective communication between job seekers and enterprise users guarantee a targeted and efficient job hunting and recruiting experience.
Our initiatives on the digitalization of more steps within the recruitment process
We continuously expand our service offerings to digitalize more steps within the recruitment process. If a job seeker and an enterprise user both indicate a willingness to engage in further discussion or proceed to the interview stage, they could exchange contact information or arrange interviews through our platform. Enterprise users can also conduct video and audio interview with job seekers through our platform and send customized offer letters to job seekers through our offer distribution feature. In addition, we bring the traditional on-campus recruiting online by hosting in-app live streaming that connect college students and enterprise users seeking to hire interns and entry-level employees.
Other services offered to job seekers
We allow job seekers to use most of our services for free, including browse job postings and interact with enterprise users. We also offer complementary services to job seekers, including VIP resume template, increased resume exposure to enterprise users, candidate competitive analysis and message filtering services.
Our users can also join our engaging and interactive community called Get, which gathers white and gold-collar and blue-collar users who are eager to share their professional experiences and career advice. We are committed to providing a platform to solve career development questions and alleviate career confusion. Users interact through asking and answering career related questions and exchange their thoughts on different topics. We also utilize our big data analytical capabilities to recommend posts that may be more interesting to users. Our Get community complements our job hunting and recruitment services by sparking informative career conversations between users, thereby increasing user engagement.
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We also offer services to job seekers through our KanZhun, our standalone employer review product. KanZhun provides corporate review information including companies scope of operation, organizational structure, Unified Social Credit Identifier and recent news coverage, to help users assess the credibility of the company. Through KanZhun, users can also access and share a vast array of career related content. Job seekers join KanZhun to share their experiences interviewing at a particular company, and employees post reviews of their current or prior employers. Users are encouraged to score the companies from five aspects, salary and benefits, working conditions, career development opportunities, work life balance and overall job satisfaction. Utilizing KanZhun, job seekers are more informed about the jobs and companies they apply to and consider joining.
We are committed to expanding our user base and providing better and more tailored services. Blue-collar recruitment has traditionally been an undeserved market with massive opportunities. To expand our presence in the blue-collar recruitment market, we have established Dianzhang Zhipin mobile app, or Dianzhang, as a pilot program that primarily focuses on the recruitment of blue-collar workers which supplements our main BOSS Zhipin mobile app.
Vigorous User Verification & AI Powered Risk Assessment
We emphasize the importance of ensuring the information presented on our platform is verified and authentic. We use a screening and monitoring system to examine and verify the authenticity of the job postings and leverage our advanced technology to detect and respond to threats and frauds incessantly. Additionally, we adopt a comprehensive suite of procedures to verify the identity of job seekers. Authentic employers, enterprise users and job postings facilitate information transparency, enhance our service quality, cultivate trust inside our platform and strengthen our user stickiness. This has resulted in higher satisfaction rate of our job seekers among online recruitment platforms in China, according to the CIC Report.
Enterprise users risk assessment
We implement a rigorous screening process to examine and verify the enterprise users identification information. We require enterprise users to go through a set of verification procedures during their onboarding process, including the uploading of their business licenses and certificates of employment. We customize enterprise users registration policy based on our risk pre-determination mechanism.
We leverage our advanced feature engineering, machine learning and decision engine to process user data and respond to threats and frauds constantly. Our risk mining algorithm processes a wide spectrum of data features of enterprise users to assess and weigh individual factors about the trustworthiness of enterprise users. We track high risk behaviors such as false advertising, pyramid selling and private information extortion. Relying on our advanced algorithms, we have built a proprietary suite of models to detect enterprise users misconduct and protect job seekers from potential harm.
We also take job seeker complaints into our data-driven risk assessment process. Job seekers play an important role in our comprehensive fraud-detection network through reporting suspicious activities or false information in the companys description or job postings. After we identify inappropriate behavior conducted by enterprise users whom we deem to pose high risks to our platform, we assign our offline team to conduct manual risk assessment.
Our dedicated offline risk assessment team visit employers in person to make sure the information presented on our platform is authentic and up-to-date. In particular, they verify the consistency of the employers business locations and enterprise users work locations. Our AI powered
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fraud-detecting system together with our offline verification efforts are necessary to manage the complexity of analysis at the scale and speed that is needed in light of our massive user base and the changing fraud landscape. Our streamlined authentication process and ongoing risk assessment system foster a trustworthy and credible user platform.
Job seekers risk assessment
Job seekers are first required to complete our mobile phone verification process. Our intelligence system detects suspicious user input that may undermine the integrity of our platform and will require those users to go through additional authentication procedures. For example, job seekers providing mobile numbers that are recorded in the phone number blacklist or using advertising language in self-description would be detected by our fraud prevention technology.
Ecosystem Friendly Revenue Model and Services
Our revenue model
We treat our platform as an ecosystem with elaborate network of interconnections among users. Our monetization philosophy is to efficiently connect job seekers and employers and strike a better balance between supply and demand. For example, when the supply of a job position exceeds the number of job seekers applying for that position to a certain degree, our ecosystem calls for us to rebalance supply and demand by charging the enterprise users a fee to post such jobs. This enables job seekers to interact more with enterprise users with strong recruiting needs and reduces the likelihood of a job seeker being bombarded with too many reach-outs from persistent Bosses and recruiting professionals.
Services offered to enterprise users
Leveraging our large user base, we provide enterprise users with a wide range of services which give employers the flexibility to either purchase our services in small scale and on demand or subscribe annually to enjoy all of our services, including paid job posting and job seeker accessing services and other services. Our service offerings allow enterprise users to take advantage of our online recruiting platform and access massive quality talents in a cost effective way.
We allow most of our enterprise users to post jobs, browse the mini resume of job seekers and chat with them, conduct audio and video interviews and send offer letters for free. For certain positions where the demand exceeds the supply of job seekers to a certain degree, we charge them a fee for posting such jobs on our platform. Employers can also purchase an array of services, including the right to post more job listings and interact with more job seekers. Our paying enterprise users are allowed to post multiple job openings at the same time and connect and interact with job seekers of their choice.
We offer enterprise users a combination of value-added services that allow them to better manage their recruiting process and efficiently connect with suitable job seekers. Our bulk invite-sending tools connect enterprise users with multiple job seekers at one time to assist the employers to accomplish their recruiting goals in a timely manner. Our popular in-demand position tools allow enterprise users to obtain top placement of their job postings and access multiple job seekers at one go. We also offer enterprise users with invite-sending tools that allow them to approach particular candidates suitable for the job. In addition, we offer tools that target to improve recruitment efficiency. Our advanced filter allows enterprise users to filter through the list of job seekers we recommended through our proprietary matching system. Our recruiting data analysis feature provides recruiting data analysis to enterprise users and provide monthly recruiting reports to help them assess recruiting results.
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Technology and Infrastructure
Our team
Our data analytics capabilities are a unique advantage and critical to our business operations. As of December 31, 2020, we had a team of 902 research and development personnel dedicated to technology, data and related functions. Our technology team is fully involved in all critical operational areas, with an in-depth understanding of our users needs.
Our innovation at speed and scale
Service innovation and excellence lie at the heart of our business. We gather creative ideas from all of our teams, including service development team, sales team and big data and algorithm team who best understand user behavior and demand. We typically use a portion of our user traffic to test the ideas. Our massive user base and efficient product iteration process ensure our effective exploration of new possibilities, and drive constant development of our services.
Powerful AI infrastructure enables rapid algorithm iteration
Our proprietary AI infrastructure optimizes the analytics of large datasets and elevates the operational efficiency of our technologies. At any given time, we run hundreds of AI models simultaneously which power our recommendation function. This enables rapid product iteration and constant upgrade of our matching system, thereby providing better matching results to our users.
Multidimensional big data fuels continual optimization of matching results
Users every action or inaction generates valuable data points. These large datasets allow for continual optimization of our algorithm models characterized by deep learning and natural language processing. Our access to data combined with advanced data analytics and self-evolving AI technology, enhance the accuracy of our customized matching results, creating an efficient and fulfilling job hunting and recruiting experience for our users.
Robust technical architecture empowers real-time user feedback
Our algorithm picks up tiny changes of preference demonstrated through each users interaction on our platform. Our AI models process these actions instantly and provide users with refined matching results within seconds. These prompt feedbacks cater to each users real-time needs and thus greatly improve user experience. Our matching results are further refined by the matching success rate, indicated by resume delivering, contact information sharing or interview arrangements. By connecting the right job seeker with the right job, we meaningfully improve job hunting and recruitment efficiency for our users.
Comprehensive career knowledge graph powers proprietary matching algorithms
Our Career Science Lab conducts in-depth research on various career development subjects, such as an individual development of career path and professional skill sets, occupational structure and geographic distribution of occupations. Along with our Natural Language Processing Centers comprehensive user behavioral data analysis, these research results have helped us develop an comprehensive career knowledge graph. After our proprietary self-evolving matching algorithms learn and process the career knowledge graph, we are able to provide users with curated matching results. Our profound knowledge of the talent market and market participants give us a unique and sustainable advantage in the industry.
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Effective Sales and Marketing
Sales
We have made significant investments in data science, which underpins all aspects of our operations from user acquisition to sales. Our data-centric approach has helped us attract new users and allows us to improve and offer a wide range of paid services to existing users.
We empower our sales team with our proprietary CRM system by helping the team find employers with demand and willingness to engage in bulk purchase or pay for more tailored services. Our sales team will reach out to these employers. This allows us to channel our data-driven insights into the sales process and drive conversion. In addition, we collect recruiting related behavioral data from Bosses and recruiting professionals, after receiving their consent. Our data team analyzes such datasets and helps our sales team provide employers with better customized and more comprehensive service packages. We are committed to continually improving the quality of our services.
Marketing
We are recognized as one of brands with the highest use frequency and the most satisfying user experience in Chinas online recruitment market, according to the CIC Survey. We believe brand recognition is critical to our ability to continue to attract new users.
Our marketing decisions are informed by our data analytics that are optimized to maximize returns. We set and adjust our marketing strategies based on advertising efficiency predictions through indicators including differences in occupational structure, the populations average income, and characteristics of different marketing channels. Our data analytical capabilities allow us to conduct cost-efficient marketing. We pay to acquire user traffic from third-party channels, including app stores, search engines, info feeds and social networking platforms. We also benefit from organic traffic through word-of-mouth and brand recognition. We incurred traffic acquisition costs of RMB291.2 million, RMB507.6 million (US$77.8 million) and RMB206.1 million (US$31.5 million) in 2019, 2020 and the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively.
To promote our brand image, we have launched various marketing initiatives and acquired users through a variety of marketing channels, including outdoor advertising, TV advertising and video advertising. We display ads at popular sites in major subway stations as well as elevators in office buildings in large cities in China, where there is massive premium traffic of working professionals with diverse background. We also launch marketing campaigns in major national and international events. For example, our short, catchy and attention-getting slogan chanted in our 2018 FIFA World Cup advertisement in China substantially increased our brand awareness and grew our user base. We also enlist celebrities as brand ambassadors to expand our audience reach by featuring them in promotional materials and through online video and short-form video platforms.
Data Security and Privacy
We have implemented internal procedures and controls to adequately protect user data. We utilize a variety of technology solutions to detect risks and vulnerabilities in user privacy and data security, such as encryption, firewall, vulnerability scanning and log audit. We have established stringent internal protocols under which we grant classified access to confidential personal data only to limited number of employees with strictly defined and layered access right. We strictly control and manage the use of data within different internal departments and do not share data with external third parties. In addition, we conduct regular data security stress tests performed by our information security department as well as third-party testing agencies.
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Intellectual Properties
We regard our trademarks, copyrights, patents, domain names, know-how, proprietary technologies, and similar intellectual property as critical to our success. As of December 31, 2020, we owned 79 patents, 33 computer software copyrights in China relating to various aspects of our operations and maintained approximately 300 trademark registrations in China and 11 trademark registrations outside China.
We seek to protect our technology and intellectual property rights through a combination of patent, copyright and trademark laws, as well as license agreements and other contractual protections. In addition, we enter into confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements with our employees, which provide that all patents, software, inventions, developments, works of authorship and trade secrets created in connection to and during the course of their employment are our property.
Competition
The recruitment industry in China is competitive. We believe we are strategically well-positioned in the industry. We compete with other online and offline recruiting platforms and agencies, based on our large and active user base, extensive high quality user data, advanced technology capability, superior user experience, ability to enhance efficiency and user satisfaction, as well as our brand recognition.
For a discussion of risks relating to competition, see Risk FactorsRisks Relating to Our Business and IndustryWe face significant competition in Chinas dynamic online recruitment service market, and potential market entries by established players from other industries may make competition even more fierce. Our market share, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected if we are unable to compete effectively.
Corporate Social Responsibility
We are committed to bringing about positive changes to society, and we believe our long-standing commitment to social responsibility strengthens our brand reputation. It is our responsibility to contribute to the community in difficult times, and we have supported businesses and workers during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemics. Leveraging our expertise in job and candidate matching, we promote employment by connecting companies considering temporary layoffs with companies having urgent recruiting needs, such as logistics companies.
We joined hands with large media companies and launched two pro bono live streaming events to bring together employers and college students. Utilizing our employer network, we invited more than 100 companies to join the live streaming events and offered more than 100,000 job openings to the viewers. We also invited inspiring role models from different industries to share their career stories and offer career advice. In addition, we filmed an animated anti-recruitment scam rap music video to help job seekers identify and stop fraudsters in the recruiting process.
Our efforts to serve the community go beyond the recruiting industry. We are environmentally conscious. We have made donations to the Qinghai Hoh Xil Nature Reserve ecological protection fund, which aims to protect the safety of patrol officers in fighting illegal activities such as poaching and illegal mining.
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Employees
We had 3,388 employees as of December 31, 2020.
Function |
Number of Employees | Percentage | ||||||
Sales and marketing |
1,863 | 55.0 | % | |||||
Research and development |
902 | 26.6 | % | |||||
Operations |
461 | 13.6 | % | |||||
General administration |
162 | 4.8 | % | |||||
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Total |
3,388 | 100 | % | |||||
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Our success depends on our ability to attract, motivate, train and retain qualified employees. We believe we offer our employees competitive compensation packages and an environment that encourages self-development and creativity. As a result, we have generally been successful in attracting and retaining qualified employees. We believe that we maintain a good working relationship with our employees, and we have not experienced any material labor disputes in the past. None of our employees are represented by labor unions.
As required by regulations in China, we participate in various employee social security plans that are organized by municipal and provincial governments for our PRC-based employees, including pension insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance, work-related injury insurance, medical insurance and housing provident fund. We are required under PRC law to make contributions to employee benefit plans occasionally for our PRC-based employees at specified percentages of their salaries, bonuses and certain allowances of such employees, up to a maximum amount specified by local governments in China.
We enter into standard employment agreements with our employees. We also enter into standard confidentiality and non-compete agreements with our employees in accordance with common market practice.
Facilities
Our principal executive offices are located in Beijing, China, and we have also leased offices in a number of other cities in China. Information on our leased properties as of December 31, 2020 is summarized below.
Location |
Space
(in thousands of square meters) |
Lease Term (years) | ||||||
Beijing |
17.5 | 2-3 | ||||||
Others |
22.1 | 1-5 | ||||||
Total |
39.6 |
We lease our premises under lease agreements from independent third parties. We believe that our existing facilities are sufficient for our current needs, and we will obtain additional facilities, primarily through leasing, to accommodate our future expansion plans.
Insurance
In addition to providing social security insurance and housing provident fund for our employees as required by PRC law, we also provide supplemental commercial medical insurance for our employees. Consistent with common industry practice in China, we do not maintain business interruption insurance, or key-man insurance.
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Legal Proceedings
We are currently not a party to any material legal or administrative proceedings. We may from time to time be subject to various legal or administrative claims and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business.
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This section sets forth a summary of the most significant rules and regulations that affect our business activities in China or the rights of our shareholders to receive dividends and other distributions from us.
Regulations Relating to Talent Intermediary Services
The Employment Promotion Law of the Peoples Republic of China, or the Employment Promotion Law, promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress, or the SCNPC on August 30, 2007 and latest amended on April 24, 2015 stipulates that employment intermediary agencies shall register and seek approval from the competent labor administrative department after their corporation. Any entity that has not obtained a license and registered in accordance with the law shall be prohibited from engaging in employment intermediary activities. No employment agency shall provide false employment information or provide recruitment services to any institution that is not legally incorporated or licensed (if applicable). Any unlicensed and unregistered institution that, in violation of the provisions aforementioned, engages in unauthorized employment intermediary services, may be subject to the closure of business. Any illegal gains shall be confiscated and a fine from RMB10,000 to RMB50,000 may be imposed.
Talent intermediary services agencies including us in China are mainly regulated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the PRC, or the MOHRSS. Pursuant to the Provisions on Talent Market Administration, jointly promulgated by the PRC Ministry of Personnel and the PRC State Administration for Industry and Commerce on September 11, 2001 and latest amended on December 31, 2019, any entity providing talent intermediary services in China must obtain a human resource services license from the local branch of MOHRSS. In addition, this regulation also reiterates the requirements under the Employment Promotion Law that as a talent intermediary service agency, we are prohibited from providing fake information, making false promises and publishing fake recruitment advertisement.
On June 29, 2018, the State Council issued the Interim Regulations for the Human Resources Market, effective on October 1, 2018, according to which, the human resources services (the HR services) providers include public HR services providers established by the relevant PRC governmental authorities and commercial HR services providers. Commercial HR services providers engaging in employment agency activities are required to obtain a human resource services license, when such HR services are provided through the Internet, laws and regulations relating to network security and the management of Internet information services shall also be complied. For any commercial HR services providers engaging in the services such as collection and release of HR supply and demand information, HR management consulting, HR assessment, or HR training, it shall file with the competent department of MOHRSS within 15 days of the date it starts the operation. The HR services providers providing recruitment or other HR services as entrusted by an employer shall not resort to fraud, violence, coercion or other improper means, shall not seek improper interests in the name of recruitment or introduce entities or individuals to engage in illegal activities. Commercial HR services providers shall expressly specify certain matters, among others, including the business license, charging standards, and human resource services licenses in their premises, which are subject to the supervision and inspection by the PRC governmental authorities such as the State Administration for Market Regulation, or the SAMR.
Based on the Interim Provisions concerning the Management of Foreign-invested Talent Intermediaries, or the Interim Provisions, which was promulgated by MOHRSS on September 4, 2003 and later amended on April 30, 2015, the incorporation of any foreign-invested talent intermediaries shall meet certain requirements, such as the domestic investors shall hold a majority equity interests in
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the foreign-invested talent intermediaries, and the foreign investors shall have been engaging in the recruitment agency services for three years or more, and all the investors of the foreign-invested talent intermediaries shall have good reputation. The application for incorporation shall be submitted to be examined and approved by the competent authorities where the agency is to be located. On December 31, 2019, the Interim Provisions was amended by MOHRSS, and the specific requirements set forth above have been removed.
The MOHRSS promulgated the Administrative Regulations on Online Recruitment Services, or the Online Recruitment Regulations on December 18, 2020, which came into effect on March 1, 2021, and reiterates the requirement that commercial HR services providers engaging in online recruitment services shall obtain a human resource service license with the service scope of providing online recruitment services, in addition, those involved in the telecommunications services shall also obtain the telecommunication business operating license required by law.
According to the Contract Law of the Peoples Republic of China, or the Contract Law, promulgated on March 15, 1999 and nullified since January 1, 2021, and the Civil Code of the Peoples Republic of China, or the Civil Code, promulgated on May 28, 2020 and effective on January 1, 2021, an intermediation contract is defined as a contract whereby an intermediary presents to its client an opportunity for entering into a contract or provides the client with other intermediary services in connection with the conclusion of a contract, and the client pays the intermediary service fees. Pursuant to the Contract Law and the Civil Code, an intermediary must provide authentic information relating to the proposed contract. If an intermediary intentionally conceals any material fact or provides false information in connection with the performance of the proposed contract, which results in harm to the clients interests, the intermediary may not claim service fees and is liable for the damages caused. Our business of connecting individual users with business customers on our online platform constitutes an intermediary service, and our contracts with business customers are intermediation contracts under the Contract Law and the Civil Code, as a result, the performances, explanation and disputes under such contacts shall be regulated by the Contract Law and the Civil Code.
We have obtained such human resource services licenses which remains in full force and effect as of the date of this prospectus.
Regulations Relating to Incorporation and Foreign Investment
The establishment, operation, and management of corporate entities in the PRC is governed by the PRC Company Law, which was promulgated by the SCNPC, on 29 December 1993, effective from 1 July 1994 and recently amended on 26 October 2018. The PRC Company Law generally governs two types of companies, namely limited liability companies and joint-stock limited companies, both entitled with the status of legal persons. The liability of shareholders of a limited liability company or a joint-stock limited company is limited to the amount of registered capital they have contributed. The PRC Company Law shall also apply to foreign-invested companies unless laws on foreign investment have stipulated otherwise.
On March 15, 2019, the National Peoples Congress, or the NPC, promulgated the PRC Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2020 and replaced the previous 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 the ancillary regulations. The existing foreign-invested enterprises established prior to the effective of the PRC Foreign Investment Law may keep their corporate forms within five years. The Foreign Investment Law sets out the definition of foreign investment and the framework for promotion, protection and administration of foreign investment activities. On December 30, 2019, the Ministry of Commerce, or the MOFCOM, and SAMR jointly
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promulgated the Measures for Reporting of Information on Foreign Investment, which came into effect on January 1, 2020, pursuant to which, the establishment of the foreign invested enterprises, including establishment through purchasing the equities of a domestic enterprise or subscribing to the increased capital of a domestic enterprise, and its subsequent changes are required to submit an initial or change report through the Enterprise Registration System.
Investment activities in the PRC by foreign investors are principally governed by The Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for Access of Foreign Investment (2020 version), or the Negative List, and Catalogue of Industries for Encouraging Foreign Investment (2020 version), or the Encouraging List. The Negative List, which came into effect on July 23, 2020, sets out special administrative measures in respect of the access of foreign investments in a centralized manner, and the Encouraging List which came into effect on January 27, 2021, sets out the encouraged industries for foreign investment. Our business in providing value-add telecommunication service, internet culture business and radio and television program services fall within the Negative List.
Regulations Relating to Value-Added Telecommunication Services
Value-added Telecommunications Services
An extensive regulatory scheme governing telecommunication services, including value-added telecommunication services and infrastructure telecommunications services, is promulgated by the State Council, MIIT, and other relevant government authorities. Value-added telecommunication service operators may be required to obtain additional licenses and permits in addition to those that they currently have given new laws and regulations may be adopted from time to time. In addition, substantial uncertainties exist regarding the interpretation and implementation of current and any future PRC laws and regulations applicable to the telecommunication activities.
On September 25, 2000, the State Council promulgated the Telecommunication Regulation of the Peoples Republic of China, or the Telecommunications Regulations, as latest amended on February 6, 2016, to regulate telecommunications activities in China. According to the Telecommunications Regulations, there are two categories of telecommunication activities, namely infrastructure telecommunications services and value-added telecommunications services. Pursuant to the Telecommunications Regulations, operators of value-added telecommunications services, or VATS, shall be approved by MIIT, or its provincial level counterparts, and obtain a license for value-added telecommunications business, or VAT License. The Measures for the Administration of Telecommunications Business Licensing, or the Licenses Measures, issued on March 1, 2009 and most recently amended on July 3, 2017 for the purpose of strengthening the administration of telecommunications business licensing, which set forth more specific provisions regarding the types of licenses required to operate VATS and the application for and the approval, use and administration of a telecommunications business permit.
Internet Information Services
The Administrative Measures on Internet Information Services, or the Internet Measures, which was promulgated by the State Council on September 25, 2000 and amended on January 8, 2011, set out guidelines on the provision of Internet information services. The Internet Measures classified Internet information services into commercial Internet information services and non-commercial Internet information services and a commercial operator of Internet content provision services must obtain a value-added telecommunications business operating license, or the ICP License, for the provision of Internet information services from the appropriate telecommunications authorities.
According to the Internet Measures, violators may be subject to penalties, including criminal sanctions, for providing Internet content that: opposes the fundamental principles stated in the PRC
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Constitution; compromises national security, divulges national secrets, subverts national power or damages national unity; harms national dignity or interest; incites ethnic hatred or racial discrimination or damages inter-ethnic unity; undermines the PRCs religious policy or propagates superstition; disseminates rumors, disturbs social order or disrupts social stability; disseminates obscenity or pornography, encourages gambling, violence, murder or fear or incites the commission of a crime; insults or slanders a third party or infringes upon the lawful rights and interests of a third party; or is otherwise prohibited by law or administrative regulations. An Internet information service provider may not post or disseminate any content that falls within prohibited categories and must stop providing any such content on their websites. The PRC government may order ICP License holders that violate any of the abovementioned content restrictions to correct those violations and revoke their ICP Licenses under serious conditions.
In addition to the Telecommunications Regulations and other regulations above, mobile Internet applications (the APPs) and the Internet application store (the APP Store) are specifically regulated by the Administrative Provisions on Mobile Internet Applications Information Services, or the APP Provisions, which was promulgated by the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, on June 28, 2016 and became effective on August 1, 2016. The APP Provisions regulate the APP information service providers and the APP Store service providers and the CAC and local offices of cyberspace administration shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of nationwide or local APP information respectively.
The APP information service providers shall acquire relevant qualifications required by laws and regulations and implement the information security management responsibilities strictly and fulfill their obligations, including real-name system, protection of users information, examination and management of information content, etc.
Foreign Investment in Value-Added Telecommunications Industry
Pursuant to the Negative List and the Administrative Regulations on Foreign-Invested Telecommunications Enterprises, as latest amended on February 6, 2016 by the State Council, the ultimate capital contribution percentage by foreign investor(s) in a foreign-invested value-added telecommunications services (except for e-commerce, domestic multi-party communications, storage-forwarding and call centers) is up to 50% and the primary foreign investor should be equipped with a good track record and operational experience in the industry. As of the date of this prospectus, our VIE has obtained an ICP License for providing internet information services.
Regulations on Online Transmission of Audio-Visual Programs
According to the Administrative Regulations on Internet Audio-Visual Program Service, or the Internet Audio-Visual Program Regulations, promulgated by the SAPPRFT and the MIIT on December 20, 2007 and were latest amended on August 28, 2015, internet audio-video program services means producing, editing and integrating of audio-video programs, supplying audio-video programs to the public via the internet, and providing audio-video programs uploading and transmission services to a third party. Entities providing internet audio-video programs services must obtain a license for online transmission of audio-visual programs, or Audio-Visual License issued by the National Radio and Television Administration. Entities engaged in Internet audio-visual program services without obtaining such Audio-Visual License may be subject to warning, order to rectify, and a fine of no more than RMB30,000. Under serious conditions, the equipment used for such activities shall be confiscated and a fine of one but no more than two times of the investment amount may be imposed. However, according to the relevant PRC laws and regulations, an applicant for the Audio-Visual License shall be a wholly state-owned or state-controlled entity. We therefore are not eligible to apply for the Audio-Visual License.
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In addition, according to the Certain Decisions on the Entry of the Non-state-owned Capital into the Cultural Industry promulgated by the State Council and effective on April 13, 2005, and the Several Opinions on Canvassing Foreign Investment into the Culture Sector promulgated by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the PRC, or the MCT, the SAPPRFT, the National Development and Reform Commission, or the NDRC, and MOFCOM and effective on July 6, 2005, non-state-owned enterprises and foreign investors are not allowed to conduct the business of transmitting audio-visual programs via an information network.
As of the date of this prospectus, we have not obtained the Audio-Visual License for providing internet audio-visual program services and content through our online recruitment platform in China. See Risk FactorsRisks Relating to Our Business and IndustryAny lack of or failure to maintain requisite approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our business may have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations, and compliance with applicable laws or regulations may require us to obtain additional approvals or licenses or change our business model.
Regulation on Production and Distribution of Radio and Television Programs
On August 11, 1997, the State Council promulgated Administrative Regulations on Radio and Television, which came into effect on September 1, 1997 and were latest amended on November 29, 2020. The establishment of the entities engaging in the production and management of radio television programs shall be subject to the approval of the administrative departments for radio and television under the competent governmental authorities.
According to the Provisions for the Administration of the Production and Distribution of Radio and Television Programs promulgated by the SAPPRFT on July 19, 2004, which took into effect on August 20, 2004 and was latest amended on October 29, 2020, any entity that produces or operates radio or television programs must 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. Entities engaging in the producing or operating radio or television programs without such permit are subject to the closure of business, confiscation of used tools, equipment and carriers, as well as a fine between RMB 10,000 to RMB 50,000.
In addition, under the Provisions for the Administration of the Production and Distribution of Radio and Television Programs and the Negative List, foreign-invested enterprises are not allowed to engage in the above-mentioned services.
Our VIE has obtained a Radio and Television Program Production and Operation Permit for the production of radio and television programs, which remains in full force and effect as of the date of this prospectus.
Regulation Related to Internet Culture Activities
On February 17, 2011, the Ministry of Culture, or MOC (currently known as the MCOT), promulgated the Interim Administrative Provisions on Internet Culture, or the Internet Culture Provisions, which became effective on April 1, 2011 and was latest amended on December 15, 2017. The Internet Culture Provisions require Internet information services providers engaging in commercial Internet culture activities to file an application for establishment to the competent culture administration authorities for approval and obtain an Internet Culture Business Operating License from the MOC. Internet cultural activity is defined under the Internet Culture Provisions as an act of provision of internet cultural products and related services, which includes (i) the production, duplication, importation, and broadcasting of the internet cultural products; (ii) the online dissemination
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whereby cultural products are posted on the internet or transmitted via the internet to end-users, such as computers, fixed-line telephones, mobile phones, television sets and games machines, for online users browsing, use or downloading; and (iii) the exhibition and competition of the internet cultural products. Any entity engaging in operational Internet culture activities without approval may be subject to closure of business and confiscation of illegal gains if any.
In addition, according to the Negative List and Several Opinions on the Introduction of Foreign Investment in the Cultural Field, promulgated by the MOC and five other promulgation authorities, foreign-invested enterprises are not allowed to engage in the above-mentioned Internet cultural activity.
Our VIE has obtained an Internet Culture Business Operating License for conducting internet culture activities, which remains in full force and effect as of the date of this prospectus.
Regulations Relating to Information Security and Censorship
Internet content in China is regulated and restricted from a state security standpoint. The SCNPC enacted the Decisions on the Maintenance of Internet Security on December 28, 2000, which was latest amended on August 27, 2009, providing that the following activities conducted through the internet are subject to criminal liabilities: (i) gaining improper entry into any of the computer information networks relating to state affairs, national defensive affairs, or cutting-edge science and technology; (ii) violation of relevant provisions of the State in the form of unauthorized interruption of any computer network or communication service, as a result of which the computer network or communication system cannot function normally; (iii) spreading rumor, slander or other harmful information via the internet for the purpose of inciting subversion of the state political power; (iv) stealing or divulging state secrets, intelligence or military secrets via internet; (v) spreading false or inappropriate commercial information; or (vi) infringing on the intellectual property.
On November 7, 2016, the SCNPC promulgated the Cyber Security Law of the Peoples Republic of China, which became effective on June 1, 2017, pursuant to which, network operators shall comply with laws and regulations and fulfill their obligations to safeguard security of the network when conducting business and providing services. Those who provide services through networks including us shall take technical measures and other necessary measures pursuant to 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, and the network operator shall prevent network data from being divulged, stolen or falsified. In addition, any network operator to collect personal information shall follow the principles of legitimacy, rationality and necessity and shall not collect or use any personal information without due authorization of the person whose personal information is collected, and network operators of key information infrastructure shall store within the territory of the PRC all the personal information and important data collected and produced within the territory of PRC.
On June 22, 2007, the Ministry of Public Security, the National Administration of State Secrets Protection, the State Cipher Code Administration and the Information Office of the State Council (repealed) promulgated the Administrative Measures for the Graded Protection of Information Security, effective from June 22, 2007, pursuant to which, graded protection of the state information security shall follow the principle of independent grading and independent protection, and the security protection grade of an information system shall be determined according to such factors as its level of importance in national security, economic development and social livelihood as well as its level of damage to national security, social order, public interests and the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, legal persons and other organizations in case it is destroyed, accordingly the security protection grade of an information system may be classified into five grades. The entities operating the
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information systems shall determine the security protection grade of the information system pursuant to the Measures for the Graded Protection and the Guidelines for Grading of Classified Protection of Cyber Security, and report the grade to the relevant department for examination and approval.
On April 13, 2020, the CAC, NDRC, MIIT and other nine promulgation authorities issued the Cybersecurity Review Measures, effective on June 1, 2020, which stipulate that the cybersecurity review shall focus on the evaluation of possible risks to national security caused by the purchase of the network product or service, also provide for more detailed rules regarding cybersecurity review requirements.
In addition, Online Recruitment Regulations provide that HR services agencies engaging in online recruitment services shall, in accordance with the requirements under the PRC laws and regulations related to national cybersecurity and cybersecurity graded protection systems, strengthen cybersecurity management, perform cybersecurity protection obligations, and adopt technical or other necessary measures to ensure the security of recruitment service network, information system and users information. Moreover, HR services agencies shall establish and improve their user s information protection system for online recruitment services, and shall not disclose, divulge, damage or illegally sell or provide to any person, such information as the citizen identification number, age, gender, address, contact information of an individual or any information on business situations of an employer. If such agencies provide any personal information or important data collected or generated within the PRC to any overseas party due to their business operation, such provision shall abide by applicable PRC laws and regulations.
Regulations Relating to Privacy Protection
Pursuant to the Civil Code, the personal information of a natural person shall be protected by the law. Any organization or individual that need to obtain personal information of others shall obtain such information legally and ensure the safety of such information, and shall not illegally collect, use, process or transmit personal information of others, or illegally purchase or sell, provide or make public personal information of others.
On December 13, 2005, the Ministry of Public Security issued the Regulations on Technological Measures for Internet Security Protection, or the Internet Protection Measures, which took effect on March 1, 2006. The Internet Protection Measures require Internet service providers including us to take proper measures including anti-virus, data back-up and other related measures, and to keep records of certain information about their users (including user registration information, log-in and log-out time, IP address, content and time of posts by users) for at least 60 days, and detect illegal information, stop transmission of such information, and keep relevant records. Internet services providers including us are prohibited from unauthorized disclosure of users information to any third parties unless such disclosure is required by the laws and regulations. They are further required to establish management systems and take technological measures to safeguard the freedom and secrecy of the users correspondences.
In December 28, 2012, the SCNPC promulgated the Decision on Strengthening Network Information Protection to enhance the legal protection of information security and privacy on the internet. In July 16, 2013, the MIIT promulgated the Provisions on Protection of Personal Information of Telecommunication and Internet Users to regulate the collection and use of users personal information in the provision of telecommunication services and Internet information services in China and the personal information includes a users name, birth date, identification card number, address, phone number, account name, password and other information that can be used for identifying a user. Telecommunication business operators and Internet service providers are required to constitute their own rules for the collecting and use of users information and they cannot collect or use of users
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information without users consent. Telecommunication business operators and Internet service providers must specify the purposes, manners and scopes of information collection and uses, obtain consent of the relevant citizens, and keep the collected personal information confidential. Telecommunication business operators and Internet service providers are prohibited from disclosing, tampering with, damaging, selling or illegally providing others with, collected personal information. Telecommunication business operators and Internet service providers are required to take technical and other measures to prevent the collected personal information from any unauthorized disclosure, damage or loss.
On December 29, 2011, the MIIT promulgated the Several Provisions on Regulation of the Order of Internet Information Service Market, which became effective on March 15, 2012. The Provisions stipulate that without the consent of users, Internet information service providers shall not collect information relevant to the users that can lead to the recognition of the identity of the users independently or in combination with other information (hereinafter referred to as personal information of users), nor shall they provide personal information of users to others, unless otherwise provided by laws and administrative regulations. The Provisions also requires that Internet information service providers shall properly keep the personal information of users; if the preserved personal information of users is divulged or may possibly be divulged, Internet information service providers shall immediately take remedial measures; where such incident causes or may cause serious consequences, they shall immediately report the same to the telecommunications administration authorities that grant them with the Internet information service license or filing and cooperate in the investigation and disposal carried out by relevant departments. Failure to comply with such requirements may result in a fine between RMB10,000 and RMB30,000 and an announcement to the public. According to the Cyber Security Law of the Peoples Republic of China, network operator shall not collect personal information irrelevant to the services it provides or collect or use personal information in violation of the provisions of laws or agreements between both parties.
On May 8, 2017, the Supreme Peoples Court and the Supreme Peoples Procuratorate released the 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 Citizens Personal Information, or the Interpretations, effective from June 1, 2017. The Interpretations clarify several concepts regarding the crime of infringement of citizens personal information stipulated by Article 253A of the Criminal Law of the Peoples Republic of China, including citizens personal information, provision, and unlawful acquisition. Also, the Interpretations specify the standards for determining serious circumstances and particularly serious circumstances of this crime.
In addition, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, the MIIT, the Ministry of Public Security, and the SAMR jointly issued an Announcement of Launching Special Crackdown Against Illegal Collection and Use of Personal Information by Apps on January 23, 2019 to implement special rectification works against mobile Apps that collect and use personal information in violation of applicable laws and regulations, where business operators are prohibited from collecting personal information irrelevant to their services, or forcing users to give authorization in disguised manner.
Regulations Relating to Advertisement
All commercial advertising activities for direct or indirect introduction of products or services promoted by product business operators or service providers via a certain medium and in a certain form within the territory of PRC are applied to the PRC Advertising Law, as latest amended and effective on October 26, 2018, which requires advertisers, advertising operators and advertising distributors to ensure that the content of the advertisements they produce or distribute are true and in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the content of the advertisement shall not
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contains the prohibited information including but not limited to (i) information harm the dignity or interests of the State or divulge the secrets of the State, (ii) information contain wordings such as national level, highest level and best, (iii) information contain ethnic, racial, religious, sexual discrimination. In addition, where a special government review is required for certain categories of advertisements before publishing, the advertisers, advertising operators and advertising distributors are obligated to confirm that such review has been duly performed and that the relevant approval has been obtained. Without prior consent or request, the advertisers, advertising operators and advertising distributors shall not deliver advertisement to any persons accommodation or transportation. If the advertisers, advertising operators and advertising distributors display any pop-up advertisement, they shall show the close button clearly to make sure that the viewers can close the advertisement upon one-click. Violations of these regulations may result in penalties, including fines, confiscation of advertising income, orders to cease dissemination of the advertisements and orders to publish an advertisement correcting the misleading information. For serious violations, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, or the SAIC, or its local branches may order the violator to terminate its advertising operations or even revoke its business license. Furthermore, advertisers, advertising operators or advertising distributors may be subject to civil liabilities if they infringe on the legal rights and interests of third parties.
Furthermore, the Interim Measures for Administration of Internet Advertising, adopted by the predecessor of SAIC, and effective on September 1, 2016, regulates any advertisement published on the Internet, including but not limited to, through websites, webpage and APPs, in the form of word, picture, audio and video and provides more detailed guidelines to the advertisers, advertising operators and advertising distributors. According to the Internet Advertisement Measures, Internet information service providers must stop any person from using their information services to publish illegal advertisements if they are aware of, or should reasonably be aware of, such illegal advertisements even though the Internet information service provider merely provides information services and is not involved in the Internet advertisement businesses.
In addition, according to the Provisions on Talent Market Administration, the Talent Intermediary Services agencies are prohibited from publishing fake recruitment advertisement and violations would lead to penalties under the PRC Advertising Law, which includes fines, prohibition from advertising for a period of time or revocation of business licenses.
Regulations Relating to Intellectual Property
Regulations on Patents
Pursuant to the Patent Law of the PRC, or the Patent Law, which was issued by the SCNPC on March 12, 1984, and latest revised on October 17, 2020 and to be effective as of June 1, 2021, any organization or individual proposing to implement the patent of others shall enter into a licensing contract with the patentee for implementation and pay royalties to the patentee. A licensee shall have no right to allow any organization or individual that is not stipulated in the contract to implement such patent.
Regulations on Trademarks
Pursuant to the Trademark Law of the PRC which was promulgated on 23 August 1982 and latest amended on 23 April 2019 and came into effect on November 1, 2019, the Implementation Regulations of the Trademark Law of PRC which was issued on 3 August 2002 and latest amended on 29 April 2014, the Trademark Office under the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the PRC , or the Trademark Office, shall handle trademark registrations and grant a term of ten years to registered trademarks, which may be renewed for additional ten year period upon request from the trademark
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owner. The Trademark Law of the PRC has adopted a first-to-file principle with respect to trademark registration. Where an application for trademark for which application for registration has been made is identical or similar to another trademark which has already been registered or is under preliminary examination and approval for use on the same kind of or similar commodities or services, the application for registration of such trademark may be rejected. Any person applying for the registration of a trademark may not prejudice the existing right of 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. A trademark registrant may, by entering into a trademark licensing contract, license another party to use its registered trademark. Where another party is licensed to use a registered trademark, the licenser shall report the license to the Trademark Office for recordation, and the Trademark Office shall publish it. An unrecorded license may not be used as a defense against a third party in good faith.
Regulations on Copyrights
Pursuant to the Copyright Law of the PRC promulgated by the SCNPC on September 7, 1990 and latest amended on November 11, 2020 and to be effective as of June 1, 2021, Chinese citizens, legal persons or other entities shall, whether published or not, enjoy copyright in their works, which include, among others, works of literature, art, natural science, social science, engineering technology and computer software created in writing or oral or other forms.
Pursuant to the Regulation on Computers Software Protection promulgated on June 4, 1991 by the State Council and latest amended on January 30, 2013 and the Measures for the Registration of Computer Software Copyright promulgated in 1992 and latest amended by the National Copyright Administration on February 20, 2002, the National Copyright Administration is mainly responsible for the registration and management of software copyright in China and recognizes the China Copyright Protection Center as the software registration organization. The China Copyright Protection Center shall grant certificates of registration to computer software copyright applicants in compliance with the regulations of the Measures for the Registration of Computer Software Copyright and the Regulation on Computers Software Protection.
Regulations on Domain Names
Pursuant to the Measures for the Administration of Internet Domain Names promulgated by MIIT on August 24, 2017 and effective on November 1, 2017, domain name shall refer to the character mark of hierarchical structure, which identifies and locates a computer on the internet and corresponds to the Internet Protocol address of that computer. The MIIT supervises and administers the domain name services in the PRC. The registration for domain names such as the first-tier domain name .cn follows the principle of first application, first registration. An applicant for registration of domain name shall provide information for the registration of domain name such as the true, accurate and complete information on the identity of the domain name holder to the domain name registration service authority. After completion of the registration procedures, the applicant will become the holder of the relevant domain name. Any registration and use of domain names by organizations and individuals shall abide by the requirements of the Measures for the Administration of Internet Domain Names, and any registrations and uses of domain names in breach of the said Measures constitutes an offence and is subject to criminal liability.
Regulations Relating to Foreign Exchange
Regulations on Foreign Currency Exchange
The principal regulations governing foreign currency exchange in China are the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations, as latest amended on August 1, 2008, or the FEA Regulations.
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Pursuant to the FEA Regulations, international payments in foreign exchange and the transfer of foreign exchange under the current account items shall not be subject to any state control or restriction when complying with certain procedural requirements. In contrast, the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and remittance of the converted foreign currency outside the PRC for the purpose of capital account items, such as direct equity investments, loans and repatriation of investment, requires prior approval from SAFE or its local branches.
According to the Circular of SAFE on Further Improving and Adjusting the Foreign Exchange Policies on Direct Investment and its appendix, the Operating Rules for Foreign Exchange Issues with Regard to Direct Investment under Capital Account, promulgated on November 19, 2012 and latest amended on May 4, 2015, foreign exchange control measures related to foreign direct investment are improved, such as (i) the open of and payment into the foreign exchange account related to direct investment are no longer subject to approval by SAFE; (ii) reinvestment with legal income of foreign investors in China is no longer subject to approval by SAFE; (iii) purchase and external payment of foreign exchange related to foreign direct investment are no longer subject to approval by SAFE. Later, on February 13, 2015, SAFE issued the Circular on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policies in Respect of Direct Investment, or Circular 13, effective from June 1, 2015, providing that the bank, instead of SAFE, can directly handle the foreign exchange registration and approval for foreign direct investment and SAFE and its branches.
SAFE released the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Mode of Management of Settlement of Foreign Exchange Capital of Foreign Invested Enterprises, or Circular 19, on March 30, 2015, which came into force on June 1, 2015. Under Circular 19, a foreign invested enterprise, within the registered scope of business, may settle their foreign exchange capital following a principal of authenticity on a discretionary basis according to the actual needs of their business operation, and the RMB capital so converted can be used for equity investments within the PRC, which will be regarded as the reinvestment of foreign-invested enterprise, provided that such foreign invested enterprises are not registered as an enterprises mainly engaged in investment business, including foreign investment companies, foreign funded venture capital enterprises and foreign funded equity investment enterprises. The RMB converted from the foreign exchange capital will be kept in a designated account and is not allowed to be used directly or indirectly for purposes beyond its business scope or used to provide RMB entrusted loans (unless permitted within its registered business scope), repayment of inter-company loans (including third-party advances), and repayment of bank RMB loans that have been re-loaned to third parties, and other uses expressly forbidden under Circular 19.
The Circular of the SAFE on Reforming and Regulating Policies on the Control over Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital Accounts, or the SAFE Circular No. 16, was promulgated and became effective on June 9, 2016. According to the SAFE Circular No. 16, enterprises registered in PRC may also convert their foreign debts from foreign currency into RMB on self-discretionary basis. The SAFE Circular No. 16 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 self-discretionary basis, which applies to all enterprises registered in the PRC. The SAFE Circular No. 16 reiterates the principle that RMB converted from foreign currency-denominated capital of a company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope and may not be used for investments in securities or other investment excluding banks principal-secured financing products within the PRC unless otherwise specifically provided. Besides, the converted RMB shall not be used to make loans for non-affiliated enterprises unless it is permitted within the business scope or to build or to purchase any real estate that is not for the enterprises own use unless it is a real estate enterprise.
On October 23, 2019, SAFE issued the Notice by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of Further Facilitating Cross-border Trade and Investment, or Circular 28, which cancels the
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restrictions on domestic equity investments by capital fund of non-investment foreign invested enterprises and allows non-investment foreign invested enterprises to use their capital funds to lawfully make equity investments in China, provided that such investments do not violate the Negative List and the target investment projects are genuine and in compliance with laws.
According to the Circular on Optimizing Administration of Foreign Exchange to Support the Development of Foreign-related Business, or Circular 8 issued by the SAFE on April 10, 2020, eligible enterprises are allowed to make domestic payments by using their capital funds, foreign credits and the income under capital accounts of overseas listing, with no need to provide the evidentiary materials concerning authenticity of such capital for banks in advance, provided that their capital use shall be authentic and in line with provisions, and conform to the prevailing administrative regulations on the use of income under capital accounts. The concerned bank shall conduct spot checking in accordance with the relevant requirements. The interpretation and implementation in practice of Circular 28 and Circular 8 are still subject to substantial uncertainties given they are newly issued regulations.
Regulations on Foreign Exchange Registration of Overseas Investment by PRC Domestic Residents
On July 4, 2014, SAFE issued Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, to regulate foreign exchange matters in relation to the use of Special Purpose Vehicles, or SPVs, by PRC residents or entities to seek offshore investment and financing or conduct round trip investment in China.
Pursuant to SAFE Circular 37, a SPV refers to an overseas enterprise directly formed or indirectly controlled for investment or financing purposes by a domestic resident (domestic institution or domestic individual resident) with the assets or interests it legally holds overseas or in a domestic enterprise, while round trip investment refers to the direct investments made in China by domestic residents directly or indirectly through SPVs, namely, the behavior of establishing foreign invested enterprises or projects in China by formation, acquisition, merger, or any other means, and acquiring interests, such as ownership, control, or operating right, in them. SAFE Circular 37 provides that, before making contribution into an SPV, PRC residents are required to complete foreign exchange registration with SAFE or its local branch according to SAFE Circular 37 and applicable currently effective SAFE regulations including the Administration of Foreign Exchange in Foreign Direct Investments by Foreign Investors. According to the Circular 13, local banks, instead of SAFE, will examine and handle foreign exchange registration for overseas direct investment, including the initial foreign exchange registration and amendment registration.
Failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in SAFE Circular 37 and the subsequent notice, or making misrepresentation on or failure to disclose controllers of the foreign invested enterprise that is established through round-trip investment, may result in restrictions imposed on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant foreign invested enterprise, including payment of dividends and other distributions, such as proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation, to its offshore parent or affiliate, and the capital inflow from the offshore parent, and may also subject relevant PRC residents or entities to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations.
We have used our best efforts to notify PRC residents (domestic institution or domestic individual resident) 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 at all times be fully aware or informed of the identities of all our shareholders or beneficial owners, and we cannot compel them to comply with SAFE registration requirements. See Risk FactorsRisks
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Relating to Doing Business in ChinaPRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit our PRC subsidiaries ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits to us or otherwise expose us or our PRC resident beneficial owners to liability and penalties under PRC law.
Regulations on Stock Incentive Plans
Pursuant to the Notice on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plan of Overseas Publicly Listed Company, issued by SAFE on February 15, 2012, employees, directors, supervisors and other senior management participating in any stock incentive plan of an overseas publicly listed company who are PRC citizens or who are non PRC citizens residing in China for a continuous period of not less than one year, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with SAFE through a domestic qualified agent, which could be a PRC subsidiary of such overseas listed company, and complete certain other procedures. Failure to complete the SAFE registrations may subject them to fines and legal sanctions and may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital into our wholly foreign owned subsidiaries in China and limit these subsidiaries ability to distribute dividends to us. The PRC agents shall, on behalf of the PRC residents who have the right to exercise the employee share options, apply to SAFE or its local branches for an annual quota for the payment of foreign currencies in connection with the PRC residents exercise of the employee share options. The foreign exchange proceeds received by the PRC residents from the sale of shares under the stock incentive plans granted and dividends distributed by the overseas listed companies must be remitted into the bank accounts in the PRC established by the PRC agents before distribution to such PRC residents. In addition, the PRC agents shall quarterly submit the form for record-filing of information of the Domestic Individuals Participating in the Stock Incentive Plans of Overseas Listed Companies with SAFE or its local branches. We and our PRC citizen employees who have been granted share options, or PRC optionees, are subject to the Stock Option Rules. If we or our PRC optionees fail to comply with the Individual Foreign Exchange Rule or the Stock Option Rules, we and our PRC optionees may be subject to fines and other legal sanctions. In addition, the PRC agents are required to amend the SAFE registration with respect to the stock incentive plan if there is any material change to the stock incentive plan. Moreover, the SAFE Circular 37 provides that PRC residents who participate in a share incentive plan of an overseas unlisted special purpose company may register with local branches of SAFE before exercising rights.
In addition, the SAT has issued circulars concerning employee share options, under which our employees working in the PRC who exercise share options will be subject to PRC individual income tax. Our PRC subsidiaries have obligations to file documents related to employee share options with relevant tax authorities and to withhold individual income taxes of those employees who exercise their share options. If our employees fail to pay or if we fail to withhold their income taxes as required by relevant laws and regulations, we may face sanctions imposed by the PRC tax authorities or other PRC government authorities.
Regulations Relating to Dividend Distribution
The principal laws, rules and regulations governing dividend distributions by foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC are the PRC Company Law, promulgated in 1993 and latest amended in 2018 and the Foreign Investment Law and its Implementing Regulations. Under these requirements, foreign-invested enterprises may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profit, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. A PRC company is required to allocate at least 10% of their respective accumulated after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain capital reserve funds until the aggregate amount of these reserve funds have reached 50% of the registered capital of the enterprises. A PRC company is not permitted to 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.
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Regulations Relating to M&A Rules and Overseas Listing
MOFCOM, China Securities Regulatory Commission, or CSRC, SAFE and three other PRC governmental and regulatory agencies promulgated the Rules on Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors on August 8, 2006, as later amended on June 22, 2009, or the M&A Rules, governing the mergers and acquisitions of domestic enterprises by foreign investors. The M&A Rules, among other things, require that if a domestic company, domestic enterprise, or a domestic individual, through an overseas company established or controlled by it/him/her, acquires a domestic company which is affiliated with it/him/her, an approval from the MOFCOM is required. The M&A Rules further requires that a SPV, that is controlled directly or indirectly by the PRC companies or individuals and that has been formed for overseas listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic interest held by such PRC companies or individuals, shall obtain the approval of CSRC prior to overseas listing and trading of such SPVs securities on an overseas stock exchange. Moreover, if foreign investors merge a domestic enterprise and obtain the actual control over the enterprise, and if such merger involves any critical industry, affects or may affect the security of national economy, or causes transference of actual control over the domestic enterprise who possesses a resound trademark or PRC time-honored brand, the parties to the merger shall file an application to MOFCOM.
Regulations Relating to Employment and Social Welfare
Regulations on Employment
The major PRC laws and regulations that govern employment relationship are the PRC Labor Law, or the Labor Law (issued by the SCNPC on July 5, 1994, came into effect on January 1, 1995 and revised on 27 August 2009 and December 29, 2018, the PRC Labor Contract Law, or the Labor Contract Law, promulgated by the SCNPC on June 29, 2007 and became effective on January 1, 2008, and then amended on December 28, 2012 and became effective on July 1, 2013, and the Implementation Rules of the Labor Contract Law of the PRC, or the Implementation Rules of the Labor Contract Law, issued by the State Council on 18 September 2008 and came into effect on the same day. According to the aforementioned laws and regulations, labor relationships between employers and employees must be executed in written form. The laws and regulations above impose stringent requirements on the employers in relation to entering into fixed-term employment contracts, hiring of temporary employees and dismissal of employees. As prescribed under the laws and regulations, employers shall ensure its employees have the right to rest and the right to receive wages no lower than the local minimum wages. Employers must establish a system for labor safety and sanitation that strictly abide by state standards and provide relevant education to its employees. Violations of the Labor Contract Law and the Labor Law may result in the imposition of fines and other administrative liabilities and/or incur criminal liabilities in the case of serious violations.
Regulations on Social Insurance and Housing Provident Fund
According to the Social Insurance Law of PRC, which issued by the SCNPC on October 28, 2010 and came into effect on July 1, 2011 and was latest revised on December 29, 2018, enterprises and institutions in the PRC shall provide their employees with welfare schemes covering pension insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance, work-related injury insurance, medical insurance and other welfare plans. The employer shall apply to the local social insurance agency for social insurance registration within 30 days from the date of its formation. And it shall, within 30 days from the date of employment, apply to the social insurance agency for social insurance registration for the employee. Any employer who violates the regulations above shall be ordered to make correction within a prescribed time limit; if the employer fails to rectify within the time limit, the employer and its directly liable person will be fined. Meanwhile, the Interim Regulation on the Collection and Payment of Social Insurance Premiums, issued by the State Council on January 22, 1999 and came into effect on
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the same day and was recently revised on March 24, 2019, prescribes the details concerning the social securities.
Apart from the general provisions about social insurance, specific provisions on various types of insurance are set out in the Regulation on Work-Related Injury Insurance, issued by the State Council on April 27, 2003, came into effect on January 1, 2004 and revised on December 20, 2010, the Regulations on Unemployment Insurance, issued by the State Council on January 22, 1999 and came into effect on the same day, the Trial Measures on Employee Maternity Insurance of Enterprises, issued by the Ministry of Labor on December 14, 1994 and came into effect on January 1, 1995. Enterprises subject to these regulations shall provide their employees with the corresponding insurance.
According to the Regulation Concerning the Administration of Housing Provident Fund, implemented since April 3, 1999 and latest amended on March 24, 2019, any newly established entity shall make deposit registration at the housing accumulation fund management center within 30 days as of its establishment. After that, the entity shall open a housing accumulation fund account for its employees in an entrusted bank. Within 30 days as of the date an employee is recruited, the entity shall make deposit registration at the housing accumulation fund management center and seal up the employees housing accumulation fund account in the bank mentioned above within 30 days from termination of the employment relationship.
Any entity that fails to make deposit registration of the housing accumulation fund or fails to open a housing accumulation fund account for its employees shall be ordered to complete the relevant procedures within a prescribed time limit. Any entity failing to complete the relevant procedure within the time limit will be fined RMB10,000 to RMB50,000. Any entity fails to make payment of housing provident fund within the time limit or has shortfall in payment of housing provident fund will be ordered to make the payment or make up the shortfall within the prescribed time limit, otherwise, the housing provident management center is entitled to apply for compulsory enforcement with the Peoples Court.
Regulations Relating to Tax
Regulations on Dividend Withholding Tax
The National Peoples Congress enacted the Enterprise Income Tax Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008 and last amended on December 29, 2018. According to Enterprise Income Tax Law and the Regulation on the Implementation of the Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the Implementing Rules, which became effective on January 1, 2008 and further amended on April 23, 2019, dividends generated after January 1, 2008 and payable by a foreign-invested enterprise in China to its foreign enterprise investors are subject to a 10% withholding tax, unless any such foreign enterprise investors jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a preferential withholding arrangement. According to the Notice of the SAT on Negotiated Reduction of Dividends and Interest Rates issued on January 29, 2008, revised on February 29, 2008, and the Arrangement between Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, or Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, the withholding tax rate in respect of the payment of dividends by a PRC enterprise to a Hong Kong enterprise may be reduced to 5% from a standard rate of 10% if the Hong Kong enterprise directly holds at least 25% of the PRC enterprise and certain other conditions are met, including: (i) the Hong Kong enterprise must directly own the required percentage of equity interests and voting rights in the PRC resident enterprise; and (ii) the Hong Kong enterprise must have directly owned such required percentage in the PRC resident enterprise throughout the 12 months prior to receiving the dividends. However, based on the Circular on Certain Issues with Respect to the Enforcement of Dividend Provisions in Tax Treaties issued on February 20, 2009 by the SAT, if the
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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; and based on the Announcement on Certain Issues with Respect to the Beneficial Owner in Tax Treaties issued by the SAT on February 3, 2018 and effective from April 1, 2018, if an applicants business activities do not constitute substantive business activities, it could result in the negative determination of the applicants status as a beneficial owner, and consequently, the applicant could be precluded from enjoying the above-mentioned reduced income tax rate of 5% under the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement.
Regulations on Enterprise Income Tax
The Enterprise Income Tax Law and the Implementing Rules impose a uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate to both foreign invested enterprises and domestic enterprises, except where tax incentives are granted to special industries and projects. Among other tax incentives, the preferential tax treatment continues as long as an enterprise can retain its High and New Technology Enterprise status.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, an enterprise established outside China with de facto management bodies within China is considered a resident enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes and is generally subject to a uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate on its worldwide income. The Notice Regarding the Determination of Chinese-Controlled Offshore Incorporated Enterprises as PRC Tax Resident Enterprises on the Basis of De Facto Management Bodies promulgated by the SAT and last amended on December 29, 2017 and the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues concerning the Determination of Resident Enterprises Based on the Standards of Actual Management Institutions promulgated by the SAT on January 29, 2014 set out the standards used to classify certain Chinese invested enterprises controlled by Chinese enterprises or Chinese enterprise groups and established outside of China as resident enterprises, which also clarified that dividends and other income paid by such PRC resident enterprises will be considered PRC source income and subject to PRC withholding tax, currently at a rate of 10%, when paid to non PRC enterprise shareholders. This notice also subjects such PRC resident enterprises to various reporting requirements with the PRC tax authorities. Under the Implementing Rules, a de facto management body is defined as a body that has material and overall management and control over the manufacturing and business operations, personnel and human resources, finances and properties of an enterprise.
On October 17, 2017, the SAT issued the Bulletin on Issues Concerning the Withholding of Non-PRC Resident Enterprise Income Tax at Source, or Bulletin 37, which replaced the Notice on Strengthening Administration of Enterprise Income Tax for Share Transfers by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, issued by the SAT, on December 10, 2009, and partially replaced and supplemented by the rules under the Bulletin on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or Bulletin 7, issued by the SAT, on February 3, 2015. Under Bulletin 7, an indirect transfer of assets, including equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises may be re-characterized 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. In respect of an indirect offshore transfer of assets of a PRC establishment, the relevant gain is to be regarded as effectively connected with the PRC establishment and therefore included in its enterprise income tax filing, and would consequently be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. Where the underlying transfer relates to the immoveable properties in China or to equity investments in a PRC resident enterprise, which is not effectively connected to a PRC establishment of a non-resident enterprise, a PRC enterprise income tax at 10% would apply, subject to available preferential tax treatment under
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applicable tax treaties or similar arrangements, and the party who is obligated to make the transfer payments bears the withholding obligation. Pursuant to Bulletin 37, the withholding party shall declare and pay the withheld tax to the competent tax authority in the place where such withholding party is located within 7 days from the date of occurrence of the withholding obligation. Both Bulletin 37 and Bulletin 7 do 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.
Regulations on 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 in 2008, 2016 and 2017, or the VAT Regulation. 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, or MOF, on December 25, 1993 and subsequently amended on December 15, 2008 and October 28, 2011, and together with the VAT Regulation, the VAT Law. The PRC State Council approved, and the SAT and the MOF officially launched a pilot value-added tax reform program starting from January 1, 2012, or the Pilot Program, applicable to businesses in selected industries. Businesses in the Pilot Program would pay value-added tax instead of business tax. The Pilot Program was initiated in Shanghai, then further applied to ten additional regions such as Beijing and Guangdong province. 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 the 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%.
On April 4, 2018, Adjustment to Value-added Tax Rates issued by the Ministry of Finance and the SAT was promulgated by MOF and SAT, which came into effect on May 1, 2018, or the Bulletin 32. According to Bulletin 32, the VAT tax rates of 17% and 11% are changed to 16% and 10%, respectively. On March 20, 2019, the Ministry of Finance, State Taxation Administration and General Administration of Customs jointly promulgated the Announcement on Policies for Deeping the VAT Reform or Notice 39, which came into effect on April 1, 2019. Notice 39 further changes the VAT tax rates of 16% and 10% to 13% and 9%, respectively.
Regulations Relating to Anti-Monopoly
The SCNPC promulgated the Anti-Monopoly Law of the PRC, or the Anti-Monopoly Law, on August 30, 2007, which came into effect on August 1, 2008, reiterates that monopolistic conduct such as entering into monopoly agreements, abuse of dominant market position and concentration of undertakings that have the effect of eliminating or restricting competition are prohibited. Furthermore, a business operator with a dominant market position may not abuse its dominant market position to conduct acts such as selling commodities at unfairly high prices or buying commodities at unfairly low prices, selling products at prices below cost without any justifiable cause, and refusing to trade with a trading party without any justifiable cause. Sanctions for the violations of the prohibition on the abuse of dominant market position include an order to cease the relevant activities, confiscation of the illegal gains and fines (from 1% to 10% of sales revenue from the previous year).
On August 3, 2008, the State Council issued the Provisions of the State Council on the Thresholds for Declaring Concentration of Business Operators, and last amended and took effective on September 18, 2018. Pursuant to the Anti-Monopoly Law and such provisions, when a concentration of
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undertakings occurs and reaches any of the following thresholds, the undertakings concerned shall file a prior notification with the Anti-Monopoly agency (i.e., the SAMR), (i) the total global turnover of all operators participating in the transaction exceeded RMB10 billion in the preceding fiscal year and at least two of these operators each had a turnover of more than RMB400 million within China in the preceding fiscal year, or (ii) the total turnover within China of all the operators participating in the concentration exceeded RMB2 billion in the preceding fiscal year, and at least two of these operators each had a turnover of more than RMB400 million within China in the preceding fiscal year) are triggered, and no concentration shall be implemented until the Anti-Monopoly agency clears the Anti-Monopoly filing. Concentration of undertakings means any of the following: (i) merger of undertakings; (ii) acquisition of control over another undertaking by acquiring equity or assets; or (iii) acquisition of control over, or exercising decisive influence on, another undertaking by contract or by any other means.
On June 26, 2019, the SAMR issued the Interim Provisions on the Prohibitions of Acts of Abuse of Dominant Market Positions, which took effect on September 1, 2019 to further prevent and prohibit the abuse of dominant market positions. On February 7, 2021, the Anti-monopoly Commission of the State Council published the Guidelines on Anti-Monopoly Issues in Platform Economy, or the Platform Economy Anti-Monopoly Guidelines, which took effect on the same date. The Platform Economy Anti-Monopoly Guidelines set out detailed standards and rules in respect of definition of relevant markets, typical types of cartel activity and abusive behavior by the operators of Internet platform with market dominance, as well as merger control review procedures, which provide further guidelines for enforcement of Anti-Monopoly laws regarding online platform operators.
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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 |
||
Peng Zhao |
50 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Xin Xu |
54 | Director | ||
Haiyang Yu |
37 | Director | ||
Yu Zhang |
43 | Director and Chief Financial Officer | ||
Xu Chen |
45 | Director and Chief Marketing Officer | ||
Tao Zhang |
39 | Director and Chief Technology Officer | ||
Charles Zhaoxuan Yang* |
37 | Independent Director Appointee | ||
Yonggang Sun* |
51 | Independent Director Appointee |
Note:
* |
Each of Mr. Charles Zhaoxuan Yang and Mr. Yonggang Sun has accepted the appoinment as our independent director, effective upon SECs declaration of effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1 which this prospective is a part. |
Mr. Peng Zhao is the Founder of our company and has been our Chairman of the board and Chief Executive Officer since our inception. He founded our company and has guided our development and growth since then. Mr. Zhao has more than 16 years of experience in the internet industry and more than 22 years of experience in human resources services. He was the investor and Chief Executive Officer of Quickerbuy Inc., a service e-commerce platform, from March 2011 to August 2013. From May 2005 to July 2010, Mr. Zhao was at Zhaopin Ltd., a leading online recruitment platform, where he eventually became Chief Executive Officer. From September 1994 to April 2005, Mr. Zhao was mainly engaged in youth development research and volunteer projects in social organizations and worked as the director of the China Youth Volunteers Associations project development department from 1995 to 1997. He organized the College Student Volunteer Service in Western China Program, which is still in operation. Mr. Zhao received his bachelors degree in law from Peking University in 1994.
Ms. Xin Xu has served as our director since April 2015, and was appointed to our board of directors by our principal shareholders, CTG Evergreen Investment X Limited and CTG Evergreen Investment R Limited, pursuant to director appointment right under our eleventh amended and restated shareholders agreement. Ms. Xu is the founder of Capital Today Evergreen Fund, L.P. (together with its affiliates, Capital Today), a private equity firm. Ms. Xu has 25 years of experience in venture capital and growth capital investment in China and has led the investments in various companies including JD.com, Meituan, Yifeng Pharmacy Chain Co., Ltd., Three Squirrel Inc., BESTORE Co., Ltd. Prior to founding Capital Today in 2005, Ms. Xu worked at Baring Private Equity Asia Ltd. from 1998 to 2005 and served as a partner and China Head from 2001 to 2005. Prior to that, Ms. Xu was an investment manager at Peregrine Direct Investments from 1995 to 1998 and an accountant at Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP from 1992 to 1995. Ms. Xu is a governor of the China Venture Capital and Private Equity Association. She is also an honorary trustee of Nanjing University. Ms. Xu received a bachelors degree from Nanjing University in 1988.
Mr. Haiyang Yu has served as our director since July 2019, and was appointed to our board of directors by one of our principal shareholders, Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited, pursuant to
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director appointment right under our eleventh amended and restated shareholders agreement. Mr. Yu is currently a managing director at Tencent and a director of DouYu International Holdings Ltd (Nasdaq: DOYU). Mr. Yu served as an associate at China Growth Capital from April 2007 to February 2010, and an associate at WI Harper Group from March 2010 to August 2011. Mr. Yu received his bachelor of science degree majoring in civil engineering from Tsinghua University in 2005.
Mr. Yu Zhang has served as our Chief Financial Officer since September 2019 and as our director since May 2021. Mr. Zhang has over 15 years of research and investment experience in the technology, media and telecom industry. Prior to joining us, Mr. Zhang was a managing director of UBS Asset Management and was an analyst and deputy portfolio manager of China and Emerging Market Asia Equities from April 2010 to June 2019. Mr. Zhang was a consulting director of BDA, a China-based consulting firm, from January 2005 to March 2010, and an engineer at Ericsson from March 2001 to December 2004. Mr. Zhang graduated from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications in 2000.
Mr. Xu Chen has served as our Chief Marketing Officer since December 2016 and as our director since May 2021, and is in charge of our marketing, platform operation, and public relations functions. Mr. Chen has over 20 years of experience in marketing in the Greater China region. Prior to joining us, Mr. Chen was the vice president at Jiuxianwang, a China-based e-commerce company, from October 2015 to December 2016. Mr. Chen was the vice president of Sfbest from September 2014 to July 2015, and the vice president of ganji.com, a China-based classifieds site, from January 2011 to February 2012. From April 2001 to July 2010, Mr. Chen was at Zhaopin Ltd., where he became the vice president responsible for marketing in the Greater China region. Mr. Chen received his bachelors degree from Beijing Wuzi University.
Mr. Tao Zhang has served as our Chief Technology Officer since our inception and as our director since May 2021, and is in charge of our research and development and IT infrastructure. Mr. Zhang has over 14 years of experience in the software engineering and internet industry. Prior to joining us, Mr. Zhang was a technical manager of Renren Inc., a China-based social media platform from March 2011 to November 2013, and was a senior engineer of Baidu Inc., the leading Chinese language internet search provider, from July 2010 to March 2011. From April 2007 to July 2010, Mr. Zhang was a software engineer at IBM CSTL. Mr. Zhang received his bachelors degree from Beijing Information Science and Technology University and masters degree from Beihang University.
Mr. Charles Zhaoxuan Yang will serve as our independent director upon the SECs declaration of effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1, of which this prospectus is a part. Mr. Yang is the chief financial officer of NetEase, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTES) and an independent director of So-Young International Inc. (Nasdaq: SY). Prior to joining NetEase, Inc. in 2017, Mr. Yang was an executive director of the China technology, media and telecommunications, and corporate finance team at J.P. Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Limited based in Hong Kong and worked there for almost a decade. Mr. Yang holds a masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Hong Kong and a bachelors degree from Wesleyan University with majors in Economics and Mathematics. Mr. Yang is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the State of Michigan.
Mr. Yonggang Sun will serve as our independent director upon the SECs declaration of effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1, of which this prospectus is a part. Mr. Sun currently serves as a partner of Z-Park Fund. Prior to joining Z-Park Fund, Mr. Sun served as the vice president of Capital Steel Group Co., Ltd. from August 2010 to June 2017. From 2002 to 2010, Mr. Sun served as the general counsel of China Tietong Group Co., Ltd. Mr. Sun received his bachelors degree in law from Renmin University in 1993 and his LL.M. degree from Temple University in 2003.
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Board of Directors
Our board of directors will consist of eight 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 or her interest at a meeting of our directors. Subject to the Nasdaq rules and disqualification by the chairperson of the relevant board meeting, a director may vote with respect to any contract or transaction, or proposed contract or transaction notwithstanding that he or she may be interested therein, and if he or she does so his or her vote shall be counted and he or she 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 raise or borrow money, and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital or any part thereof, and to issue debentures or other securities whenever money is borrowed or as 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 will adopt a charter for each of the three committees. Each committees members and functions are described below.
Audit Committee. Our audit committee will consist of Charles Zhaoxuan Yang, Yonggang Sun and Yu Zhang. Charles Zhaoxuan Yang will be the chairperson of our audit committee. We have determined that Charles Zhaoxuan Yang and Yonggang Sun satisfy the independence requirements of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. We have determined that Charles Zhaoxuan Yang qualifies as an audit committee financial expert. 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:
|
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 Yonggang Sun, Charles Zhaoxuan Yang and Peng Zhao. Yonggang Sun will be the chairperson of our compensation committee. We have determined that Yonggang Sun and Charles Zhaoxuan Yang satisfy the
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independence requirements of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. 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 Charles Zhaoxuan Yang, Yonggang Sun and Peng Zhao. Charles Zhaoxuan Yang will be the chairperson of our nominating and corporate governance committee. We have determined that Charles Zhaoxuan Yang and Yonggang Sun satisfy the independence requirements of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. 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 the skill they actually possess and such care and diligence that a reasonably prudent person would 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 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.
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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, and as a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not required to hold annual elections of directors; |
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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 register of members. |
Terms of Directors and Officers
Our directors may be elected by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of our board of directors present and voting at a board meeting, or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. A director may be removed from office by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then in office (except with regard to the removal of the chairman, who may be removed from office by the affirmative vote of all directors), or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders (except with regard to the removal of the chairman, who may be removed from office by a special resolution). In addition, a director will cease to be a director if, among other things, the director (i) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his or her creditors; (ii) dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; (iii) resigns his or her office by notice in writing to our company, or (iv) is removed from office pursuant to any other provision of our articles of association.
Our officers are appointed by and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, and may be removed by 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. We may terminate employment for cause, at any time, without advance notice or remuneration, for certain acts of the executive officer, such as conviction or plea of guilty to a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude, negligent or dishonest acts to our detriment, or misconduct or a failure to perform agreed duties. We may also terminate an executive officers employment without cause upon 60-day advance written notice. In such case of termination by us, we will provide severance payments to the executive officer as may be agreed between the executive officer and us. 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 users or prospective users, 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 two years following the last date of employment. Specifically, each executive officer has agreed not to (i) approach our suppliers, clients, direct or end users 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 employment or services of, or hire or engage, any person who is known to be employed or engaged by us; or (iv) otherwise interfere with our business or accounts. 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 year ended December 31, 2020, we paid an aggregate of RMB7.1 million (US$1.1 million) in cash to our executive officers and nil to our non-executive directors. We have not set aside or accrued any amount to provide pension, retirement or other similar benefits to our directors and executive officers. Our PRC subsidiary and our 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.
Share Incentive Plan
Our 2020 Share Incentive Plan was adopted in September 2020 and amended and restated in May 2021. The maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares that may be issued under the 2020 Share Incentive Plan is 145,696,410, and upon the completion of this offering and commencing in 2022, it will be increased on the first day of each fiscal year by 1.5% of our total number of issued and outstanding shares on an as-converted basis on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar year; after five of such automatic annual increases, our board of directors will determine the amount of annual increases, if any, to the maximum number of ordinary shares issuable under the 2020 Share Incentive Plan.
The following paragraphs summarize the principal terms of the 2020 Share Incentive Plan.
Type of Awards. The 2020 Share Incentive Plan permits the awards of options, restricted share purchase rights, share appreciation rights and restricted shares.
Plan Administration. Our chairman of the board of directors or a committee authorized by our board of directors will administer the 2020 Share Incentive Plan. The committee or the full board of directors, as applicable, will determine, among others, the participants to receive awards, the number of shares to be covered by each award, the form of award agreements, and the terms and conditions of each award.
Award Agreement. Awards granted under the 2020 Share Incentive Plan are evidenced by a stock option agreement, restricted share purchase agreement or share award agreement, as applicable, 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 awardees employment or service terminates, and our authority to unilaterally or bilaterally modify or amend the award.
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Eligibility. We may grant awards to our employees, directors and consultants. However, inventive share options may be granted to our employees and employees of any of our subsidiaries only.
Vesting Schedule. In general, the plan administrator determines the vesting schedule, which is specified in the relevant award agreement.
Exercise of Awards. The plan administrator determines the exercise or purchase price, as applicable, and the time or times of exercise, for each award, which are stated in the relevant award agreement. However, the maximum exercisable term is ten years from the date of grant.
Transfer Restrictions. Awards may not be transferred in any manner by the participant other than in accordance with the exceptions provided in the 2020 Share Incentive Plan or the relevant award agreement or otherwise determined by the plan administrator, such as transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
Termination and Amendment. Unless terminated earlier, the 2020 Share Incentive Plan has a term of ten years from its date of effectiveness. Our board of directors may at any time amend, alter, suspend, or terminate the 2020 Share Incentive Plan and shall obtain shareholder approval of any plan amendment to the extent necessary to comply with or stock exchange rules, unless we decide to follow home country practice. However, no such action may adversely impair the rights of any awardee with respect to any outstanding award unless mutually agreed otherwise between the awardee and the plan administrator.
As of the date of this prospectus, our consultants and employees other than directors and executive officers hold options to purchase 102,214,203 Class A ordinary shares, with a weighted average exercise price of US$1.42 per share. The following table summarizes, as of the date of this prospectus, the number of options we have granted to our directors and executive officers. We have not granted other types of share incentive awards to our directors or executive officers.
Name |
Class A Ordinary
Shares Underlying Outstanding Options |
Average Exercise
Price (US$/Share) |
Date of Grant |
Date of Expiration |
||||||||
Yu Zhang |
8,016,280 | 0.77 |
September 2, 2019 to May 1, 2020 |
September 2, 2029 to May 1, 2030 | ||||||||
Xu Chen |
* | 1.58 | December 16, 2016 to February 18, 2021 | December 16, 2026 to February 18, 2031 | ||||||||
Tao Zhang |
* | 0.63 | March 2, 2014 to October 16, 2020 | March 2, 2024 to October 16, 2030 | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group |
18,895,232 | |||||||||||
|
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Note:
* |
Less than 1% of our total ordinary shares on an as-converted basis outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. |
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Except as specifically noted, the following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares on an as-converted basis 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 of our principal shareholders who beneficially own 5% or more of any class of our outstanding ordinary shares. |
The calculations in the table below are based on 679,154,619 ordinary shares outstanding (on an as-converted basis) as of the date of this prospectus, and Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares outstanding immediately after the completion of this offering, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs and including 24,745,531 Class B ordinary shares that we will issue to TECHWOLF LIMITED immediately after the listing of our ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
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 Immediately After This Offering |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A
ordinary shares on an as- converted basis |
% of Class A
ordinary shares on an as-converted basis |
Class B
ordinary shares |
% of
Class B ordinary shares |
Class A
Ordinary Shares |
Class B
Ordinary Shares |
% of total
ordinary shares on an as- converted basis |
% of
aggregate voting power |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Directors and Executive Officers**: |
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Peng Zhao(1) |
| | 140,830,401 | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Xin Xu(2) |
82,846,540 | 14.7 | % | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Haiyang Yu |
| | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yu Zhang |
* | * | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Xu Chen |
* | * | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tao Zhang |
* | * | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charles Zhaoxuan Yang |
| | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yonggang Sun |
| | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group |
91,745,772 | 16.0 | % | 140,830,401 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Principal Shareholders: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TECHWOLF LIMITED(1) |
| | 140,830,401 | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CTG Evergreen Investment entities(2) |
82,846,540 | 14.7 | % | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited(3) |
68,908,119 | 12.2 | % | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Banyan Partners Fund II, L.P.(4) |
52,703,553 | 9.4 | % | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ceyuan Ventures entities(5) |
49,156,782 | 8.7 | % | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC(6) |
44,088,705 | 7.8 | % | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Global Private Opportunities Partners II entities(7) |
41,280,390 | 7.3 | % | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GGV Capital entities(8) |
35,785,285 | 6.4 | % | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MSA China Fund I L.P.(9) |
32,319,393 | 5.7 | % | | |
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Notes:
* |
Aggregate number of shares account for less than 1% of our total ordinary shares on an as-converted basis outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. |
** |
Except as indicated otherwise below, the business address of our directors and executive officers is 18/F, GrandyVic Building, Taiyanggong Middle Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, Peoples Republic of China. |
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For each person or group included in this column, percentage of total voting power represents voting power based on both Class A and Class B ordinary shares held by such person or group with respect to all outstanding shares of our Class A and Class B ordinary shares as a single class. Each holder of our Class A ordinary shares is entitled to one vote per share. Each holder of our Class B ordinary shares is entitled to 15 votes per share. Our Class B ordinary shares are convertible at any time by the holder into Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis, while Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. |
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Each of Mr. Charles Zhaoxuan Yang and Mr. Yonggang Sun has accepted the appointment as our independent director, effective upon the SECs declaration of effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1 of which this prospectus is a part. |
(1) |
Represents 116,084,870 Class B ordinary shares held by TECHWOLF LIMITED, a British Virgin Islands company, and 24,745,531 Class B ordinary shares to be issued to TECHWOLF LIMITED at par value immediately after the listing of our ADSs. The entire interest in TECHWOLF LIMITED is held by a trust established by Mr. Peng Zhao as the settlor for the benefit of Mr. Zhao and his family. The registered office address of TECHWOLF LIMITED is Start Chambers, Wickhams Cay II, P.O. Box 2221, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. |
(2) |
Represents (i) 48,000,000 Series C preferred shares, 7,553,219 Series C-1 preferred shares, 3,832,358 Series C-3 preferred shares, 7,012,104 Series D preferred shares and 12,842,194 Series E preferred shares held by CTG Evergreen Investment X Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, and (ii) 1,163,369 Series C-1 preferred shares, 141,968 Series D preferred shares and 2,301,328 Series E preferred shares held by CTG Evergreen Investment R Limited, a British Virgin Islands company. Both CTG Evergreen Investment X Limited and CTG Evergreen Investment R Limited (the CTG Evergreen Investment entities) are controlled by Capital Today Evergreen Fund, L.P., whose general partner is Capital Today Evergreen GenPar LTD., a Cayman Islands company. Capital Today Evergreen GenPar LTD. is controlled by Ms. Xin Xu. The registered address of the CTG Evergreen Investment entities is 263 Main Street, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Ms. Xin Xu disclaims the beneficial ownership with respect to the shares held by the CTG Evergreen Investment entities except to the extent of her pecuniary interest therein. All the preferred shares held by the CTG Evergreen Investment entities will be automatically re-designated as Class A ordinary shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering. |
(3) |
Represents 3,752,934 Class A ordinary shares, 1,255,038 Series B preferred shares, 9,464,867 Series C-1 preferred shares, 3,257,504 Series C-3 preferred shares, 6,079,601 Series D preferred shares, 642,110 Series E preferred shares, 28,226,073 Series E-2 preferred shares and 16,229,992 Series F preferred shares held by Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong. Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited is a subsidiary of Tencent Holdings Limited, a public company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK: 0700). The registered address of Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited is 29/F., Three Pacific Place, No. 1 Queens Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong. All the preferred shares held by Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited will be automatically re-designated as Class A ordinary shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering. |
(4) |
Represents 1,396,043 Series C-1 preferred shares, 37,557,106 Series C-2 preferred shares, 1,916,179 Series C-3 preferred shares, 5,862,083 Series D preferred shares and 5,972,142 Series E preferred shares held by Banyan Partners Fund II, L.P., an exempted limited partnership formed under the law of the Cayman Islands. The general partner of Banyan Partners Fund II, L.P. is Banyan Partners II Ltd., a Cayman Islands company. Messrs. Zhen Zhang, Bin Yue and Xiang Gao are the shareholders of Banyan Partners II Ltd.. The registered address of Banyan Partners Fund II, L.P. is Intertrust Corporate Services (Cayman) Limited, 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9005, Cayman Islands. All the preferred shares held by Banyan Partners Fund II, L.P. will be automatically re-designated as Class A ordinary shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering. |
(5) |
Represents (i) 42,227,196 Series A preferred shares and 5,223,846 Series B preferred shares held by held by Ceyuan Ventures III, L.P., an exempted limited partnership formed under the law of the Cayman Islands, and (ii) 1,517,957 Series A preferred shares and 187,783 Series B preferred shares held by Ceyuan Ventures Advisors Fund III, LLC, a Cayman Islands company. Ceyuan Ventures III, L.P. and Ceyuan Ventures Advisors Fund III, LLC (the Ceyuan Ventures entities) are under the common control of Ceyuan Ventures Management III, LLC, which is the general partner of Ceyuan Ventures III, L.P. and sole director of Ceyuan Ventures Advisors III, LLC. Mr. Bo Feng holds 100% of the voting power in Ceyuan Ventures Management III, LLC. The registered address of the Ceyuan Ventures entities is c/o Maples Corporate Services Limited, P.O. Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. All the preferred shares held by the Ceyuan Ventures entities will be automatically re-designated as Class A ordinary shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering. |
(6) |
Represents 4,122,853 Class A ordinary shares, 32,459,984 Series F preferred shares and 7,505,868 Series F+ preferred shares held by Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC is managed by Coatue Management, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, as the investment manager. The sole owner of Coatue Management, L.L.C. is Coatue Management Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership. Coatue Management Partners |
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GP L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, serves as the general partner of Coatue Management Partners L.P.. Mr. Philippe Laffont serves as managing member of Coatue Management Partners GP L.L.C.. The business address of Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC is 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, Delaware 19808. All the preferred shares held by Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC will be automatically re-designated as Class A ordinary shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering. |
(7) |
Represents (i) 19,738,796 Series D preferred shares held by Global Private Opportunities Partners II LP (GPOP II LP), a Delaware limited partnership, and (ii) 21,541,594 Series D preferred shares held by Global Private Opportunities Partners II Offshore Holdings LP, an exempted limited partnership formed under the law of the Cayman Islands (GPOP II Offshore and together with GPOP II LP, the GPOP Entities). GS Investment Strategies, LLC (GSIS), a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Delaware, is the investment manager of the GPOP Entities, and is wholly owned by GSAM Holdings LLC, a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Delaware, which is wholly owned by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Delaware. The address for each of the GPOP Entities is 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282. All the preferred shares held by the GPOP Entities will be automatically re-designated as Class A ordinary shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering. |
(8) |
Represents (i) 557,649 Series C-1 preferred shares, 68,050 Series D preferred shares, 19,570,403 Series E preferred shares and 899,463 Series F+ preferred shares held by GGV Capital VI Plus L.P., an exempted limited partnership formed under the law of the Cayman Islands, (ii) 12,311,525 Series E preferred shares and 899,463 Series F+ preferred shares held by GGV Capital VI L.P., an exempted limited partnership formed under the law of the Cayman Islands, and (iii) 24,036 Series C-1 preferred shares, 2,934 Series D preferred shares, 1,374,221 Series E preferred shares and 77,541 Series F+ preferred shares held by GGV Capital VI Entrepreneurs Fund L.P., an exempted limited partnership formed under the law of the Cayman Islands. GGV Capital VI Plus L.P., GGV Capital VI L.P. and GGV Capital VI Entrepreneurs Fund L.P. (the GGV Capital entities) are controlled by five individuals, including Jixun Foo, Jenny Hongwei Lee, Jeffrey Gordon Richards, Glenn Brian Solomon and Hans Tung, who have the shared voting and investment control over the shares held by the GGV Capital entities. The business address of all the GGV entities is Suite 4-230, 3000 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025. All the preferred shares held by the GGV Capital entities will be automatically re-designated as Class A ordinary shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering. |
(9) |
Represents 26,666,666 Series B preferred shares, 4,694,638 Series C-2 preferred shares and 958,089 Series C-3 preferred shares held by MSA China Fund I L.P., an exempted limited partnership formed under the law of the Cayman Islands. MSA China Fund I L.P. is managed by its general partner, Magic Stone Alternative Private Equity Fund GP, Ltd., which is controlled by MSA Management Holding Pte. Ltd.. MSA Management Holding Pte. Ltd. is controlled by Ms. Zeng Yu. The registered address of MSA China Fund I L.P. is 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9005, Cayman Islands. All the preferred shares held by the MSA China Fund I L.P. will be automatically re-designated as Class A ordinary shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering. |
As of the date of this prospectus, 4,122,853 of our Class A ordinary shares and 59,704,648 of our preferred shares, which will be converted into our Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis upon completion of this offering, are held by record holders in the United States, representing 9.4% of our total outstanding ordinary shares on an as-converted basis in total.
Global Private Opportunities Partners II Offshore Holdings LP and Global Private Opportunities Partners II LP, both of which are our shareholders, are affiliated with Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., a FINRA member.
We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our company.
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Contractual Arrangements with Our VIE and its Shareholders
See Corporate History and Structure.
Shareholders Agreement
See Description of Share CapitalHistory of Securities Issuances.
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
See ManagementEmployment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements.
Share Incentive Plan
See ManagementShare Incentive Plan.
Transactions with Our Shareholders and Related Entities
Transactions with Mr. Peng Zhao and entities wholly owned by him. Mr. Peng Zhao is our Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. In 2018, we provided an interest-free, unsecured loan in the amount of RMB0.9 million to Mr. Zhao with a term of one year, which was extended for another year in 2019 and again in 2020 upon its original maturity date. In 2019, we provided an interest-free, unsecured loan in the amount of RMB24.9 million to Mr. Zhao with a term of one year, which was extended for another year in 2020 upon its original maturity date. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, the outstanding balance of loans provided to Mr. Zhao was RMB30.7 million and RMB30.7 million (US$4.7 million), respectively. In March 2021, these loans were settled in full by Mr. Zhao. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, we had amount due from entities wholly owned by Mr. Zhao in the amount of RMB0.4 million and RMB0.4 million, respectively. In March 2021, the entities wholly owned by Mr. Zhao fully settled such amount they owed us.
Transactions with Mr. Tao Zhang. Mr. Tao Zhang is our Chief Technology Officer. In 2019, we provided an interest-free, unsecured loan in the amount of RMB5.1 million to Mr. Zhang with a term of one year, which was extended for another year in 2020 upon its original maturity date. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, the outstanding balance of the loan remained unchanged at RMB5.1 million (US$0.8 million). In March 2021, the loan was settled in full by Mr. Zhang.
Transactions with Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited. Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited (IFI) is one of our major shareholders. IFIs parent company, Tencent Holdings Ltd., sells cloud services and online payment platform clearing service to us, and we incur prepaid service fees in connection with such services. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 and the three months ended March 31, 2021, the expenses we incurred for such services totaled RMB2.9 million, RMB8.0 million (US$1.2 million) and RMB4.4 million (US$0.7 million), respectively.
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We are a Cayman Islands company and our affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, and the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, which we refer to as the Companies Act below, and the common law of the Cayman Islands.
As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized share capital is US$150,000 divided into 1,500,000,000 shares, comprising of (i) 827,539,829 Class A ordinary shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (ii) 121,108,037 Class B ordinary shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (iii) 60,000,000 Series A preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (iv) 40,000,000 Series B preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (v) 48,000,000 Series C preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (vi) 45,319,316 Series C-1 preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (vii) 42,251,744 Series C-2 preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (viii) 11,497,073 Series C-3 preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (ix) 60,856,049 Series D preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (x) 83,474,263 Series E preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (xi) 32,373,031 Series E-1 preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (xii) 28,226,073 Series E-2 preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (xiii) 48,689,976 Series F preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, and (ix) 50,664,609 Series F+ preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each. As of the date of this prospectus, 127,802,485 ordinary shares and 551,352,134 preferred shares are issued and outstanding.
Immediately prior to the completion of this offering, our authorized share capital will be changed into US$200,000 divided into 2,000,000,000 shares comprising of (i) 1,750,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, (ii) 200,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001, and (iii) 50,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors may determine in accordance with our post-offering memorandum and articles of association. Immediately prior to the completion of this offering, all of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares and preferred shares will be converted into, and/or re-designated and re-classified, as Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis, save and except that the 116,084,870 Class B ordinary shares held by TECHWOLF LIMITED will continue to be Class B ordinary shares. Following such conversion and/or re-designation and upon the completion of this offering, we will have Class A ordinary shares issued and outstanding and Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs and including 24,745,531 Class B ordinary shares that we will issue to TECHWOLF LIMITED immediately after the listing of our ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. All of our shares issued and outstanding prior to the completion of the offering 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 of Association
Our shareholders have conditionally adopted a fourteenth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, which will become effective and replace our current thirteenth 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 our post-offering memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Act insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares that we expect will become effective upon the closing of this offering.
Objects of Our Company. Under our post-offering 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 Cayman Islands law.
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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. Our ordinary shares are issued in registered form and are issued when registered in our register of members (shareholders). We may not issue shares to bearer. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their shares.
Conversion. Class B ordinary shares may be converted into the same number of Class A ordinary shares by the holders thereof at any time, while Class A ordinary shares cannot be converted into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. Upon any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of Class B ordinary shares by a holder thereof to any person other than Mr. Peng Zhao, our Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, one of his affiliates or a Founder Affiliate as defined in our post-offering memorandum and articles of association (Permissible Transferee), or upon a change of ultimate beneficial ownership of any Class B ordinary share to any person who is not a Permissible Transferee, such Class B ordinary shares shall be automatically and immediately converted into the same number of Class A ordinary shares.
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 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. 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 our company. Each Class A ordinary share shall be entitled to one vote on all matters subject to the vote at general meetings of our company, and each Class B ordinary share shall be entitled to 15 votes on all matters subject to the vote at general meetings of our company. Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by show of hands unless a poll is demanded. A poll may be demanded by the chairperson 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 cast at a meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of the votes cast attaching to the outstanding ordinary shares at a meeting. 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. Our shareholders may, among other things, divide or combine their shares by ordinary resolution.
General Meetings of Shareholders. As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obliged by the Companies Act to call shareholders annual general meetings. Our post-offering 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 a majority of our board of directors. Advance notice of at least seven calendar days is required for the convening of our annual general
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shareholders meeting (if any) and any other general meeting of our shareholders. A quorum required for any general meeting of shareholders consists of at least one shareholder present or by proxy, representing not less than one-third of all votes attaching to the issued and outstanding shares in our company entitled to vote at general meeting.
The Companies Act 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 memorandum and articles of association provide that upon the requisition of any one or more of our shareholders who together hold shares which carry in aggregate not less than one-third of all votes attaching to the issued and outstanding shares of our company that as at the date of the deposit carry the right to vote at general meetings of our company, our board will convene an extraordinary general meeting and put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting. However, our post-offering 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 the usual or common form or any other form approved by our board of directors.
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 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 Global Select Market 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 Global Select Market, 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 calendar days in any calendar year.
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
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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 share capital, such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, 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 moneys unpaid on their shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least fourteen calendar 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 manner as may be determined, before the issue of such shares, by either our board of directors or by our shareholders by an ordinary resolution. 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 Act, 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 Act 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 class of shares, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any class of shares, may be materially and adversely varied with the consent in writing of the holders of at least two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of an ordinary resolution passed by a simple majority of the votes cast at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of the class. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued shall not, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to the shares of that class, be deemed to be materially and adversely varied by the creation, allotment or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with or subsequent to such existing class of shares.
Issuance of Additional Shares. Our post-offering memorandum and articles of association authorize 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 memorandum and articles of association also authorize 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.
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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 (save for our memorandum and articles of association and our register of mortgages and charges). However, we will provide our shareholders with annual audited financial statements. See Where You Can Find Additional Information.
Anti-Takeover Provisions. Some provisions of our post-offering 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. |
However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our post-offering 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 Act. The Companies Act 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).
Exclusive Forum. Unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, if the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a particular dispute, the state courts in New York County, New York) shall be the exclusive forum within the United States for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising out of or relating in any way to the federal securities laws of the United States, regardless of whether such legal suit, action, or proceeding also involves parties other than us. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any share or
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other securities in our company, or purchasing or otherwise acquiring American depositary shares issued pursuant to deposit agreements, cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to claims arising under the Securities Act and shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this exclusive forum provision. Without prejudice to the foregoing, if this exclusive forum provision is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, the legality, validity or enforceability of the rest of articles of association shall not be affected and this exclusive forum provision shall be interpreted and construed to the maximum extent possible to apply in the relevant jurisdiction with whatever modification or deletion may be necessary so as best to give effect to our intention.
Differences in Corporate Law
The Companies Act 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 Act and the current Companies Act of England. In addition, the Companies Act 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 Act applicable to us and the comparable laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements. The Companies Act permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes, (i) 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 (ii) 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 declaration 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.
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 Islands constituent company who dissents from the merger or consolidation is entitled to payment of the fair value of his or her shares upon dissenting to the merger or consolidation, provide the dissenting shareholder complies strictly with the procedures set out in the Companies Act. The exercise of such dissenter rights will preclude the exercise by the dissenting shareholder of any other rights to which he or she might
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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 Act 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, or the Grand Court. While a dissenting shareholder or creditor has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the Grand Court will usually consider that the affected stakeholders (shareholders and/or creditors affected by the scheme) of the company are the best judges of their own commercial interests and will typically sanction the scheme provided that the prescribed procedures have been followed and the requisite statutory majorities have been achieved at the scheme meetings.
The Grand Court will typically consider the following factors in exercising its discretion as to whether to sanction the scheme:
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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; and |
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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. |
The Companies Act also contains a statutory power of compulsory acquisition which may facilitate the squeeze out of dissentient minority shareholder upon a tender offer. When a takeover 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 may 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 is thus approved, or if a takeover offer is made and accepted, 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, it is possible that a non-controlling shareholder may be permitted to commence a class action against and/or derivative actions in the name of the company to challenge:
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an act which is illegally or ultra vires with respect to the company and is therefore incapable of ratification by the majority shareholders; |
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an act which constitutes an infringement of individual rights of shareholders, including, but not limited to the right to vote and pre-emption rights; |
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the act which, although not ultra vires, requires authorization by a qualified (or special) majority (that is, more than a simple majority) which majority has not been obtained; and |
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an act which constitutes a fraud on the minority where the wrongdoers are themselves in control of the company. |
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 memorandum and articles of association provide that 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, wilful 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 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 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 exercise the skill they actually possess and such care and diligence that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable
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circumstances. 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 memorandum and articles of association provide that our 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 that 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 Act 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 memorandum and articles of association allow any one or more of our shareholders holding shares which carry in aggregate not less than one-third of the total number votes attaching to all issued and the outstanding shares of our company that as at the date of the deposit carry the right 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 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 a Cayman Islands exempted 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 memorandum and articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting.
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 issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our post-offering memorandum and articles of association, directors may be removed with or without cause, by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. A director will also cease to be a director if he (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; (iv) without special leave of absence from our board, is absent from meetings of our board for three consecutive meetings and our board resolves that his office be vacated; or (v) is removed from office pursuant to any other provision of our articles of association.
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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 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 shares 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, the directors of a company are required to comply with fiduciary duties which they owe to the company under Cayman Islands law, including the duty to ensure that, in their opinion, such transactions must be entered into bona fide in the best interests of the company and for a proper corporate purpose 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 either an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands or by the board of directors.
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 in general meeting. 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 more than one class of shares, 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 and adversely varied with the consent in writing of the holders of at least two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of an ordinary resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. 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 and adversely varied by 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 and 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.
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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 Act and our post-offering memorandum and articles of association, our memorandum and articles of association may only be amended by special resolution of our shareholders.
Rights of Non-resident or Foreign Shareholders. There are no limitations imposed by our post-offering 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 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.
Ordinary Shares
On August 21, 2020, we issued and sold 4,122,853 Class A ordinary shares to Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC for a total consideration of US$11.4 million.
On November 27, 2020, we issued 24,780,971 Class B ordinary shares to TECHWOLF LIMITED at a par value of US$0.0001 per share.
On March 31, 2021, we repurchased 1,181,339 Class B ordinary shares from TECHWOLF LIMITED for a total consideration of US$6.3 million.
Preferred Shares
On December 18, 2018, we issued (i) 12,311,525 Series E preferred shares to GGV Capital VI L.P., (ii) 530,669 Series E preferred shares to GGV Capital VI Entrepreneurs Fund L.P., (iii) 19,263,291 Series E preferred shares to GGV Capital VI Plus L.P., (iv) 3,350,528 Series E preferred shares to Global Private Opportunities Partners II Offshore Holdings LP, (v) 3,070,569 Series E preferred shares to Global Private Opportunities Partners II LP, (vi) 3,210,549 Series E preferred shares to Banyan Partners Fund II, L.P., (vii) 9,631,646 Series E preferred shares to Shenzhen Hina New Economic Equity Investment Fund Partnership (Limited Partnership), (viii) 8,989,536 Series E preferred shares to Hina Group Fund V, L.P., (ix) 6,421,097 Series E preferred shares to Magic Stone Special Opportunity Fund VIII L.P., (x) 12,842,194 Series E preferred shares to CTG Evergreen Investment X Limited, (xi) 642,110 Series E preferred shares to Shunwei Technology III Limited, and (xii) 3,210,549 Series E preferred shares to DELICATE MASTER LIMITED for a total consideration of US$130.0 million.
On March 8, 2019, we issued 14,715,014 Series E+ preferred shares to INSPIRING LINK LIMITED for a total consideration of US$25.0 million. These Series E+ preferred shares were re-designated as Series E-1 preferred shares on July 4, 2019.
On June 3, 2019, we issued 17,658,017 Series E+ preferred shares to Sunshine Life Insurance Corporation Limited for a total consideration of US$30.0 million. These Series E+ preferred shares were re-designated as Series E-1 preferred shares on July 4, 2019.
On July 4, 2019, we issued 28,226,073 Series E-2 preferred shares to Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited for a total consideration of US$50.0 million.
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On February 10, 2020, we issued (i) 32,459,984 Series F preferred shares to Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC and (ii) 16,229,992 Series F preferred shares to Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited for a total consideration of US$150.0 million.
On November 27, 2020, we issued (i) 18,764,670 Series F+ preferred shares to SCC Growth VI Holdco E, Ltd., (ii) 18,764,670 Series F+ preferred shares to Internet Fund VI PTE. LTD., (iii) 7,505,868 Series F+ preferred shares to Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC, (iv) 3,752,934 Series F+ preferred shares to Huaxing Growth Capital III, L.P., (v) 899,463 Series F+ preferred shares to GGV Capital VI L.P., (vi) 77,541 Series F+ preferred shares to GGV Capital VI Entrepreneurs Fund L.P., and (vii) 899,463 Series F+ preferred shares to GGV Capital VI Plus L.P. for a total consideration of US$270.0 million.
Grant of Options
During the past three years, we have granted options to certain of our employees and consultants. The aggregate number of outstanding options issued in the past three years is 73,450,765. See ManagementShare Incentive Plan.
Shareholders Agreement
We entered into our eleventh amended and restated shareholders agreement with our shareholders in November 2020. The eleventh amended and restated shareholders agreement provides for certain shareholders rights, including information and inspection rights, rights to appoint directors or observers on our board of directors, preemptive rights, right of first refusal and co-sale rights, and contains provisions governing our board of directors and other corporate governance matters. The special rights other than certain registration rights, as well as the corporate governance provisions, will automatically terminate upon the completion of this offering. For the complete text of the eleventh amended and restated shareholders agreement, please see the copy filed as an exhibit to the registration statement filed with the SEC, of which this prospectus is a part.
Registration Rights
We have granted certain registration rights to our shareholders. Set forth below is a description of the registration rights granted under the eleventh amended and restated shareholders agreement.
Demand Registration Rights. (i) Holders of registrable securities holding 50% or more of the then outstanding registrable securities after the fifth anniversary of the closing date of the sale and issuance of our Series F+ preferred shares or (ii) holders of registrable securities holding at least 30% of the then outstanding registrable securities after six months following the effective date of the registration statement for this offering may request in writing for us to effect a registration of the registrable securities under the Securities Act of such requesting shareholders registrable securities on a form other than F-3, if such registrable securities represent at least 20% of the total registrable securities (or any lesser percentage if the anticipated gross proceeds from the offering are at least US$20 million). Upon receipt of such a request, we shall give notice of such requested registration to all other shareholders within 10 business days and shall use our commercially reasonable efforts to effect, as soon as practicable, the registration under the Securities Act of all registrable securities for which the requesting shareholder has requested registration and all other registrable securities that other shareholders request us to register within 20 days after receipt of the notice. We are not obligated to effect more than a total of two demand registrations and in no event shall we be required to effect more than one demand registration within any six-month period. We shall pay all registration expenses in connection with each demand registration.
Registration on Form F-3. Holders of a majority of our outstanding registrable securities may request us in writing to file a registration statement on Form F-3. We shall effect the registration of the
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securities on Form F-3 as soon as practicable using our reasonable best efforts. We are not obligated to effect more than one registration on Form F-3 during any 12-month period.
Piggyback Registration Rights. If we propose to file a registration statement for a public offering of our securities, we must offer shareholders an opportunity to include in the registration all or any part of the registrable securities held by such holders. 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, and the number of shares that may be included in the registration and the underwriting shall be allocated to each holder requesting inclusion of its 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 that at least 25% of the registrable securities requested by the holders to be included in the underwriting and registration shall be so included, and all shares that are not registrable securities shall first be excluded from such registration and underwriting before any registrable securities are so excluded.
Expenses of Registration. We will bear all registration expenses in connection with any demand, piggyback or Form F-3 registration, other than the selling expenses or other amounts payable to underwriters, brokers or the depositary bank in connection with such offering by the holders.
Termination of Registration Rights. The registration rights will terminate with respect to any holder of registrable securities upon the earlier of: (i) the date that is that is the third anniversary following the completion of this offering, and (ii) when all registrable securities held by that shareholder may be sold without restriction under Rule 144 within any 90-day period.
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
[Citibank, N.A. has agreed to act as the depositary for the American Depositary Shares. Citibanks depositary offices are located at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013. American Depositary Shares are frequently referred to as ADSs and represent ownership interests in securities that are on deposit with the depositary. ADSs may be represented by certificates that are commonly known as American Depositary Receipts or ADRs. The depositary typically appoints a custodian to safekeep the securities on deposit. In this case, the custodian is Citibank, N.A.Hong Kong, located at 9/F Citi Tower, One Bay East, 83 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
We have appointed Citibank as depositary pursuant to a deposit agreement. A copy of the deposit agreement is on file with the SEC under cover of a Registration Statement on Form F-6. You may obtain a copy of the deposit agreement from the SECs Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 and from the SECs website (www.sec.gov). Please refer to Registration Number 333- when retrieving such copy.
We are providing you with a summary description of the material terms of the ADSs and of your material rights as an owner of ADSs. Please remember that summaries by their nature lack the precision of the information summarized and that the rights and obligations of an owner of ADSs will be determined by reference to the terms of the deposit agreement and not by this summary. We urge you to review the deposit agreement in its entirety. The portions of this summary description that are italicized describe matters that may be relevant to the ownership of ADSs but that may not be contained in the deposit agreement.
Each ADS represents the right to receive, and to exercise the beneficial ownership interests in, Class A ordinary share(s) that are on deposit with the depositary and/or custodian. An ADS also represents the right to receive, and to exercise the beneficial interests in, any other property received by the depositary or the custodian on behalf of the owner of the ADS but that has not been distributed to the owners of ADSs because of legal restrictions or practical considerations. We and the depositary may agree to change the ADS-to-Class A ordinary share ratio by amending the deposit agreement. This amendment may give rise to, or change, the depositary fees payable by ADS owners. The custodian, the depositary and their respective nominees will hold all deposited property for the benefit of the holders and beneficial owners of ADSs. The deposited property does not constitute the proprietary assets of the depositary, the custodian or their nominees. Beneficial ownership in the deposited property will under the terms of the deposit agreement be vested in the beneficial owners of the ADSs. The depositary, the custodian and their respective nominees will be the record holders of the deposited property represented by the ADSs for the benefit of the holders and beneficial owners of the corresponding ADSs. A beneficial owner of ADSs may or may not be the holder of ADSs. Beneficial owners of ADSs will be able to receive, and to exercise beneficial ownership interests in, the deposited property only through the registered holders of the ADSs, the registered holders of the ADSs (on behalf of the applicable ADS owners) only through the depositary, and the depositary (on behalf of the owners of the corresponding ADSs) directly, or indirectly, through the custodian or their respective nominees, in each case upon the terms of the deposit agreement.
If you become an owner of ADSs, you will become a party to the deposit agreement and therefore will be bound to its terms and to the terms of any ADR that represents your ADSs. The deposit agreement and the ADR specify our rights and obligations as well as your rights and obligations as an owner of ADSs and those of the depositary. As an ADS holder you appoint the depositary to act on your behalf in certain circumstances. The deposit agreement and the ADRs are governed by New York law. However, our obligations to the holders of Class A ordinary shares will continue to be governed by the laws of the Cayman Islands, which may be different from the laws in the United States.
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In addition, applicable laws and regulations may require you to satisfy reporting requirements and obtain regulatory approvals in certain circumstances. You are solely responsible for complying with such reporting requirements and obtaining such approvals. Neither the depositary, the custodian, us or any of their or our respective agents or affiliates shall be required to take any actions whatsoever on your behalf to satisfy such reporting requirements or obtain such regulatory approvals under applicable laws and regulations.
As an owner of ADSs, we will not treat you as one of our shareholders and you will not have direct shareholder rights. The depositary will hold on your behalf the shareholder rights attached to the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs. As an owner of ADSs you will be able to exercise the shareholders rights for the Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs through the depositary only to the extent contemplated in the deposit agreement. To exercise any shareholder rights not contemplated in the deposit agreement you will, as an ADS owner, need to arrange for the cancellation of your ADSs and become a direct shareholder.
The manner in which you own the ADSs (e.g., in a brokerage account vs. as registered holder, or as holder of certificated vs. uncertificated ADSs) may affect your rights and obligations, and the manner in which, and extent to which, the depositarys services are made available to you. As an owner of ADSs, you may hold your ADSs either by means of an ADR registered in your name, through a brokerage or safekeeping account, or through an account established by the depositary in your name reflecting the registration of uncertificated ADSs directly on the books of the depositary (commonly referred to as the direct registration system or DRS). The direct registration system reflects the uncertificated (book-entry) registration of ownership of ADSs by the depositary. Under the direct registration system, ownership of ADSs is evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary to the holders of the ADSs. The direct registration system includes automated transfers between the depositary and The Depository Trust Company (DTC), the central book-entry clearing and settlement system for equity securities in the United States. If you decide to hold your ADSs through your brokerage or safekeeping account, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or bank to assert your rights as ADS owner. Banks and brokers typically hold securities such as the ADSs through clearing and settlement systems such as DTC. The procedures of such clearing and settlement systems may limit your ability to exercise your rights as an owner of ADSs. Please consult with your broker or bank if you have any questions concerning these limitations and procedures. All ADSs held through DTC will be registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. This summary description assumes you have opted to own the ADSs directly by means of an ADS registered in your name and, as such, we will refer to you as the holder. When we refer to you, we assume the reader owns ADSs and will own ADSs at the relevant time.
The registration of the Class A ordinary shares in the name of the depositary or the custodian shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, vest in the depositary or the custodian the record ownership in the applicable Class A ordinary shares with the beneficial ownership rights and interests in such Class A ordinary shares being at all times vested with the beneficial owners of the ADSs representing the Class A ordinary shares. The depositary or the custodian shall at all times be entitled to exercise the beneficial ownership rights in all deposited property, in each case only on behalf of the holders and beneficial owners of the ADSs representing the deposited property.
Dividends and Distributions
As a holder of ADSs, you generally have the right to receive the distributions we make on the securities deposited with the custodian. Your receipt of these distributions may be limited, however, by practical considerations and legal limitations. Holders of ADSs will receive such distributions under the terms of the deposit agreement in proportion to the number of ADSs held as of the specified record date, after deduction of the applicable fees, taxes and expenses.
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Distributions of Cash
Whenever we make a cash distribution for the securities on deposit with the custodian, we will deposit the funds with the custodian. Upon receipt of confirmation of the deposit of the requisite funds, the depositary will arrange for the funds received in a currency other than U.S. dollars to be converted into U.S. dollars and for the distribution of the U.S. dollars to the holders, subject to the laws and regulations of the Cayman Islands.
The conversion into U.S. dollars will take place only if practicable and if the U.S. dollars are transferable to the United States. The depositary will apply the same method for distributing the proceeds of the sale of any property (such as undistributed rights) held by the custodian in respect of securities on deposit.
The distribution of cash will be made net of the fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit agreement. The depositary will hold any cash amounts it is unable to distribute in a non-interest bearing account for the benefit of the applicable holders and beneficial owners of ADSs until the distribution can be effected or the funds that the depositary holds must be escheated as unclaimed property in accordance with the laws of the relevant states of the United States.
Distributions of Class A Ordinary Shares
Whenever we make a free distribution of Class A ordinary shares for the securities on deposit with the custodian, we will deposit the applicable number of Class A ordinary shares with the custodian. Upon receipt of confirmation of such deposit, the depositary will either distribute to holders new ADSs representing the Class A ordinary shares deposited or modify the ADS-to-Class A ordinary shares ratio, in which case each ADS you hold will represent rights and interests in the additional Class A ordinary shares so deposited. Only whole new ADSs will be distributed. Fractional entitlements will be sold and the proceeds of such sale will be distributed as in the case of a cash distribution.
The distribution of new ADSs or the modification of the ADS-to-Class A ordinary shares ratio upon a distribution of Class A ordinary shares will be made net of the fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit agreement. In order to pay such taxes or governmental charges, the depositary may sell all or a portion of the new Class A ordinary shares so distributed.
No such distribution of new ADSs will be made if it would violate a law (e.g., the U.S. securities laws) or if it is not operationally practicable. If the depositary does not distribute new ADSs as described above, it may sell the Class A ordinary shares received upon the terms described in the deposit agreement and will distribute the proceeds of the sale as in the case of a distribution of cash.
Distributions of Rights
Whenever we intend to distribute rights to subscribe for additional Class A ordinary shares, we will give prior notice to the depositary and we will assist the depositary in determining whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to distribute rights to subscribe for additional ADSs to holders.
The depositary will establish procedures to distribute rights to subscribe for additional ADSs to holders and to enable such holders to exercise such rights if we request such rights be made available to holders of ADSs, it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make the rights available to holders of ADSs, and if we provide all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement (such as opinions to address the lawfulness of the transaction). You may have to pay fees, expenses, taxes and
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other governmental charges to subscribe for the new ADSs upon the exercise of your rights. The depositary is not obligated to establish procedures to facilitate the distribution and exercise by holders of rights to subscribe for new Class A ordinary shares other than in the form of ADSs.
The depositary will not distribute the rights to you if:
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We do not timely request that the rights be distributed to you or we request that the rights not be distributed to you; or |
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We fail to deliver satisfactory documents to the depositary; or |
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It is not reasonably practicable to distribute the rights. |
The depositary will sell the rights that are not exercised or not distributed if such sale is lawful and reasonably practicable. The proceeds of such sale will be distributed to holders as in the case of a cash distribution. If the depositary is unable to sell the rights, it will allow the rights to lapse.
Elective Distributions
Whenever we intend to distribute a dividend payable at the election of shareholders either in cash or in additional shares, we will give prior notice thereof to the depositary and will indicate whether we wish the elective distribution to be made available to you. In such case, we will assist the depositary in determining whether such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable.
The depositary will make the election available to you only if we request and it is reasonably practicable, and if we have provided all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement. In such case, the depositary will establish procedures to enable you to elect to receive either cash or additional ADSs, in each case as described in the deposit agreement.
If the election is not made available to you, you will receive either cash or additional ADSs, depending on what a shareholder in the Cayman Islands would receive upon failing to make an election, as more fully described in the deposit agreement.
Other Distributions
Whenever we intend to distribute property other than cash, Class A ordinary shares or rights to subscribe for additional Class A ordinary shares, we will notify the depositary in advance and will indicate whether we wish such distribution to be made to you. If so, we will assist the depositary in determining whether such distribution to holders is lawful and reasonably practicable.
If it is reasonably practicable to distribute such property to you and if we request such rights be made available to you and provide to the depositary all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement, the depositary will distribute the property to the holders in a manner it deems practicable.
The distribution will be made net of fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit agreement. In order to pay such taxes and governmental charges, the depositary may sell all or a portion of the property received.
The depositary will not distribute the property to you and will sell the property if:
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We do not request that the property be distributed to you or if we request that the property not be distributed to you; |
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We do not deliver satisfactory documents to the depositary; or |
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The depositary determines that all or a portion of the distribution to you is not reasonably practicable. |
The proceeds of such a sale will be distributed to holders as in the case of a cash distribution.
Redemption
Whenever we decide to redeem any of the securities on deposit with the custodian, we will notify the depositary in advance. If it is practicable and if we provide all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement, the depositary will provide notice of the redemption to the holders.
The custodian will be instructed to surrender the shares being redeemed against payment of the applicable redemption price. The depositary will convert into U.S. dollars upon the terms of the deposit agreement the redemption funds received in a currency other than U.S. dollars and will establish procedures to enable holders to receive the net proceeds from the redemption upon surrender of their ADSs to the depositary. You may have to pay fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges upon the redemption of your ADSs. If less than all ADSs are being redeemed, the ADSs to be retired will be selected by lot or on a pro rata basis, as the depositary may determine.
Changes Affecting Class A Ordinary shares
The Class A ordinary shares held on deposit for your ADSs may change from time to time. For example, there may be a change in nominal or par value, split-up, cancellation, consolidation or any other reclassification of such Class A ordinary shares or a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets of the Company.
If any such change were to occur, your ADSs would, to the extent permitted by law and the deposit agreement, represent the right to receive the property received or exchanged in respect of the Class A ordinary shares held on deposit. The depositary may in such circumstances deliver new ADSs to you, amend the deposit agreement, the ADRs and the applicable Registration Statement(s) on Form F-6, call for the exchange of your existing ADSs for new ADSs and take any other actions that are appropriate to reflect as to the ADSs the change affecting the Shares. If the depositary may not lawfully distribute such property to you, the depositary may sell such property and distribute the net proceeds to you as in the case of a cash distribution.
Issuance of ADSs upon Deposit of Class A Ordinary Shares
Upon completion of the offering, the Class A ordinary shares being offered pursuant to the prospectus will be deposited by us with the custodian. Upon receipt of confirmation of such deposit, the depositary will issue ADSs to the underwriters named in the prospectus.
After the closing of the offer, the depositary may create ADSs on your behalf if you or your broker deposit Class A ordinary shares with the custodian and provide the certifications and documentation required by the deposit agreement. The depositary will deliver these ADSs to the person you indicate only after you pay any applicable issuance fees and any charges and taxes payable for the transfer of the Class A ordinary shares to the custodian. Your ability to deposit Class A ordinary shares and receive ADSs may be limited by U.S. and Cayman Islands legal considerations applicable at the time of deposit.
The issuance of ADSs may be delayed until the depositary or the custodian receives confirmation that all required approvals have been given and that the Class A ordinary shares have been duly transferred to the custodian. The depositary will only issue ADSs in whole numbers.
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When you make a deposit of Class A ordinary shares, you will be responsible for transferring good and valid title to the depositary. As such, you will be deemed to represent and warrant that:
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The Class A ordinary shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and legally obtained. |
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All preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect to such Class A ordinary shares have been validly waived or exercised. |
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You are duly authorized to deposit the Class A ordinary shares. |
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The Class A ordinary shares presented for deposit are free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage or adverse claim, and are not, and the ADSs issuable upon such deposit will not be, restricted securities (as defined in the deposit agreement). |
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The Class A ordinary shares presented for deposit have not been stripped of any rights or entitlements. |
If any of the representations or warranties are incorrect in any way, we and the depositary may, at your cost and expense, take any and all actions necessary to correct the consequences of the misrepresentations.
Transfer, Combination and Split Up of ADRs
As an ADR holder, you will be entitled to transfer, combine or split up your ADRs and the ADSs evidenced thereby. For transfers of ADRs, you will have to surrender the ADRs to be transferred to the depositary and also must:
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ensure that the surrendered ADR is properly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer; |
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provide such proof of identity and genuineness of signatures as the depositary deems appropriate; |
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provide any transfer stamps required by the State of New York or the United States; and |
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pay all applicable fees, charges, expenses, taxes and other government charges payable by ADR holders pursuant to the terms of the deposit agreement, upon the transfer of ADRs. |
To have your ADRs either combined or split up, you must surrender the ADRs in question to the depositary with your request to have them combined or split up, and you must pay all applicable fees, charges and expenses payable by ADR holders, pursuant to the terms of the deposit agreement, upon a combination or split up of ADRs.
Withdrawal of Class A Ordinary Shares Upon Cancellation of ADSs
As a holder, you will be entitled to present your ADSs to the depositary for cancellation and then receive the corresponding number of underlying Class A ordinary shares at the custodians offices. Your ability to withdraw the Class A ordinary shares held in respect of the ADSs may be limited by U.S. and Cayman Islands law considerations applicable at the time of withdrawal. In order to withdraw the Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs, you will be required to pay to the depositary the fees for cancellation of ADSs and any charges and taxes payable upon the transfer of the Class A ordinary shares. You assume the risk for delivery of all funds and securities upon withdrawal. Once canceled, the ADSs will not have any rights under the deposit agreement.
If you hold ADSs registered in your name, the depositary may ask you to provide proof of identity and genuineness of any signature and such other documents as the depositary may deem appropriate
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before it will cancel your ADSs. The withdrawal of the Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs may be delayed until the depositary receives satisfactory evidence of compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Please keep in mind that the depositary will only accept ADSs for cancellation that represent a whole number of securities on deposit.
You will have the right to withdraw the securities represented by your ADSs at any time except for:
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Temporary delays that may arise because (i) the transfer books for the Class A ordinary shares or ADSs are closed, or (ii) Class A ordinary shares are immobilized on account of a shareholders meeting or a payment of dividends. |
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Obligations to pay fees, taxes and similar charges. |
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Restrictions imposed because of laws or regulations applicable to ADSs or the withdrawal of securities on deposit. |
The deposit agreement may not be modified to impair your right to withdraw the securities represented by your ADSs except to comply with mandatory provisions of law.
Voting Rights
As a holder, you generally have the right under the deposit agreement to instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights for the Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs. The voting rights of holders of Class A ordinary shares are described in Description of Share Capital.
At our request, the depositary will distribute to you any notice of shareholders meeting received from us together with information explaining how to instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights of the securities represented by ADSs. In lieu of distributing such materials, the depositary may distribute to holders of ADSs instructions on how to retrieve such materials upon request.
If the depositary timely receives voting instructions from a holder of ADSs, it will endeavor to vote the securities (in person or by proxy) represented by the holders ADSs as follows:
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In the event of voting by show of hands, the depositary will vote (or cause the custodian to vote) all Class A ordinary shares held on deposit at that time in accordance with the voting instructions received from a majority of holders of ADSs who provide timely voting instructions. |
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In the event of voting by poll, the depositary will vote (or cause the custodian to vote) the Class A ordinary shares held on deposit in accordance with the voting instructions received from the holders of ADSs. |
Securities for which no voting instructions have been received will not be voted (except (a) as set forth above in the case voting is by show of hands, (b) in the event of voting by poll, holders of ADSs in respect of which no timely voting instructions have been received shall be deemed to have instructed the depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to vote the Class A ordinary shares represented by such holders ADSs; provided, however, that no such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter to be voted upon as to which we inform the depositary that (i) we do not wish such proxy to be given, (ii) substantial opposition exists, or (iii) the rights of holders of Class A ordinary shares may be adversely affected, and (c) as otherwise contemplated in the deposit agreement). Please note that the ability of the depositary to carry out voting instructions may be limited by practical and legal limitations and the terms of the securities on deposit. We cannot assure you that you will receive voting materials in time to enable you to return voting instructions to the depositary in a timely manner.
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Fees and Charges
As an ADS holder, you will be required to pay the following fees under the terms of the deposit agreement:
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Fees |
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Issuance of ADSs (e.g., an issuance of ADS upon a deposit of Class A ordinary shares, upon a change in the ADS(s)-to-Class A ordinary share(s) ratio, or for any other reason), excluding ADS issuances as a result of distributions of Class A ordinary shares) |
Up to U.S.$0.05 per ADS issued | |
Cancellation of ADSs (e.g., a cancellation of ADSs for delivery of deposited property, upon a change in the ADS(s)-to-Class A ordinary share(s) ratio, or for any other reason) |
Up to U.S.$0.05 per ADS cancelled | |
Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions (e.g., upon a sale of rights and other entitlements) |
Up to U.S.$0.05 per ADS held | |
Distribution of ADSs pursuant to (i) stock dividends or other free stock distributions, or (ii) exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs |
Up to U.S.$0.05 per ADS held | |
Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights Up to U.S. per ADS held to purchase additional ADSs (e.g., upon a spin-off) |
Up to U.S.$0.05 per ADS held | |
ADS Services |
Up to U.S.$0.05 per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by the depositary | |
Registration of ADS transfers (e.g., upon a registration of the transfer of registered ownership of ADSs, upon a transfer of ADSs into DTC and vice versa, or for any other reason) |
Up to U.S.$0.05 per ADS (or fraction thereof) transferred | |
Conversion of ADSs of one series for ADSs of another series (e.g., upon conversion of Partial Entitlement ADSs for Full Entitlement ADSs, or upon conversion of Restricted ADSs (each as defined in the Deposit Agreement) into freely transferable ADSs, and vice versa). |
Up to U.S.$0.05 per ADS (or fraction thereof) converted |
As an ADS holder you will also be responsible to pay certain charges such as:
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taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges; |
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the registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of Class A ordinary shares on the share register and applicable to transfers of Class A ordinary shares to or from the name of the custodian, the depositary or any nominees upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively; |
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certain cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses; |
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the fees, expenses, spreads, taxes and other charges of the depositary and/or service providers (which may be a division, branch or affiliate of the depositary) in the conversion of foreign currency; |
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the reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the depositary in connection with foreign currency conversions, compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements; and |
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the fees, charges, costs and expenses incurred by the depositary, the custodian, or any nominee in connection with the ADR program. |
ADS fees and charges for (i) the issuance of ADSs, and (ii) the cancellation of ADSs are charged to the person for whom the ADSs are issued (in the case of ADS issuances) and to the person for whom ADSs are cancelled (in the case of ADS cancellations). In the case of ADSs issued by the depositary into DTC, the ADS issuance and cancellation fees and charges may be deducted from distributions made through DTC, and may be charged to the DTC participant(s) receiving the ADSs being issued or the DTC participant(s) holding the ADSs being cancelled, as the case may be, on behalf of the beneficial owner(s) and will be charged by the DTC participant(s) to the account of the applicable beneficial owner(s) in accordance with the procedures and practices of the DTC participants as in effect at the time. ADS fees and charges in respect of distributions and the ADS service fee are charged to the holders as of the applicable ADS record date. In the case of distributions of cash, the amount of the applicable ADS fees and charges is deducted from the funds being distributed. In the case of (i) distributions other than cash and (ii) the ADS service fee, holders as of the ADS record date will be invoiced for the amount of the ADS fees and charges and such ADS fees and charges may be deducted from distributions made to holders of ADSs. For ADSs held through DTC, the ADS fees and charges for distributions other than cash and the ADS service fee may be deducted from distributions made through DTC, and may be charged to the DTC participants in accordance with the procedures and practices prescribed by DTC and the DTC participants in turn charge the amount of such ADS fees and charges to the beneficial owners for whom they hold ADSs. In the case of (i) registration of ADS transfers, the ADS transfer fee will be payable by the ADS Holder whose ADSs are being transferred or by the person to whom the ADSs are transferred, and (ii) conversion of ADSs of one series for ADSs of another series, the ADS conversion fee will be payable by the Holder whose ADSs are converted or by the person to whom the converted ADSs are delivered.
In the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees, the depositary 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. Certain depositary fees and charges (such as the ADS services fee) may become payable shortly after the closing of the ADS offering. Note that the fees and charges you may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us and by the depositary. You will receive prior notice of such changes. The depositary may reimburse us for certain expenses incurred by us in respect of the ADR program, by making available a portion of the ADS fees charged in respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary agree from time to time.
Amendments and Termination
We may agree with the depositary to modify the deposit agreement at any time without your consent. We undertake to give holders 30 days prior notice of any modifications that would materially prejudice any of their substantial rights under the deposit agreement. We will not consider to be materially prejudicial to your substantial rights any modifications or supplements that are reasonably necessary for the ADSs to be registered under the Securities Act or to be eligible for book-entry settlement, in each case without imposing or increasing the fees and charges you are required to pay.
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In addition, we may not be able to provide you with prior notice of any modifications or supplements that are required to accommodate compliance with applicable provisions of law.
You will be bound by the modifications to the deposit agreement if you continue to hold your ADSs after the modifications to the deposit agreement become effective. The deposit agreement cannot be amended to prevent you from withdrawing the Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs (except as permitted by law).
We have the right to direct the depositary to terminate the deposit agreement. Similarly, the depositary may in certain circumstances on its own initiative terminate the deposit agreement. In either case, the depositary must give notice to the holders at least 30 days before termination. Until termination, your rights under the deposit agreement will be unaffected.
After termination, the depositary will continue to collect distributions received (but will not distribute any such property until you request the cancellation of your ADSs) and may sell the securities held on deposit. After the sale, the depositary will hold the proceeds from such sale and any other funds then held for the holders of ADSs in a non-interest bearing account. At that point, the depositary will have no further obligations to holders other than to account for the funds then held for the holders of ADSs still outstanding (after deduction of applicable fees, taxes and expenses).
In connection with any termination of the deposit agreement, the depositary may make available to owners of ADSs a means to withdraw the Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs and to direct the depositary of such Class A ordinary shares into an unsponsored American depositary share program established by the depositary. The ability to receive unsponsored American depositary shares upon termination of the deposit agreement would be subject to satisfaction of certain U.S. regulatory requirements applicable to the creation of unsponsored American depositary shares and the payment of applicable depositary fees and expenses.
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 ADSs and the deposit agreement.
The depositary will maintain in New York facilities to record and process the issuance, cancellation, combination, split-up and transfer of ADSs. These facilities may be closed from time to time, to the extent not prohibited by law.
Limitations on Obligations and Liabilities
The deposit agreement limits our obligations and the depositarys obligations to you. Please note the following:
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We and the depositary are obligated only to take the actions specifically stated in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith. |
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The depositary disclaims any liability for any failure to carry out voting instructions, for any manner in which a vote is cast or for the effect of any vote, provided it acts in good faith and in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement. |
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The depositary disclaims any liability for any failure to determine the lawfulness or practicality of any action, for the content of any document forwarded to you on our behalf or for the accuracy of any translation of such a document, for the investment risks associated with |
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investing in Class A ordinary shares, for the validity or worth of the Class A ordinary shares, for any tax consequences that result from the ownership of ADSs, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing any rights to lapse under the terms of the deposit agreement, for the timeliness of any of our notices or for our failure to give notice. |
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We and the depositary also disclaim any liability for any action or inaction of any clearing or settlement system (and any participant thereof) for the ADSs or deposited securities. |
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We and the depositary will not be obligated to perform any act that is inconsistent with the terms of the deposit agreement. |
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We and the depositary disclaim any liability if we or the depositary are prevented or forbidden from or subject 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, by reason of any provision, present or future of any law or regulation, or by reason of present or future provision of any provision of our memorandum and articles of association, or any provision of or governing the securities on deposit, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond our control. |
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We and the depositary disclaim any liability 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 in any provisions of or governing the securities on deposit. |
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We and the depositary further disclaim any liability for any action or inaction in reliance on the advice or information received from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any holder of ADSs or authorized representatives thereof, or any other person believed by either of us in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. |
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We and the depositary also disclaim liability for the inability by a holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit that is made available to holders of Class A ordinary shares but is not, under the terms of the deposit agreement, made available to you. |
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We and the depositary may rely without any liability upon any written notice, request or other document believed to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper parties. |
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We and the depositary also disclaim liability for any consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement. |
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No disclaimer of any Securities Act liability is intended by any provision of the deposit agreement. |
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Nothing in the deposit agreement gives rise to a partnership or joint venture, or establishes a fiduciary relationship, among us, the depositary and you as ADS holder. |
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Nothing in the deposit agreement precludes Citibank (or its affiliates) from engaging in transactions in which parties adverse to us or the ADS owners have interests, and nothing in the deposit agreement obligates Citibank to disclose those transactions, or any information obtained in the course of those transactions, to us or to the ADS owners, or to account for any payment received as part of those transactions. |
Taxes
You will be responsible for the taxes and other governmental charges payable on the ADSs and the securities represented by the ADSs. We, the depositary and the custodian may deduct from any distribution the taxes and governmental charges payable by holders and may sell any and all property on deposit to pay the taxes and governmental charges payable by holders. You will be liable for any deficiency if the sale proceeds do not cover the taxes that are due.
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The depositary may refuse to issue ADSs, to deliver, transfer, split and combine ADRs or to release securities on deposit until all taxes and charges are paid by the applicable holder. The depositary and the custodian may take reasonable administrative actions to obtain tax refunds and reduced tax withholding for any distributions on your behalf. However, you may be required to provide to the depositary and to the custodian proof of taxpayer status and residence and such other information as the depositary and the custodian may require to fulfill legal obligations. You are required to indemnify us, the depositary and the custodian for any claims with respect to taxes based on any tax benefit obtained for you.
Foreign Currency Conversion
The depositary will arrange for the conversion of all foreign currency received into U.S. dollars if such conversion is practical, and it will distribute the U.S. dollars in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement. You may have to pay fees and expenses incurred in converting foreign currency, such as fees and expenses incurred in complying with currency exchange controls and other governmental requirements.
If the conversion of foreign currency is not practical or lawful, or if any required approvals are denied or not obtainable at a reasonable cost or within a reasonable period, the depositary may take the following actions in its discretion:
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Convert the foreign currency to the extent practical and lawful and distribute the U.S. dollars to the holders for whom the conversion and distribution is lawful and practical. |
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Distribute the foreign currency to holders for whom the distribution is lawful and practical. |
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Hold the foreign currency (without liability for interest) for the applicable holders. |
Governing Law/Waiver of Jury Trial
The deposit agreement, the ADRs and the ADSs will be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. The rights of holders of Class A ordinary shares (including Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs) are governed by the laws of the Cayman Islands.
AS A PARTY TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, YOU IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOUR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR THE ADRs, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREIN, AGAINST US AND/OR THE DEPOSITARY.
Such waiver of your right to trial by jury would apply to any claim under U.S. federal securities laws. The waiver continues to apply to claims that arise during the period when a holder holds the ADSs, whether the ADS holder purchased the ADSs in this offering or secondary transactions, even if the ADS holder subsequently withdraws the underlying Class A ordinary shares. 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 applicable case in accordance with applicable case law. However, you will not be deemed, by agreeing to the terms of the deposit agreement, to have waived our or the depositarys compliance with U.S. federal securities laws or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Jurisdiction
We have agreed with the depositary that the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, if the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks subject
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matter jurisdiction over a particular dispute, state courts in New York County, New York) shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any dispute arising from or relating in any way to the deposit agreement.
The deposit agreement provides that, by holding an ADS or an interest therein, you irrevocably agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding against or involving us or the depositary arising out of or related in any way to the deposit agreement, the ADSs, the ADRs or the transactions contemplated thereby or by virtue of ownership thereof, may only be instituted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, if the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a particular dispute, in the state courts of New York County, New York), and by holding an ADS or an interest therein you irrevocably waive any objection which you may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. The deposit agreement also provides that the foregoing agreement and waiver shall survive your ownership of ADSs or interests therein.]
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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Upon completion of this offering, we will have ADSs outstanding, representing Class A ordinary shares or, % of our outstanding Class A and Class B ordinary shares, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs. 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 the ADSs in the public market could adversely affect prevailing market prices of the ADSs. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our ordinary shares or ADSs. We intend to apply to list the ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, 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 holders of options] have agreed, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, not to offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale, lend or otherwise dispose of, except in this offering, any of our ordinary shares or ADSs or securities that are substantially similar to our ordinary shares or ADSs, including but not limited to any options or warrants to purchase our ordinary shares, ADSs or any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, our ordinary shares, ADSs or any such substantially similar securities (other than pursuant to employee stock option plans existing on, or upon the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the date such lock-up agreement was executed), without the prior written consent of the representatives of the underwriters.
Other than this offering, we are not aware of any plans by any significant shareholders to dispose of significant numbers of the ADSs or ordinary shares. However, one or more existing shareholders or owners of securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for the ADSs or ordinary shares may dispose of significant numbers of the ADSs or ordinary shares in the future. We cannot predict what effect, if any, future sales of the ADSs or ordinary shares, or the availability of ADSs or ordinary shares for future sale, will have on the trading price of the ADSs from time to time. Sales of substantial amounts of the ADSs or ordinary shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the trading price of the ADSs.
Rule 144
All of our ordinary shares that will be issued and 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 Class A ordinary shares, in the form of ADSs or otherwise, which will equal Class A ordinary shares immediately after this offering; or |
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the average weekly trading volume of our Class A ordinary shares in the form of ADSs or otherwise, on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, 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 Cayman Islands, PRC and U.S. federal income tax considerations of an investment in the 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 considerations relating to an investment in the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, such as the tax considerations under U.S. state and local tax laws or under the tax laws of jurisdictions other than the Cayman Islands, the Peoples Republic of China and the United States. To the extent that the discussion relates to matters of Cayman Islands tax law, it represents the opinion of Harney Westwood & Riegels, our Cayman Islands counsel; to the extent it relates to PRC tax law, it is the opinion of Tian Yuan Law Firm, our PRC counsel.
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 in respect of our ordinary shares will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of our ordinary shares, nor will gains derived from the disposal of our ordinary shares be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.
Peoples Republic of China Taxation
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with a de facto management body within the PRC is considered a resident enterprise and will be subject to the enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on its global income. The implementation rules define the term de facto management body as the body that exercises full and substantial control over and overall management of the business, production, 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 forth in the circular may reflect the State Administration of Taxations general position on how the de facto management body test 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 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 the enterprises voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.
We believe that KANZHUN LIMITED is not a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. KANZHUN LIMITED is a company incorporated outside of the PRC. KANZHUN LIMITED is not
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controlled by a PRC enterprise or PRC enterprise group, and we do not believe that KANZHUN LIMITED meets all of the conditions above. For the same reasons, we believe our other entities outside of China are not PRC resident enterprises either. 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 us.
If the PRC tax authorities determine that KANZHUN LIMITED 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 the ADSs. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders (including the ADS holders) may be subject to a 10% PRC tax on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within the PRC. It is unclear whether our non-PRC individual shareholders (including the 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%. Any PRC tax imposed on dividends or gains may be subject to a reduction if a reduced rate is available under an applicable tax treaty. It is also unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of KANZHUN LIMITED would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that KANZHUN LIMITED is treated as a PRC resident enterprise.
Provided that our Cayman Islands holding company, KANZHUN LIMITED, is not deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise, holders of the ADSs and ordinary shares who are not PRC residents will not be subject to PRC income tax on dividends distributed by us or gains realized from the sale or other disposition of our ordinary shares or ADSs. However, under SAT Bulletin 7 and SAT Bulletin 37, where a non-resident enterprise conducts an indirect transfer by transferring taxable assets, including, in particular, equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise, being the transferor, or the transferee or the PRC entity which directly owned such taxable assets may report to the relevant tax authority such indirect transfer. Using a substance over form principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. We and our non-PRC resident investors may be at risk of being required to file a return and being taxed under SAT Bulletin 7 and SAT Bulletin 37, and we may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with SAT Bulletin 7 and SAT Bulletin 37, or to establish that we should not be taxed under these bulletins. See Risk FactorsRisks Relating to Doing Business in ChinaWe face uncertainty with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.
United States 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 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, and there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) or a court will not take a contrary position. This discussion, moreover, does not address the U.S. federal estate, gift or other non-income tax considerations, alternative minimum tax, the Medicare tax on certain net investment income, or any state, local or
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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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holders 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 ADSs or ordinary shares representing 10% or more of our stock (by vote or value); 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 law 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, it is generally expected that a U.S. Holder of ADSs will 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 (generally 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, at least 25% (by value) of the stock.
Although the law in this regard is not entirely clear, we treat our VIE 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. 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 our VIE 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 our VIE for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and based upon our current and projected income and assets including the expected cash proceeds from this offering, projections as to the value of our assets, and taking into account the projected market value of our ADSs following this offering, we do not expect to be a PFIC for the current taxable year or the foreseeable future. However, while we do not expect to be or become a PFIC, no assurance can be given in this regard because the determination of whether we will be or become a PFIC for any taxable year is a fact intensive determination made annually that depends, in part, upon the composition and classification of our income and assets. Fluctuations in the market price of our ADSs may cause us to be or become 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 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 the expected cash proceeds from, and our anticipated market capitalization following, this offering. If our market capitalization is less than anticipated or subsequently declines, we may be or become classified as a PFIC for the current taxable year or future taxable years. Furthermore, 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 revenues from activities that produce passive income significantly increase relative to our revenues from activities that produce non-passive income, or where we determine not to deploy significant amounts of cash for active purposes, our risk of being or becoming classified as a PFIC may substantially increase. Because
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there are uncertainties in the application of the relevant rules, and 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.
The discussion below under Dividends and Sale or Other Disposition is written on the basis that we will not be or become classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If we are classified as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares, the PFIC rules discussed below under Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules generally will apply to such U.S. Holder for such taxable year, and unless the U.S. Holder makes certain elections, will apply in future years even if we cease to be a PFIC.
Dividends
Any cash distributions (including the amount of any PRC tax withheld) paid on our ADSs or ordinary shares 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, the full amount of 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 generally allowed to corporations. Dividends received by individuals and certain other non-corporate U.S. Holders may be subject to tax 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 tradeable 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 benefits of the United States-PRC income tax treaty (the Treaty), (2) we are neither a PFIC nor treated as such with respect to such a U.S. Holder for the taxable year in which the dividend was paid and the preceding taxable year, and (3) certain holding period requirements are met. We expect our ADSs (but not our ordinary shares) are considered readily tradeable on an established securities market in the United States, although there can be no assurance in this regard.
In the event that we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (see Peoples Republic of China Taxation), we may be eligible for the benefits of the Treaty. If we are eligible for such benefits, dividends we pay on our ordinary shares, regardless of whether such shares are represented by the ADSs, would be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation described in the preceding paragraph.
Dividends paid on our ADSs or ordinary shares, if any, will generally be treated as income from foreign sources and will generally constitute passive category income for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. Depending on the U.S. Holders individual facts and circumstances, a U.S. Holder may be eligible, subject to a number of complex limitations, to claim a foreign tax credit in respect of any nonrefundable foreign withholding taxes imposed on dividends received on our ADSs or ordinary shares. A U.S. Holder who does not elect to claim a foreign tax credit for foreign taxes 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 their outcome depends in large part on the U.S. Holders individual facts and circumstances. Accordingly, U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances.
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Sale or Other Disposition
A U.S. Holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of our 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. Any capital gain or loss will be long-term if the ADSs or ordinary shares have been held for more than one year and will generally be U.S.-source gain or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. Long-term capital gain of individuals and certain other non-corporate U.S. Holders will generally be eligible for a reduced rate of taxation. In the event that gain from the disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares is subject to tax in the PRC, a U.S. Holder that is eligible for the benefits of the Treaty may treat such gain as PRC-source gain under the Treaty. If a U.S. Holder is not eligible for the benefits of the Treaty or fails to treat any such gain as PRC-source, then such U.S. Holder would generally not be able to use any 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 U.S. federal income tax due on other income derived from foreign sources in the same income category (generally, the passive category). The deductibility of a capital loss may be subject to limitations. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors 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 their 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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an additional tax equal to 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 consolidated VIE or any subsidiary of our consolidated 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 consolidated VIE or any subsidiary of our consolidated VIE.
As an alternative to the foregoing rules, a U.S. Holder of marketable stock in a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election with respect to such stock, provided that such stock is regularly traded on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in applicable United States Treasury Regulations. For those purposes, we expect that our ADSs, but not our ordinary shares, are treated as marketable
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stock. We anticipate that our ADSs should qualify as being regularly traded, but no assurances may be given in this regard. If a U.S. Holder makes this election, 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 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 a year when we are classified as a PFIC and we subsequently cease to be classified as a PFIC, the holder will not be required to take into account the gain or loss described above 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.
Because a mark-to-market election cannot be made for any lower-tier PFICs that we may own, a U.S. Holder that makes the mark-to-market election 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 advisors 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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We and the underwriters named below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the ADSs being offered. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the number of ADSs indicated in the following table. [Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and UBS Securities LLC] are the representatives of the underwriters.
Underwriters |
Number of ADSs | |||
[Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C |
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Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC |
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UBS Securities LLC |
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China Renaissance Securities (Hong Kong) Limited |
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Haitong International Securities Company Limited |
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Futu Inc. |
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Tiger Brokers (NZ) Limited] |
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Total |
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The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the ADSs being offered, if any are taken, other than the ADSs covered by the option described below unless and until this option is exercised.
The underwriters have an option to buy up to an additional ADSs from us to cover sales by the underwriters of a greater number of ADSs than the total number set forth in the table above. They may exercise that option for 30 days. If any ADSs are purchased pursuant to this option, the underwriters will severally purchase ADSs in approximately the same proportion as set forth in the table above.
The following tables show the per ADSs and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters by us. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters option to purchase additional ADSs.
Paid by Us
No Exercise | Full Exercise | |||||||
Per ADS |
$ | $ | ||||||
Total |
$ | $ |
ADSs sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any ADSs sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount of up to $ per ADS from the initial public offering price. After the initial offering of the ADSs, the representatives may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the ADSs by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters right to reject any order in whole or in part.
[We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain of their expenses in an amount up to US$ million.]
The address of Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. is [68th Floor, Cheung Kong Center, 2 Queens Road Central, Hong Kong]. The address of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is [1585 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, United States of America]. The address of UBS Securities LLC is [1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, United States of America]. The address of China Renaissance
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Securities (Hong Kong) Limited is [Units 8107-08, Level 81, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong]. The address of Haitong International Securities Company Limited is [22/F Li Po Chun Chambers, 189 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong]. The address of Futu Inc. is [720 University Avenue, Suite 100, Palo Alto, CA 94301]. The address of Tiger Brokers (NZ) Limited is [Level 16, 191 Queen Street, Auckland Central, New Zealand, 1010].
[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. Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. will offer ADSs in the United States through its SEC-registered broker-dealer affiliate in the United States, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC. China Renaissance Securities (Hong Kong) Limited will offer ADSs in the United States through its SEC-registered broker-dealer affiliate in the United States, China Renaissance Securities (US) Inc. Haitong International Securities Company Limited is not a broker-dealer registered with the SEC. It will offer ADSs in the United States through its SEC-registered broker-dealer affiliate in the United States, Haitong International Securities (USA) Inc. Tiger Brokers (NZ) Limited is not a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and, to the extent that its conduct may be deemed to involve participation in offers or sales of ADSs in the United States, those offers or sales will be made through one or more SEC-registered broker-dealers in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.]
We, [our officers, directors, and all of our existing shareholders and holders of share-based awards, have agreed with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to dispose of or hedge any of our ordinary shares or ADSs or securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of our ordinary shares or ADSs during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date 180 days after the date of this prospectus, except with the prior written consent of the representatives. [This agreement does not apply to any existing employee benefit plans. See Shares Eligible for Future Sale for a discussion of certain transfer restrictions.]
Prior to the offering, there has been no public market for our ordinary shares or the ADSs. The initial public offering price has been negotiated among us and the representatives. Among the factors to be considered in determining the initial public offering price of our ordinary shares or the ADSs, in addition to prevailing market conditions, will be our historical performance, estimates of the business potential and earnings prospects, an assessment of our management and the consideration of the above factors in relation to market valuation of companies in related businesses.
An application has been made to quote the ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol BZ.
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell ADSs in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of ADSs than they are required to purchase in the offering, and a short position represents the amount of such sales that have not been covered by subsequent purchases. A covered short position is a short position that is not greater than the amount of additional ADSs for which the underwriters option described above may be exercised. The underwriters may cover any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional ADSs or purchasing ADSs in the open market. In determining the source of ADSs to cover the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of ADSs available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase additional ADSs pursuant to the option described above. Naked short sales are any short sales that create a short position greater than the amount of additional ADSs for which the option described above may be exercised. The underwriters must cover any such 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
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ADSs in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of ADSs made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.
The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased ADSs sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.
Purchases to cover a short position and stabilizing transactions, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our ADSs, and together with the imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of our ADSs. As a result, the price of the ADSs may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on Nasdaq Global Select Market or relevant exchange, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
Global Private Opportunities Partners II Offshore Holdings LP and Global Private Opportunities Partners II LP (collectively, Global Private Opportunities Partners), which are affiliates of Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., own an aggregate of 41,280,390 of our Series D preferred shares. All of our issued and outstanding Series D convertible preferred shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares at a conversion rate then in effect upon completion of this offering. Under our eleventh amended and restated shareholders agreement, Global Private Opportunities Partners has the right to appoint an observer to our board of directors in a non-voting capacity, provided that such observer seat will automatically terminate if the shareholding percentage in our company on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis of Global Private Opportunities Partners, together with its affiliates, decreases to no more than four percent. Such board observer right will automatically terminate upon the completion of this offering.
European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each an EEA State), no ADSs have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in that EEA State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the ADSs which has been approved by the competent authority in that EEA State or, where appropriate, approved in another EEA State and notified to the competent authority in that EEA State, all in accordance with the EU Prospectus Regulation, except that it may make an offer to the public in that EEA State of our ADSs at any time under the following exemptions under the EU Prospectus Regulation:
(a) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the EU Prospectus Regulation;
(b) to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the EU Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or
(c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the EU Prospectus Regulation, provided that no such offer of our ADSs shall require the issuer or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the EU Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the EU Prospectus Regulation.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an offer to the public in relation to the ADSs in any EEA State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on
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the terms of the offer and our ADSs to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for our ADSs, and the expression EU Prospectus Regulation means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
This European Economic Area selling restriction is in addition to any other selling restrictions set out below.
United Kingdom
In relation to the United Kingdom, no ADSs have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in the United Kingdom prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the ADSs which has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority in accordance with the UK Prospectus Regulation, except that it may make an offer to the public in the United Kingdom of our ADSs at any time under the following exemptions under the UK Prospectus Regulation:
(a) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the UK Prospectus Regulation;
(b) to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the UK Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters for any such offer; or
(c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the UK Prospectus Regulation,
provided that no such offer of the ADSs shall require the issuer or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the UK Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.
In the United Kingdom, the offering is only addressed to, and is directed only at, qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, who are also (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within the definition of investment professionals in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the Order); (ii) high net worth bodies corporate, unincorporated associations and partnerships and trustees of high value trusts as described in Article 49(2) of the Order; or (iii) persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons being referred to as relevant persons). This prospectus must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an offer to the public in relation to the ADSs in the United Kingdom means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offerings and our ADSs to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for our ADSs, and the expression UK Prospectus Regulation means the UK version of Regulation (EU) No 2017/1129 as amended by The Prospectus (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
Canada
The ADSs may be sold in Canada only to purchasers 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 form, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
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Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this offering memorandum (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 of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (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.
Hong Kong
The ADSs may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) 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 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance) or which do not constitute an invitation to the public within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (Securities and Futures Ordinance), or (ii) to professional investors as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a prospectus as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, 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 securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the ADSs which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to professional investors in Hong Kong as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder.
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 the ADSs may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the 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 (i) to an institutional investor (as defined under Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the SFA)) under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to conditions set forth in the SFA.
Where the ADSs are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is 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, the securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation has acquired the ADSs under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer in that corporations securities pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by
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operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore (Regulation 32)
Where the ADSs are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an accredited investor, the beneficiaries rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that trust has acquired the ADSs under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer that is made on terms that such rights or interest 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), (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32.
Japan
The ADSs have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended), or the FIEA. The ADSs may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan (including any person resident in Japan or any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) or to others for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the FIEA and otherwise in compliance with any relevant laws and regulations of Japan.
[Directed Share Program
At our request, the underwriters have reserved for sale, at the initial public offering price, up to % of the ADSs offered by this prospectus for sale to certain of our directors, officers, employees, business associates and other persons associated with us. Pursuant to the underwriting agreement, the sales will be made by through the Directed Share Program. If these persons purchase reserved ADSs, it will reduce the number of ADSs available for sale to the general public. Any reserved ADSs that are not so purchased will be offered by the underwriters to the general public on the same terms as the other ADSs offered by this prospectus. Any ADSs sold in the Directed Share Program to a party who has entered into a lock-up agreement shall be subject to the provisions of such lock-up agreement.]
We estimate that their share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $ .
[We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.]
The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of these services to us and to persons and entities with relationships with us, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.
217
In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to our assets, securities and/or instruments (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) and/or persons and entities with relationships with us. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and/or short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.
218
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 stock exchange market entry and listing fee, all amounts are estimates.
SEC Registration Fee |
US$ | |||
FINRA Filing Fee |
||||
Stock Exchange Market Entry and Listing Fee |
||||
Printing and Engraving Expenses |
||||
Legal Fees and Expenses |
||||
Accounting Fees and Expenses |
||||
|
|
|||
Miscellaneous |
||||
|
|
|||
Total |
US$ | |||
|
|
219
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 Latham & Watkins 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 Harney Westwood & Riegels. Certain legal matters as to PRC law will be passed upon for us by Tian Yuan Law Firm and for the underwriters by CM Law Firm. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP may rely upon Harney Westwood & Riegels with respect to matters governed by Cayman Islands law and Tian Yuan Law Firm with respect to matters governed by PRC law. Latham & Watkins LLP may rely upon CM Law Firm with respect to matters governed by PRC law.
220
The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and for the years then ended 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.
221
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 the 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.
222
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of KANZHUN LIMITED
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of KANZHUN LIMITED and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, of changes in shareholders deficit and of cash flows for the years then ended, 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, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended 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
Shanghai, the Peoples Republic of China
March 19, 2021
We have served as the Companys auditor since 2019.
F-2
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2019 AND 2020
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
As of December 31, | ||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
407,355 | 3,998,203 | 612,751 | |||||||||
Short-term investments |
1,142,015 | 536,401 | 82,207 | |||||||||
Accounts receivable |
1,798 | 6,999 | 1,073 | |||||||||
Amounts due from related parties |
37,861 | 40,799 | 6,253 | |||||||||
Prepayments and other current assets |
118,764 | 164,910 | 25,273 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total current assets |
1,707,793 | 4,747,312 | 727,557 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Non-current assets: |
||||||||||||
Property, equipment and software, net |
72,428 | 191,355 | 29,326 | |||||||||
Intangible assets, net |
640 | 549 | 84 | |||||||||
Right-of-use assets, net |
98,138 | 144,063 | 22,079 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total non-current assets |
171,206 | 335,967 | 51,489 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total assets |
1,878,999 | 5,083,279 | 779,046 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-3
KANZHUN LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2019 AND 2020
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
As of December 31, | ||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||
Current liabilities (including amounts of the consolidated VIE and VIEs subsidiaries without recourse to the primary beneficiary of RMB1,002,125 and RMB1,717,020 as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively) |
||||||||||||
Accounts payable |
42,617 | 41,856 | 6,415 | |||||||||
Deferred revenue |
614,820 | 1,200,349 | 183,962 | |||||||||
Other payable and accrued liabilities |
293,202 | 418,259 | 64,100 | |||||||||
Operating lease liabilities, current |
57,216 | 59,559 | 9,128 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total current liabilities |
1,007,855 | 1,720,023 | 263,605 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Non-current liabilities (including amounts of the consolidated VIE and VIEs subsidiaries without recourse to the primary beneficiary of RMB37,659 and RMB76,373 as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively) |
||||||||||||
Operating lease liabilities, non-current |
37,659 | 76,373 | 11,705 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total non-current liabilities |
37,659 | 76,373 | 11,705 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total liabilities |
1,045,514 | 1,796,396 | 275,310 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 18) |
F-4
KANZHUN LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2019 AND 2020
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
As of December 31, | ||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||
Mezzanine equity |
||||||||||||
Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 60,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively) |
33,434 | 36,177 | 5,543 | |||||||||
Series B convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively) |
62,785 | 67,976 | 10,418 | |||||||||
Series C convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 147,068,133 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively) |
443,367 | 478,565 | 73,344 | |||||||||
Series D convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 60,856,049 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively) |
352,586 | 380,782 | 58,357 | |||||||||
Series E convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 144,073,367 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively) |
1,711,329 | 1,845,033 | 282,764 | |||||||||
Series F convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, nil and 99,354,585 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively) |
| 2,882,063 | 441,696 | |||||||||
Subscription receivables from shareholders |
(109,080 | ) | (103,596 | ) | (15,877 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total Mezzanine equity |
2,494,421 | 5,587,000 | 856,245 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-5
KANZHUN LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2019 AND 2020
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
As of December 31, | ||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||
Shareholders deficit |
||||||||||||
Ordinary shares (US$0.0001 par value, 1,500,000,000 shares authorized, 100,080,000 and 132,641,677 shares issued, as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. 100,080,000 ordinary shares outstanding as of December 31, 2019; 7,875,787 Class A ordinary shares and 121,108,037 Class B ordinary shares outstanding as of December 31, 2020) |
62 | 81 | 12 | |||||||||
Treasury shares (nil and 3,657,853 shares as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively) |
| | | |||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
| 452,234 | 69,308 | |||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) |
19,152 | (130,387 | ) | (19,983 | ) | |||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(1,680,150 | ) | (2,622,045 | ) | (401,846 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total KANZHUN LIMITED shareholders deficit |
(1,660,936 | ) | (2,300,117 | ) | (352,509 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholders deficit |
1,878,999 | 5,083,279 | 779,046 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019 AND 2020
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||
Revenues: |
||||||||||||
Online recruitment services to enterprise customers |
986,859 | 1,927,178 | 295,353 | |||||||||
Others |
11,861 | 17,181 | 2,633 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total Revenues |
998,720 | 1,944,359 | 297,986 | |||||||||
Operating cost and expenses: |
||||||||||||
Cost of revenues |
(137,812 | ) | (240,211 | ) | (36,814 | ) | ||||||
Sales and marketing expenses |
(916,832 | ) | (1,347,532 | ) | (206,518 | ) | ||||||
Research and development expenses |
(325,569 | ) | (513,362 | ) | (78,676 | ) | ||||||
General and administrative expenses |
(132,999 | ) | (797,008 | ) | (122,147 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total operating cost and expenses |
(1,513,212 | ) | (2,898,113 | ) | (444,155 | ) | ||||||
Other operating income, net |
2,573 | 8,849 | 1,356 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Loss from operations |
(511,919 | ) | (944,905 | ) | (144,813 | ) | ||||||
Financial income, net |
145 | 3,098 | 475 | |||||||||
Foreign exchange gain/(loss) |
1 | (5,074 | ) | (778 | ) | |||||||
Investment income |
9,718 | 9,095 | 1,394 | |||||||||
Other expenses |
| (4,109 | ) | (630 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Loss before income tax expense |
(502,055 | ) | (941,895 | ) | (144,352 | ) | ||||||
Income tax expense |
| | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net loss |
(502,055 | ) | (941,895 | ) | (144,352 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Accretion on convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
(232,319 | ) | (283,981 | ) | (43,522 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders |
(734,374 | ) | (1,225,876 | ) | (187,874 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net loss |
(502,055 | ) | (941,895 | ) | (144,352 | ) | ||||||
Other comprehensive income/(loss) |
||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
25,354 | (149,539 | ) | (22,918 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total comprehensive loss |
(476,701 | ) | (1,091,434 | ) | (167,270 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted |
107,114,306 | 111,172,986 | 111,172,986 | |||||||||
Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders |
||||||||||||
Basic and diluted |
(6.86 | ) | (11.03 | ) | (1.69 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-7
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS DEFICIT
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019 AND 2020
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
Ordinary share
(US $0.0001 par value) |
Treasury shares |
Additional
paid-in capital |
Accumulated other
comprehensive income/(loss) |
Accumulated
deficit |
Total
shareholders deficit |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of
shares outstanding |
Amount |
Number of
shares |
Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2019 |
100,080,000 | 62 | (9,920,000 | ) | | | (6,202 | ) | (980,026 | ) | (986,166 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | | | | (502,055 | ) | (502,055 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
| | | | | 25,354 | | 25,354 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
| | | | 34,250 | | | 34,250 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cancellation of ordinary shares (Notes 14) |
| | 9,920,000 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accretion on convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
| | | | (34,250 | ) | | (198,069 | ) | (232,319 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2019 |
100,080,000 | 62 | | | | 19,152 | (1,680,150 | ) | (1,660,936 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2020 |
100,080,000 | 62 | | | | 19,152 | (1,680,150 | ) | (1,660,936 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | | | | (941,895 | ) | (941,895 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
| | | | | (149,539 | ) | | (149,539 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Class A ordinary shares (Note 14) |
4,122,853 | 3 | | | 78,995 | | | 78,998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Class B ordinary shares to Techwolf Limited (Note 14) |
24,780,971 | 16 | | | 533,115 | | | 533,131 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Class A ordinary shares to a consolidated VIE (Note 14) |
| | (3,657,853 | ) | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
| | | | 124,105 | | | 124,105 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accretion on convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
| | | | (283,981 | ) | | | (283,981 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2020 |
128,983,824 | 81 | (3,657,853 | ) | | 452,234 | (130,387 | ) | (2,622,045 | ) | (2,300,117 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-8
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019 AND 2020
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||||||
Net loss |
(502,055 | ) | (941,895 | ) | (144,352 | ) | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in)/generated from operating activities: |
||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
34,250 | 124,105 | 19,020 | |||||||||
Issuance of Class B ordinary shares to Techwolf Limited (Note 14) |
| 533,131 | 81,706 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
18,062 | 41,095 | 6,298 | |||||||||
Loss from disposal of property, equipment and software |
27 | 230 | 35 | |||||||||
Foreign exchange (gain)/loss |
(1 | ) | 5,074 | 778 | ||||||||
Amortization of right-of-use assets |
39,487 | 66,946 | 10,260 | |||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||||||
Accounts receivable |
(1,528 | ) | (5,201 | ) | (797 | ) | ||||||
Prepayments and other current assets |
(66,826 | ) | (46,146 | ) | (7,072 | ) | ||||||
Amounts due from related parties |
(28,184 | ) | (2,938 | ) | (450 | ) | ||||||
Accounts payable |
29,280 | (22,746 | ) | (3,486 | ) | |||||||
Deferred revenue |
335,254 | 585,529 | 89,736 | |||||||||
Other payable and accrued liabilities |
79,320 | 130,541 | 20,006 | |||||||||
Operating lease liabilities |
(42,749 | ) | (71,814 | ) | (11,006 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from operating activities |
(105,663 | ) | 395,911 | 60,676 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows (used in)/generated from investing activities: |
||||||||||||
Purchase of property, equipment and software |
(64,040 | ) | (138,211 | ) | (21,182 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from disposal of property, equipment and software |
11 | 36 | 6 | |||||||||
Purchase of short-term investments |
(1,171,894 | ) | (1,834,390 | ) | (281,133 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments |
12,120 | 2,439,870 | 373,926 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities |
(1,223,803 | ) | 467,305 | 71,617 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-9
KANZHUN LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019 AND 2020
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||
Cash flows generated from financing activities: |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of convertible redeemable preferred shares, net of issuance of cost |
993,475 | 2,803,114 | 429,596 | |||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of Class A ordinary shares |
| 78,998 | 12,107 | |||||||||
Proceeds from borrowings |
30,000 | | | |||||||||
Repayment of borrowings |
(30,000 | ) | | | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net cash generated from financing activities |
993,475 | 2,882,112 | 441,703 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
43,113 | (154,480 | ) | (23,675 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(292,878 | ) | 3,590,848 | 550,321 | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year |
700,233 | 407,355 | 62,430 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year |
407,355 | 3,998,203 | 612,751 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Supplemental cash flow disclosures |
||||||||||||
Cash paid for interest |
349 | | | |||||||||
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities |
||||||||||||
Accretion on convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
232,319 | 283,981 | 43,522 | |||||||||
Payables for property, equipment and software |
359 | 21,985 | 3,369 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-10
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
1. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATION
(a) |
Principal activities |
KANZHUN LIMITED (Kanzhun or the Company) was incorporated under Cayman law on January 16, 2014 as an exempted company with limited liability under the Company Law of the Cayman Islands. The Company, its subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities (the VIEs) (collectively, the Group) run an online recruitment platform called BOSS Zhipin in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC).
The BOSS Zhipin platform mainly focuses on assisting the recruitment process between job seekers and employers for enterprises and corporations. Through BOSS Zhipin platform, employers, mainly executives or middle-level managers of businesses, could participate directly in the recruiting process.
The Group generates revenue by providing services to the enterprise customers and job seekers to assist in the recruitment process over mobile apps and websites. The job seekers and enterprise customers, through receipt of services under time-based model and item-based model, could then get recommended and matched with most suitable posted positions and job seekers, and then interact instantly with the counterparties.
(b) |
Organization of the Group |
The Groups consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries, consolidated VIEs and VIEs subsidiaries.
As of December 31, 2020, the Companys principal subsidiaries are as follows:
Subsidiaries |
Place of
incorporation |
Date of
incorporation or
|
Percentage
of direct or indirect |
Principal activities | ||||||
Techfish Limited |
Hong
Kong |
Incorporated on February 14, 2014 |
100 | % | Investment holding | |||||
Beijing Glory Wolf Co., Ltd. (Glory, or the WFOE) |
Beijing |
Incorporated on May 7, 2014 |
|
100 |
% |
Online recruitment assisting service |
As of December 31, 2020, the Companys principal consolidated VIE is as follows:
VIE |
Place of
incorporation |
Date of incorporation
or acquisition |
Percentage
of direct or indirect |
Principal activities | ||||||||||||
Beijing Huapinborui Network Technology Co., Ltd. (Huapin) |
Beijing |
|
Incorporated on
December 25, 2013 |
|
100 | % |
|
Online recruitment
assisting service |
|
F-11
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
1. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATION (CONTINUED)
(c) |
Consolidated variable interest entities |
In order to comply with the PRC laws and regulations which prohibit or restrict foreign investments into companies involved in restricted businesses, the Group operates its Apps, websites and other restricted businesses in the PRC through a PRC domestic company and its subsidiaries, whose equity interests are held by certain management members of the Company (Nominee Shareholders). The Company obtained control over such PRC domestic companies by entering into a series of Contractual Arrangements with such PRC domestic company and its respective Nominee Shareholders. As a result, the Company maintains the ability to control such PRC domestic company and is entitled to substantially all of the economic benefits from such PRC domestic company . Management concluded that such PRC domestic company is VIE of the Company, of which the Company is the ultimate primary beneficiary. As such, the Group consolidated financial results of such PRC domestic company and its subsidiaries in the Groups consolidated financial statements. The principal terms of the agreements entered into amongst the VIE, the Nominee Shareholders and the WFOE are further described below.
Exclusive Call Option Agreement
Pursuant to the exclusive call option agreement, the Nominee Shareholders of the VIE have granted the WFOE the exclusive and irrevocable right to purchase or to designate one or more person(s) at its discretion to purchase part or all of the equity interests in the VIE (the Target Equity) from the Nominee Shareholders at any time, and the VIE has granted the WFOE the exclusive and irrevocable right to purchase or to designate one or more person(s) at its discretion to purchase part or all of the assets of the VIE (the Target Assets) at any time. The total transfer price for the Target Equity or the Target Assets shall be equal to RMB100 or subject to the lowest price permitted by PRC laws and regulations. The VIE and its Nominee Shareholders have agreed that without prior written consent of the WFOE or the Company, the Nominee Shareholders or the VIE shall not sell, transfer, pledge or dispose of any of the Target Equity, the Target Assets, or the revenue or business in the VIE. In addition, the VIE covenants that it shall not declare any dividend or change capitalization structure of the VIE or enter into any loan or investment agreements without WFOE or the Companys prior written consent.
Power of Attorney
Pursuant to the Power of Attorney, each of the Nominee Shareholders appointed the WFOE as their attorney-in-fact to exercise all shareholder rights under PRC law and the relevant articles of association, including but not limited to, attending shareholders meetings and signing on their behalf on the resolutions, voting on their behalf on all matters requiring shareholder approval, including but not limited to the appointment and removal of legal representative, directors and senior management, as well as the sale, transfer and disposal of all or part of the equity interests owned by such shareholders. The powers of attorney will remain effective for a given Nominee Shareholders until such shareholder ceases to be a shareholder of the VIE.
F-12
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
1. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATION (CONTINUED)
(c) |
Consolidated variable interest entities (continued) |
Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service Agreement
Pursuant to the exclusive technology development, consulting and service agreement, the WFOE has agreed to provide to the VIE services, including, but not limited to, research, development, application and implementation of technology, daily maintenance, monitor, debugging, and troubleshooting of the computer network system, consulting services for the procurement of software and hardware systems, and training and technical support services. The VIE shall pay to the WFOE service fees as calculated in such manner as determined by both VIE and WFOE from time to time based on the nature of service, which should be paid quarterly. Service fees should normally be equal to the remaining amount of all revenues less all expenses of VIE. The service fees, and any adjustment or change to the service fees, should be subject to the approval of the WFOE and the board of the Company (including the director(s) appointed by preferred shareholders). The agreement has a term of 10 years unless otherwise terminated by the WFOE and VIE and may renew at the end of each term with the prior written consent of the WFOE for a further term of ten years or otherwise as agreed by the WFOE and VIE. The WFOE retains the exclusive right to terminate the agreements at any time by delivering a written notice 30 days in advance to VIE.
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
Pursuant to the equity interest pledge agreement, the Nominee Shareholders of the VIE have pledged 100% equity interests in VIE to the WFOE to guarantee the payment of technology development, consulting and service fees by the VIE of its obligations under the exclusive technology development, consulting and service agreement. The equity interest pledge agreement shall remain valid until the full payment of the service fees and the fulfillment of all the obligations under the exclusive technology development, consulting and service agreement. In the event of a breach by the VIE or any of its Nominee Shareholders of contractual obligations under the exclusive technology development, consulting and service agreement, and the equity interest pledge agreement, as the case may be, the WFOE, as pledgee, will have the right to auction or dispose of the pledged equity interests in the VIE and will have priority in receiving the proceeds from such auction or disposal.
Spousal Consent Letter
Pursuant to the Spousal Consent Letter, the spouse of each Nominee Shareholder who is a natural person, unconditionally and irrevocably agreed that the equity interests in the VIE held by such Nominee Shareholder will be disposed of pursuant to the equity interest pledge agreement, the exclusive call option agreement, and power of attorney. Each of their spouses agreed not to assert any rights over the equity interests in the VIE held by such Nominee Shareholder. In addition, in the event that any spouse obtains any equity interests in VIE held by such Nominee Shareholder for any reason, he or she agreed to be bound by the equity interest pledge agreement, the exclusive option agreement, and power of attorney.
F-13
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
1. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATION (CONTINUED)
(d) |
Risks in relations to the VIE structure |
The following table set forth the assets, liabilities, results of operations and changes in cash and cash equivalents of the consolidated VIEs and their subsidiaries taken as a whole, which were included in the Groups consolidated financial statements with intercompany transactions eliminated:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
61,096 | 183,199 | ||||||
Short-term investments |
10,067 | 525,506 | ||||||
Accounts receivable |
1,798 | 6,999 | ||||||
Amounts due from the Group companies |
36,940 | 36,859 | ||||||
Prepayments and other current assets |
105,661 | 146,244 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current assets |
215,562 | 898,807 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Non-current assets: |
||||||||
Property, equipment and software, net |
71,991 | 191,242 | ||||||
Intangible assets, net |
640 | 549 | ||||||
Right-of-use assets, net |
98,138 | 144,063 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total non-current assets |
170,769 | 335,854 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total assets |
386,331 | 1,234,661 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
42,600 | 41,839 | ||||||
Deferred revenue |
614,820 | 1,200,349 | ||||||
Other payables and accrued liabilities |
287,489 | 415,273 | ||||||
Amounts due to the Group companies |
97,887 | 372,427 | ||||||
Operating lease liabilities, current |
57,216 | 59,559 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current liabilities |
1,100,012 | 2,089,447 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Non-current liabilities |
||||||||
Operating lease liabilities, non-current |
37,659 | 76,373 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities |
1,137,671 | 2,165,820 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-14
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
1. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATION (CONTINUED)
(d) |
Risks in relations to the VIE structure (continued) |
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Total revenues |
998,720 | 1,944,359 | ||||||
Cost of revenues |
(133,553 | ) | (232,261 | ) | ||||
Net loss |
(464,373 | ) | (303,061 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from operating activities |
(25,658 | ) | 494,187 | |||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(66,029 | ) | (632,568 | ) | ||||
Net cash generated from financing activities |
103,596 | 260,484 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
11,909 | 122,103 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
49,187 | 61,096 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |
61,096 | 183,199 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
Under the Contractual Arrangements, the WFOE has the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the VIE such as having assets transferred out of the VIE at its discretion. Therefore, the Company considers that there is no asset of the VIE that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE except for registered capital of VIE amounting to RMB8,992 as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Since the VIE was incorporated as a limited liability company under the PRC Law, the creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company for all the liabilities of the VIE.
The Group believes that the Contractual Arrangements between or among the WFOE, VIE and the Nominee Shareholders are in compliance with PRC laws and regulations, as applicable, and are legally enforceable. However, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit the Companys ability to enforce these Contractual Arrangements.
In addition, if the current structure of any of the Contractual Arrangements were found to be in violation of any existing PRC laws, the Group may be subject to penalties, which may include but not be limited to, the cancellation or revocation of the business and operating licenses, being required to restructure the Groups operations or terminate the Groups operating activities. The imposition of any of these or other penalties may result in a material and adverse effect on the Groups ability to conduct its operations. In such case, the Company may not be able to operate or control the VIE, which may result in deconsolidation of the VIE.
There are, however, substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current or future PRC laws and regulations. Accordingly, the Company cannot be assured that the PRC government authorities will not ultimately take a view that is contrary to the Companys belief and the opinion of its PRC legal counsel. In March 2019, the draft Foreign Investment Law was submitted to the National Peoples Congress for review and was approved on March 15, 2019, which came into effect from January 1, 2020. The approved Foreign Investment Law does not touch upon the relevant concepts and regulatory regimes that were historically suggested for the regulation of VIE structures, and thus this regulatory topic remain unclear under the Foreign Investment Law. Since the Foreign
F-15
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
1. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATION (CONTINUED)
(d) |
Risks in relations to the VIE structure (continued) |
Investment Law is new, there are substantial uncertainties exist with respect to its implementation and interpretation and the possibility that the VIE will be deemed as a foreign-invested enterprises and subject to relevant restrictions in the future shall not be excluded. If the contractual arrangements establishing the Companys VIE structure are found to be in violation of any existing law and regulations or future PRC laws and regulations, the relevant PRC government authorities will have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including, without limitation, levying fines, confiscating our income or the income from the VIE, revoking our business licenses or the business licenses, requiring us to restructure our ownership structure or operations and requiring us to discontinue any portion or all of our value-added businesses or other prohibited businesses. Any of these actions could cause significant disruption to the Companys business operations, and have a severe adverse impact on the Companys cash flows, financial position and operating performance. If the imposing of these penalties cause the WFOE to lose its rights to direct the activities of and receive economic benefits from the VIE, which in turn may restrict the Companys ability to consolidate and reflect in its financial statements the financial position and results of operations of its VIE.
(e) |
COVID-19 impact and liquidity |
The Groups financial performance was not significantly impacted by COVID-19 in 2020, when the pandemic had been largely contained in China. Based on the assessment on the Groups liquidity and financial positions, the Group believes that its current cash and cash equivalents, will be sufficient to enable it to meet its anticipated working capital requirements and capital expenditures for at least the next twelve months from the date these consolidated financial statements are issued.
F-16
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
2.1 Basis of presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAP).
Significant accounting policies followed by the Group in the preparation of its accompanying consolidated financial statements are summarized below.
2.2 Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries, the consolidated VIE and VIEs subsidiaries for which the Company is the ultimate primary beneficiary.
A subsidiary is an entity 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, to cast a majority of votes at the meeting of the board of directors or to govern the financial and operating policies of the investee under a statute or agreement among the shareholders or equity holders.
The Company applies the guidance codified in Accounting Standard Codification 810, Consolidations (ASC 810) on accounting for the VIE, which requires certain variable interest entities to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary of the entity in which it has a controlling financial interest. A VIE is an entity with one or more of the following characteristics: (a) the total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support; (b) as a group, the holders of the equity investment at risk lack the ability to make certain decisions, the obligation to absorb expected losses or the right to receive expected residual returns, or (c) an equity investor has voting rights that are disproportionate to its economic interest and substantially all of the entitys activities are on behalf of the investor with disproportionately fewer voting rights.
All transactions and balances between the Company, its subsidiaries, VIE and VIEs subsidiaries have been eliminated upon consolidation.
2.3 Use of estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date, and the reported revenues and expenses during the reporting periods in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Groups consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to the depreciable lives of property, equipment and software, impairment of long-lived assets, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, the valuation of ordinary shares and share-based compensation. Management bases the estimates on historical experience, known trends and various other assumptions that are delivered to the reasonable under current circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. As of December 31, 2020, the Group considered the economic implications of the COVID-19 based on its estimates. Given that changes in circumstances, facts and experience may cause the Group to revise its estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates.
F-17
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.4 Foreign currencies
The Groups reporting currency is Renminbi (RMB). The functional currency of the Groups holding entities incorporated in Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and United States of America, is the United States dollars (US$). The Groups PRC subsidiaries, consolidated VIE and VIEs subsidiaries determined their functional currency to be RMB. The determination of the respective functional currency is based on the criteria of ASC 830, Foreign Currency Matters and is based primarily on the currency the entity conducts its business in.
Transactions denominated in other than the functional currencies are translated into the functional currency of the entity at the exchange rates quoted by authoritative banks prevailing on the transaction dates. Exchange gains and losses resulting from those foreign currency transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.
The financial statements of the Group are translated from the functional currency into RMB. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into RMB using the applicable exchange rates at the balance sheet date. Equity accounts other than earnings generated in current period are translated into RMB at the appropriate historical rates. Revenues, expenses, gain and loss are translated into RMB using the periodic average exchange rates. The resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded in other comprehensive income as a component of shareholders deficit.
2.5 Convenience translation
Translations of the Consolidated Balance Sheets, the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss and the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows from RMB into US$ as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 are solely for the convenience of the readers and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00=RMB6.5250 on December 31, 2020 as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate on December 31, 2020, or at any other rate.
2.6 Fair value measurements
Accounting guidance defines fair value as 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 measurement 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.
Accounting guidance establishes 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
F-18
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.6 Fair value measurements (continued)
input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Accounting guidance establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2Include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.
Level 3Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity.
Accounting guidance also describes three main approaches to measuring 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.
Financial assets and liabilities of the Group mainly consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivables, amounts due from related parties, prepayments and other current assets, accounts payables, certain accrued expenses and other current liabilities. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, except for short-term investments, the carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivables, amounts due from related parties, prepayments and other current assets, accounts payables, certain accrued expenses and other current liabilities are approximated to their fair values due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. The Group reports short-term investments with observable factors in the overall fair value measurement at fair value and discloses based on Level 2 measurement.
2.7 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash includes currency on hand, cash in bank and time deposits held by financial that can be added to or withdrawn without limitation or restriction. Cash equivalents represent short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and with original maturities from the date of purchase of generally three months or less.
2.8 Short-term investment
Short-term investments are wealth management products issued by commercial banks and investment banks, which contains fixed or variable interest with original maturities within one year. Such investments are generally not permitted to be redeemed early or are subject to penalties for redemption prior to maturities. These investments are stated at fair value. Changes in the fair value are reflected in investment income in the Consolidation Statements of Comprehensive Loss.
F-19
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.9 Accounts receivable
Accounts receivable is presented net of allowance for doubtful accounts. The Group provides general and specific provisions for bad debts when facts and circumstances indicate that the receivable is unlikely to be collected. If the financial condition of its customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. The allowance for doubtful accounts was nil as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively.
2.10 Property, equipment and software
Property, equipment and software are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Property, equipment and software are depreciated at rates sufficient to write off their costs less impairment and residual value, if any, over the estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. The estimated useful lives are as follow:
Category | Estimated useful lives | |
Leasehold improvement |
Shorter of the term of the lease or the estimated useful lives of the assets | |
Motor Vehicles |
3-5 years | |
Electronic equipment |
3-5 years | |
Furniture and fixtures |
5 years | |
Software |
5 years |
The majority of electronic equipment includes server. The Group recognized the loss on the disposal of property, equipment and software in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.
2.11 Intangible Assets
Intangible assets purchased are recognized and measured at fair value upon acquisition. The Groups purchased intangible assets include domains. The estimated life of intangible assets subject to amortization is reassessed if circumstances occur that indicate the life has changed. Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. No impairment of intangible assets was recognized in the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020.
Category | Estimated useful lives | |
Domains |
10 years |
2.12 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
F-20
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.12 Impairment of long-lived assets (continued)
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.
2.13 Revenue recognition
The Group accounted for revenue under ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and all periods have been presented under ASC 606. Consistent with the criteria of Topic 606, the Group recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Group expects to receive in exchange for those services.
To achieve that core principle, the Group applies the five steps defined under Topic 606: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Group assesses its revenue arrangements against specific criteria in order to determine if it is acting as principal or agent. Revenue arrangements with multiple performance obligations are divided into separate distinct services. Revenue is recognized upon the transfer of control of promised services to a customer.
Revenue is recorded net of value-added tax.
The Group generates revenue by providing services to the enterprise customers and job seekers to assist in the recruitment process over mobile apps and websites, which means matching enterprise customers with suitable job seekers through AI matching technology, and stimulating real time interaction between them via in-app communication tools.
Online recruitment services to enterprise customers
The Group provides online recruitment support services carrying different kinds of features on the Groups platform mainly including paid job postings, bulk invite-sending tools, message sending tools and other services. Enterprise customers could also purchase subscription packages which contain an array of features, including popular in-demand job postings and interaction privilege with job seekers during the subscription period.
Based on the historical pattern by which the Group satisfies its performance obligation and how enterprise customers benefit from the Groups performance obligations, the Group recognizes its revenue from the services provided under two models: time-based model and item-based model.
Time-based model
Under the time-based model, the Groups obligation is to deliver corresponding services to enterprise customers during a particular subscription period, a certain paid job posting display period, or a certain privilege period for virtual tools such as message sending, etc., ranging from one month up to one year. For the services covered within a particular subscription package, they have the same
F-21
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.13 Revenue recognition (continued)
contract period length during the subscription period. The revenue recognized under this time-based model for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 were RMB717,721 and RMB1,527,671, respectively.
The Group records the upfront cash payment from the enterprise customers as deferred revenue and then recognizes the revenue on a straight-line basis over the subscription period in which the enterprise customers are entitled to the corresponding privileges, as the Group is standing ready to provide services and a time-based measure of progress best reflects the satisfaction of the performance obligations.
Item-based model
Under the item-based model, the Groups obligation is to deliver corresponding services in the form of other various virtual tools. Revenues for services provided in form of such virtual tools are recognized at the point in time when the services are provided to the enterprise customers. The Group records the upfront cash payment from the enterprise customers as part of deferred revenue, and then recognizes the revenue at the point in time upon the Group delivers the corresponding services or at the point when the virtual tools expire. The revenue recognized at the point in time under the item-based model for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 were RMB269,138 and RMB399,507, respectively.
Other services
Other services mainly represent paid value-added services offered to job seekers, including priority placement of their professional profiles, increased resume exposure to enterprise customers, candidate competitive analysis, message filtering services and five-dimensional personality test, etc.
The Group defines enterprise customers who contributed revenue of RMB50 or more annually as key accounts, who contributed revenue between RMB5 and RMB50 annually as mid-sized accounts, and who contributed revenue of RMB5 or less annually as small-sized accounts.
For the year ended
December 31, |
||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Online recruitment services to enterprise customers |
||||||||
Key accounts |
155,819 | 330,795 | ||||||
Mid-sized accounts |
363,282 | 696,325 | ||||||
Small-sized accounts |
467,758 | 900,058 | ||||||
Other services |
11,861 | 17,181 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
998,720 | 1,944,359 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
F-22
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.13 Revenue recognition (continued)
Arrangements with multiple performance obligations
The Groups contracts with enterprise customers may include bulk sales of services in the form of virtual tools and services contained in subscription packages, therefore multiple performance obligations exist. For those services in the form of virtual tools and contained in subscription packages included in bulk sales, the selling prices are consistently made references of the standalone selling prices when sold separately. The Group allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation based on the relative standalone selling prices, considering bulk sale price discounts offered to certain enterprise customers where applicable.
Deferred revenue
The Group records deferred revenue when the Group receives enterprise customers payments in advance of transferring control of service to the enterprise customers. Substantially all deferred revenue at the beginning of 2019 and 2020 was recognized as revenue during the annual fiscal period.
Remaining performance obligations
Remaining performance obligations represent the amount of contracted future revenue not yet recognized as the amounts relate to undelivered performance obligations. Substantially all of the Groups contracts are less than one year in duration. As such, the Group has elected to apply the practical expedient which allows an entity to exclude disclosures about its remaining performance obligations if the performance obligation is part of a contract that has an original expected duration of one year or less.
2.14 Cost of revenues
Cost of revenues consist primarily of network costs, settlement costs of third-party on-line payment platforms, payroll and other employee-related costs, server depreciation and other expenses incurred by the Group which are directly attributable to the performance of the Groups online recruitment services.
2.15 Sales and marketing expenses
Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of advertising expenses, payroll and other employee-related expenses for the Groups sales and marketing staff as well as office rental and property management fees for sales functions. Advertising expenses generally represent online traffic acquisition and branding activities costs. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, advertising and marketing costs totaled RMB538,940 and RMB812,415, respectively.
2.16 Research and development expenses
Research and development expenses are expensed as incurred and primarily consist of payroll and other employee-related costs and office rental and property management fees for research and development functions. All research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Software development costs required to be capitalized under ASC 350-40, Internal-Use Software, were not material to the Groups consolidated financial statements.
F-23
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.17 General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll and other employee-related expenses for the Groups managerial and administrative staff and office rental and property management fees, professional services fees and other administrative expenses.
2.18 Employee benefits
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 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. Total amounts of such employee benefit expenses, which were expensed as incurred, were RMB161,703 and RMB232,452 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively.
2.19 Share-based compensation
The Group grants share options to its management, other key employees and eligible nonemployees (collectively, Share-based Awards). Such compensation is accounted for in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation -Stock Compensation. Share-based Awards with service conditions only are measured at the grant date fair value of the awards and recognized as expenses using the straight-line method, net of estimated forfeitures, if any, over the requisite service period. Share-based awards that are subject to both service conditions and the occurrence of an initial public offering (IPO) or change of control as a performance condition, are measured at the grant date fair value. Cumulative share-based compensation expenses for the awards that have satisfied the service condition will be recorded upon the completion of the IPO, using the graded-vesting method.
For nonemployees share-based awards, the Group adopted ASU 2018-07 Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting for the periods presented. In accordance with ASU 2018-07, it clarifies that equity-classified nonemployee share-based awards are measured at the grant date. Nonemployee share-based awards are measured at the grant date fair value of the awards and recognized as expenses using a straight-line method over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period.
The Group applies the binominal option pricing model in determining the fair value of options granted. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant, with such estimate updated periodically and with actual forfeitures recognized currently to the extent they differ from the estimate. Share-based compensation expense is recorded net of estimated forfeitures such that expense is recorded only for those share-based awards that are expected to vest.
2.20 Operating leases
The Group applied ASC 842, Leases, on January 1, 2019 on modified retrospective basis and has elected not to recast comparative periods. The Group determines if an arrangement is a lease at
F-24
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.20 Operating leases (continued)
inception. Operating leases are primarily for office and are included in Operating lease right-of-use assets, net, Operating lease liabilities, current and Operating lease liabilities, non-current on its Consolidated Balance Sheet. Operating lease right-of-use assets represent the Groups right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and Operating lease liabilities represent obligation to make lease payment arising from the lease. The operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payment over the lease term. As most of the Groups leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Group uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The Operating lease right-of-use assets also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. The Groups lease term may include options to extend or terminate the lease. Termination options are considered when it is reasonably certain that the Group will not exercise such options. Renewal options are considered within the Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities when it is reasonably certain that the Group will exercise that option. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
For operating lease with a term of one year or less, the Group has elected to not recognize a lease liability or lease right-of-use asset on its Consolidated Balance Sheet. Instead, it recognizes the lease payment as expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Short-term lease costs are immaterial to its Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. The Group has operating lease agreements with insignificant non-lease components and have elected the practical expedient to combine and account for lease and non-lease components as single lease component.
Upon the adoption of the new lease standard, on January 1, 2019, the Group recognized operating lease assets of RMB50,570 and total operating lease liabilities of RMB50,089 on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. There was no impact to accumulated deficit at adoption.
2.21 Government grants
Government grants are recognized as other operating income, net or as a reduction of specific costs and expenses for which the grants are intended to compensate. Such amounts are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss upon receipts and all conditions attached to the grants are fulfilled.
2.22 Taxation
Current income taxes are recorded in accordance with the regulations of the relevant tax jurisdiction. The Group accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method in accordance with ASC 740, Income Tax. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the tax consequences attributable to differences between carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities in the financial statements and their respective tax basis, and operating loss carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss in the period of change. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to
F-25
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.22 Taxation (continued)
reduce the amount of deferred tax assets if it is considered more likely than not that amount of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
The Group recognizes in its consolidated financial statements the benefit of a tax position if the tax position is more likely than not to prevail based on the facts and technical merits of the position. Tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold is measured at the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon settlement. The Group estimates its liability for unrecognized tax benefits which are periodically assessed and may be affected by changing interpretations of laws, rulings by tax authorities, changes and/or developments with respect to tax audits, and expiration of the statute of limitations. The ultimate outcome for a particular tax position may not be determined with certainty prior to the conclusion of a tax audit and, in some cases, appeal or litigation process. The actual benefits ultimately realized may differ from the Groups estimates. As each audit is concluded, adjustments, if any, are recorded in the Groups consolidated financial statements in the period in which the audit is concluded. Additionally, in future periods, changes in facts, circumstances and new information may require the Group to adjust the recognition and measurement estimates with regard to individual tax positions. Changes in recognition and measurement estimates are recognized in the period in which the changes occur. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, the Group did not have any significant unrecognized uncertain tax positions.
2.23 Statutory reserves
The Companys subsidiaries, consolidated VIE and VIEs subsidiaries established in the PRC are required to make appropriations to certain non-distributable reserve funds.
In accordance with the laws applicable to the Foreign Investment Enterprises established in the PRC, the Groups subsidiaries registered as wholly-owned foreign enterprise have to make appropriations from their after-tax profits (as determined under generally accepted accounting principles in the PRC (PRC GAAP) to reserve funds including general reserve fund, enterprise expansion fund and 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 company. Appropriations to the enterprise expansion fund and staff bonus and welfare fund are made at the respective companys discretion.
In addition, in accordance with the PRC Company Laws, the Groups consolidated VIE and VIEs subsidiaries, registered as Chinese domestic companies, must make appropriations from their after-tax profits as determined under the PRC GAAP to non-distributable reserve funds including statutory surplus fund and discretionary surplus fund on an annual basis. The appropriation to the statutory surplus fund must be 10% of the after-tax profits as determined under PRC GAAP. Appropriation is not required if the statutory surplus fund has reached 50% of the registered capital of the company. Appropriation to the discretionary surplus fund is made at the discretion of the respective company.
The use of the statutory surplus fund and discretionary surplus fund are restricted to the offsetting of losses or increasing of the registered capital of the respective company. The staff bonus and welfare
F-26
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.23 Statutory reserves (continued)
fund is a liability in nature and is restricted to fund payments of special bonus to employees and for the collective welfare of employees. None of these reserves are allowed to be transferred to the company in terms of cash dividends, loans or advances, nor can they be distributed except under liquidation.
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, profit appropriation to statutory surplus fund for the Groups entities incorporated in the PRC was nil.
2.24 Comprehensive income/(loss)
Comprehensive income/(loss) is defined as the change in equity of a company during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances excluding those resulting from investments by shareholders and distributions to shareholders. The Group recognizes foreign currency translation adjustments as other comprehensive income/(loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. As such adjustments relate to subsidiaries for which the functional currency is not RMB and which do not incur income tax obligations, there are no tax adjustments to arrive at other comprehensive income/(loss) on a net of tax basis.
2.25 Segment reporting
ASC 280, Segment Reporting, establishes standards for companies to report in their financial statements information about operating segments, products, services, geographic areas, and major customers.
Based on the criteria established by ASC 280, the Groups chief operating decision maker (CODM) has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer, who reviews consolidated results when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of the Group. As a whole and hence, the Group has only one reportable segment. The Group does not distinguish between markets or segments for the purpose of internal reporting. As the Groups long-lived assets are substantially located in the PRC and substantially all the Groups revenue is derived from within the PRC, no geographical segments are presented.
2.26 Loss per share
Basic earnings (losses) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to holders of ordinary shares by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year using the two class method. The net loss will be adjusted by deducting (1) dividends declared in the period on preferred shares (if any), (2) cumulative dividends on preferred shares (whether or not declared) and (3) deemed dividends as required by U.S. GAAP. Using the two class method, net income (loss) is allocated between ordinary shares and other participating securities (that is, the Preferred Shares) based on their participating rights.
Diluted loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Ordinary equivalent shares consist of shares issuable upon the conversion of the preferred
F-27
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.26 Loss per share (continued)
shares using the if-converted method, and 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 loss per share calculation when inclusion of such shares would be anti-dilutive.
2.27 Recent accounting pronouncements
The Group qualifies as an emerging growth company, or EGC, pursuant to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended, or the JOBS Act. As an EGC, the Group 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. The Group adopts the following standards based on extended transition period provided to private companies or early adopts as necessary as permitted by the respective standards.
New and Amended Standards Adopted by the Group
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires that a lessee should recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from operating leases. A lessee should recognize in the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. If a lessee makes this election, it should recognize lease expenses for such lease generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The new leases standard also provides lessees with a practical expedient, by class of underlying asset, to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component. If a lessee makes that accounting policy election, it is required to account for the non-lease components together with the associated lease component as a single lease component and to provide certain disclosures. Lessors are not afforded a similar practical expedient. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years for public entities. For all other entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early application of the amendments in this Update is permitted for all entities. Entities are required to adopt the new leases standard using a modified retrospective transition method. Under that transition method, an entity initially applies the new leases standard (subject to specific transition requirements and optional practical expedients) at the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements. The Company adopted this new guidance for the year ended December 31, 2019 and interim periods in the year ended December 31, 2019. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, which provides another transition method in addition to the existing transition method by allowing entities to initially apply the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption consistent with preparers requests. This ASU also addresses stakeholders concerns about the requirement for lessors to separate components of a contract by providing lessors with a practical expedient, by class of underlying asset, to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component, similar to the expedient provided for lessees. However, the lessor practical expedient is limited to circumstances in which the non-lease component or components otherwise would be accounted for
F-28
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.27 Recent accounting pronouncements (continued)
under the new revenue guidance and both (1) the timing and pattern of transfer are the same for the non-lease component(s) and associated lease component and (2) the lease component, if accounted for separately, would be classified as an operating lease. The Group elected to early adopt ASC 842, Leases, on January 1, 2019 on modified retrospective basis and has elected not to recast comparative periods.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure FrameworkChanges to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. Under the guidance, public companies will be required to disclose the range and weighted average used to develop significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and for interim periods within those fiscal years, but entities are permitted to early adopt either the entire standard or only the provisions that eliminate or modify the requirements. The Company adopted ASU 2018-13 on January 1, 2019. The impact of the adoption is not material.
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, CompensationStock Compensation (Topic 718)Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, to align the accounting for share-based payment awards issued to nonemployees with the guidance applicable to grants to employees and remove requirement to reassess classification of nonemployee awards under other literature upon vesting. ASU 2018-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted but no earlier than the entitys adoption of ASC 606. The Company adopted ASU 2018-07 on January 1, 2019. Based on ASU 2018-07, entities will generally apply the same guidance to both employee and nonemployee share-based awards, which nonemployee share-based payment equity awards are measured at the grant-date fair value of the equity instruments, similar to employee share-based payment equity awards. The impact of the adoption is not material.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. The amendments in the ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods therein. Early adoption of the standard is permitted, including adoption in interim or annual periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued. Subsequent to the periods presented, the Group adopted the ASU prospectively on January 1, 2021. The impact of the adoption is not material.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial InstrumentsCredit Losses (Topic 326), to provide financial statement users with more useful information about expected credit losses. ASU 2016-13 also changes how entities measure credit losses on financial instruments and the timing of when such losses are recorded. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2022 for the Company, with early adoption permitted. The Group is currently evaluating the impact ASU 2016-13 will have on its consolidated financial statements and associated disclosures.
F-29
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.27 Recent accounting pronouncements (continued)
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes to remove specific exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and to simplify accounting for income taxes. The standard is effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. For all other entities, the standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. Early adoption is permitted. The standard is effective for the Groups fiscal year beginning January 1, 2022. The Group is currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard update on its consolidated financial statements.
3. CONCENTRATION AND RISKS
3.1 Concentration of credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Group to the concentration of credit risks consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable. The maximum exposures of such assets to credit risk is their carrying amounts as of the balance sheet dates. The Group deposits its cash and cash equivalents, and short-term investments with financial institutions located in jurisdictions where the subsidiaries are located. The Group believes that no significant credit risk exists as these financial institutions have high credit quality.
3.2 Concentration of customers and suppliers
Substantially all revenue was derived from customers located in China. There are no customers or suppliers from whom revenues or purchases individually represent greater than 10% of the total revenues or the total purchases of the Group in any of the periods presented.
3.3 Foreign currency exchange rate risk
In July 2005, the PRC government changed its decades-old policy of pegging the value of the RMB to the US$, and the RMB appreciated more than 20% against the US$ over the following three years. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted and the exchange rate between the RMB and the US$ remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, the RMB has fluctuated against the US$, at times significantly and unpredictably. The depreciation of the RMB against the US$ was approximately 1.65% in 2019. The appreciation of the RMB against the US$ was approximately 6.47% in 2020. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the US$ in the future.
4. SHORT TERM INVESTMENT
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Wealth management products |
1,142,015 | 536,401 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-30
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
4. SHORT TERM INVESTMENT (CONTINUED)
As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, the Groups wealth management products mainly consisted of financial products issued by commercial banks and investment banks with a variable interest rate indexed to the performance of underlying assets and a maturity date within one year when purchased or revolving terms. As of December 31, 2020, the weighted average return of the wealth management products was 2.62%.
The investment income from wealth management products recorded in investment income for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 was RMB9,718 and RMB9,095, respectively.
5. PREPAYMENTS AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Prepaid service fee and marketing expenses(1) |
52,165 | 47,398 | ||||||
Receivables from third-party on-line payment platforms(2) |
20,714 | 41,221 | ||||||
Staff loans and advances |
15,167 | 32,902 | ||||||
Deposits |
24,455 | 37,780 | ||||||
Prepaid rental expenses and property management fee |
6,042 | 4,241 | ||||||
Others |
221 | 1,368 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
118,764 | 164,910 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Prepaid service fee and marketing expenses represent prepayment to suppliers which provide online or offline advertising services and IT related services to the Group. |
(2) |
Receivables from third-party on-line payment platforms represent receivables due from third-party on-line payment service providers in relation to the cash collection for the Group, but not yet paid to the Group. |
6. PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE, NET
Property, equipment and software, net, consist of the following:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Leasehold improvement |
19,945 | 39,460 | ||||||
Motor vehicles |
2,316 | 2,316 | ||||||
Electronic equipment |
70,537 | 204,805 | ||||||
Furniture and fixtures |
5,745 | 9,486 | ||||||
Software |
1,101 | 1,615 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Subtotal |
99,644 | 257,682 | ||||||
Less: accumulated depreciation/amortization |
(27,216 | ) | (66,327 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Property, equipment and software, net |
72,428 | 191,355 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-31
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
6. PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE, NET (CONTINUED)
Depreciation expenses were RMB17,971 and RMB41,004 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. No impairment charges were recorded for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020.
The loss on the disposal of property, equipment and software were RMB27 and RMB230 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively, and were recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.
7. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Marketing expenses payable |
40,158 | 16,831 | ||||||
Server procurement payable |
359 | 22,344 | ||||||
Others |
2,100 | 2,681 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
42,617 | 41,856 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
8. OTHER PAYABLES AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Payables to shareholders(1) |
109,080 | 103,596 | ||||||
Salaries, welfare and bonus payable |
148,100 | 260,123 | ||||||
Virtual accounts used on the Groups platform(2) |
14,464 | 24,815 | ||||||
Accrued professional service expense |
3,821 | 2,115 | ||||||
Tax payable(3) |
10,287 | 21,704 | ||||||
Rental payable |
1,071 | 1,058 | ||||||
Others |
6,379 | 4,848 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
293,202 | 418,259 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) |
As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, Huapin received RMB109,080 and RMB103,596 respectively from certain preferred shareholders during Series C-3 and Series E financing. However, these funds have not yet been received by the Company level due to certain regulation limitations. Accordingly, the Company recorded the related subscription receivables from shareholders in the mezzanine equity section, as the outstanding balance due has not yet been settled in cash prior to the issuance of these financial statements. |
(2) |
Customers own their virtual accounts on the Groups platform- BOSS Zhipin, and could deposit cash into their own virtual accounts on the platform. As the customers have rights to withdraw the balances upon their requests without any further conditions, the Group reports the relevant amount as other payables and accrued liabilities. |
(3) |
Tax payable mainly included value-added tax and individual income tax payable. |
F-32
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
9. OPERATING LEASE
The Group has operating leases primarily for office and operation space. The Groups operating lease arrangements have remaining terms of one year to six years with no variable lease costs.
The components of lease expense are as follows:
For the year ended
December 31, |
||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Operating lease costs |
42,508 | 71,706 | ||||||
Expenses for short term lease within 12 months |
9,245 | 2,167 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total lease expense |
51,753 | 73,873 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases is as follows:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets |
98,138 | 144,063 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Operating lease liabilities, current |
57,216 | 59,559 | ||||||
Operating lease liabilities, non-current |
37,659 | 76,373 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total lease liabilities |
94,875 | 135,932 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases is as follows:
For the year ended
December 31, |
||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities |
42,620 | 72,138 | ||||||
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities |
87,054 | 112,871 | ||||||
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years) |
3.48 | 3.75 | ||||||
Weighted average discount rate |
4.75 | % | 4.75 | % |
F-33
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
9. OPERATING LEASE (CONTINUED)
Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows:
10. OTHER OPERATING INCOME, NET
For the year ended
December 31, |
||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
VAT-in super deduction(1) |
2,412 | 7,981 | ||||||
Government grants(2) |
200 | 938 | ||||||
Others |
(39 | ) | (70 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
2,573 | 8,849 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) |
From 2019, in accordance with the Announcement on Relevant Policies for Deepening the Value-added Tax Reform and relevant government policies announced by the Ministry of Finance, the State Taxation Administration and the General Administration of Customs of China, Huapin and Glory, as consumer service companies, are allowed to enjoy additional 10% VAT-in deduction for any services or goods they purchased (VAT-in super deduction) from April 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. The VAT-in super deduction obtained is considered as operating given that all VAT-in was derived from the purchases for that VIEs daily operations in nature, and therefore is presented in other operating income in the Consolidation Statements of Comprehensive Loss (Note 13). |
(2) |
Government grants mainly represent cash subsidies received from PRC local governments for companies operating business in their jurisdictions and compliance with specific policies promoted by the local governments. These cash subsidies were not subject to meeting any specific future conditions. |
F-34
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
11. FINANCIAL INCOME, NET
For the year ended
December 31, |
||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Interest income |
648 | 3,256 | ||||||
Interest expenses |
(349 | ) | | |||||
Bank charges |
(154 | ) | (158 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
145 | 3,098 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
12. RELATED PARTIES BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS
The table below sets forth the major related parties and their relationships with the Group as of December 31, 2020:
Name of related parties | Relationship with the Group | |
Mr. Peng Zhao and companies controlled by him | Founder, and CEO of the Group, and his controlled companies | |
Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited (under Tencent Holdings control) |
Principal shareholder of the Group | |
Individual executive officer |
Executive officer of the Group |
Details of related party balances and transactions as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 are as follows:
Amounts due from related parties
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Mr. Peng Zhao and companies controlled by him |
31,158 | 31,132 | ||||||
Advance to individual executive officer |
5,093 | 5,093 | ||||||
Receivables from Tencent Groups on-line payment platforms |
1,176 | 3,018 | ||||||
Prepaid cloud services fee to Tencent Group |
434 | 1,556 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
37,861 | 40,799 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
Tencent Group represented companies under Tencent Holdings control, including Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited.
The amount due from Mr. Peng Zhao is cash advance with original one-year term and bearing no interest. The advance to individual executive officer is advances granted to Mr. Tao Zhang, Chief Technology Officer of the Group. These cash advances will be settled before the end of March 2021.
F-35
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
12. RELATED PARTIES BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)
Transactions with related parties
For the year ended
December 31, |
||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Cash advance to Mr. Peng Zhao |
24,930 | | ||||||
Cash advance to individual executive officer |
5,093 | | ||||||
Cloud services from Tencent Group |
2,063 | 6,109 | ||||||
On-line payment platform clearing services from Tencent Group |
836 | 1,886 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
32,922 | 7,995 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
The Group utilizes the cloud services provided by Tencent Group to process large amount of complicated data in-house, which reduces the risks involved in data storage and transmission. The Group also utilizes on-line platform clearing service provided by Tencent to facilitate customers online payments.
13. TAXATION
(a) Value-added tax (VAT) and surcharges
The Group is subject to statutory VAT rate of 6% for revenues from online recruitment service in the PRC. Huapin and Glory, as consumer service companies, are allowed to enjoy additional 10% VAT-in super deduction from April 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021 (Note 10).
(b) Income tax
Cayman Islands
Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands, the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated in the Cayman Islands are not subject to tax on income or capital gain. Additionally, the Cayman Islands does not impose a withholding tax on payments of dividends to shareholders.
Hong Kong
Under the current Hong Kong Inland Revenue Ordinance, the Groups subsidiaries in Hong Kong are subject to 16.5% Hong Kong profit tax on its taxable income generated from operations in Hong Kong. Additionally, payments of dividends by the subsidiaries incorporated in Hong Kong to the Company are not subject to any Hong Kong withholding tax.
China
On March 16, 2007, the National Peoples Congress of PRC enacted a new Enterprise Income Tax Law (new EIT law), under which Foreign Investment Enterprises (FIEs) and domestic companies would be subject to enterprise income tax at a uniform rate of 25%. The new EIT law became effective on January 1, 2008. In accordance with the implementation rules of EIT Law, a qualified High and New Technology Enterprise (HNTE) is eligible for a preferential tax rate of 15%. The HNTE certificate is effective for a period of three years. An entity could re-apply for the HNTE certificate when the prior certificate expires.
F-36
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
13. TAXATION (CONTINUED)
(b) Income tax (continued)
Huapin has been qualified as HNTE and enjoys a preferential income tax rate of 15% from 2019 to 2022.
The Groups PRC subsidiary, and Huapins subsidiaries are subject to the statutory income tax rate of 25%.
According to relevant laws and regulations promulgated by the State Administration of Tax of the PRC effective from 2008 onwards, enterprises engaging in research and development activities are entitled to claim 150% of their qualified research and development expenses so incurred as tax deductible expenses when determining their assessable profits for the year (Super Deduction). The additional deduction of 50% of qualified research and development expenses can only be claimed directly in the annual EIT filing and subject to the approval from the relevant tax authorities. Effective from 2018 onwards, enterprises engaging in research and development activities are entitled to claim 175% of their qualified research and development expenses so incurred as tax deductible expenses. The additional deduction of 75% of qualified research and development expenses can be directly claimed in the annual EIT filing.
United States
The Companys subsidiary in California, United States is subject to U.S. federal corporate tax and California corporate franchise tax on its taxable income as reported in its statutory financial statements adjusted in accordance with relevant U.S. tax laws. The applicable U.S. federal corporate tax rate is 21% and the California corporate franchise tax rate is 8.84% in 2019 and 2020.
As the Group incurred income tax expense mainly from PRC tax jurisdictions, the following information is based mainly on PRC income taxes.
Composition of income tax
The components of loss before tax are as follow:
For the year ended
December 31, |
||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Loss before tax |
||||||||
Loss from PRC entities |
483,970 | 311,483 | ||||||
Loss from overseas entities |
18,085 | 630,412 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total loss before tax |
502,055 | 941,895 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-37
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
13. TAXATION (CONTINUED)
(b) Income tax (continued)
Reconciliation of the Differences between Statutory Tax Rate and the Effective Tax Rate
The following table sets forth a reconciliation between the statutory PRC EIT rate of 25% and the effective tax rate:
For the year ended
December 31, |
||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
Statutory income tax rate |
25.00 | % | 25.00 | % | ||||
Tax rate difference from statutory rate in other jurisdictions(1) |
(0.25 | )% | (15.82 | )% | ||||
Permanent difference(2) |
5.30 | % | 2.22 | % | ||||
Effect of preferential tax rates(3) |
(10.03 | )% | (3.36 | )% | ||||
Change in valuation allowance(4) |
(19.97 | )% | (7.89 | )% | ||||
Others |
(0.05 | )% | (0.15 | )% | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Effective tax rate |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) |
The tax rate difference is attributed to varying rates in other jurisdictions where the Group is established or operates, such as the Cayman Islands or the United States. |
(2) |
The permanent differences are primarily related to additional tax deductions for qualified research and development expenses offset by non-deductible share-based compensation expenses. |
(3) |
Huapin has been qualified as HNTE and enjoys a preferential income tax rate of 15% from 2019 to 2022. |
(4) |
The change in valuation allowance is primarily attributed to fully provisioning for net operating loss carry-forwards of KANZHUN LIMITED. |
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, substantially all the amounts of current and deferred income tax expense are attributable to PRC entities.
For the year ended
December 31, |
||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Current income tax expenses |
| | ||||||
Deferred income tax benefit |
(100,256 | ) | (74,275 | ) | ||||
Change in valuation allowance |
100,256 | 74,275 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income expenses |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-38
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
13. TAXATION (CONTINUED)
(c) Deferred tax assets
The following table sets forth the significant components of the deferred tax assets:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Deferred tax assets |
||||||||
Net accumulated losses-carry forward |
86,628 | 86,679 | ||||||
Deductible advertising expenses |
87,639 | 161,842 | ||||||
Others |
1,490 | 1,511 | ||||||
Less: valuation allowance |
(175,757 | ) | (250,032 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total deferred tax assets |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2020, the Group had accumulated tax losses of approximately RMB664.1 million mainly deriving from entities in the PRC. The tax losses in PRC can be carried forward for five years to offset future taxable profit. Since Huapin is qualified for HNTE, its tax losses can be carried forward for ten years. The tax losses in Hong Kong can be carried forward without an expiration date. Under the U.S. tax law, federal tax loss carry-forwards arising in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 can be carried forward indefinitely but the maximum deduction is reduced to 80% of Facehired Inc.s taxable income, while loss carry-forwards arising in 2017 or prior can be carried back two tax years and carried forward up to 20 years. California state tax loss carry-forwards may be carried forward for up to 20 years.
The Group considers positive and negative evidence to determine whether some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be more likely than not realized. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of recent losses and forecasts of future profitability. These assumptions require significant judgment and the forecasts of future taxable income are consistent with the plans and estimates the Group is using to manage the underlying businesses. Valuation allowances are established for deferred tax assets based on a more likely than not threshold. The Groups ability to realize deferred tax assets depends on its ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carry forward periods provided for in the tax law. The Group believes that it is more likely than not that these net accumulated operating losses deferred tax assets will not be utilized in the future. Therefore, the Group has provided full valuation allowances for the deferred tax assets derived from accumulated operating losses as of December 31, 2019 and 2020.
Movement of valuation allowance
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Balance at the beginning of the year |
(75,501 | ) | (175,757 | ) | ||||
Additions in the current year |
(100,256 | ) | (74,275 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Balance at the end of the year |
(175,757 | ) | (250,032 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
F-39
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
14. ORDINARY SHARES
As of January 1, 2019, the Company had 1,500,000,000 shares authorized and 110,000,000 shares issued at a par value of $0.0001 per share. 9,920,000 ordinary shares were issued on May 20, 2014 to Techwolf Limited, controlled by Mr. Peng Zhao, Founder and CEO of the Group, and these ordinary shares were reserved and held by Mr. Peng Zhao on behalf of the Company solely for the purpose of implementing the Companys share award plan. The Company accounted for these shares as issued but not outstanding and presented as treasury shares in the Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders Deficit throughout all the periods until July 4, 2019, when the Company cancelled these ordinary shares. The original commercial intent behind the arrangement regarding such 9,920,000 ordinary shares was later reflected in the Companys share award plan, whose pool of available shares for future grants encompassed such 9,920,000 shares.
As of December 31, 2019, 1,500,000,000 shares had been authorized, 100,080,000 ordinary shares were issued and outstanding.
On February 10, 2020, all issued and outstanding ordinary shares of the Company were re-designated as Class B ordinary shares, and each Class B ordinary share was entitled to 10 votes. Mr. Peng Zhao, Founder and CEO of the Group was deemed to beneficially own all of the Companys issued Class B ordinary shares.
On August 21, 2020, the Company newly issued a total of 4,122,853 Class A ordinary shares to Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC with a total consideration of US$11,431. Meanwhile, Techwolf Limited sold a total of 3,752,934 Class B ordinary shares (Transferred Shares) to Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited, and immediately after the completion of the transfer, the Company re-designated Transferred Shares into Class A ordinary shares.
On September 19, 2020, the Company issued 3,657,853 Class A ordinary shares to TWL Fellows Holding Limited for nominal consideration. TWL Fellows Holding Limited, a consolidated VIE of the Company incorporated on January 14, 2020 in the British Virgin Islands, was established as an employee shareholding vehicle (a Trust) for the purpose of implementing the Companys share award plan. Therefore, the Companys ordinary shares issued to TWL Fellows Holding Limited are presented as treasury shares in the Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders Deficit. Other than holding the Companys ordinary shares, the Trust does not have any assets.
The Companys treasury shares only represent the aforementioned ordinary shares issued to the Companys consolidated VIE, the Trust, for the implementation of the Companys share award plan.
On November 27, 2020, the Company issued and granted 24,780,971 Class B ordinary shares to Techwolf Limited. On the same day, the voting rights of a total of 121,108,037 Class B ordinary shares was modified and each Class B ordinary share was entitled to 15 votes.
As of December 31, 2020, 1,500,000,000 shares had been authorized. 11,533,640 Class A ordinary shares were issued, out of which 7,875,787 Class A ordinary shares were outstanding, and 121,108,037 Class B ordinary shares were issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020.
F-40
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
15. CONVERTIBLE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES
On May 20, 2014, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 60,000,000 Convertible Redeemable Series A Preferred Shares (Series A Preferred Shares) were issued on May 20, 2014 for an aggregated consideration of US$3,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$20 in connection with this offering.
On December 16, 2014, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 26,666,667 Convertible Redeemable Series B Preferred Shares (the Series B Preferred Shares) were issued on December 16, 2014 for an aggregated consideration of US$4,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$41 in connection with the offering of Series B Preferred Shares. Besides, the Company also issued 13,333,333 Series B Preferred Shares to Techwolf Limited, controlled by Mr. Peng Zhao, the Companys founder, chairman and chief executive officer, with no consideration received.
On April 8, 2015, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 48,000,000 Convertible Redeemable Series C Preferred Shares (the Series C Preferred Shares) were issued on April 8, 2015 for an aggregated consideration of US$10,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$40 in connection with this offering. Besides, the Company repurchased a total of 13,333,333 Series B Preferred Shares issued to Techwolf Limited at par value. Those Series B Preferred Shares were sold to one of previous Series B investor on April 8, 2015 at the Series B Preferred Shares issuance price.
On July 7, 2016, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 45,319,316 Convertible Redeemable Series C-1 Preferred Shares (the Series C Preferred Shares, Series C-1 Preferred Shares, or Series C Preferred Shares Tranche I) were issued on July 7, 2016 for an aggregated consideration of US$12,508. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$86 in connection with this offering of Series C-1 Preferred Shares Tranche I.
On August 15, 2016, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 42,251,744 Convertible Redeemable Series C-2 Preferred Shares (the Series C Preferred Shares, Series C-2 Preferred Shares, or Series C Preferred Shares Tranche II) were issued on August 15, 2016 for an aggregated consideration of US$18,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$100 in connection with this offering.
On February 10, 2017, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 11,497,073 Convertible Redeemable Series C-3 Preferred Shares (the Series C Preferred Shares, Series C-3 Preferred Shares, or Series C Preferred Shares Tranche III) were issued on February 10, 2017 for an aggregated consideration of US$6,001. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$32 in connection with this offering.
On November 2, 2017, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 60,856,049 Convertible Redeemable Series D Preferred Shares (the Series D Preferred Shares) were issued on November 2, 2017 for an aggregated consideration of US$43,394. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$1,132 in connection with this offering.
On December 18, 2018, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 83,474,263 Convertible Redeemable Series E Preferred Shares (the
F-41
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
15. CONVERTIBLE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES (CONTINUED)
Series E Preferred Shares) were issued on December 18, 2018 for an aggregated consideration of US$130,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$3,376 in connection with this offering.
On March 8, 2019, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 32,373,031 Convertible Redeemable Series E+ Preferred Shares and re-designated as Series E-1 Preferred Shares on July 4, 2019 (the Series E Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares, or Series E Preferred Shares Tranche I) were issued on March 8, 2019 for an aggregated consideration of US$55,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$1,982 in connection with this offering.
On July 4, 2019, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 28,226,073 Convertible Redeemable Series E-2 Preferred Shares (the Series E Preferred Shares, Series E-2 Preferred Shares, or Series E Preferred Shares Tranche II) were issued on July 4, 2019 for an aggregated consideration of US$50,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$1,917 in connection with this offering.
On February 10, 2020, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 48,689,976 Convertible Redeemable Series F Preferred Shares (the Series F Preferred Shares) were issued on February 10, 2020 for an aggregated consideration of US$150,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$1 in connection with this offering.
On November 27, 2020, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 50,664,609 Convertible Redeemable Series F+ Preferred Shares (the Series F Preferred Shares, Series F-plus Preferred Shares, or Series F Preferred Shares) were issued on November 27, 2020 for an aggregated consideration of US$270,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$3,080 in connection with this offering.
The Series A, B, C, D, E and F Preferred Shares are collectively referred to as the Preferred Shares. The holders of Preferred Shares are collectively referred to as the Preferred Shareholders. The key terms of the Preferred Shares issued by the Company are as follows:
Conversion Rights
Optional Conversion
Each Series A, B, C, D, E and F Preferred Share shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time and without the payment of additional consideration by the holder thereof, into such number of Class A ordinary shares as is determined by the quotient of the applicable issue price divided by the then effective applicable conversion price with respect to such particular series of Preferred Shares, which shall initially be the applicable issue price for the Series A B, C, D, E and F Preferred Shares, as the case may be, resulting in an initial conversion ratio for the Preferred Shares of 1:1, and shall be subject to adjustment and readjustment from time to time, including but not limited to additional equity securities issuances, share dividends, distributions, subdivisions, redemptions, combinations, or reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, reclassifications, exchanges or substitutions.
F-42
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
15. CONVERTIBLE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES (CONTINUED)
Automatic Conversion
Each Preferred Share is convertible, at the option of the holder, at any time after the date of issuance of such Preferred Shares according to a conversion ratio, subject to adjustments for dilution, including but not limited to stock splits, stock dividends and capitalization and certain other events. Each Preferred Share is convertible into a number of ordinary shares determined by dividing the applicable original issuance price by the conversion price (initially being 1 to 1 conversion ratio). The conversion price of each Preferred Share is the same as its original issuance price and no adjustments to conversion price have occurred so far.
Each Series A, B, C, D, E and F Preferred Share shall automatically be converted into Class A ordinary shares, at the then applicable preferred share conversion price upon (i) closing of a Qualified Initial Public Offering (Qualified IPO), or (ii) the written approval of the holders of a majority of each series of Preferred Shares (calculated and voting separately in their respective single class on an as-converted basis).
Prior to the Series D Preferred Shares issuance on November 2, 2017, a Qualified IPO was defined as an initial public offering with gross proceeds no less than US$60 million and capitalization of the Company of no less than US$350 million prior to such initial public offering. Upon the issuance of Series D Preferred Shares, the gross proceeds and market capitalization criteria for a Qualified IPO were increased to US$90 million and US$900 million, respectively. Upon the issuance of Series E Preferred Shares, the gross proceeds and market capitalization criteria for a Qualified IPO were increased to US$100 million and US$2,000 million, respectively. Upon the issuance of Series F Preferred Shares, the gross proceeds and market capitalization criteria for a Qualified IPO were increased to US$100 million and US$3,300 million, respectively. Upon the issuance of Series F-plus Preferred Shares, the gross proceeds and market capitalization criteria for a Qualified IPO were increased to US$300 million and US$5,000 million, respectively.
Voting Rights
Each holder of Series A, B, C, D, E and F Preferred Shares is entitled to cast the number of votes equal to the number of Class A ordinary shares such Preferred Shares would be entitled to convert into at the then effective conversion price. There was a modification to the voting rights of the shares controlled by Mr. Peng Zhao when the Series F and Series F-plus Preferred Shares were issued as follows:
|
the voting rights of ordinary shares controlled by Mr. Peng Zhao was modified to carry 10 votes in connection with the Series F Preferred Shares financing; and |
|
the voting rights of shares controlled by Mr. Peng Zhao was modified to carry 15 votes in connection with the Series F-plus Preferred Shares financing. |
Dividend Rights
Each Preferred Share shall have the right to receive dividends, on an as-converted basis, when, as and if declared by the Board. No dividend shall be paid on the ordinary shares at any time unless and until all dividends on the Preferred Shares have been paid in full. No dividends on preferred and ordinary shares have been declared since the issuance date until December 31, 2020.
F-43
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
15. CONVERTIBLE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES (CONTINUED)
Liquidation Preference
In the event of any liquidation (unless waived by the majority of Preferred Shareholders) including deemed liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, Preferred Shareholders shall be entitled to receive a per share amount equal to 100% of the original preferred share issuance price of the respective series of Preferred Shares, as adjusted for share dividends, share splits, combinations, recapitalizations or similar events, plus all accrued and declared but unpaid dividends thereon, in the sequence of Series F Preferred Shares, Series E Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares, and Series A Preferred Shares. After such liquidation amounts have been paid in full, any remaining funds or assets of the Company legally available for distribution to shareholders shall be distributed on a pro rata, pari passu basis among the holders of the Preferred Shares, on an as-converted basis, together with the holders of the ordinary shares.
Redemption Rights
At any time commencing on a date specified in the shareholders agreement (the Redemption Start Date), holders of majority (more than 50%) of the then outstanding Series A, B, C, D, E, and F Preferred Shares may request a redemption of the Preferred Shares of such series. On receipt of a redemption request from the holders, the Company shall redeem all or part, as requested, of the outstanding Preferred Shares of such series.
The Redemption Start Date of Preferred Shares have been amended for a number of times historically. If any holder of any series of Preferred Shares exercises its redemption right, any holder of other series of Preferred Shares shall have the right to exercise the redemption of its series at the same time.
The redemption prices have been modified historically. Prior to the issuance of Series F Preferred Shares, the price at which each Preferred Share shall be redeemed shall equal to the original Preferred Shares issue price for such series plus 10% compound interest per annum (calculated from the issuance dates of the respective series of Preferred Shares), and declared but unpaid dividends. Upon the issuance of Series F Preferred Shares, the price at which each Preferred Share shall be redeemed shall equal to the original Preferred Shares issue price for such series plus 8% simple interest per annum (calculated from the issuance dates of the respective series of Preferred Shares), and declared but unpaid dividends.
If on the redemption date triggered by the occurrence of any redemption event, the Companys assets or funds which are legally available are insufficient to pay in full the aggregate redemption price for Preferred Shares requested to be redeemed, upon the request of a redeeming shareholder, the Company shall execute and deliver a two-year note, bearing an interest of ten percent (10%) per annum and with repayment of the principal and interest to be made on a monthly basis over a period of twenty-four (24) months. Preferred Shares subject to redemption with respect to which the Company has become obligated to pay the redemption price but which it has not paid in full shall continue to have all the rights and privileges which such Preferred Shareholders had prior to such date, until the redemption price has been paid in full with respect to such Preferred Shares.
F-44
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
15. CONVERTIBLE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES (CONTINUED)
Accounting for Preferred Shares
The Company classified the Preferred Shares in the mezzanine section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets because they were redeemable at the holders option any time after a certain date and were contingently redeemable upon the occurrence of certain liquidation event outside of the Companys control. The Preferred Shares are recorded initially at fair value, net of issuance costs.
The Company records accretion on the Preferred Shares, where applicable, to the redemption value from the issuance dates to the earliest redemption dates. The accretion, calculated using the effective interest method, is 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. The accretion of Preferred Shares was RMB232,319 (US$ 33,529) and RMB283,981 (US$ 41,546) for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively.
The Company has determined that, under the whole instrument approach, host contract of the Preferred Shares is more akin to a debt host, given the Preferred Shares holders have potential creditors right in the event of insufficient fund upon redemption, along with other debt-like features in the terms of the Preferred Shares, including the redemption rights. However, the Company determined that the embedded feature, including conversion feature, do not require bifurcation as they either are clearly and closely related to the host or do not meet definition of a derivative.
The Company has determined that there was no beneficial conversion feature attributable to all Preferred Shares because the initial effective conversion prices of these Preferred Shares were higher than the fair value of the Companys ordinary shares determined by the Company taking into account of an independent third-party appraiser.
Modification of Preferred Shares
The Company assesses whether an amendment to the terms of its convertible redeemable Preferred Shares is an extinguishment or a modification based on a qualitative evaluation of the amendment. If the amendment adds, removes, significantly changes to a substantive contractual term or to the nature of the overall instrument, the amendment results in an extinguishment of the Preferred Shares. The Company also assess if the change in terms results in value transfer between Preferred Shareholders or between Preferred Shareholders and ordinary shareholders.
When convertible redeemable Preferred Shares are extinguished, the difference between the fair value of the consideration transferred to the convertible redeemable Preferred Shareholders and the carrying amount of such Preferred Shares (net of issuance costs) is treated as a deemed dividend to the Preferred Shareholders. When convertible redeemable Preferred Shares are modified and such modification results in value transfer between Preferred Shareholders and ordinary shareholders, the change in fair value resulted from the amendment is treated as a deemed dividend to or from the Preferred Shareholders.
F-45
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
15. CONVERTIBLE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES (CONTINUED)
Preferred Shares modification were mainly included below:
|
Starting from the issuance of Series C Preferred Shares, optional redemption date of each pre-existing Preferred Shares was modified and extended to the fifth anniversary of each newly issued series of Preferred Shares applicable closing date; and |
|
On February 10, 2020, the Redemption Start Date of Series A, B, C, D, and E Preferred Shares was extended from July 5, 2024 to February 10, 2025, which is to be in line with the optional redemption date of Series F Preferred Shares. In the meanwhile, redemption price interest rate was lowered from 10% compound interest per annum to 8% simple interest per annum commencing from Series F Preferred Shares original issuance date and ending on the date of redemption. |
F-46
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
15. CONVERTIBLE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES (CONTINUED)
From both quantitative and qualitative perspectives, the Company assessed the impact of these modifications and concluded that they represent a modification rather than extinguishment of pre-existing Preferred Shares, and the impact of the modification is immaterial.
The Companys convertible redeemable Preferred Shares activities for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 are summarized below:
Series A Shares | Series B Shares | Series C Shares | Series D Shares | Series E Shares | Series F Shares | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of
shares |
Amount
(RMB) |
Number of
shares |
Amount
(RMB) |
Number of
shares |
Amount
(RMB) |
Number of
shares |
Amount
(RMB) |
Number of
shares |
Amount
(RMB) |
Number of
shares |
Amount
(RMB) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2019 |
60,000,000 | 30,144 | 40,000,000 | 56,554 | 147,068,133 | 400,950 | 60,856,049 | 317,533 | 83,474,263 | 874,107 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Series E preferred shares Tranche I and II, net of issuance cost |
| | | | | | | | 60,599,104 | 691,894 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accretion on convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
| 3,290 | | 6,231 | | 42,417 | | 35,053 | | 145,328 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2019 |
60,000,000 | 33,434 | 40,000,000 | 62,785 | 147,068,133 | 443,367 | 60,856,049 | 352,586 | 144,073,367 | 1,711,329 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Series F preferred shares, net of issuance cost |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2,803,114 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accretion on convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
| 2,743 | | 5,191 | | 35,198 | | 28,196 | | 133,704 | 99,354,585 | 78,949 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2020 |
60,000,000 | 36,177 | 40,000,000 | 67,976 | 147,068,133 | 478,565 | 60,856,049 | 380,782 | 144,073,367 | 1,845,033 | 99,354,585 | 2,882,063 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
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|
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|
|
|
F-47
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
16. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
From year of 2014 through 2020, the Company has granted options to certain directors, executive officers and employees. The maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares that are authorized to be issued under the Companys share award plans is 97,122,122 and 145,696,410 as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. The share options have a contractual term of ten years.
Share options granted contained service conditions. With respect to the service conditions, there are 3 types of vesting schedule, which are: (i) 25% of the share options shall become vested on each anniversary of the vesting commencement date for 4 years thereafter; (ii) 50% of the share options shall become vested on each anniversary of the vesting commencement date for 2 years thereafter; (iii) immediately vested upon grant.
For share options contained service conditions only, those awards are measured at the grant date fair value and recognized as expenses over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period. For certain options granted to employees, even though the service condition might have been satisfied, employees are required to provide continued service through the occurrence of an initial public offering or change of control (Trigger Event). Given the vesting of the share options granted is contingent upon the occurrence of Trigger Event, no share-based compensation expense is recognized related with those grants with performance condition. Instead, those expense will be accelerated upon the occurrence of Trigger Event.
The following table sets forth the stock options activity for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020:
Number of
options |
Weighted-
average exercise price per share |
Weighted
average remaining contractual term |
Aggregate
intrinsic value |
Weighted
average fair value of options per share |
||||||||||||||||
US$ | Years | 000US$ | US$ | |||||||||||||||||
Outstanding as of January 1, 2019 |
67,784,739 | 0.50 | 7.64 | 22,714 | 0.12 | |||||||||||||||
Granted |
25,679,294 | 1.45 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Forfeited |
(7,242,312 | ) | 0.84 | | | | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding as of December 31, 2019 |
86,221,721 | 0.76 | 7.22 | 65,994 | 0.27 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Granted |
26,509,592 | 2.42 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Forfeited |
(5,597,960 | ) | 1.00 | | | | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding as of December 31, 2020 |
107,133,353 | 1.16 | 6.84 | 226,639 | 0.64 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2020 |
107,133,353 | 1.16 | 6.84 | 226,639 | 0.64 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Exercisable as of December 31, 2020 |
83,628,767 | 1.37 | 7.71 | 159,434 | 0.75 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the estimated fair value of the underlying stock at each reporting date.
F-48
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
16. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
Prior to the completion of the IPO, the Company has used binomial option-pricing model to determine the fair value of the share options as of the grant dates. Key assumptions (or ranges thereof) are set as below:
Year ended December 31 | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
Exercise price (US$) |
0.0001-1.8 | 0.05-5.33 | ||||||
Fair value of the ordinary shares on the date of option grant |
1.01-1.52 | 1.84-3.27 | ||||||
Risk-free interest rate(1) |
1.80%-2.76 | % | 0.82%-1.70 | % | ||||
Option life (in years) |
10 | 10 | ||||||
Expected dividend yield(2) |
0 | % | 0 | % | ||||
Expected volatility(3) |
56.1%-57.8 | % | 56.5%-59.0 | % | ||||
Expected early exercise multiple |
2.2x-2.8x | 2.2x-2.8x |
(1) |
The risk-free interest rate of periods within the contractual life of the share option is based on the market yield of U.S. Treasury Strips with a maturity life equal to the expected life to expiration. |
(2) |
The Company has no history or expectation of paying dividends on its ordinary shares. |
(3) |
Expected volatility is estimated based on the average of historical volatilities of the comparable companies in the same industry as at the valuation dates. |
In November 2020, the Company recorded share-based compensation expense of RMB533.1 million (US$ 81.7 million) for issuance and grant of 24,780,971 Class B ordinary shares, at a price of US$0.0001 per share, to Mr. Peng Zhao, Founder and CEO of the Group, and was recorded in general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Loss.
The following table sets forth the amount of share-based compensation expense included in each of the relevant financial statement line items:
Year ended
December 31 |
||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Cost of revenues |
944 | 1,920 | ||||||
Sales and marketing expenses |
8,443 | 21,473 | ||||||
Research and development expenses |
13,595 | 30,883 | ||||||
General and administrative expenses |
11,268 | 602,960 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
34,250 | 657,236 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2020, there were RMB22,127 of unrecognized compensation expenses related to stock options for which the service conditions had been met and are expected to be recognized when Trigger Events occurs, the performance conditions are achieved, and RMB49,371 of unrecognized compensation expenses related to stock options for which the service conditions will be met over a weighted average period of 1.54 years.
F-49
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
17. BASIC AND DILUTED NET LOSS PER SHARE
Basic and diluted net loss per share have been calculated in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share. Basic net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of ordinary shares and dilutive potential ordinary shares outstanding during the period. The computation of loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 is as follows:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Numerator: |
||||||||
Net loss |
(502,055 | ) | (941,895 | ) | ||||
Accretion on convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
(232,319 | ) | (283,981 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net loss attributable to KANZHUN LIMITEDs ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted |
(734,374 | ) | (1,225,876 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Denominator: |
||||||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing net loss per share |
107,114,306 | 111,172,986 | ||||||
Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders: |
||||||||
Basic |
(6.86 | ) | (11.03 | ) | ||||
Diluted |
(6.86 | ) | (11.03 | ) |
The following ordinary shares equivalent were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per ordinary share for the periods presented because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
Shares issuable upon conversion of preferred shares |
431,914,761 | 500,211,192 | ||||||
Shares issuable upon exercise of share options |
38,394,825 | 60,853,313 |
18. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Commitments
The Group engaged third parties for promoting its brand image through various advertising channels, including advertising on internet search engines, platforms and other traditional off-line media. The amount of advertising commitments relates to the committed advertising services that have not been delivered and paid. As of December 31, 2020, future minimum advertising commitments under non-cancelable agreements are RMB107.7 million.
The Group had outstanding commitments on several non-cancellable operating lease agreements. Operating lease commitment within one year or less lease term, for which the Group elected not recognize any lease liability or right-of-use asset, therefore not yet reflected in the
F-50
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
18. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)
consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 were RMB1,126 and RMB1,342, respectively.
Contingencies
From time to time, the Group is subject to legal proceedings, investigations and claims incidental to the conduct of its business. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, the Group was not involved in any legal or administrative proceedings that the Group believes may have a material adverse impact on the Groups business, balance sheets or results of operations and cash flows.
19. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, information about inputs into the fair value measurement of the Groups assets and liabilities that are measured or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis in periods subsequent to their initial recognition is as follows:
Fair value measurement at reporting date using | ||||||||||||||||
Description |
Fair value
as of December 31, 2019 |
Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) |
Significant Other
Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | |||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Short-term investments wealth management products |
1,142,015 | | 1,142,015 | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value measurement at reporting date using | ||||||||||||||||
Description |
Fair value
as of December 31, 2020 |
Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) |
Significant Other
Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | |||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Short-term investments wealth management products |
536,401 | | 536,401 | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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. Following is a description of the valuation techniques that the Group uses to measure the fair value of assets that the Group reports in its Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value on a recurring basis.
Short-term investments
Short-term investment consists of wealth management products, which are valued by the Group on a recurring basis. The Group values its short-term wealth management products investments held
F-51
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
19. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (CONTINUED)
in certain banks using model-derived valuations based upon discounted cash flow, in which significant inputs, mainly including expected return, are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data, and accordingly, the Group classifies the valuation techniques that use these inputs as Level 2. The expected return of the financial products were determined based on the prevailing interest rates in the market.
20. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Group has evaluated subsequent events through March 19, 2021, which is the date the consolidated financial statements are available to be issued.
On March 12, 2021, Techwolf Limited transferred a total of 1,965,361 and 1,876,467 Class B ordinary shares to two new external investors named Index Capital International Limited and Duckling Fund L.P., respectively, and those shares were automatically converted into Class A ordinary shares upon the closing of share transfer between the shareholders. As a result, out of 15,375,468 Class A ordinary shares were issued, 11,717,615 Class A ordinary shares were outstanding, and 117,266,209 Class B ordinary shares were issued and outstanding as of March 12, 2021.
21. STATUTORY RESERVES AND RESTRICTED NET ASSETS
Pursuant to laws applicable to entities incorporated in the PRC, the Groups subsidiaries in the PRC must make appropriations from after-tax profit to non-distributable reserve funds. These reserve funds include one or more of the following: (i) a general reserve, (ii) an enterprise expansion fund and (iii) a staff bonus and welfare fund. Subject to certain cumulative limits, the general reserve fund requires an annual appropriation of 10% of after tax profit (as determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the PRC at each year-end) until the accumulative amount of such reserve fund reaches 50% of a companys registered capital, the other fund appropriations are at the subsidiaries discretion. These reserve funds can only be used for specific purposes of enterprise expansion and staff bonus and welfare and are not distributable as cash dividends. During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, no appropriations to the statutory reserve have been made by the Group.
The Company performed a test on the restricted net assets of consolidated subsidiaries in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-X Rule 4-08 (e) (3), General Notes to Financial Statements and concluded that it was applicable for the Company to disclose the financial statements for the parent company. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, the total restricted net assets of the Companys subsidiary and the VIE incorporated in PRC and subjected to restriction amounted to approximately nil and RMB384,798, respectively.
The Company did not have significant capital and other commitments, long-term obligations, or guarantees as of December 31, 2019 and 2020.
22. ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONCONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE PARENT COMPANY
Rules 12-04(a) and 4-08(e)(3) of Regulation S-X require condensed financial information as to the financial position, cash flows and results of operations of a parent company as of and for the same
F-52
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
22. ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONCONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE PARENT COMPANY (CONTINUED)
periods for which the audited consolidated financial statements have been presented when the restricted net assets of the consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries together exceed 25% of consolidated net assets as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year.
The following condensed financial statements of the Parent Company have been prepared using the same accounting policies as set out in the Companys consolidated financial statements except that the Parent Company used the equity method to account for its investment in its subsidiaries and the VIE. Such investment is presented on the separate condensed balance sheets of the Parent Company as Investments in subsidiaries and VIE. The Parent Company, its subsidiaries and the VIE were included in the consolidated financial statements whereby the inter-company balances and transactions were eliminated upon consolidation. The Parent Companys share of income from its subsidiaries and the VIE is reported as equity in income of subsidiaries and the VIE in the condensed financial statements.
The Parent Company is a Cayman Islands company and, therefore, is not subjected to income taxes for all years presented. The footnote disclosures contain supplemental information relating to the operations of the Company and, as such, these statements should be read in conjunction with the notes to the consolidated financial statements of the Company. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted.
Balance sheets
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
181,646 | 3,542,052 | ||||||
Short-term investment |
1,125,991 | | ||||||
Amounts due from subsidiaries and VIEs |
754,256 | 1,088,812 | ||||||
Amounts due from related parties |
31,138 | 31,112 | ||||||
Prepayments and other current assets |
18,013 | 28,134 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total assets |
2,111,044 | 4,690,110 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY |
||||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||||
Other payables and accruals |
5,161 | 3,224 | ||||||
Amounts due to subsidiaries and VIEs |
61 | | ||||||
Investment deficit in subsidiaries and VIEs |
1,272,337 | 1,400,003 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities |
1,277,559 | 1,403,227 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-53
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
22. ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONCONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE PARENT COMPANY (CONTINUED)
Balance sheets (continued)
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Mezzanine equity |
||||||||
Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 60,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020) |
33,434 | 36,177 | ||||||
Series B convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020) |
62,785 | 67,976 | ||||||
Series C convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 147,068,133 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020) |
443,367 | 478,565 | ||||||
Series D convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 60,856,049 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020) |
352,586 | 380,782 | ||||||
Series E convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 144,073,367 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020) |
1,711,329 | 1,845,033 | ||||||
Series F convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, nil and 99,354,585 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020) |
| 2,882,063 | ||||||
Subscription receivables from shareholders |
(109,080 | ) | (103,596 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total mezzanine equity |
2,494,421 | 5,587,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Shareholders deficits |
||||||||
Ordinary shares (US$0.0001 par value, 1,500,000,000 shares authorized, 100,080,000 and 132,641,677 shares issued, as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. 100,080,000 ordinary shares outstanding as of December 31, 2019; 7,875,787 Class A ordinary shares and 121,108,037 Class B ordinary shares outstanding as of December 31, 2020) |
62 | 81 | ||||||
Treasury shares (nil and 3,657,853 shares as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively) |
| | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
| 452,234 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
19,152 | (130,387 | ) | |||||
Accumulated deficit |
(1,680,150 | ) | (2,622,045 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total shareholders deficits |
(1,660,936 | ) | (2,300,117 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholders deficits |
2,111,044 | 4,690,110 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-54
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
22. ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONCONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE PARENT COMPANY (CONTINUED)
Statements of comprehensive loss
Year Ended
December 31, |
||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Operation expense |
||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
(15,709 | ) | (606,029 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total operating expenses |
(15,709 | ) | (606,029 | ) | ||||
Financial (expense)/income, net |
(10 | ) | 1,503 | |||||
Investment income |
9,690 | 5,312 | ||||||
Share of loss from investments in subsidiaries and VIEs |
(496,026 | ) | (342,681 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Loss before income tax expense |
(502,055 | ) | (941,895 | ) | ||||
Income tax expense |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net loss |
(502,055 | ) | (941,895 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Accretion on redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
(232,319 | ) | (283,981 | ) | ||||
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders |
(734,374 | ) | (1,225,876 | ) | ||||
Net loss |
(502,055 | ) | (941,895 | ) | ||||
Other comprehensive income/(loss) |
||||||||
Foreign currency translation |
25,354 | (149,539 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total comprehensive loss |
(476,701 | ) | (1,091,434 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
Statements of cash flows
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2020 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Net cash used in from operating activities |
(237,341 | ) | (508,108 | ) | ||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities |
(1,145,512 | ) | 1,135,941 | |||||
Net cash generated from financing activities |
889,879 | 2,882,112 | ||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
25,354 | (149,539 | ) | |||||
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(467,620 | ) | 3,360,406 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year |
649,266 | 181,646 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year |
181,646 | 3,542,052 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-55
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND MARCH 31, 2021
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
As of | ||||||||||||
December 31, | March 31, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
3,998,203 | 4,101,280 | 625,978 | |||||||||
Short-term investments |
536,401 | 550,331 | 83,997 | |||||||||
Accounts receivable |
6,999 | 10,843 | 1,655 | |||||||||
Amounts due from related parties |
40,799 | 8,270 | 1,262 | |||||||||
Prepayments and other current assets |
164,910 | 271,021 | 41,365 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total current assets |
4,747,312 | 4,941,745 | 754,257 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Non-current assets: |
||||||||||||
Property, equipment and software, net |
191,355 | 216,222 | 33,002 | |||||||||
Intangible assets, net |
549 | 527 | 80 | |||||||||
Right of use assets, net |
144,063 | 159,422 | 24,333 | |||||||||
Other non-current assets |
| 608 | 93 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total non-current assets |
335,967 | 376,779 | 57,508 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total assets |
5,083,279 | 5,318,524 | 811,765 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-56
KANZHUN LIMITED
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND MARCH 31, 2021
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
As of | ||||||||||||
December 31, | March 31, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||
Current liabilities (including amounts of the consolidated VIE and VIEs subsidiaries without recourse to the primary beneficiary of RMB 1,717,020 and RMB2,078,593 as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively) |
||||||||||||
Accounts payable |
41,856 | 97,603 | 14,897 | |||||||||
Deferred revenue |
1,200,349 | 1,594,172 | 243,318 | |||||||||
Other payable and accrued liabilities |
418,259 | 328,372 | 50,119 | |||||||||
Operating lease liabilities, current |
59,559 | 61,666 | 9,412 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total current liabilities |
1,720,023 | 2,081,813 | 317,746 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Non-current liabilities (including amounts of the consolidated VIE and VIEs subsidiaries without recourse to the primary beneficiary of RMB 76,373 and RMB93,647 as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively) |
||||||||||||
Operating lease liabilities, non-current |
76,373 | 93,647 | 14,293 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total non-current liabilities |
76,373 | 93,647 | 14,293 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total liabilities |
1,796,396 | 2,175,460 | 332,039 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)
F-57
KANZHUN LIMITED
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND MARCH 31, 2021
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
As of | ||||||||||||
December 31, | March 31, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||
Mezzanine equity |
||||||||||||
Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 60,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively) |
36,177 | 36,772 | 5,612 | |||||||||
Series B convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively) |
67,976 | 69,104 | 10,547 | |||||||||
Series C convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 147,068,133 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively) |
478,565 | 486,203 | 74,209 | |||||||||
Series D convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 60,856,049 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively) |
380,782 | 386,869 | 59,048 | |||||||||
Series E convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 144,073,367 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively) |
1,845,033 | 1,873,758 | 285,992 | |||||||||
Series F convertible redeemable preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value, 99,354,585 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively) |
2,882,063 | 2,930,151 | 447,228 | |||||||||
Subscription receivable from shareholder |
(103,596 | ) | (103,596 | ) | (15,812 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total mezzanine equity |
5,587,000 | 5,679,261 | 866,824 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-58
KANZHUN LIMITED
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND MARCH 31, 2021
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
As of | ||||||||||||
December 31, | March 31, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||
Shareholders deficit |
||||||||||||
Ordinary shares (US$0.0001 par value, 1,500,000,000 shares authorized, 132,641,677 and 131,460,338 shares issued, as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively; 7,875,787 Class A ordinary shares and 121,108,037 Class B ordinary shares outstanding as of December 31, 2020; 11,717,615 Class A ordinary shares and 116,084,870 Class B ordinary shares outstanding as of March 31, 2021, respectively) |
81 | 80 | 12 | |||||||||
Treasury shares (3,657,853 shares as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively) |
| | | |||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
452,234 | 366,366 | 55,918 | |||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(130,387 | ) | (104,419 | ) | (15,936 | ) | ||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(2,622,045 | ) | (2,798,224 | ) | (427,092 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total KANZHUN LIMITED shareholders deficit |
(2,300,117 | ) | (2,536,197 | ) | (387,098 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholders deficit |
5,083,279 | 5,318,524 | 811,765 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-59
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2020 AND 2021 (All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
|
|
|||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||
Revenues |
||||||||||||
Online recruitment services to enterprise customers |
279,110 | 782,156 | 119,380 | |||||||||
Others |
3,501 | 6,379 | 974 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total Revenues |
282,611 | 788,535 | 120,354 | |||||||||
Operating cost and expenses: |
||||||||||||
Cost of revenues |
(37,851 | ) | (106,856 | ) | (16,309 | ) | ||||||
Sales and marketing expenses |
(376,522 | ) | (618,537 | ) | (94,407 | ) | ||||||
Research and development expenses |
(104,801 | ) | (163,767 | ) | (24,996 | ) | ||||||
General and administrative expenses |
(45,651 | ) | (81,712 | ) | (12,472 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total operating cost and expenses |
(564,825 | ) | (970,872 | ) | (148,184 | ) | ||||||
Other operating income, net |
1,363 | 2,318 | 354 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Loss from operations |
(280,851 | ) | (180,019 | ) | (27,476 | ) | ||||||
Financial income, net |
351 | 1,961 | 299 | |||||||||
Foreign exchange (loss)/gain |
(1,121 | ) | 464 | 71 | ||||||||
Investment income |
5,439 | 2,811 | 429 | |||||||||
Other expenses |
(2,650 | ) | (1,396 | ) | (213 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Loss before income tax expense |
(278,832 | ) | (176,179 | ) | (26,890 | ) | ||||||
Income tax expense |
| | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net loss |
(278,832 | ) | (176,179 | ) | (26,890 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Accretion on convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
(64,794 | ) | (92,263 | ) | (14,082 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders |
(343,626 | ) | (268,442 | ) | (40,972 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net loss |
(278,832 | ) | (176,179 | ) | (26,890 | ) | ||||||
Other comprehensive income |
||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
30,064 | 25,968 | 3,963 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total comprehensive loss |
(248,768 | ) | (150,211 | ) | (22,927 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted |
107,305,026 | 136,255,542 | 136,255,542 | |||||||||
Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders |
||||||||||||
Basic and diluted |
(3.20 | ) | (1.97 | ) | (0.30 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-60
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS DEFICIT
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2020 AND 2021
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
Ordinary share
(US $0.0001 par value) |
Treasury shares |
Additional
paid-in capital |
Accumulated
other comprehensive income/(loss) |
Accumulated
deficit |
Total
shareholders deficit |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of
shares outstanding |
Amount |
Number of
shares |
Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2020 |
100,080,000 | 62 | | | | 19,152 | (1,680,150 | ) | (1,660,936 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | | | | (278,832 | ) | (278,832 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
| | | | | 30,064 | | 30,064 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
| | | | 16,271 | | | 16,271 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accretion on convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
| | | | (16,271 | ) | | (48,523 | ) | (64,794 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Balance as of March 31, 2020 |
100,080,000 | 62 | | | | 49,216 | (2,007,505 | ) | (1,958,227 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2021 |
128,983,824 | 81 | (3,657,853 | ) | | 452,234 | (130,387 | ) | (2,622,045 | ) | (2,300,117 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | | | | (176,179 | ) | (176,179 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
| | | | | 25,968 | | 25,968 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
| | | | 48,658 | | | 48,658 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accretion on convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
| | | | (92,263 | ) | | | (92,263 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Repurchase and cancellation of Class B ordinary shares (Note 14) |
(1,181,339 | ) | (1 | ) | | | (42,263 | ) | | | (42,264 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Balance as of March 31, 2021 |
127,802,485 | 80 | (3,657,853 | ) | | 366,366 | (104,419 | ) | (2,798,224 | ) | (2,536,197 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-61
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2020 AND 2021
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||||||
Net loss |
(278,832 | ) | (176,179 | ) | (26,890 | ) | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
16,271 | 48,658 | 7,427 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
5,019 | 17,090 | 2,608 | |||||||||
Loss from disposal of property, equipment and software |
| 29 | 4 | |||||||||
Foreign exchange loss/(gain) |
1,121 | (464 | ) | (71 | ) | |||||||
Amortization of right-of-use assets |
16,399 | 21,287 | 3,249 | |||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||||||
Accounts receivable |
(3,073 | ) | (3,844 | ) | (587 | ) | ||||||
Prepayments and other current assets |
(12,957 | ) | (105,041 | ) | (16,032 | ) | ||||||
Amounts due from related parties |
(4,448 | ) | 1,848 | 282 | ||||||||
Accounts payable |
28,101 | 75,282 | 11,490 | |||||||||
Deferred revenue |
27,731 | 393,823 | 60,109 | |||||||||
Other payable and accrued liabilities |
(60,022 | ) | (89,887 | ) | (13,719 | ) | ||||||
Operating lease liabilities |
(14,652 | ) | (17,267 | ) | (2,635 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from operating activities |
(279,342 | ) | 165,335 | 25,235 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Cash flows generated from/(used in) investing activities: |
||||||||||||
Purchase of property, equipment and software |
(23,717 | ) | (61,504 | ) | (9,387 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from disposal of property, equipment and software |
| 6 | 1 | |||||||||
Purchase of short-term investments |
(1,093,390 | ) | (570,000 | ) | (86,999 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments |
2,187,477 | 555,000 | 84,710 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net cash generated from/(used in) investing activities |
1,070,370 | (76,498 | ) | (11,675 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-62
KANZHUN LIMITED
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2020 AND 2021
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | ||||||||||
Cash flows generated from/(used in) financing activities: |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of convertible redeemable preferred shares, net of issuance of cost |
1,048,706 | | | |||||||||
Payments of deferred offering costs |
| (608 | ) | (93 | ) | |||||||
Repurchase of Class B ordinary shares from Techwolf Limited |
| (11,584 | ) | (1,768 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net cash generated from/(used in) financing activities |
1,048,706 | (12,192 | ) | (1,861 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
29,077 | 26,432 | 4,034 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
1,868,811 | 103,077 | 15,733 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period |
407,355 | 3,998,203 | 610,245 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period |
2,276,166 | 4,101,280 | 625,978 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities |
||||||||||||
Accretion on convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
64,794 | 92,263 | 14,082 | |||||||||
Payables for property, equipment and software |
31,536 | (19,535 | ) | (2,982 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-63
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
1. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATION
(a) |
Principal activities |
KANZHUN LIMITED (Kanzhun or the Company) was incorporated under Cayman law on January 16, 2014 as an exempted company with limited liability under the Company Law of the Cayman Islands. The Company, its subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities (the VIEs) (collectively, the Group) run two online recruitment platforms called BOSS Zhipin in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC).
The BOSS Zhipin platform mainly focuses on assisting the recruitment process between job seekers and employers for enterprises and corporations. Through BOSS Zhipin platform, employers, mainly executives or middle-level managers of businesses, could participate directly in the recruiting process.
The Group generates revenue by providing services to the enterprise customers and job seekers to assist in the recruitment process over mobile apps and websites. The job seekers and enterprise customers, through receipt of services under time-based model and item-based model, could then get recommended and matched with most suitable posted positions and job seekers, and then interact instantly with the counterparties.
(b) |
Organization of the Group |
The Groups unaudited interim consolidated condensed financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries, consolidated VIE and VIEs subsidiaries.
As of March 31, 2021, the Companys principal subsidiaries are as follows:
Subsidiaries |
Place of
incorporation |
Date of
incorporation or acquisition |
Percentage
of direct or indirect |
Principal activities | ||||||
Techfish Limited |
Hong Kong |
Incorporated on
February 14, 2014 |
100 | % |
Investment
holding |
|||||
Beijing Glory Wolf Co., Ltd. (Glory, or the WFOE) |
Beijing |
Incorporated on
May 7, 2014 |
100 | % |
Online recruitment
assisting service |
|||||
VIE |
Place of incorporation |
Date of
incorporation or acquisition |
Percentage
of direct or indirect |
Principal activities | ||||||
Beijing Huapinborui Network Technology Co., Ltd. (Huapin) |
Beijing |
Incorporated on
December 25, 2013 |
100 | % |
Online recruitment
assisting service |
(c) |
Consolidated variable interest entities |
In order to comply with the PRC laws and regulations which prohibit or restrict foreign investments into companies involved in restricted businesses, the Group operates its Apps, websites and other restricted businesses in the PRC through a PRC domestic company and its subsidiaries, whose equity interests are held by certain management members of the Company (Nominee Shareholders). The Company obtained control over such PRC domestic companies by entering into a series of Contractual Arrangements with such PRC domestic company and its respective Nominee
F-64
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
1. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATION (CONTINUED)
(c) |
Consolidated variable interest entities (continued) |
Shareholders. As a result, the Company maintains the ability to control such PRC domestic company and is entitled to substantially all of the economic benefits from such PRC domestic company. Management concluded that such PRC domestic company is VIE of the Company, of which the Company is the ultimate primary beneficiary. As such, the Group consolidated financial results of such PRC domestic company and its subsidiaries in the Groups consolidated financial statements. The principal terms of the agreements entered into amongst the VIE, the Nominee Shareholders and the WFOE are further described below.
Exclusive Call Option Agreement
Pursuant to the exclusive all option agreement, the Nominee Shareholders of the VIE have granted the WFOE the exclusive and irrevocable right to purchase or to designate one or more person(s) at its discretion to purchase part or all of the equity interests in the VIE (the Target Equity) from the Nominee Shareholders at any time, and the VIE has granted the WFOE the exclusive and irrevocable right to purchase or to designate one or more person(s) at its discretion to purchase part or all of the assets of the VIE (the Target Assets) at any time. The total transfer price for the Target Equity or the Target Assets shall be equal to RMB100 or subject to the lowest price permitted by PRC laws and regulations. The VIE and its Nominee Shareholders have agreed that without prior written consent of the WFOE or the Company, the Nominee Shareholders or the VIE shall not sell, transfer, pledge or dispose of any of the Target Equity, the Target Assets, or the revenue or business in the VIE. In addition, the VIE covenants that it shall not declare any dividend or change capitalization structure of the VIE or enter into any loan or investment agreements without WFOE or the Companys prior written consent.
Power of Attorney
Pursuant to the Power of Attorney, each of the Nominee Shareholders appointed the WFOE as their attorney-in-fact to exercise all shareholder rights under PRC law and the relevant articles of association, including but not limited to, attending shareholders meetings and signing on their behalf on the resolutions, voting on their behalf on all matters requiring shareholder approval, including but not limited to the appointment and removal of legal representative, directors and senior management, as well as the sale, transfer and disposal of all or part of the equity interests owned by such shareholders. The powers of attorney will remain effective for a given Nominee Shareholders until such shareholder ceases to be a shareholder of the VIE.
Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service agreement
Pursuant to the exclusive technology development, consulting and service agreement, the WFOE has agreed to provide to the VIE services, including, but not limited to, research, development, application and implementation of technology, daily maintenance, monitor, debugging, and troubleshooting of the computer network system, consulting services for the procurement of software and hardware systems, and training and technical support services. The VIE shall pay to the WFOE service fees as calculated in such manner as determined by both VIE and WFOE from time to time
F-65
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
1. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATION (CONTINUED)
(c) |
Consolidated variable interest entities (continued) |
based on the nature of service, which should be paid quarterly. Service fees should normally be equal to the remaining amount of all revenues less all expenses of VIE. The service fees, and any adjustment or change to the service fees, should be subject to the approval of the WFOE and the board of the Company (including the director(s) appointed by preferred shareholders). The agreement has a term of 10 years unless otherwise terminated by the WFOE and VIE and may renew at the end of each term with the prior written consent of the WFOE for a further term of ten years or otherwise as agreed by the WFOE and VIE. The WFOE retains the exclusive right to terminate the agreements at any time by delivering a written notice 30 days in advance to VIE.
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
Pursuant to the equity interest pledge agreement, the Nominee Shareholders of the VIE have pledged 100% equity interests in VIE to the WFOE to guarantee the payment of technology development, consulting and service fees by the VIE of its obligations under the exclusive technology development, consulting and service agreement. The equity interest pledge agreement shall remain valid until the full payment of the service fees and the fulfillment of all the obligations under the exclusive technology development, consulting and service agreement. In the event of a breach by the VIE or any of its Nominee Shareholders of contractual obligations under the exclusive technology development, consulting and service agreement, and the equity interest pledge agreement, as the case may be, the WFOE, as pledgee, will have the right to auction or dispose of the pledged equity interests in the VIE and will have priority in receiving the proceeds from such auction or disposal.
Spousal Consent Letter
Pursuant to the Spousal Consent Letter, the spouse of each Nominee Shareholder who is a natural person, unconditionally and irrevocably agreed that the equity interests in the VIE held by such Nominee Shareholder will be disposed of pursuant to the equity interest pledge agreement, the exclusive call option agreement, and power of attorney. Each of their spouses agreed not to assert any rights over the equity interests in the VIE held by such Nominee Shareholder. In addition, in the event that any spouse obtains any equity interests in VIE held by such Nominee Shareholder for any reason, he or she agreed to be bound by the equity interest pledge agreement, the exclusive option agreement, and power of attorney.
F-66
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
1. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATION (CONTINUED)
(d) |
Risks in relations to the VIE structure |
The following table set forth the assets, liabilities, results of operations and changes in cash and cash equivalents of the consolidated VIE and their subsidiaries taken as a whole, which were included in the Groups consolidated financial statements with intercompany transactions eliminated:
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Current assets |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
183,199 | 140,468 | ||||||
Short-term investments |
525,506 | 540,138 | ||||||
Accounts receivable |
6,999 | 10,843 | ||||||
Amounts due from the Group companies |
36,859 | 36,859 | ||||||
Prepayments and other current assets |
146,244 | 252,571 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current assets |
898,807 | 980,879 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Non-current assets: |
||||||||
Property, equipment and software, net |
191,242 | 216,112 | ||||||
Intangible assets, net |
549 | 527 | ||||||
Right-of-use assets, net |
144,063 | 159,422 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total non-current assets |
335,854 | 376,061 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total assets |
1,234,661 | 1,356,940 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
41,839 | 97,573 | ||||||
Deferred revenue |
1,200,349 | 1,594,172 | ||||||
Other payables and accrued liabilities |
415,273 | 325,182 | ||||||
Amounts due to the Group companies |
372,427 | 222,356 | ||||||
Operating lease liabilities, current |
59,559 | 61,666 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current liabilities |
2,089,447 | 2,300,949 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Non-current liabilities |
||||||||
Operating lease liabilities, non-current |
76,373 | 93,647 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities |
2,165,820 | 2,394,596 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-67
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
1. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATION (CONTINUED)
(d) |
Risks in relations to the VIE structure (continued) |
For the three months
ended March 31, |
||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Total net revenues |
282,611 | 788,535 | ||||||
Cost of revenues |
(37,376 | ) | (102,557 | ) | ||||
Net loss |
(233,080 | ) | (154,916 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from operating activities |
(198,739 | ) | 176,021 | |||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(56,679 | ) | (73,762 | ) | ||||
Net cash generated from/(used in) financing activities |
255,000 | (144,990 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
(418 | ) | (42,731 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period |
61,096 | 183,199 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period |
60,678 | 140,468 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
Under the Contractual Arrangements, the WFOE has the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the VIE such as having assets transferred out of the VIE at its discretion. Therefore, the Company considers that there is no asset of the VIE that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE except for registered capital of VIE amounting to RMB8,992 and RMB9,002 as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively. Since the VIE was incorporated as a limited liability company under the PRC Law, the creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company for all the liabilities of the VIE.
The Group believes that the Contractual Arrangements between or among the WFOE, VIE and the Nominee Shareholders are in compliance with PRC laws and regulations, as applicable, and are legally enforceable. However, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit the Companys ability to enforce these Contractual Arrangements.
In addition, if the current structure of any of the Contractual Arrangements were found to be in violation of any existing PRC laws, the Group may be subject to penalties, which may include but not be limited to, the cancellation or revocation of the business and operating licenses, being required to restructure the Groups operations or terminate the Groups operating activities. The imposition of any of these or other penalties may result in a material and adverse effect on the Groups ability to conduct its operations. In such case, the Company may not be able to operate or control the VIE, which may result in deconsolidation of the VIE.
There are, however, substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current or future PRC laws and regulations. Accordingly, the Company cannot be assured that the PRC government authorities will not ultimately take a view that is contrary to the Companys belief and the opinion of its PRC legal counsel. In March 2019, the draft Foreign Investment Law was submitted to the National Peoples Congress for review and was approved on March 15, 2019, which came into effect from January 1, 2020. The approved Foreign Investment Law does not touch upon the relevant concepts and regulatory regimes that were historically suggested for the regulation of VIE structures, and thus this regulatory topic remain unclear under the Foreign Investment Law. Since the Foreign Investment Law is new, there are substantial uncertainties exist with respect to its implementation and
F-68
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
1. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATION (CONTINUED)
(d) |
Risks in relations to the VIE structure (continued) |
interpretation and the possibility that the VIE will be deemed as a foreign-invested enterprises and subject to relevant restrictions in the future shall not be excluded. If the contractual arrangements establishing the Companys VIE structure are found to be in violation of any existing law and regulations or future PRC laws and regulations, the relevant PRC government authorities will have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including, without limitation, levying fines, confiscating our income or the income from the VIE, revoking our business licenses or the business licenses, requiring us to restructure our ownership structure or operations and requiring us to discontinue any portion or all of our value-added businesses or other prohibited businesses. Any of these actions could cause significant disruption to the Companys business operations, and have a severe adverse impact on the Companys cash flows, financial position and operating performance. If the imposing of these penalties cause the WFOE to lose its rights to direct the activities of and receive economic benefits from the VIE, which in turn may restrict the Companys ability to consolidate and reflect in its financial statements the financial position and results of operations of its VIE.
(e) |
COVID-19 impact and liquidity |
The Groups revenue growth was negatively impacted in the first quarter of 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Group started to recover in the late first quarter of 2020, operating cash flow turned positive in the three months ended September 30, 2020, and continued as of March 31, 2021. Based on the assessment on the Groups liquidity and financial positions, the Group believes that its current cash and cash equivalents, will be sufficient to enable it to meet its anticipated working capital requirements and capital expenditures for at least the next twelve months from the date these consolidated financial statements are issued.
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
2.1 Basis of presentation
The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAP) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in our annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted consistent with Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary by management to a fair statement of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the interim periods presented. Interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year or for any future periods. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements and notes thereto also included herein.
The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared using accounting policies that are consistent with the policies used in preparing the Groups consolidated financial statements for each of the two years ended December, 31 2019 and 2020. Principal
F-69
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.1 Basis of presentation (continued)
accounting policies followed by the Group in the preparation of the accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements are summarized below.
2.2 Basis of consolidation
The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries, the consolidated VIE and VIEs subsidiaries for which the Company is the ultimate primary beneficiary.
A subsidiary is an entity 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, to cast a majority of votes at the meeting of the board of directors or to govern the financial and operating policies of the investee under a statute or agreement among the shareholders or equity holders.
The Company applies the guidance codified in Accounting Standard Codification 810, Consolidations (ASC 810) on accounting for the VIE, which requires certain variable interest entities to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary of the entity in which it has a controlling financial interest. A VIE is an entity with one or more of the following characteristics: (a) the total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support; (b) as a group, the holders of the equity investment at risk lack the ability to make certain decisions, the obligation to absorb expected losses or the right to receive expected residual returns, or (c) an equity investor has voting rights that are disproportionate to its economic interest and substantially all of the entitys activities are on behalf of the investor with disproportionately fewer voting rights.
All transactions and balances between the Company, its subsidiaries, VIE and VIEs subsidiaries have been eliminated upon consolidation.
2.3 Use of estimates
The preparation of the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date, and the reported revenues and expenses during the reporting periods in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Groups unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to the depreciable lives of property, equipment and software, impairment of long-lived assets, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, the valuation of ordinary shares and share-based compensation. Management bases the estimates on historical experience, known trends and various other assumptions that are delivered to the reasonable under current circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. As of March 31, 2021, the Group considered the economic implications of the COVID-19 based on its estimates. Given that changes in circumstances, facts and experience may cause the Group to revise its estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates.
F-70
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.4 Foreign currencies
The Groups reporting currency is Renminbi (RMB). The functional currency of the Groups holding entities incorporated in Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and United States of America, is the United States dollars (US$). The Groups PRC subsidiaries, consolidated VIE and VIEs subsidiaries determined their functional currency to be RMB. The determination of the respective functional currency is based on the criteria of ASC 830, Foreign Currency Matters and is based primarily on the currency the entity conducts its business in.
Transactions denominated in other than the functional currencies are translated into the functional currency of the entity at the exchange rates quoted by authoritative banks prevailing on the transaction dates. Exchange gains and losses resulting from those foreign currency transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are recorded in the Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.
The financial statements of the Group are translated from the functional currency into RMB. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into RMB using the applicable exchange rates at the balance sheet date. Equity accounts other than earnings generated in current period are translated into RMB at the appropriate historical rates. Revenues, expenses, gain and loss are translated into RMB using the periodic average exchange rates. The resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded in other comprehensive income as a component of shareholders deficit.
2.5 Convenience translation
Translations of the Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, the Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss and the Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows from RMB into US$ as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2021 are solely for the convenience of the readers and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00=RMB6.5518 on March 31, 2021 as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate on March 31, 2021, or at any other rate.
2.6 Fair value measurements
Accounting guidance defines fair value as 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 measurement 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-71
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.6 Fair value measurements (continued)
Accounting guidance establishes 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 establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2Include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.
Level 3Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity.
Accounting guidance also describes three main approaches to measuring 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.
Financial assets and liabilities of the Group mainly consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivables, amounts due from related parties, prepayments and other current assets, accounts payables, certain accrued expenses and other current liabilities. As of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, except for short-term investments, the carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivables, amounts due from related parties, prepayments and other current assets, accounts payables, certain accrued expenses and other current liabilities are approximated to their fair values due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. The Group reports short-term investments with observable factors in the overall fair value measurement at fair value and discloses based on Level 2 measurement.
2.7 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash includes currency on hand, cash in bank and time deposits held by financial that can be added to or withdrawn without limitation or restriction. Cash equivalents represent short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and with original maturities from the date of purchase of generally three months or less.
2.8 Short-term investment
Short-term investments are wealth management products issued by commercial banks and investment banks, which contains fixed or variable interest with original maturities within one year. Such investments are generally not permitted to be redeemed early or are subject to penalties for redemption prior to maturities. These investments are stated at fair value. Changes in the fair value are reflected in investment income in the Consolidation Statements of Comprehensive Loss.
F-72
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.9 Accounts receivable
Accounts receivable is presented net of allowance for doubtful accounts. The Group provides general and specific provisions for bad debts when facts and circumstances indicate that the receivable is unlikely to be collected. If the financial condition of its customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. The allowance for doubtful accounts was nil as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively.
2.10 Property, equipment and software
Property, equipment and software are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Property, equipment and software are depreciated at rates sufficient to write off their costs less impairment and residual value, if any, over the estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. The estimated useful lives are as follow:
Category | Estimated useful lives | |
Leasehold improvement |
Shorter of the term of the lease or the estimated useful lives of the assets | |
Motor Vehicles |
3-5 years | |
Electronic equipment |
3-5 years | |
Furniture and fixtures |
5 years | |
Software |
5 years |
The majority of electronic equipment includes server. The Group recognized the loss on the disposal of property, equipment and software in the Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.
2.11 Intangible Assets
Intangible assets purchased are recognized and measured at fair value upon acquisition. The Groups purchased intangible assets include domains. The estimated life of intangible assets subject to amortization is reassessed if circumstances occur that indicate the life has changed. Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. No impairment of intangible assets was recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021.
Category | Estimated useful lives | |
Domains |
10 years |
2.12 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
F-73
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.12 Impairment of long-lived assets (continued)
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.
2.13 Revenue recognition
The Group accounted for revenue under ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and all periods have been presented under ASC 606. Consistent with the criteria of Topic 606, the Group recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Group expects to receive in exchange for those services.
To achieve that core principle, the Group applies the five steps defined under Topic 606: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Group assesses its revenue arrangements against specific criteria in order to determine if it is acting as principal or agent. Revenue arrangements with multiple performance obligations are divided into separate distinct services. Revenue is recognized upon the transfer of control of promised services to a customer.
Revenue is recorded net of value-added tax.
The Group generates revenue by providing services to the enterprise customers and job seekers to assist in the recruitment process over mobile apps and websites, which means matching enterprise customers with suitable job seekers through AI matching technology, and stimulating real time interaction between them via in-app communication tools.
Online recruitment services to enterprise customers
The Group provides online recruitment support services carrying different kinds of features on Groups platforms, mainly including paid job postings, bulk invite-sending tools, message sending tools and other services. Enterprise customers could also purchase subscription packages which contain an array of features, including popular in-demand jobs posting and interaction privilege with job seekers during the subscription period.
Based on the historical pattern by which the Group satisfies its performance obligation and how enterprise customers benefit from the Groups performance obligations, the Group recognizes its revenue from the services provided under two models: time-based model and item-based model.
Time-based model
Under the time-based model, the Groups obligation is to deliver corresponding services to enterprise customers during a particular subscription period, a certain paid job posting display period,
F-74
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.13 Revenue recognition (continued)
or a certain privilege period for virtual tools such as message sending, etc., ranging from one month up to one year. For the services covered within a particular subscription package, they have the same contract period length during the subscription period. The revenue recognized under this time-based model for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 were RMB219,197 and RMB625,648, respectively.
The Group records the upfront cash payment from the enterprise customers as deferred revenue and then recognizes the revenue on a straight-line basis over the subscription period in which the enterprise customers are entitled to the corresponding privileges, as the Group is standing ready to provide services and a time-based measure of progress best reflects the satisfaction of the performance obligations.
Item-based model
Under the item-based model, the Groups obligation is to deliver corresponding services in the form of other various virtual tools. Revenues for services provided in form of such virtual tools are recognized at the point in time when the services are provided to the enterprise customers. The Group records the upfront cash payment from the enterprise customers as part of deferred revenue, and then recognizes the revenue at the point in time upon the Group delivers the corresponding services or at the point when the virtual tools expire. The revenue recognized at the point in time under the item-based model for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 were RMB59,913 and RMB156,508, respectively.
Other services
Other services mainly represent paid value-added services offered to job seekers, including priority placement of their professional profiles, increased resume exposure to enterprise users, candidate competitive analysis, message filtering services and five-dimensional personality test, etc.
The Group defines enterprise customers who contributed revenue of RMB50 or more in the respectively proceeding 12-month period as key accounts, who contributed revenue between RMB5 and RMB50 in the respectively proceeding 12-month period as mid-sized accounts, and who contributed revenue of RMB5 or less in the respectively proceeding 12-month period as small-sized accounts.
For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Value-added recruitment services offered to enterprise customers |
||||||||
Key accounts |
52,199 | 139,762 | ||||||
Mid-sized accounts |
109,891 | 245,068 | ||||||
Small-sized accounts |
117,020 | 397,326 | ||||||
Other services |
3,501 | 6,379 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
282,611 | 788,535 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
F-75
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.13 Revenue recognition (continued)
Arrangements with multiple performance obligations
The Groups contracts with enterprise customers may include bulk sales of services in the form of virtual tools and services contained in subscription packages, therefore multiple performance obligations exist. For those services in the form of virtual tools and contained in subscription packages included in bulk sales, the selling prices are consistently made references of the standalone selling prices when sold separately. The Group allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation based on the relative standalone selling prices, considering bulk sale price discounts offered to certain enterprise customers where applicable.
Deferred revenue
The Group records deferred revenue when the Group receives enterprise customers payments in advance of transferring control of service to the enterprise customers. Substantially all deferred revenue at the beginning of 2020 was recognized as revenue during the subsequent annual period. Substantially all deferred revenue at the beginning of 2021 is expected to be recognized as revenue during the subsequent annual period.
Remaining performance obligations
Remaining performance obligations represent the amount of contracted future revenue not yet recognized as the amounts relate to undelivered performance obligations. Substantially all of Groups contracts are less than one year in duration. As such, the Group has elected to apply the practical expedient which allows an entity to exclude disclosures about its remaining performance obligations if the performance obligation is part of a contract that has an original expected duration of one year or less.
2.14 Cost of revenues
Cost of services consist primarily of network costs, settlement costs of third-party on-line payment platforms, payroll and other employee-related costs, server depreciation and other expenses incurred by the Group which are directly attributable to the performance of the Groups online recruitment support services.
2.15 Sales and marketing expenses
Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of advertising expenses, payroll and other employee-related expenses for the Groups sales and marketing staff as well as office rental and property management fees for sales functions. Advertising expenses generally represent online traffic acquisition and branding activities costs. For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, advertising and marketing costs totaled RMB276,824 and RMB427,337, respectively.
2.16 Research and development expenses
Research and development expenses are expensed as incurred and primarily consist of payroll and other employee-related costs and office rental and property management fees for research and
F-76
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.16 Research and development expenses (continued)
development functions. All research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Software development costs required to be capitalized under ASC 350-40, Internal-Use Software, were not material to the Groups unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
2.17 General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll and other employee-related expenses for the Groups managerial and administrative staff and office rental and property management fees, professional services fees and other administrative expenses.
2.18 Employee benefits
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 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. Total amounts of such employee benefit expenses, which were expensed as incurred, were RMB45,191 and RMB85,675 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
2.19 Share-based compensation
The Group grants share options to its management, other key employees and eligible nonemployees (collectively, Share-based Awards). Such compensation is accounted for in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation -Stock Compensation. Share-based Awards with service conditions only are measured at the grant date fair value of the awards and recognized as expenses using the straight-line method, net of estimated forfeitures, if any, over the requisite service period. Share-based awards that are subject to both service conditions and the occurrence of an initial public offering (IPO) or change of control as a performance condition, are measured at the grant date fair value. Cumulative share-based compensation expenses for the awards that have satisfied the service condition will be recorded upon the completion of the IPO, using the graded-vesting method.
For nonemployees share-based awards, the Group adopted ASU 2018-07 Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting for the periods presented. In accordance with ASU 2018-07, it clarifies that equity-classified nonemployee share-based awards are measured at the grant date. Nonemployee share-based awards are measured at the grant date fair value of the awards and recognized as expenses using a straight-line method over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period.
The Group applies the binominal option pricing model in determining the fair value of options granted. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant, with such estimate updated periodically and with actual forfeitures recognized currently to the extent they differ from the estimate. Share-based compensation expense is recorded net of estimated forfeitures such that expense is recorded only for those share-based awards that are expected to vest.
F-77
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.20 Operating leases
The Group applied ASC 842, Leases, on January 1, 2019 on modified retrospective basis and has elected not to recast comparative periods. The Group determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are primarily for office and are included in Operating lease right-of-use assets, net, Operating lease liabilities, current and Operating lease liabilities, non-current on its Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Operating lease right of use assets represent the Groups right-to-use an underlying asset for the lease term and Operating lease liabilities represent obligation to make lease payment arising from the lease. The operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payment over the lease term. As most of the Groups leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Group uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The Operating lease right-of-use assets also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. The Groups lease term may include options to extend or terminate the lease. Termination options are considered when it is reasonably certain that the Group will not exercise such options. Renewal options are considered within the Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities when it is reasonably certain that the Group will exercise that option. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
For operating lease with a term of one year or less, the Group has elected to not recognize a lease liability or lease right-of-use asset on its Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Instead, it recognizes the lease payment as expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Short-term lease costs are immaterial to its Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. The Group has operating lease agreements with insignificant non-lease components and have elected the practical expedient to combine and account for lease and non-lease components as single lease component.
2.21 Government grants
Government grants are recognized as other operating income, net or as a reduction of specific costs and expenses for which the grants are intended to compensate. Such amounts are recognized in the Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss upon receipts and all conditions attached to the grants are fulfilled.
2.22 Taxation
Current income taxes are recorded in accordance with the regulations of the relevant tax jurisdiction. The Group accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method in accordance with ASC 740, Income Tax. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the tax consequences attributable to differences between carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities in the financial statements and their respective tax basis, and operating loss carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in the Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss in the period of change. Valuation allowances are
F-78
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.22 Taxation (continued)
established when necessary to reduce the amount of deferred tax assets if it is considered more likely than not that amount of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
The Group recognizes in its unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements the benefit of a tax position if the tax position is more likely than not to prevail based on the facts and technical merits of the position. Tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold is measured at the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon settlement. The Group estimates its liability for unrecognized tax benefits which are periodically assessed and may be affected by changing interpretations of laws, rulings by tax authorities, changes and/or developments with respect to tax audits, and expiration of the statute of limitations. The ultimate outcome for a particular tax position may not be determined with certainty prior to the conclusion of a tax audit and, in some cases, appeal or litigation process. The actual benefits ultimately realized may differ from the Groups estimates. As each audit is concluded, adjustments, if any, are recorded in the Groups unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements in the period in which the audit is concluded. Additionally, in future periods, changes in facts, circumstances and new information may require the Group to adjust the recognition and measurement estimates with regard to individual tax positions. Changes in recognition and measurement estimates are recognized in the period in which the changes occur. As of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, the Group did not have any significant unrecognized uncertain tax positions.
2.23 Statutory reserves
The Companys subsidiaries, consolidated VIE and VIEs subsidiaries established in the PRC are required to make appropriations to certain non-distributable reserve funds.
In accordance with the laws applicable to the Foreign Investment Enterprises established in the PRC, the Groups subsidiaries registered as wholly-owned foreign enterprise have to make appropriations from their after-tax profits (as determined under generally accepted accounting principles in the PRC (PRC GAAP) to reserve funds including general reserve fund, enterprise expansion fund and 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 company. Appropriations to the enterprise expansion fund and staff bonus and welfare fund are made at the respective companys discretion.
In addition, in accordance with the PRC Company Laws, the Groups consolidated VIE and VIEs subsidiaries, registered as Chinese domestic companies, must make appropriations from their after-tax profits as determined under the PRC GAAP to non-distributable reserve funds including statutory surplus fund and discretionary surplus fund on an annual basis. The appropriation to the statutory surplus fund must be 10% of the after-tax profits as determined under PRC GAAP. Appropriation is not required if the statutory surplus fund has reached 50% of the registered capital of the company. Appropriation to the discretionary surplus fund is made at the discretion of the respective company.
The use of the statutory surplus fund and discretionary surplus fund are restricted to the offsetting of losses or increasing of the registered capital of the respective company. The staff bonus and welfare
F-79
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.23 Statutory reserves (continued)
fund is a liability in nature and is restricted to fund payments of special bonus to employees and for the collective welfare of employees. None of these reserves are allowed to be transferred to the company in terms of cash dividends, loans or advances, nor can they be distributed except under liquidation.
For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, profit appropriation to statutory surplus fund for the Groups entities incorporated in the PRC was nil.
2.24 Comprehensive income
Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a company during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances excluding those resulting from investments by shareholders and distributions to shareholders. The Group recognizes foreign currency translation adjustments as other comprehensive income in the Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. As such adjustments relate to subsidiaries for which the functional currency is not RMB and which do not incur income tax obligations, there are no tax adjustments to arrive at other comprehensive income on a net of tax basis.
2.25 Segment reporting
ASC 280, Segment Reporting, establishes standards for companies to report in their financial statements information about operating segments, products, services, geographic areas, and major customers.
Based on the criteria established by ASC 280, the Groups chief operating decision maker (CODM) has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer, who reviews consolidated results when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of the Group. As a whole and hence, the Group has only one reportable segment. The Group does not distinguish between markets or segments for the purpose of internal reporting. As the Groups long-lived assets are substantially located in the PRC and substantially all the Groups revenue is derived from within the PRC, no geographical segments are presented.
2.26 Loss per share
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings attributable to holders of ordinary shares by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period using the two class method. The net earnings will be adjusted by deducting (1) dividends declared in the period on preferred shares (if any), (2) cumulative dividends on preferred shares (whether or not declared) and (3) deemed dividends as required by U.S. GAAP. Using the two class method, net earnings is allocated between ordinary shares and other participating securities based on their participating rights, if applicable. For the periods presented herein, the computation of basic loss per share using the two-class method is not applicable as the Company is in a net loss position and the participating securities do not have contractual rights and obligations to share in the losses of the Company.
F-80
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.26 Loss per share (continued)
Diluted loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Ordinary equivalent shares consist of shares issuable upon the conversion of the preferred shares using the if-converted method, and 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 loss per share calculation when inclusion of such shares would be anti-dilutive.
2.27 Recent accounting pronouncements
The Group qualifies as an emerging growth company, or EGC, pursuant to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended, or the JOBS Act. As an EGC, the Group 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. The Group adopts the following standards based on extended transition period provided to private companies or early adopts as necessary as permitted by the respective standards.
New and Amended Standards Adopted by the Group
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires that a lessee should recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from operating leases. A lessee should recognize in the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. If a lessee makes this election, it should recognize lease expenses for such lease generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The new leases standard also provides lessees with a practical expedient, by class of underlying asset, to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component. If a lessee makes that accounting policy election, it is required to account for the non-lease components together with the associated lease component as a single lease component and to provide certain disclosures. Lessors are not afforded a similar practical expedient. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years for public entities. For all other entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early application of the amendments in this Update is permitted for all entities. Entities are required to adopt the new leases standard using a modified retrospective transition method. Under that transition method, an entity initially applies the new leases standard (subject to specific transition requirements and optional practical expedients) at the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements. The Company adopted this new guidance for the year ended December 31, 2019 and interim periods in the year ended December 31, 2019. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, which provides another transition method in addition to the existing transition method by allowing entities to initially apply the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption consistent with preparers requests. This ASU also addresses stakeholders concerns about the requirement for lessors to separate components of a contract by providing lessors with a practical expedient, by class
F-81
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.27 Recent accounting pronouncements (continued)
of underlying asset, to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component, similar to the expedient provided for lessees. However, the lessor practical expedient is limited to circumstances in which the non-lease component or components otherwise would be accounted for under the new revenue guidance and both (1) the timing and pattern of transfer are the same for the non-lease component(s) and associated lease component and (2) the lease component, if accounted for separately, would be classified as an operating lease. The Group elected to early adopt ASC 842, Leases, on January 1, 2019 on modified retrospective basis and has elected not to recast comparative periods.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure FrameworkChanges to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. Under the guidance, public companies will be required to disclose the range and weighted average used to develop significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and for interim periods within those fiscal years, but entities are permitted to early adopt either the entire standard or only the provisions that eliminate or modify the requirements. The Company adopted ASU 2018-13 on January 1, 2019. The impact of the adoption is not material.
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, CompensationStock Compensation (Topic 718)Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, to align the accounting for share-based payment awards issued to nonemployees with the guidance applicable to grants to employees and remove requirement to reassess classification of nonemployee awards under other literature upon vesting. ASU 2018-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted but no earlier than the entitys adoption of ASC 606. The Company adopted ASU 2018-07 on January 1, 2019. Based on ASU 2018-07, entities will generally apply the same guidance to both employee and nonemployee share-based awards, which nonemployee share-based payment equity awards are measured at the grant-date fair value of the equity instruments, similar to employee share-based payment equity awards. The impact of the adoption is not material.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. The amendments in the ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods therein. Early adoption of the standard is permitted, including adoption in interim or annual periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued. Subsequent to the periods presented, the Group adopted the ASU prospectively on January 1, 2021. The impact of the adoption is not material.
Recent accounting pronouncements not yet adopted
In June 2016, the FASB amended guidance related to the impairment of financial instruments as part of ASU 2016-13, Financial InstrumentsCredit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. For public business entities that are U.S. SEC filers, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim
F-82
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
2.27 Recent accounting pronouncements (continued)
periods within those fiscal years. For all other public business entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, including not-for-profit entities and employee benefit plans within the scope of Topics 960 through 965 on plan accounting, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. All entities may adopt the amendments in this Update earlier as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years.
In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04 Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial InstrumentsCredit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments. Apart from the amendments to ASU 2016-13 mentioned above, the ASU also included subsequent amendments to ASU 2016-01, which the Company adopted in January 2018. For entities that have not yet adopted ASU 2017-12, the effective date is the same as ASU 2017-12. ASU 2017-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For entities that have adopted ASU 2017-12, the effective date is as of the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning after issuance of this Update.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes to remove specific exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and to simplify accounting for income taxes. The standard is effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. For all other entities, the standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. Early adoption is permitted. The standard is effective for the Groups fiscal year beginning January 1, 2022. The Group is currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard update on its consolidated financial statements.
3. CONCENTRATION AND RISKS
3.1 Concentration of credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Group to the concentration of credit risks consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable. The maximum exposures of such assets to credit risk is their carrying amounts as of the balance sheet dates. The Group deposits its cash and cash equivalents, and short-term investments with financial institutions located in jurisdictions where the subsidiaries are located. The Group believes that no significant credit risk exists as these financial institutions have high credit quality.
3.2 Concentration of customers and suppliers
Substantially all revenue was derived from customers located in China. There are no customers from whom revenues individually represent greater than 10% of the total revenues of the Group in any of the periods presented.
F-83
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
3. CONCENTRATION AND RISKS (CONTINUED)
3.2 Concentration of customers and suppliers (continued)
Suppliers contributed more than 10% of total purchases are as below:
For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
Supplier A |
21 | % | * |
* |
Less than 10% |
3.3 Foreign currency exchange rate risk
In July 2005, the PRC government changed its decades-old policy of pegging the value of the RMB to the US$, and the RMB appreciated more than 20% against the US$ over the following three years. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted and the exchange rate between the RMB and the US$ remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, the RMB has fluctuated against the US$, at times significantly and unpredictably. The depreciation of the RMB against the US$ was approximately 1.56% in three months of March 31, 2020. The depreciation of the RMB against the US$ was approximately 0.71% in three months of March 31, 2021. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the US$ in the future.
4. SHORT TERM INVESTMENT
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Wealth management products |
536,401 | 550,331 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, the Groups wealth management products mainly consisted of financial products issued by commercial banks and investment banks with a variable interest rate indexed to the performance of underlying assets and a maturity date within one year when purchased or revolving terms. As of March 31, 2021, the weighted average return of the wealth management products was 2.98%.
The investment income from wealth management products recorded in investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 was RMB5,439 and RMB2,811, respectively.
F-84
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
5. PREPAYMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS
The current and non-current portions of prepayments and other assets consist of the following:
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Prepaid service fee and marketing expenses(1) |
47,398 | 103,469 | ||||||
Receivables from third-party on-line payment platforms(2) |
41,221 | 84,324 | ||||||
Staff loans and advances |
32,902 | 32,108 | ||||||
Deposits |
37,780 | 39,943 | ||||||
Prepaid rental expenses and property management fee |
4,241 | 7,920 | ||||||
Others |
1,368 | 3,257 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
164,910 | 271,021 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Non-current assets |
||||||||
Deferred initial public offering related costs |
| 608 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Prepaid service fee and marketing expenses represent prepayment to suppliers which provide online or offline advertising services and IT related services to the Group. |
(2) |
Receivables from third-party on-line payment platforms represent receivables due from third-party on-line payment service providers in relation to the cash collection for the Group, but not yet paid to the Group. |
6. PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE, NET
Property, equipment and software, net, consist of the following:
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Leasehold improvement |
39,460 | 45,175 | ||||||
Motor vehicles |
2,316 | 3,904 | ||||||
Electronic equipment |
204,805 | 238,971 | ||||||
Furniture and fixtures |
9,486 | 9,713 | ||||||
Software |
1,615 | 1,833 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Subtotal |
257,682 | 299,596 | ||||||
Less: accumulated depreciation/amortization |
(66,327 | ) | (83,374 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Property, equipment and software, net |
191,355 | 216,222 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-85
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
6. PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE, NET (CONTINUED)
Depreciation expenses were RMB4,997 and RMB17,067 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. No impairment charges were recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021.
The loss on the disposal of property, equipment and software were nil and RMB29 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively, and were recognized in the Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. |
7. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Marketing expenses payables |
16,831 | 92,060 | ||||||
Server procurement payables |
22,344 | 2,809 | ||||||
Others |
2,681 | 2,734 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
41,856 | 97,603 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
8. OTHER PAYABLES AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Payables to shareholders(1) |
103,596 | 103,596 | ||||||
Salaries, welfare and bonus payable |
260,123 | 162,558 | ||||||
Virtual accounts used in the Groups platform(2) |
24,815 | 29,893 | ||||||
Accrued professional service expense |
2,115 | 1,533 | ||||||
Tax payable(3) |
21,704 | 26,897 | ||||||
Others |
5,906 | 3,895 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
418,259 | 328,372 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) |
As of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, Huapin received RMB103,596 respectively from certain preferred shareholder during Series E financing. However, these funds have not yet been received by the Company level due to certain regulation limitations. Accordingly, the Company recorded the related subscription receivables from shareholders in the mezzanine equity section, as the outstanding balance due has not yet been settled in cash prior to the issuance of these financial statements. |
(2) |
Customers own their virtual accounts in the Groups platform- BOSS Zhipin, and could deposit cash into their own virtual accounts on the platform. As the customers have rights to withdraw the balances upon their requests without any further conditions, the Group reports the relevant amount as other payables and accrued liabilities. |
(3) |
Tax payable mainly included value-added tax and individual income tax payable. |
F-86
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
9. OPERATING LEASE
The Group has operating leases primarily for office and operation space. The Groups operating lease arrangements have remaining terms of one year to six years with no variable lease costs.
The components of lease expense are as follows:
For the three months
ended March 31, |
||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Operating lease costs |
17,572 | 23,254 | ||||||
Expenses for short term lease within 12 months |
653 | 597 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total lease expense |
18,225 | 23,851 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases is as follows:
F-87
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
9. OPERATING LEASE (CONTINUED)
Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows:
As of March 31, 2021, the Group had additional operating leases commitment for office buildings that have not yet commenced of RMB32,234. These operating leases will commence in the second quarter of 2021. (Note 18)
10. OTHER OPERATING INCOME, NET
For the three months
ended March 31, |
||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
VAT-in super deduction(1) |
1,251 | 1,946 | ||||||
Government grants(2) |
90 | 42 | ||||||
Others |
22 | 330 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
1,363 | 2,318 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) |
From 2019, in accordance with the Announcement on Relevant Policies for Deepening the Value-added Tax Reform and relevant government policies announced by the Ministry of Finance, the State Taxation Administration and the General Administration of Customs of China, Huapin and Glory, as consumer service companies, are allowed to enjoy additional 10% VAT-in deduction for any services or goods they purchased (VAT-in super deduction) from April 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. The VAT-in super deduction obtained is considered as operating given that all VAT-in was derived from the purchases for that VIEs daily operations in nature, and therefore is presented in other operating income in the Consolidation Statements of Comprehensive Loss (Note 13). |
(2) |
Government grants mainly represent cash subsidies received from PRC local governments for companies operating business in their jurisdictions and compliance with specific policies promoted by the local governments. These cash subsidies were not subject to meeting any specific future conditions. |
F-88
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
11. FINANCIAL INCOME, NET
For the three months
ended March 31, |
||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Interest income |
386 | 2,031 | ||||||
Bank charges |
(35 | ) | (70 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
351 | 1,961 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
12. RELATED PARTIES BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS
The table below sets forth the major related parties and their relationships with the Group as of March 31, 2021:
Name of related parties | Relationship with the Group | |
Mr. Peng Zhao and companies
controlled by him |
Founder, and CEO of the Group, and his controlled companies | |
Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited (under Tencent Holdings control) |
Principal shareholder of the Group | |
Individual executive officer |
Executive officer of the Group |
Details of related parties balances as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, and transactions for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, are as follows:
Amounts due from related parties
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Mr. Peng Zhao and companies controlled by him |
31,132 | | ||||||
Advance to individual executive officer |
5,093 | | ||||||
Receivables from Tencent Groups on-line payment platforms |
3,018 | 5,686 | ||||||
Prepaid cloud services fee to Tencent Group |
1,556 | 2,584 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
40,799 | 8,270 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
Tencent Group represented companies under Tencent Holdings control, including Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited.
The amount due from Mr. Peng Zhao was cash advance with original one-year term and bearing no interest which was settled through the repurchase of Class B ordinary shares from Technwolf Limited (Note 14). The advance to individual executive officer was advances granted to Mr. Tao Zhang, Chief Technology Officer of the Group, which was settled in cash in March 2021.
F-89
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
12. RELATED PARTIES BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)
Transactions with related parties
For the three months
ended March 31, |
||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Cloud services from Tencent Group |
488 | 3,195 | ||||||
On-line payment platform clearing services from Tencent Group |
139 | 1,157 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
627 | 4,352 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
The Group utilizes the cloud services provided by Tencent Group to process large amount of complicated data in-house, which reduces the risks involved in data storage and transmission. The Group also utilizes on-line platform clearing service provided by Tencent to facilitate customers online payments.
13. TAXATION
(a) Value added tax (VAT) and surcharges
The Group is subject to statutory VAT rate of 6% for revenues from online recruitment service in the PRC. Huapin and Glory, as consumer service companies, are allowed to enjoy additional 10% VAT-in super deduction from April 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021 (Note 10).
(b) Income tax
Cayman Islands
Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands, the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated in the Cayman Islands are not subject to tax on income or capital gain. Additionally, the Cayman Islands does not impose a withholding tax on payments of dividends to shareholders.
Hong Kong
Under the current Hong Kong Inland Revenue Ordinance, the Groups subsidiaries in Hong Kong are subject to 16.5% Hong Kong profit tax on its taxable income generated from operations in Hong Kong. Additionally, payments of dividends by the subsidiaries incorporated in Hong Kong to the Company are not subject to any Hong Kong withholding tax.
China
On March 16, 2007, the National Peoples Congress of PRC enacted a new Enterprise Income Tax Law (new EIT law), under which Foreign Investment Enterprises (FIEs) and domestic companies would be subject to enterprise income tax at a uniform rate of 25%. The new EIT law became effective on January 1, 2008. In accordance with the implementation rules of EIT Law, a qualified High and New Technology Enterprise (HNTE) is eligible for a preferential tax rate of 15%. The HNTE certificate is effective for a period of three years. An entity could re-apply for the HNTE certificate when the prior certificate expires.
F-90
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
13. TAXATION (CONTINUED)
(b) Income tax (continued)
Huapin has been qualified as HNTE and enjoys a preferential income tax rate of 15% from 2019 to 2022.
The Groups PRC subsidiary, and Huapins subsidiaries are subject to the statutory income tax rate of 25%.
According to relevant laws and regulations promulgated by the State Administration of Tax of the PRC effective from 2008 onwards, enterprises engaging in research and development activities are entitled to claim 150% of their qualified research and development expenses so incurred as tax deductible expenses when determining their assessable profits for the year (Super Deduction). The additional deduction of 50% of qualified research and development expenses can only be claimed directly in the annual EIT filing and subject to the approval from the relevant tax authorities. Effective from 2018 onwards, enterprises engaging in research and development activities are entitled to claim 175% of their qualified research and development expenses so incurred as tax deductible expenses. The additional deduction of 75% of qualified research and development expenses can be directly claimed in the annual EIT filing.
United States
The Companys subsidiary in California, United States is subject to U.S. federal corporate tax and California corporate franchise tax on its taxable income as reported in its statutory financial statements adjusted in accordance with relevant U.S. tax laws. The applicable U.S. federal corporate tax rate is 21% and the California corporate franchise tax rate is 8.84% in the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
As the Group incurred income tax expense mainly from PRC tax jurisdictions, the following information is based mainly on PRC income taxes.
Composition of income tax
The components of loss before tax are as follow:
For the three months
ended March 31, |
||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Loss before tax |
||||||||
Loss from PRC entities |
234,538 | 153,650 | ||||||
Loss from overseas entities |
44,294 | 22,529 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total loss before tax |
278,832 | 176,179 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-91
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
13. TAXATION (CONTINUED)
(b) Income tax (continued)
Reconciliation of the Differences between Statutory Tax Rate and the Effective Tax Rate
The following table sets forth a reconciliation between the statutory PRC EIT rate of 25% and the effective tax rate:
For the three months
ended March 31, |
||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
Statutory income tax rate |
25.00 | % | 25.00 | % | ||||
Tax rate difference from statutory rate in other jurisdictions(1) |
(3.32 | )% | (0.94 | )% | ||||
Permanent difference(2) |
1.54 | % | 2.39 | % | ||||
Effect of preferential tax rates(3) |
(8.54 | )% | (8.64 | )% | ||||
Change in valuation allowance(4) |
(14.77 | )% | (17.80 | )% | ||||
Others |
0.09 | % | (0.01 | )% | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Effective tax rate |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) |
The tax rate difference is attributed to varying rates in other jurisdictions where the Group is established or operates, such as the Cayman Islands or the United States. |
(2) |
The permanent differences are primarily related to additional tax deductions for qualified research and development expenses offset by non-deductible share-based compensation expenses. |
(3) |
Huapin has been qualified as HNTE and enjoys a preferential income tax rate of 15% from 2019 to 2022. |
(4) |
The change in valuation allowance is primarily attributed to fully provisioning for net operating loss carry-forwards of KANZHUN LIMITED. |
For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, substantially all the amounts of current and deferred income tax expense are attributable to PRC entities.
For the three months
ended March 31, |
||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Current income tax expenses |
| | ||||||
Deferred income tax benefit |
(41,172 | ) | (31,353 | ) | ||||
Change in valuation allowance |
41,172 | 31,353 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income expenses |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-92
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
13. TAXATION (CONTINUED)
(c) Deferred tax assets
The following table sets forth the significant components of the deferred tax assets:
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Deferred tax assets |
||||||||
Net accumulated losses-carry forward |
86,679 | 72,122 | ||||||
Deductible advertising expenses |
161,842 | 207,762 | ||||||
Others |
1,511 | 1,501 | ||||||
Less: valuation allowance |
(250,032 | ) | (281,385 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total deferred tax assets |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
As of March 31, 2021, the Group had net losses of approximately RMB555.5 million mainly deriving from entities in the PRC. The tax losses in PRC can be carried forward for five years to offset future taxable profit. Since Huapin is qualified for HNTE, its tax losses can be carried forward for ten years. The tax losses in Hong Kong can be carried forward without an expiration date. Under the U.S. tax law, federal tax loss carry-forwards arising in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 can be carried forward indefinitely but the maximum deduction is reduced to 80% of Facehired Inc.s taxable income, while loss carry-forwards arising in 2017 or prior can be carried back two tax years and carried forward up to 20 years. California state tax loss carry-forwards may be carried forward for up to 20 years.
The Group considers positive and negative evidence to determine whether some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be more likely than not realized. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of recent losses and forecasts of future profitability. These assumptions require significant judgment and the forecasts of future taxable income are consistent with the plans and estimates the Group is using to manage the underlying businesses. Valuation allowances are established for deferred tax assets based on a more likely than not threshold. The Groups ability to realize deferred tax assets depends on its ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carry forward periods provided for in the tax law. The Group believes that it is more likely than not that these net accumulated operating losses deferred tax assets will not be utilized in the future. Therefore, the Group has provided full valuation allowances for the deferred tax assets derived from accumulated operating losses as of March 31, 2020 and 2021.
Movement of valuation allowance
For the three months
ended March 31, |
||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Balance at the beginning of the period |
(175,757 | ) | (250,032 | ) | ||||
Additions in the current period |
(41,172 | ) | (31,353 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Balance at the end of the period |
(216,929 | ) | (281,385 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
F-93
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
14. ORDINARY SHARES
As of January 1, 2019, the Company had 1,500,000,000 shares authorized and 110,000,000 shares issued at a par value of $0.0001 per share. 9,920,000 ordinary shares were issued on May 20, 2014 to Techwolf Limited, controlled by Mr. Peng Zhao, Founder and CEO of the Group, for nominal consideration and these ordinary shares were reserved and held by Mr. Peng Zhao on behalf of the Company solely for the purpose of implementing the Companys share award plan. The Company accounted for these shares as issued but not outstanding and presented as treasury shares in the Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet and Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders Deficit throughout all the periods until July 4, 2019, when the Company cancelled these ordinary shares. The original commercial intent behind the arrangement regarding such 9,920,000 ordinary shares was later reflected in the Companys share award plan, whose pool of available shares for future grants encompassed such 9,920,000 shares.
As of December 31, 2019, 1,500,000,000 shares had been authorized, 100,080,000 ordinary shares were issued and outstanding.
On February 10, 2020, all issued and outstanding ordinary shares of the Company were re-designated as Class B ordinary shares, and each Class B ordinary share was entitled to 10 votes. Mr. Peng Zhao, Founder and CEO of the Group was deemed to beneficially own all of the Companys issued Class B ordinary shares.
On August 21, 2020, the Company newly issued a total of 4,122,853 Class A ordinary shares to Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC with a total consideration of US$11,431. Meanwhile, Techwolf Limited sold a total of 3,752,934 Class B ordinary shares (Transferred Shares) to Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited, and immediately after the completion of the transfer, the Company re-designated Transferred Shares into Class A ordinary shares.
On September 19, 2020, the Company issued 3,657,853 Class A ordinary shares to TWL Fellows Holding Limited. TWL Fellows Holding Limited, a consolidated VIE of the Company incorporated on January 14, 2020 in the British Virgin Islands, was established as an employee shareholding vehicle (a Trust) for the purpose of implementing the Companys share award plan. Therefore, the Companys ordinary shares issued to TWL Fellows Holding Limited are presented as treasury shares in the Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet and Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders Deficit. Other than holding the Companys ordinary shares, the Trust does not have any assets.
The Companys treasury shares only represent the aforementioned ordinary shares issued to the Companys consolidated VIE, the Trust, for the implementation of the Companys share award plan.
On November 27, 2020, the Company issued and granted 24,780,971 Class B ordinary shares to Techwolf Limited. On the same day, the voting rights of a total of 121,108,037 Class B ordinary shares was modified and each Class B ordinary share was entitled to 15 votes.
As of December 31, 2020, 1,500,000,000 shares had been authorized. 11,533,640 Class A ordinary shares were issued, out of which 7,875,787 Class A ordinary shares were outstanding, and 121,108,037 Class B ordinary shares were issued and outstanding.
F-94
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
14. ORDINARY SHARES (CONTINUED)
On March 12, 2021, Techwolf Limited transferred a total of 1,965,361 and 1,876,467 Class B ordinary shares to two new external investors named Index Capital International Limited and Duckling Fund L.P., respectively, and those shares were automatically converted into Class A ordinary shares upon the closing of share transfer between the shareholders.
The Company repurchased a total of 1,181,339 Class B ordinary shares from Techwolf Limited at a price of US$ 5.33 per Class B ordinary share in March 2021. Immediately after the repurchase, those Class B ordinary shares were cancelled. The difference between the purchase price and the fair value of Class B ordinary share was recorded as additional paid-in capital in the unaudited interim condensed financial statements.
As of March 31, 2021, 1,500,000,000 shares had been authorized. 15,375,468 Class A ordinary shares were issued, out of which 11,717,615 Class A ordinary shares were outstanding, and 116,084,870 Class B ordinary shares were issued and outstanding.
15. CONVERTIBLE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES
On May 20, 2014, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 60,000,000 Convertible Redeemable Series A Preferred Shares (Series A Preferred Shares) were issued on May 20, 2014 for an aggregated consideration of US$3,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$20 in connection with this offering.
On December 16, 2014, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 26,666,667 Convertible Redeemable Series B Preferred Shares (the Series B Preferred Shares) were issued on December 16, 2014 for an aggregated consideration of US$4,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$41 in connection with the offering of Series B Preferred Shares. Besides, the Company also issued 13,333,333 Series B Preferred Shares to Techwolf Limited, controlled by Mr. Peng Zhao, the Companys founder, chairman and chief executive officer, with no consideration received.
On April 8, 2015, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 48,000,000 Convertible Redeemable Series C Preferred Shares (the Series C Preferred Shares) were issued on April 8, 2015 for an aggregated consideration of US$10,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$40 in connection with this offering. Besides, the Company repurchased a total of 13,333,333 Series B Preferred Shares issued to Techwolf Limited at par value. Those Series B Preferred Shares were sold to one of previous Series B investor on April 8, 2015 at the Series B Preferred Shares issuance price.
On July 7, 2016, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 45,319,316 Convertible Redeemable Series C-1 Preferred Shares (the Series C Preferred Shares, Series C-1 Preferred Shares, or Series C Preferred Shares Tranche I) were issued on July 7, 2016 for an aggregated consideration of US$12,508. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$86 in connection with this offering of Series C-1 Preferred Shares Tranche I.
On August 15, 2016, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 42,251,744 Convertible Redeemable Series C-2 Preferred Shares (the
F-95
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
15. CONVERTIBLE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES (CONTINUED)
Series C Preferred Shares, Series C-2 Preferred Shares, or Series C Preferred Shares Tranche II) were issued on August 15, 2016 for an aggregated consideration of US$18,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$100 in connection with this offering.
On February 10, 2017, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 11,497,073 Convertible Redeemable Series C-3 Preferred Shares (the Series C Preferred Shares, Series C-3 Preferred Shares, or Series C Preferred Shares Tranche III) were issued on February 10, 2017 for an aggregated consideration of US$6,001. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$32 in connection with this offering.
On November 2, 2017, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 60,856,049 Convertible Redeemable Series D Preferred Shares (the Series D Preferred Shares) were issued on November 2, 2017 for an aggregated consideration of US$43,394. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$1,132 in connection with this offering.
On December 18, 2018, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 83,474,263 Convertible Redeemable Series E Preferred Shares (the Series E Preferred Shares) were issued on December 18, 2018 for an aggregated consideration of US$130,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$3,376 in connection with this offering.
On March 8, 2019, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 32,373,031 Convertible Redeemable Series E-1 Preferred Shares (the Series E Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares, or Series E Preferred Shares Tranche I) were issued on March 8, 2019 for an aggregated consideration of US$55,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$1,982 in connection with this offering.
On July 4, 2019, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 28,226,073 Convertible Redeemable Series E-2 Preferred Shares (the Series E Preferred Shares, Series E-2 Preferred Shares, or Series E Preferred Shares Tranche II) were issued on July 4, 2019 for an aggregated consideration of US$50,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$1,917 in connection with this offering.
On February 10, 2020, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 48,689,976 Convertible Redeemable Series F Preferred Shares (the Series F Preferred Shares) were issued on February 10, 2020 for an aggregated consideration of US$150,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$1 in connection with this offering.
On November 27, 2020, the Company entered into a shares purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which 50,664,609 Convertible Redeemable Series F+ Preferred Shares (the Series F Preferred Shares, Series F-plus Preferred Shares, or Series F Preferred Shares) were issued on November 27, 2020 for an aggregated consideration of US$270,000. The Company incurred issuance costs of US$3,080 in connection with this offering.
F-96
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
15. CONVERTIBLE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES (CONTINUED)
The Series A, B, C, D, E and F Preferred Shares are collectively referred to as the Preferred Shares. The holders of Preferred Shares are collectively referred to as the Preferred Shareholders. The key terms of the Preferred Shares issued by the Company are as follows:
Conversion Rights
Optional Conversion
Each Series A, B, C, D, E and F Preferred Share shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time and without the payment of additional consideration by the holder thereof, into such number of Class A ordinary shares as is determined by the quotient of the applicable issue price divided by the then effective applicable conversion price with respect to such particular series of Preferred Shares, which shall initially be the applicable issue price for the Series A B, C, D, E and F Preferred Shares, as the case may be, resulting in an initial conversion ratio for the Preferred Shares of 1:1, and shall be subject to adjustment and readjustment from time to time, including but not limited to additional equity securities issuances, share dividends, distributions, subdivisions, redemptions, combinations, or reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, reclassifications, exchanges or substitutions.
Automatic Conversion
Each Preferred Share is convertible, at the option of the holder, at any time after the date of issuance of such Preferred Shares according to a conversion ratio, subject to adjustments for dilution, including but not limited to stock splits, stock dividends and capitalization and certain other events. Each Preferred Share is convertible into a number of ordinary shares determined by dividing the applicable original issuance price by the conversion price (initially being 1 to 1 conversion ratio). The conversion price of each Preferred Share is the same as its original issuance price and no adjustments to conversion price have occurred so far.
Each Series A, B, C, D, E and F Preferred Share shall automatically be converted into Class A ordinary shares, at the then applicable preferred share conversion price upon (i) closing of a Qualified Initial Public Offering (Qualified IPO), or (ii) the written approval of the holders of a majority of each series of Preferred Shares (calculated and voting separately in their respective single class on an as-converted basis).
Prior to the Series D Preferred Shares issuance on November 2, 2017, a Qualified IPO was defined as an initial public offering with gross proceeds no less than US$60 million and capitalization of the Company of no less than US$350 million prior to such initial public offering. Upon the issuance of Series D Preferred Shares, the gross proceeds and market capitalization criteria for a Qualified IPO were increased to US$90 million and US$900 million, respectively. Upon the issuance of Series E Preferred Shares, the gross proceeds and market capitalization criteria for a Qualified IPO were increased to US$100 million and US$2,000 million, respectively. Upon the issuance of Series F Preferred Shares, the gross proceeds and market capitalization criteria for a Qualified IPO were increased to US$100 million and US$3,300 million, respectively. Upon the issuance of Series F-plus Preferred Shares, the gross proceeds and market capitalization criteria for a Qualified IPO were increased to US$300 million and US$5,000 million, respectively.
F-97
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
15. CONVERTIBLE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES (CONTINUED)
Voting Rights
Each holder of Series A, B, C, D, E and F Preferred Shares is entitled to cast the number of votes equal to the number of Class A ordinary shares such Preferred Shares would be entitled to convert into at the then effective conversion price. There was a modification to the voting rights of the shares controlled by Mr. Peng Zhao when the Series F and Series F-plus Preferred Shares were issued as follows:
|
the voting rights of ordinary shares controlled by Mr. Peng Zhao was modified to carry 10 votes in connection with the Series F Preferred Shares financing; and |
|
the voting rights of shares controlled by Mr. Peng Zhao was modified to carry 15 votes in connection with the Series F-plus Preferred Shares financing. |
Dividend Rights
Each Preferred Share shall have the right to receive dividends, on an as-converted basis, when, as and if declared by the Board. No dividend shall be paid on the ordinary shares at any time unless and until all dividends on the Preferred Shares have been paid in full. No dividends on preferred and ordinary shares have been declared since the issuance date until March 31, 2021.
Liquidation Preference
In the event of any liquidation (unless waived by the majority of Preferred Shareholders) including deemed liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, Preferred Shareholders shall be entitled to receive a per share amount equal to 100% of the original preferred share issuance price of the respective series of Preferred Shares, as adjusted for share dividends, share splits, combinations, recapitalizations or similar events, plus all accrued and declared but unpaid dividends thereon, in the sequence of Series F Preferred Shares, Series E Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares, and Series A Preferred Shares. After such liquidation amounts have been paid in full, any remaining funds or assets of the Company legally available for distribution to shareholders shall be distributed on a pro rata, pari passu basis among the holders of the Preferred Shares, on an as-converted basis, together with the holders of the ordinary shares.
Redemption Rights
At any time commencing on a date specified in the shareholders agreement (the Redemption Start Date), holders of majority (more than 50%) of the then outstanding Series A, B, C, D, E, and F Preferred Shares may request a redemption of the Preferred Shares of such series. On receipt of a redemption request from the holders, the Company shall redeem all or part, as requested, of the outstanding Preferred Shares of such series.
The Redemption Start Date of Preferred Shares have been amended for a number of times historically. If any holder of any series of Preferred Shares exercises its redemption right, any holder of other series of Preferred Shares shall have the right to exercise the redemption of its series at the same time.
F-98
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
15. CONVERTIBLE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES (CONTINUED)
The redemption prices have been modified historically. Prior to the issuance of Series F Preferred Shares, the price at which each Preferred Share shall be redeemed shall equal to the original Preferred Shares issue price for such series plus 10% compound interest per annum (calculated from the issuance dates of the respective series of Preferred Shares), and declared but unpaid dividends. Upon the issuance of Series F Preferred Shares, the price at which each Preferred Share shall be redeemed shall equal to the original Preferred Shares issue price for such series plus 8% simple interest per annum (calculated from the issuance dates of the respective series of Preferred Shares), and declared but unpaid dividends.
If on the redemption date triggered by the occurrence of any redemption event, the Companys assets or funds which are legally available are insufficient to pay in full the aggregate redemption price for Preferred Shares requested to be redeemed, upon the request of a redeeming shareholder, the Company shall execute and deliver a two-year note, bearing an interest of ten percent (10%) per annum and with repayment of the principal and interest to be made on a monthly basis over a period of twenty-four (24) months. Preferred Shares subject to redemption with respect to which the Company has become obligated to pay the redemption price but which it has not paid in full shall continue to have all the rights and privileges which such Preferred Shareholders had prior to such date, until the redemption price has been paid in full with respect to such Preferred Shares.
Accounting for Preferred Shares
The Company classified the Preferred Shares in the mezzanine section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets because they were redeemable at the holders option any time after a certain date and were contingently redeemable upon the occurrence of certain liquidation event outside of the Companys control. The Preferred Shares are recorded initially at fair value, net of issuance costs.
The Company records accretion on the Preferred Shares, where applicable, to the redemption value from the issuance dates to the earliest redemption dates. The accretion, calculated using the effective interest method, is 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. The accretion of Preferred Shares was RMB64,794(US$9,143) and RMB92,263 (US$14,041) for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
The Company has determined that, under the whole instrument approach, host contract of the Preferred Shares is more akin to a debt host, given the Preferred Shares holders have potential creditors right in the event of insufficient fund upon redemption, along with other debt-like features in the terms of the Preferred Shares, including the redemption rights. However, the Company determined that the embedded feature, including conversion feature, do not require bifurcation as they either are clearly and closely related to the host or do not meet definition of a derivative.
The Company has determined that there was no beneficial conversion feature attributable to all Preferred Shares because the initial effective conversion prices of these Preferred Shares were higher than the fair value of the Companys ordinary shares determined by the Company taking into account of an independent third-party appraiser.
F-99
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
15. CONVERTIBLE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES (CONTINUED)
Modification of Preferred Shares
The Company assesses whether an amendment to the terms of its convertible redeemable preferred shares is an extinguishment or a modification based on a qualitative evaluation of the amendment. If the amendment adds, removes, significantly changes to a substantive contractual term or to the nature of the overall instrument, the amendment results in an extinguishment of the preferred shares. The Company also assess if the change in terms results in value transfer between Preferred Shareholders or between Preferred Shareholders and ordinary shareholders.
When convertible redeemable preferred shares are extinguished, the difference between the fair value of the consideration transferred to the convertible redeemable Preferred Shareholders and the carrying amount of such preferred shares (net of issuance costs) is treated as a deemed dividend to the Preferred Shareholders. When convertible redeemable preferred shares are modified and such modification results in value transfer between Preferred Shareholders and ordinary shareholders, the change in fair value resulted from the amendment is treated as a deemed dividend to or from the Preferred Shareholders.
Preferred Shares modification were mainly included below:
|
Starting from the issuance of Series C Preferred Shares, optional redemption date of each pre-existing Preferred Shares was modified and extended to the fifth anniversary of each newly issued series of Preferred Shares applicable closing date; and |
|
On February 10, 2020, the Redemption Start Date of Series A, B, C, D, and E Preferred Shares was extended from July 5, 2024 to February 10, 2025, which is to be in line with the optional redemption date of Series F Preferred Shares. In the meanwhile, redemption price interest rate was lowered from 10% compound interest per annum to 8% simple interest per annum commencing from Series F Preferred Shares original issuance date and ending on the date of redemption. |
From both quantitative and qualitative perspectives, the Company assessed the impact of these modifications and concluded that they represent a modification rather than extinguishment of pre-existing Preferred Shares, and the impact of the modification is immaterial.
F-100
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
15. CONVERTIBLE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES (CONTINUED)
The Companys convertible redeemable Preferred Shares activities for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 are summarized below:
Series A Shares | Series B Shares | Series C Shares | Series D Shares | Series E Shares | Series F Shares | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number
of shares |
Amount
(RMB) |
Number
of shares |
Amount
(RMB) |
Number
of shares |
Amount
(RMB) |
Number
of shares |
Amount
(RMB) |
Number
of shares |
Amount
(RMB) |
Number
of shares |
Amount
(RMB) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2020 |
60,000,000 | 33,434 | 40,000,000 | 62,785 | 147,068,133 | 443,367 | 60,856,049 | 352,586 | 144,073,367 | 1,711,329 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Series F Preferred Shares, net of issuance cost |
| | | | | | | | | | 48,689,976 | 1,048,706 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accretion on convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
| 721 | | 1,364 | | 9,262 | | 7,528 | | 36,176 | | 9,743 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of March 31, 2020 |
60,000,000 | 34,155 | 40,000,000 | 64,149 | 147,068,133 | 452,629 | 60,856,049 | 360,114 | 144,073,367 | 1,747,505 | 48,689,976 | 1,058,449 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2021 |
60,000,000 | 36,177 | 40,000,000 | 67,976 | 147,068,133 | 478,565 | 60,856,049 | 380,782 | 144,073,367 | 1,845,033 | 99,354,585 | 2,882,063 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accretion on convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value |
| 597 | | 1,127 | | 7,638 | | 6,087 | | 28,725 | | 48,089 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of March 31, 2021 |
60,000,000 | 36,774 | 40,000,000 | 69,103 | 147,068,133 | 486,203 | 60,856,049 | 386,869 | 144,073,367 | 1,873,758 | 99,354,585 | 2,930,152 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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F-101
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
16. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
From year of 2014 through March 31, 2021, the Company has granted options to certain directors, executive officers and employees. The maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares that are authorized to be issued under the Companys share award plans is 145,696,410 as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively. The share options have a contractual term of ten years.
Share options granted contained service conditions. With respect to the service conditions, there are 3 types of vesting schedule, which are: (i) 25% of the share options shall become vested on each anniversary of the vesting commencement date for 4 years thereafter; (ii) 50% of the share options shall become vested on each anniversary of the vesting commencement date for 2 years thereafter; (iii) immediately vested upon grant.
For share options contained service conditions only, those awards are measured at the grant date fair value and recognized as expenses over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period. For certain options granted to employees, even though the service condition might have been satisfied, employees are required to provide continued service through the occurrence of an initial public offering or change of control (Trigger Event). Given the vesting of the share options granted is contingent upon the occurrence of Trigger Event, no share-based compensation expense is recognized related with those grants with performance condition. Instead, those expense will be accelerated upon the occurrence of Trigger Event.
The following table sets forth the stock options activity for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021:
Number of
options |
Weighted-
average exercise price per share |
Weighted
average remaining contractual term |
Aggregate
intrinsic value |
Weighted
average fair value of options per share |
||||||||||||||||
US$ | Years | 000US$ | US$ | |||||||||||||||||
Outstanding as of January 1, 2020 |
86,221,721 | 0.76 | 7.22 | 65,994 | 0.27 | |||||||||||||||
Granted |
13,452,727 | 2.28 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Forfeited |
(1,283,375 | ) | 0.73 | | | | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding as of March 31, 2020 |
98,391,073 | 0.97 | 6.57 | 85,510 | 0.46 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding as of January 1, 2021 |
107,133,353 | 1.16 | 6.84 | 226,639 | 0.64 | |||||||||||||||
Granted |
10,725,102 | 2.84 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Forfeited |
(604,059 | ) | 1.79 | | | | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding as of March 31, 2021 |
117,254,396 | 1.31 | 6.88 | 640,967 | 1.07 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Vested and expected to vest as of
|
117,254,396 | 1.31 | 6.88 | 640,967 | 1.07 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Exercisable as of March 31, 2021 |
93,749,810 | 1.54 | 7.65 | 491,406 | 1.25 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the estimated fair value of the underlying stock at each reporting date.
F-102
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
16. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
Prior to the completion of the IPO, the Company has used binomial option-pricing model to determine the fair value of the share options as of the grant dates. Key assumptions (or ranges thereof) are set as below:
For the three months
ended March 31, |
||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
Exercise price (US$) |
0.66-3.0807 | 0.0001-5.33 | ||||||
Fair value of the ordinary shares on the date of option grant |
1.84 | 6.78 | ||||||
Risk-free interest rate(1) |
1.70 | % | 1.96 | % | ||||
Expected term (in years) |
10 | 10 | ||||||
Expected dividend yield(2) |
0 | % | 0 | % | ||||
Expected volatility(3) |
56.5 | % | 59.8 | % | ||||
Expected early exercise multiple |
2.2x-2.8x | 2.2x-2.8x |
(1) |
The risk-free interest rate of periods within the contractual life of the share option is based on the market yield of U.S. Treasury Strips with a maturity life equal to the expected life to expiration. |
(2) |
The Company has no history or expectation of paying dividends on its ordinary shares. |
(3) |
Expected volatility is estimated based on the average of historical volatilities of the comparable companies in the same industry as at the valuation dates. |
The following table sets forth the amount of share-based compensation expense included in each of the relevant financial statement line items:
For the three months
ended March 31, |
||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Cost of revenues |
257 | 3,485 | ||||||
Sales and marketing expenses |
4,557 | 1,946 | ||||||
Research and development expenses |
4,972 | 16,572 | ||||||
General and administrative expenses |
6,485 | 26,655 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
16,271 | 48,658 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
As of March 31, 2021, there were RMB22,154 of unrecognized compensation expenses related to stock options for which the service conditions had been met and are expected to be recognized when Trigger Events occurs, the performance conditions are achieved, and RMB93,142 of unrecognized compensation expenses related to stock options for which the service conditions will be met over a weighted average period of 1.58 years.
F-103
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
17. BASIC AND DILUTED NET LOSS PER SHARE
Basic and diluted net loss per share have been calculated in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share. Basic net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of ordinary shares and dilutive potential ordinary shares outstanding during the period. The computation of earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 is as follows:
For the three months
ended March 31, |
||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | |||||||
Numerator: |
||||||||
Net loss |
(278,832 | ) | (176,179 | ) | ||||
Accretion on convertible redeemable Preferred Shares to redemption value |
(64,794 | ) | (92,263 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net loss attributable to KANZHUN LIMITEDs ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted |
(343,626 | ) | (268,442 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Denominator: |
||||||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing net loss per share |
107,305,026 | 136,255,542 | ||||||
Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders: |
||||||||
Basic |
(3.20 | ) | (1.97 | ) | ||||
Diluted |
(3.20 | ) | (1.97 | ) |
The following ordinary shares equivalent were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per ordinary share for the periods presented because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:
As of March 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
Shares issuable upon conversion of Preferred Shares |
479,285,338 | 551,352,134 | ||||||
Shares issuable upon exercise of share options |
42,175,611 | 81,475,642 |
18. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Commitments
The Group engaged third parties for promoting its brand image through various advertising channels, including advertising on internet search engines, platforms and other traditional off-line media. The amount of advertising commitments relates to the committed advertising services that have not been delivered and paid. As of March 31, 2021, future minimum advertising commitments under non-cancelable agreements are RMB93.2 million.
The Group has outstanding commitments on several non-cancellable operating lease agreements. Operating lease commitment within one year or less lease term, for which the Group
F-104
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
18. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)
elected not recognize any lease liability or right-of-use asset, and operating lease contracts which lease commencement date has not been started yet, therefore not yet reflected in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021 were RMB1,342 and RMB48,207, respectively.
Contingencies
From time to time, the Group is subject to legal proceedings, investigations and claims incidental to the conduct of its business. As of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, the Group was not involved in any legal or administrative proceedings that the Group believes may have a material adverse impact on the Groups business, balance sheets or results of operations and cash flows.
19. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
As of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, information about inputs into the fair value measurement of the Groups assets and liabilities that are measured or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis in periods subsequent to their initial recognition is as follows:
Fair value measurement at reporting date using | ||||||||||||||||
Description |
Fair value
as of December 31, 2020 |
Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) |
Significant Other
Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | |||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Short-term investments wealth management products |
536,401 | | 536,401 | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value measurement at reporting date using | ||||||||||||||||
Description |
Fair value
as of March 31, 2021 |
Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) |
Significant Other
Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | |||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Short-term investments wealth management products |
550,331 | | 550,331 | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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. Following is a description of the valuation techniques that the Group uses to measure the fair value of assets that the Group reports in its Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value on a recurring basis.
Short-term investments
Short-term investment consists of wealth management products, which are valued by the Group on a recurring basis. The Group values its short-term wealth management products investments held
F-105
KANZHUN LIMITED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
19. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (CONTINUED)
in certain banks using model-derived valuations based upon discounted cash flow, in which significant inputs, mainly including expected return, are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data, and accordingly, the Group classifies the valuation techniques that use these inputs as Level 2. The expected return of the financial products were determined based on the prevailing interest rates in the market.
20. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Group has evaluated subsequent events through May 12, 2021, which is the date the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements are issued.
Events Subsequent to Original Issuance of Financial Statements
In connection with the reissuance of the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements, the Group has evaluated subsequent events through May 21, 2021, the date the financial statements are reissued. The Group concluded that no subsequent events have occurred that would require recognition or disclosure in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements other than as discussed below.
On May 21, 2021, the Company resolved certain Board resolutions. Firstly, the board of directors and shareholders approved to issue 24,745,531 Class B ordinary shares to Techwolf Limited, controlled by Mr. Peng Zhao, Founder and CEO of the Group, at a par value of US$0.0001 per share, immediately after the listing of the Companys American Depositary Shares (ADSs) on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Besides, immediately prior to the completion of the IPO, the Companys authorized shares will be increased from 1,500,000,000 shares to 2,000,000,000 shares.
On the same day, the Company amended and restated its current share incentive plan (the Plan). Upon the completion of the IPO, the maximum number of shares of the Company available for issuance pursuant to all awards under the Plan shall initially be 145,696,410 shares, plus an annual increase on the first day of each fiscal year of the Company during the five-year term of the Plan commencing with the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2022, by an amount equal to the 1.5% of total number of shares issued and outstanding on as-converted basis on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year.
21. STATUTORY RESERVES AND RESTRICTED NET ASSETS
Pursuant to laws applicable to entities incorporated in the PRC, the Groups subsidiaries in the PRC must make appropriations from after-tax profit to non-distributable reserve funds. These reserve funds include one or more of the following: (i) a general reserve, (ii) an enterprise expansion fund and (iii) a staff bonus and welfare fund. Subject to certain cumulative limits, the general reserve fund requires an annual appropriation of 10% of after tax profit (as determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the PRC at each year-end) until the accumulative amount of such reserve fund reaches 50% of a companys registered capital, the other fund appropriations are at the subsidiaries discretion. These reserve funds can only be used for specific purposes of enterprise expansion and staff bonus and welfare and are not distributable as cash dividends. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, no appropriations to the statutory reserve have been made by the Group.
F-106
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 of committing a crime.
The post-offering memorandum and articles of association that we expect to adopt and to become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering provide that we shall indemnify our directors and officers (each an indemnified person) against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such indemnified person, 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 indemnified person 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 indemnification agreements, the form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this registration statement, 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 such a director or officer.
The underwriting agreement, the form of which will be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this registration statement, will also provide indemnification for us and our officers and directors for certain liabilities.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under 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. |
In the past three years, we have issued the following securities. We believe that each of the following issuances was exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act regarding transactions not involving a public offering or 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.
II-1
Securities/Purchaser |
Date of
Issuance |
Number of
Securities |
Consideration | |||||||||
Class A ordinary shares |
||||||||||||
Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC |
August 21, 2020 | 4,122,853 | US$11,431,206 | |||||||||
Class B ordinary shares |
||||||||||||
TECHWOLF LIMITED |
November 27, 2020 | 24,780,971 | US$2,478 | |||||||||
Series E preferred shares |
||||||||||||
GGV Capital VI L.P. |
December 18, 2018 | 12,311,525 | US$19,173,554 | |||||||||
GGV Capital VI Entrepreneurs Fund L.P. |
December 18, 2018 | 530,669 | US$826,446 | |||||||||
GGV Capital VI Plus L.P. |
December 18, 2018 | 19,263,291 | US$30,000,000 | |||||||||
Global Private Opportunities Partners II Offshore Holdings LP |
December 18, 2018 | 3,350,528 | US$5,218,000 | |||||||||
Global Private Opportunities Partners II LP |
December 18, 2018 | 3,070,569 | US$4,782,000 | |||||||||
Banyan Partners Fund II, L.P. |
December 18, 2018 | 3,210,549 | US$5,000,000 | |||||||||
Shenzhen Hina New Economic Equity Investment Fund Partnership (Limited Partnership) |
December 18, 2018 | 9,631,646 | US$15,000,000 | |||||||||
Hina Group Fund V, L.P. |
December 18, 2018 | 8,989,536 | US$14,000,000 | |||||||||
Magic Stone Special Opportunity Fund VIII L.P. |
December 18, 2018 | 6,421,097 | US$10,000,000 | |||||||||
CTG Evergreen Investment X Limited |
December 18, 2018 | 12,842,194 | US$20,000,000 | |||||||||
Shunwei Technology III Limited |
December 18, 2018 | 642,110 | US$1,000,000 | |||||||||
DELICATE MASTER LIMITED |
December 18, 2018 | 3,210,549 | US$5,000,000 | |||||||||
Series E+ preferred shares |
||||||||||||
INSPIRING LINK LIMITED |
March 8, 2019 | 14,715,014 | US$25,000,000 | |||||||||
Sunshine Life Insurance Corporation Limited |
June 3, 2019 | 17,658,017 | US$30,000,000 | |||||||||
Series E-2 preferred shares |
||||||||||||
Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited |
July 4, 2019 | 28,226,073 | US$50,000,000 | |||||||||
Series F preferred shares |
||||||||||||
Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC |
February 10, 2020 | 32,459,984 | US$100,000,000 | |||||||||
Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited |
February 10, 2020 | 16,229,992 | US$50,000,000 | |||||||||
Series F+ preferred shares |
||||||||||||
SCC Growth VI Holdco E, Ltd. |
November 27, 2020 | 18,764,670 | US$100,000,000 | |||||||||
Internet Fund VI PTE. LTD. |
November 27, 2020 | 18,764,670 | US$100,000,000 | |||||||||
Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC |
November 27, 2020 | 7,505,868 | US$40,000,000 | |||||||||
Huaxing Growth Capital III, L.P. |
November 27, 2020 | 3,752,934 | US$20,000,000 | |||||||||
GGV Capital VI L.P. |
November 27, 2020 | 899,463 | US$4,793,388 | |||||||||
GGV Capital VI Entrepreneurs Fund L.P. |
November 27, 2020 | 77,541 | US$413,224 | |||||||||
GGV Capital VI Plus L.P. |
November 27, 2020 | 899,463 | US$4,793,388 | |||||||||
Options |
||||||||||||
Certain employees and consultants |
Various dates |
|
73,450,765
outstanding options |
|
|
Past and future services
provided by these individuals to us |
|
ITEM 8. |
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES. |
(a) Exhibits
See Exhibit Index beginning on page II-4 of this registration statement.
The agreements included as exhibits to this registration statement contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties were made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and (i) were not intended to be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to
II-2
one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate; (ii) may have been qualified in such agreement by disclosure that was made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement; (iii) may apply contract standards of materiality that are different from materiality under the applicable securities laws; and (iv) were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement.
We acknowledge that, notwithstanding the inclusion of the foregoing cautionary statements, we are responsible for considering whether additional specific disclosure of material information regarding material contractual provisions is required to make the statements in this registration statement not misleading.
(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.
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 pursuant to 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. |
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering.
For the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a
II-3
primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(1) |
Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
(2) |
The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
(3) |
Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
II-4
KANZHUN LIMITED
Exhibit Index
* |
To be filed by amendment. |
II-5
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, China, on May 21, 2021.
KANZHUN LIMITED | ||
By: | /s/ Peng Zhao | |
Name: Peng Zhao | ||
Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
II-6
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Peng Zhao and Yu Zhang 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 May 21, 2021.
Signature |
Title |
|
/s/ Peng Zhao Peng Zhao |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
|
/s/ Xin Xu Xin Xu |
Director |
|
/s/ Haiyang Yu Haiyang Yu |
Director |
|
/s/ Yu Zhang Yu Zhang |
Director and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
|
/s/ Xu Chen Xu Chen |
Director and Chief Marketing Officer |
|
/s/ Tao Zhang Tao Zhang |
Director and Chief Technology Officer |
II-7
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of KANZHUN LIMITED has signed this registration statement or amendment thereto in New York, New York on May 21, 2021.
Authorized U.S. Representative
Cogency Global Inc. |
||
By: | /s/ Colleen A. De Vries | |
Name: Colleen A. De Vries |
||
Title: Senior Vice President |
II-8
Exhibit 3.1
THE COMPANIES LAW (AS AMENDED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
THIRTEENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
KANZHUN LIMITED
(Adopted by Special Resolution passed on November 27, 2020 and effective from
November 27, 2020)
1. |
The name of the Company is KANZHUN LIMITED. |
2. |
The Registered Office of the Company shall be situated at the offices of Osiris International Cayman Limited, Suite #4-210, Governors Square, 23 Lime Tree Bay Avenue, P.O. Box 32311, Grand Cayman KY1-1209, Cayman Islands. |
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 (as amended) or as revised, or any other law of the Cayman Islands. |
4. |
The liability of each Member is limited to the amount from time to time unpaid on such Members shares. |
5. |
The authorized share capital of the Company is US$150,000 divided into: (i) 827,539,829 voting Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each, (ii) 121,108,037 voting Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each, (iii) 60,000,000 voting redeemable Series A Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each, (iv) 40,000,000 voting redeemable Series B Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each, (v) 48,000,000 voting redeemable Series C Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each, (vi) 45,319,316 voting redeemable Series C-1 Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each, (vii) 42,251,744 voting redeemable Series C-2 Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each, (viii) 11,497,073 voting redeemable Series C-3 Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each, (ix) 60,856,049 voting redeemable Series D Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each, (x) 83,474,263 voting redeemable Series E Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each, (xi) 32,373,031 voting redeemable Series E-1 Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each, (xii) 28,226,073 voting redeemable Series E-2 Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each, (xiii) 48,689,976 voting redeemable Series F Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each, and (ix) 50,664,609 voting redeemable Series F+ Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 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 amended). |
6. |
If the Company is registered as exempted, its operations will be carried on subject to the provisions of Part II of the Companies Law (as amended) and, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law (as amended) and the Thirteenth Amended and Restated 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. |
2
THE COMPANIES LAW (AS AMENDED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
THIRTEENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
KANZHUN LIMITED
(Adopted by Special Resolution passed on November 27, 2020 and effective from
November 27, 2020)
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, |
Articles |
means these Thirteenth Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Company as from time to time altered by Special Resolution. | |
Auditor |
means the person for the time being performing the duties of auditors of the Company (if any). | |
Banyan |
means Banyan Partners Fund II, L.P. | |
Beijing Subsidiary |
means Beijing Huaye Jishi Network Technology Co., Ltd. (北京华业基石网络技术有限公司), a limited liability company established under the laws of the PRC. | |
Board or Board of Directors |
means the board of directors for the time being of the Company. | |
BVI Holdco |
means TECHWOLF LIMITED, a company incorporated and existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands. | |
Capital Today |
means CTG Evergreen Investment X Limited and CTG Evergreen Investment R Limited. | |
Ceyuan Funds |
means Ceyuan Ventures III, L.P. and Ceyuan Ventures Advisors Fund III, LLC. | |
Class A Ordinary Share |
means the class A ordinary share in the capital of the Company with a par value of US$0.0001 per share having the rights set out in these Articles. |
Class B Ordinary Share |
means the class B ordinary share in the capital of the Company with a par value of US$0.0001 per share having the rights set out in these Articles. | |
Closing Date |
means the date of the Closing provided in the Series F+ Purchase Agreement. | |
Coatue |
means Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC. | |
Company |
means the above named company. | |
Conversion Price |
means (i) with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series A Conversion Price, (ii) with respect to Series B Preferred Shares, the Series B Conversion Price, (iii) with respect to Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C Conversion Price, (iv) with respect to Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Conversion Price, (v) with respect to Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Conversion Price, (vi) with respect to Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Conversion Price, (vii) with respect to Series D Preferred Shares, the Series D Conversion Price, (viii) with respect to the Series E Preferred Shares, the Series E Conversion Price, (ix) with respect to the Series E-1 Preferred Shares, the Series E-1 Conversion Price, (x) with respect to the Series E-2 Preferred Shares, the Series E-2 Conversion Price, (xi) with respect to the Series F Preferred Shares, the Series F Conversion Price, and (xii) with respect to the Series F+ Preferred Shares, the Series F+ Conversion Price. | |
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. | |
Directors |
means the directors for the time being of the Company. | |
Dividend |
includes an interim dividend and bonus issues. |
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Domestic Enterprise |
means Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd. (北京华品博睿网络技术有限公司), a limited liability company established under the laws of the PRC. | |
Electronic Record |
has the same meaning as in the Electronic Transactions Law (2003 Revision). | |
Equity Securities |
means, with respect to any person that is a legal entity, any and all shares of capital stock, membership interests, units, profits interests, ownership interests, equity interests, registered capital, and other equity securities of such person, and any right, warrant, option, call, commitment, conversion privilege, preemptive right or other right to acquire any of the foregoing, or security convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for any of the foregoing, or any contract providing for the acquisition of any of the foregoing. | |
ESOP |
means the employee equity incentive plan of the Company under which 145,696,410 Class A Ordinary Shares are reserved for issuance as approved by the Preferred Super-majority in accordance with the Articles. | |
First Closing Date of Series C-1 Round |
means the date of the First Closing provided in the Series C-1 Purchase Agreement. | |
Founder |
means Mr. ZHAO Peng (赵鹏), a citizen of PRC with his ID Card number ******* (together with the BVI Holdco, collectively, the Founder Parties, and each, a Founder Party). | |
GGV |
means collectively, GGV Capital VI L.P., GGV Capital VI Plus L.P. and GGV Capital VI Entrepreneurs Fund L.P. | |
GS |
means Global Private Opportunities Partners II Offshore Holdings LP and Global Private Opportunities Partners II LP. |
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Group Companies |
means the Company, the HK Company, the WFOE, the Domestic Enterprise, Beijing Subsidiary, Beijing Renjuren Network Technology Co., Ltd. (北京人聚人网络技术有限公司), the US Subsidiary and any subsidiaries (controlled either by equity or contract or otherwise) of the foregoing collectively, and each individually, a Group Company. | |
HK Company |
means Techfish Limited, a limited liability company incorporated in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC, which is one hundred percent (100%) held by the Company. | |
Independent Director |
has the meaning given in Article 70 of the Articles. | |
Investors |
means Series A Investors, Series B Investors, Series C Investor, Series C-1 Investors, Series C2 Investors, Series C-3 Investors, Series D Investors, Series E Investors, Series E-1 Investors, Series E-2 Investor, Series F Investors and Series F+ Investors, and each, an Investor. | |
Investor Directors |
has the meaning given in Article 70 of the Articles. | |
Issue Price |
means (i) with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series A Issue Price, (ii) with respect to Series B Preferred Shares, the Series B Issue Price, (iii) with respect to Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C Issue Price, (iv) with respect to Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Issue Price, (v) with respect to Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Issue Price, (vi) with respect to Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Issue Price, (vii) with respect to Series D Preferred Shares, the Series D Issue Price, (viii) with respect to the Series E Preferred Shares, the Series E Issue Price, (ix) with respect to the Series E-1 Preferred Shares, the Series E-1 Issue Price, (x) with respect to the Series E-2 Preferred Shares, the Series E-2 Issue Price. (xi) with respect to the Series F Preferred Shares, the Series F Issue Price and (xii) with respect to the Series F+ Preferred Shares, the Series F+ Issue Price. | |
Magic Stone Fund |
means MSA China Fund I L.P. and Magic Stone Special Opportunity Fund VIII L.P. |
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Majority |
means more than 50% of votes of each class of shares or more than 50% of votes of the Directors, where applicable. | |
Majority Investor Directors |
means at least a majority of all the Directors being appointed as Investor Directors and as Independent Director collectively. | |
Member |
has the same meaning as in the Statute. | |
Month |
means calendar month. | |
Nanjing Subsidiary |
means Nanjing Boruo Network Technology Co., Ltd. (南京伯若网络技术有限公司), a limited liability company established under the laws of the PRC, and dissolved on July 20th, 2015. | |
Ordinary Resolution |
means a resolution: | |
(a) passed by Members holding a simple majority of all the Members voting shares who, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting; or | ||
(b) approved in writing by all Members entitled to vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of the Company in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the Members. | ||
Ordinary Shares |
means Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares, collectively or any of them. | |
Ordinary Shareholders |
means the holders of Ordinary Shares of the Company, other than (i) Class A Ordinary Shares converted from Preferred Shares, (ii) the Class A Ordinary Shares held by Tencent in accordance with the Share Transfer Agreement entered into by and among Tencent, Zhao Peng (赵鹏) and TECHWOLF LIMITED dated as of August 7, 2020, and (iii) the Class A Ordinary Shares held by Coatue in accordance with the Share Subscription Agreement entered into by and between the Company and Coatue dated as of August 7, 2020. |
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Original Issue Date | means (i) with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series A Original Issue Date, (ii) with respect to Series B Preferred Shares, the Series B Original Issue Date, (iii) with respect to Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C Original Issue Date, (iv) with respect to Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Original Issue Date, (v) with respect to Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Original Issue Date, (vi) with respect to Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Original Issue Date, (vii) with respect to Series D Preferred Shares, the Series D Original Issue Date, a (viii) with respect to Series E Preferred Shares, the Series E Original Issue Date, (ix) with respect to Series E-1 Preferred Shares, the Series E-1 Original Issue Date, (x) with respect to Series E-2 Preferred Shares, the Series E-2 Original Issue Date, (xi) with respect to Series F Preferred Shares, the Series F Original Issue Date and (xii) with respect to Series F+ Preferred Shares, the Series F+ Original Issue Date. | |
Paid-up | means paid-up and/or credited as paid-up. | |
PRC | means the Peoples Republic of China, for purposes of these Articles and other Transaction Documents, excluding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and the Islands of Taiwan. | |
PRC Regulatory Development |
means an event or change occurred on PRC regulatory development (including without limitation to any official and written interpretation or clarification by the Ministry of Commerce of PRC or any other governmental authority in the PRC of the Provisions on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors (as amended) (《关于外国投资者并购境内企业的规定》), issued by MOFCOM on August 8, 2006 and effective as of September 8, 2006, or any other Laws promulgated after the date of the Series F+ Original Issue Date) that will materially and adversely affects the validity and enforceability of any or all of the Transaction Documents and any or all the transactions and arrangement contemplated thereof (including without limitation to the structure of the variable interests entities between the WFOE and the Domestic Enterprise). |
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Preferred Shares |
means the Series A Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares, Series C-1 Preferred Shares, Series C-2 Preferred Shares, Series C-3 Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, Series E Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares, Series E-2 Preferred Shares. Series F Preferred Shares and Series F+ Preferred Shares, collectively or individually, as the context may require. | |
Preferred Share Preference Amount |
means the Series A Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series B Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-3 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series D Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series E Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series E-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series E-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series F Preferred Share Preference Amount and Series F+ Preferred Share Preference, as the case may be. | |
Preferred Super-majority |
means the holders holding more than two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Preferred Shares. |
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Qualified Public Offering |
means a firm underwritten public offering of the Class A Ordinary Shares of the Company (or securities representing such Class A Ordinary Shares) on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market, or on such other internationally recognized stock exchange approved in writing by the Preferred Super-majority, with an offering price (exclusive of underwriting commissions and expenses) that reflects the market capitalization of the Company of not less than US$5,000,000,000 immediately prior to the consummation of such offering, and gross proceeds to the Company of at least US$300,000,000 (prior to any underwriters commissions and expenses). | |
Redeeming Investor |
has the meaning given in Article 18(b) below. | |
Redemption Date |
has the meaning given in Article 18(b) below. | |
Redemption Notice |
has the meaning given in Article 18(b) below. | |
Redemption Price |
means, (i) with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series A Redemption Price, (ii) with respect to Series B Preferred Shares, the Series B Redemption Price, (iii) with respect to Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C Redemption Price, (iv) with respect to Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Redemption Price, (v) with respect to Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Redemption Price, (vi) with respect to Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Redemption Price, (vii) with respect to Series D Preferred Shares, the Series D Redemption Price, (viii) with respect to Series E Preferred Shares, the Series E Redemption Price, (ix) with respect to Series E-1 Preferred Shares, the Series E-1 Redemption Price, (x) with respect to Series E-2 Preferred Shares, the Series E-2 Redemption Price, (xi) with respect to Series F Preferred Shares, the Series F Redemption Price and (xii) with respect to Series F+ Preferred Shares, the Series F+ Redemption Price. |
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Redemption Start Date |
means, (i) with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series A Redemption Start Date, (ii) with respect to Series B Preferred Shares, the Series B Redemption Start Date, (iii) with respect to Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C Redemption Start Date, (iv) with respect to Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Redemption Start Date, (v) with respect to Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Redemption Start Date, (vi) with respect to Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Redemption Start Date, and (vii) with respect to Series D Preferred Shares, the Series D Redemption Start Date, (viii) with respect to Series E Preferred Shares, the Series E Redemption Start Date, (ix) with respect to Series E-1 Preferred Shares, the Series E-1 Redemption Start Date, (x) with respect to Series E-2 Preferred Shares, the Series E-2 Redemption Start Date, (xi) with respect to Series F Preferred Shares, the Series F Redemption Start Date and (xii) with respect to Series F+ Preferred Shares, the Series F+ Redemption Start Dat. | |
Register of Members |
means the register maintained in accordance with the Statute and includes (except where otherwise stated) any duplicate Register of Members. | |
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. | |
Second Closing Date of Series C-1 Round |
means the date of the Second Closing provided in the Series C-1 Purchase Agreement. | |
Secretary |
includes an Assistant Secretary and any person appointed to perform the duties of Secretary of the Company. | |
Securities Act |
means the Securities Act of 1933 of the United States, as amended from time to time, including any successor statutes. | |
Series A Conversion Price |
means the price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be allotted upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 15(a) below. | |
Series A Issue Price |
means initially US$0.05 per share, as appropriately adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares. |
9
Series A Investors |
means Shunwei Fund (in the capacity of the holder of the Series A Preferred Shares) and Ceyuan Funds (in the capacity of the holder of the Series A Preferred Shares), and each, a Series A Investor. | |
Series A Majority |
has the meaning given in Article 19(a) below. | |
Series A Original Issue Date |
means the date of the first issue of a Series A Preferred Share. | |
Series A Preferred Shares |
means one or more voting redeemable Series A Preferred Shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each having the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions set out in these Articles. | |
Series A Preferred Share Preference Amount |
has the meaning given in Article 127(a) below. | |
Series A Purchase Agreement |
means the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of May 20, 2014 entered into by and among the Company, the HK Company, the Domestic Enterprise, the Beijing Subsidiary, the Nanjing Subsidiary, the WFOE, the Founder Parties and the Series A Investors, as amended from time to time. | |
Series A Redemption Price |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(i) below. | |
Series A Redemption Start Date |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(i) below. | |
Series A Transaction Documents |
means the Articles, the Series A Purchase Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, and each of the other agreements and documents otherwise required in connection with implementing the transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing | |
Series B Conversion Price |
means the price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be allotted upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Shares as stipulated in in Article 15(a) below. |
10
Series B Investors |
means Shunwei Fund (in the capacity of the holder of the Series B Preferred Shares), Ceyuan Funds (in the capacity of the holder of the Series B Preferred Shares), Magic Stone Fund (in the capacity of the holder of the Series B Preferred Shares) and Tencent (in the capacity of the holder of the Series B Preferred Shares), and each, a Series B Investor. | |
Series B Issue Price |
means initially US$0.15 per share, as appropriately adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to the Series B Preferred Shares. | |
Series B Majority |
has the meaning given in Article 19(a) below. | |
Series B Original Issue Date |
means the date of the first issue of a Series B Preferred Share. | |
Series B Preferred Shares |
means one or more voting redeemable Series B Preferred Shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each having the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions set out in these Articles. | |
Series B Preferred Share Preference Amount |
has the meaning given in Article 127(a) below. | |
Series B Purchase Agreement |
means the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of December 11, 2014 entered into by and among the Company, the HK Company, the Domestic Enterprise, the Beijing Subsidiary, the Nanjing Subsidiary, the WFOE, the Founder Parties and the Series B Investors, as amended from time to time. | |
Series B Redemption Price |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(ii) below. | |
Series B Redemption Start Date |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(ii) below. | |
Series B Transaction Documents |
means the Articles, the Series B Purchase Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, and each of the other agreements and documents otherwise required in connection with implementing the transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing. | |
Series C Conversion Price |
means the price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be allotted upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 15(a) below. |
11
Series C Investor |
means CTG Evergreen Investment X Limited (in the capacity of the holder of the Series C Preferred Shares). | |
Series C Issue Price |
means initially US$0.208 per share, as appropriately adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to the Series C Preferred Shares. | |
Series C Majority |
has the meaning given in Article 19(a) below. | |
Series C Original Issue Date |
means the date of the first issue of a Series C Preferred Share. | |
Series C Preferred Shares |
means one or more voting redeemable Series C Preferred Shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each having the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions set out in these Articles. | |
Series C Preferred Share Preference Amount |
has the meaning given in Article 127(a) below. | |
Series C Purchase Agreement |
means the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of April 3, 2015 entered into by and among the Company, the HK Company, the Domestic Enterprise, the Beijing Subsidiary, the Nanjing Subsidiary, the WFOE, the Founder Parties and the Series C Investor, as amended from time to time. | |
Series C Redemption Price |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(iii) below. | |
Series C Redemption Start Date |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(iii) below. | |
Series C Transaction Documents |
means the Articles, the Series C Purchase Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, and each of the other agreements and documents otherwise required in connection with implementing the transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing. | |
Series C-1 Conversion Price |
means the price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be allotted upon conversion of the Series C1 Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 15(a) below. |
12
Series C-1 Investors |
means Suzhou Industrial Park 825 New Media Investment Enterprise L.P. (苏州工业园区八二五新媒体投资企业(有限合伙), the Meridian Fund I), Suzhou Industrial Park 825 Fund II New Media Investment Centre L.P. (苏州工业园区八二五二期新媒体投资中心 (有限合伙), the Meridian Fund II, together with the Meridian Fund I, the Meridian), Capital Today (in the capacity of the holder of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares), Shunwei Fund (in the capacity of the holder of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares), Tencent (in the capacity of the holder of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares), INSPIRING LINK LIMITED (in the capacity of the holder of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares), GGV Capital VI Plus L.P. (in the capacity of the holder of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares), GGV Capital VI Entrepreneurs Fund L.P. (in the capacity of the holder of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares), Banyan (in the capacity of the holder of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares) and DELICATE MASTER LIMITED (in the capacity of the holder of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares) and each, a Series C-1 Investor. | |
Series C-1 Issue Price |
means initially US$0.276 per share, as appropriately adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to the Series C-1 Preferred Shares. | |
Series C-1 Majority |
has the meaning given in Article 19(a) below. | |
Series C-1 Original Issue Date |
with respect to the Series C-1 Preferred Shares issued at the first closing as contemplated under the Series C-1 Purchase Agreement, means the First Closing Date of Series C-1 Round; and with respect to the Series C-1 Preferred Share issued at the second closing as contemplated under the Series C-1 Purchase Agreement, means the Second Closing Date of Series C-1 Round. |
13
Series C-1 Preferred Shares |
means one or more voting redeemable Series C-1 Preferred Shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each having the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions set out in these Articles. | |
Series C-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount |
has the meaning given in Article 127(a) below. | |
Series C-1 Purchase Agreement |
means the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of July 7, 2016, entered into by and among the Company, the HK Company, the Domestic Enterprise, the Beijing Subsidiary, the WFOE, the Founder Parties and the Series C-1 Investors, as amended from time to time. | |
Series C-1 Transaction Documents |
means the Articles, the Series C-1 Purchase Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, and each of the other agreements and documents otherwise required in connection with implementing the transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing. | |
Series C-1 Redemption Price |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(iv) below. | |
Series C-1 Redemption Start Date |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(iv) below. | |
Series C-2 Conversion Price |
means the price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be allotted upon conversion of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 15(a) below. | |
Series C-2 Investors |
means Banyan and Magic Stone Fund (in the capacity of the holder of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares). | |
Series C-2 Issue Price |
means initially US$0.426 per share, as appropriately adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to the Series C-2 Preferred Shares. | |
Series C-2 Majority |
has the meaning given in Article 19(a) below. | |
Series C-2 Original Issue Date |
means the date of the first issue of a Series C-2 Preferred Share. |
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Series C-2 Preferred Shares |
means one or more voting redeemable Series C-2 Preferred Shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each having the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions set out in these Articles. | |
Series C-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount |
has the meaning given in Article 127(a) below. | |
Series C-2 Purchase Agreement |
means the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of August 15, 2016, entered into by and among the Company, the HK Company, the Domestic Enterprise, the WFOE, the Founder Parties and the Series C-2 Investors, as amended from time to time. | |
Series C-2 Redemption Price |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(v) below. | |
Series C-2 Redemption Start Date |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(v) below. | |
Series C-2 Transaction Documents |
means these Articles, the Series C-2 Purchase Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, and each of the other agreements and documents otherwise required in connection with implementing the transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing. | |
Series C-3 Conversion Price |
means the price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be allotted upon conversion of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 15(a) below. | |
Series C-3 Investors |
means Magic Stone Fund (in the capacity of the holder of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares), CTG Evergreen Investment X Limited (in the capacity of the holder of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares), Meridian Fund II (in the capacity of the holder of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares), Banyan (in the capacity of the holder of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares) and Tencent (in the capacity of the holder of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares). | |
Series C-3 Issue Price |
means initially US$0.522 per share, as appropriately adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to the Series C-3 Preferred Shares. |
15
Series C-3 Majority |
has the meaning given in Article 19(a) below. | |
Series C-3 Original Issue Date |
means the date of the first issue of a Series C-3 Preferred Share. | |
Series C-3 Preferred Shares |
means one or more voting redeemable Series C-3 Preferred Shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each having the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions set out in these Articles. | |
Series C-3 Preferred Share Preference Amount |
has the meaning given in Article 127(a) below. | |
Series C-3 Purchase Agreement |
means the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of February 10, 2017, entered into by and among the Company, the HK Company, the Domestic Enterprise, the WFOE, the Founder Parties and the Series C-3 Investors, as amended from time to time. | |
Series C-3 Redemption Price |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(vi) below. | |
Series C-3 Redemption Start Date |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(vi) below. | |
Series C-3 Transaction Documents |
means these Articles, the Series C-3 Purchase Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, and each of the other agreements and documents otherwise required in connection with implementing the transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing. | |
Series D Conversion Price |
means the price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be allotted upon conversion of the Series D Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 15(a) below. |
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Series D Investors |
means GS, Capital Today (in the capacity of the holder of the Series D Preferred Shares), Banyan (in the capacity of the holder of the Series D Preferred Shares), Tencent (in the capacity of the holder of the Series D Preferred Shares), INSPIRING LINK LIMITED (in the capacity of the holder of the Series D Preferred Shares), GGV Capital VI Plus L.P. (in the capacity of the holder of the Series D Preferred Shares), GGV Capital VI Entrepreneurs Fund L.P. (in the capacity of the holder of the Series D Preferred Shares) and DELICATE MASTER LIMITED (in the capacity of the holder of the Series D Preferred Shares), and each, Series D Investor. | |
Series D Issue Price |
means initially US$0.7131 per share, as appropriately adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to the Series D Preferred Shares. | |
Series D Majority |
has the meaning given in Article 19(a) below. | |
Series D Original Issue Date |
means the date of the first issue of a Series D Preferred Share. | |
Series D Preferred Shares |
means one or more voting redeemable Series D Preferred Shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each having the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions set out in these Articles. | |
Series D Preferred Share Preference Amount |
has the meaning given in Article 127(a) below. | |
Series D Purchase Agreement |
means the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of October 31, 2017, entered into by and among the Company, the HK Company, the Domestic Enterprise, the WFOE, the Founder Parties and the Series D Investors, as amended from time to time. | |
Series D Redemption Price |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(vii) below. | |
Series D Redemption Start Date |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(vii) below. | |
Series D Transaction Documents |
means these Articles, the Series D Purchase Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, the management rights letter, the director indemnification agreement, and each of the other agreements and documents otherwise required in connection with implementing the transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing. |
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Series E Conversion Price |
means the price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be allotted upon conversion of the Series E Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 15(a) below. | |
Series E Investors |
means GGV (in the capacity of the holder of the Series E Preferred Shares), Shenzhen Hina New Economic Equity Investment Fund Partnership (Limited Partnership) (深圳汉能新经济股权投资基金合伙企业(有限合伙)), Hina Group Fund V, L.P., Banyan (in the capacity of the holder of the Series E Preferred Shares), Capital Today (in the capacity of the holder of the Series E Preferred Shares), DELICATE MASTER LIMITED (in the capacity of the holder of the Series E Preferred Shares), Tencent (in the capacity of the holder of the Series E Preferred Shares), INSPIRING LINK LIMITED (in the capacity of the holder of the Series E Preferred Shares), and each, Series E Investor. | |
Series E Issue Price |
means initially US$1.56 per share, as appropriately adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to the Series E Preferred Shares. | |
Series E Majority |
has the meaning given in Article 19(a) below. | |
Series E Original Issue Date |
means the date of the first issue of a Series E Preferred Share. | |
Series E Preferred Shares |
means one or more voting redeemable Series E Preferred Shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each having the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions set out in these Articles. | |
Series E Preferred Share Preference Amount |
has the meaning given in Article 127(a) below. | |
Series E Purchase Agreement |
means the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of December 14, 2018, entered into by and among the Company, the HK Company, the Domestic Enterprise, the WFOE, the Founder Parties and the Series E Investors, as amended from time to time. |
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Series E Redemption Price |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(viii) below. | |
Series E Redemption Start Date |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(viii) below. | |
Series E Shares |
means Series E Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares and Series E-2 Preferred Shares, collectively. | |
Series E Transaction Documents |
means these Articles, the Series E Purchase Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, the management rights letter, the director indemnification agreement and each of the other agreements and documents otherwise required in connection with implementing the transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing. | |
Series E-1 Conversion Price |
means the price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be allotted upon conversion of the Series E-1 Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 15(a) below. | |
Series E-1 Investors |
means Sunshine Life Insurance Corporation Limited (阳光人寿保险股份有限公司) and INSPIRING LINK LIMITED. | |
Series E-1 Issue Price |
means initially US$1.70 per share, as appropriately adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to the Series E-1 Preferred Shares. | |
Series E-1 Original Issue Date |
means, (i) with respect to the Series E-1 Preferred Shares initially issued to INSPIRING LINK LIMITED, the date of the first issue of any of such Series E-1 Preferred Share; and (ii) with respect to the Series E-1 Preferred Shares initially issued to Sunshine Life Insurance Corporation Limited (阳光人寿保险股份有限公司), the date of the first issue of any of such Series E-1 Preferred Share. |
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Series E-1 Preferred Shares |
means one or more voting redeemable Series E-1 Preferred Shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each having the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions set out in these Articles. | |
Series E-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount |
has the meaning given in Article 127(a) below. | |
Series E-1 Purchase Agreements |
means Series E-1 Purchase Agreement I and/or Series E-1 Purchase Agreement II. | |
Series E-1 Purchase Agreement I |
means the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of January 29, 2019, entered into by and among the Company, the HK Company, the Domestic Enterprise, the WFOE, the Founder Parties and Sunshine Life Insurance Corporation Limited (阳光人寿保险股份有限公司), as amended from time to time. | |
Series E-1 Purchase Agreement II |
means the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of March 8, 2019, entered into by and among the Company, the HK Company, the Domestic Enterprise, the WFOE, the Founder Parties and INSPIRING LINK LIMITED, as amended from time to time. | |
Series E-1 Redemption Price |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(ix) below. | |
Series E-1 Redemption Start Date |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(ix) below. | |
Series E-1 Transaction Documents |
means these Articles, the Series E-1 Purchase Agreements, the Shareholders Agreement and each of the other agreements and documents otherwise required in connection with implementing the transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing. | |
Series E-2 Conversion Price |
means the price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be allotted upon conversion of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 15(a) below. | |
Series E-2 Investor |
means Tencent (in the capacity of the holder of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares). |
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Series E-2 Issue Price |
means initially US$1.7714 per share, as appropriately adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to the Series E-2 Preferred Shares. | |
Series E-2 Original Issue Date |
means the date of the first issue of a Series E-2 Preferred Share. | |
Series E-2 Preferred Shares |
means one or more voting redeemable Series E-2 Preferred Shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each having the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions set out in these Articles. | |
Series E-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount |
has the meaning given in Article 127(a) below. | |
Series E-2 Purchase Agreement |
means the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of July 4, 2019, entered into by and among the Company, the HK Company, the Domestic Enterprise, the WFOE, the Founder Parties, Tencent and certain other parties, as amended from time to time. | |
Series E-2 Redemption Price |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(x) below. | |
Series E-2 Redemption Start Date |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(x) below. | |
Series E-2 Transaction Documents |
means these Articles, the Series E-2 Purchase Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement and each of the other agreements and documents otherwise required in connection with implementing the transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing. | |
Series F Conversion Price |
means the price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be allotted upon conversion of the Series F Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 15(a) below. | |
Series F Investors |
means Coatue (in the capacity of the holder of the Series F Preferred Shares) and Tencent (in the capacity of the holder of the Series F Preferred Shares). |
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Series F Issue Price |
means initially US$3.0807 per share, as appropriately adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to the Series F Preferred Shares. | |
Series F Majority |
has the meaning given in Article 19(a) below. | |
Series F Original Issue Date |
means the date of the first issue of a Series F Preferred Share. | |
Series F Preferred Shares |
means one or more voting redeemable Series F Preferred Shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each having the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions set out in these Articles. | |
Series F Preferred Share Preference Amount |
has the meaning given in Article 127(a) below. | |
Series F Purchase Agreement |
means the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of February 10, 2020 entered into by and among the Company, the HK Company, the Domestic Enterprise, the WFOE, the Founder Parties, Coatue, Tencent and certain other parties, as amended from time to time. | |
Series F Redemption Price |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(xi) below. | |
Series F Redemption Start Date |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(xi) below. | |
Series F Transaction Documents |
means these Articles, the Series F Purchase Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement and each of the other agreements and documents otherwise required in connection with implementing the transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing. | |
Series F+ Conversion Price |
means the price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be allotted upon conversion of the Series F+ Preferred Shares as stipulated in Article 15(a) below. | |
Series F+ Investors |
means SCC Growth VI Holdco E, Ltd., INTERNET FUND VI PTE. LTD., Coatue (in the capacity of the holder of the Series F+ Preferred Shares), Huaxing Growth Capital III, L.P. and GGV (in the capacity of the holder of the Series F+ Preferred Shares). |
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Series F+ Issue Price |
means initially US$5.3292 per share, as appropriately adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to the Series F+ Preferred Shares. | |
Series F+ Majority |
has the meaning given in Article 19(a) below. | |
Series F+ Original Issue Date |
means the date of the first issue of a Series F+ Preferred Share. | |
Series F+ Preferred Shares |
means one or more voting redeemable Series F+ Preferred Shares in the capital of the Company with a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each having the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions set out in these Articles. | |
Series F+ Preferred Share Preference Amount |
has the meaning given in Article 127(a) below. | |
Series F+ Purchase Agreement |
means the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of November 27, 2020, entered into by and among the Company, the HK Company, the Domestic Enterprise, the WFOE, the Founder Parties, SCC Growth VI Holdco E, Ltd., INTERNET FUND VI PTE. LTD., Huaxing Growth Capital III, L.P., Coatue, GGV and certain other parties, as amended from time to time. | |
Series F+ Redemption Price |
has the meaning given in Article 18(a)(xii) below. | |
Series F+ Redemption Start Date |
as the meaning given in Article 18(a)(xii) below. | |
Series F+ Transaction Documents |
means these Articles, the Series F+ Purchase Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement and each of the other agreements and documents otherwise required in connection with implementing the transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing. |
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Shares |
means Ordinary Shares, Series A Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares, Series C-1 Preferred Shares, Series C-2 Preferred Shares, Series C-3 Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, Series E Shares, Series F Preferred Shares, Series F+ Preferred Shares and any other shares in the capital of the Company, and Share means any one share of such Shares. | |
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 the Eleventh Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement dated as of November 27, 2020, entered into by and among the Company, the HK Company, the WFOE, the Domestic Enterprise, the Founder, and certain other parties named therein, as amended from time to time. | |
Shunwei Fund |
means Shunwei Technology III Limited. | |
Special Resolution |
means a special resolution passed in accordance with Section 60 of the Statute, namely: | |
(a) passed by such Members holding not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company, who, as being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy 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 Members entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the Members. |
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Statute |
means the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands as amended and every statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force. | |
Tencent |
means Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited. |
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Trade Sale Event |
means (i) a consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other business entity in which the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation held shares representing less than a Majority of the voting power of the outstanding share capital of the surviving business entity, (ii) an exclusive licensing of all or substantially all of the intellectual property rights of the Group Companies (taken as a whole) to any third party, (iii) a sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Group Companies (taken as a whole), or (iv) a sale, transfer or other disposition of a Majority of the issued and outstanding share capital of the Company or a Majority of the voting power of the Company. | |
Transaction Documents |
means (i) with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series A Transaction Documents, (ii) with respect to Series B Preferred Shares, the Series B Transaction Documents, (iii) with respect to Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C Transaction Documents, (iv) with respect to Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Transaction Documents, (v) with respect to Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Transaction Documents, (vi) with respect to Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Transaction Documents, (vii) with respect to Series D Preferred Shares, the Series D Transaction Documents, (viii) with respect to Series E Preferred Shares, the Series E Transaction Documents, (ix) with respect to Series E-1 Preferred Shares, the Series E-1 Transaction Documents, (x) with respect to Series E-2 Preferred Shares, the Series E-2 Transaction Documents, (xi) with respect to Series F Preferred Shares, the Series F Transaction Documents and (xii) with respect to Series F+ Preferred Shares, the Series F+ Transaction Documents. |
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US Subsidiary |
means Face Hired Inc., with its registered address at 2901 Tasman Drive, Suite 107, Santa Clara, California 95054, United States of America, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. | |
WFOE |
means Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd. (北京歌利沃夫企业管理有限公司), a company duly incorporated under the laws of the PRC and wholly owned by the HK Company. |
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.
written and in writing include all modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form, including in the form of an Electronic Record.
Any phrase introduced by the terms include, including, in particular or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms.
References to provisions of any law or regulation shall be construed as references to those provisions as amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced from time to time.
Headings are inserted for reference only and shall be ignored in construing these Articles.
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. | (a) | Each Member shall be entitled to a share certificate. Share certificates evidencing shares of the Company shall be in such form as the Directors may determine. Share certificates shall be signed by one or more Directors or other person authorised by the Directors. 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 evidenced 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 subject to these Articles, 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 authorise certificates to be issued with the seal and authorised signature(s) affixed by some method or system of mechanical process. |
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(b) |
The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for shares held jointly by more than one person and delivery of a certificate to one joint holder shall be sufficient delivery to all of them. |
5. |
If a share certificate is defaced, worn out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and the payment of such expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating evidence, as the Directors may prescribe, and (in the case of defacement or wearing out) upon delivery of the old certificate. |
ISSUE OF SHARES
6. |
Subject to the relevant provisions, if any, in these Articles and the Transaction Documents 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: |
(a) |
the Directors may allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of shares of the Company 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. The Company shall not issue shares in bearer form. |
(b) |
The Board may issue warrants to subscribe for any class or series of shares or other securities of the Company on such terms as it may from time to time determine. Where warrants are issued to bearer, no new warrants shall be issued to replace one that has been lost unless the Board is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the original has been destroyed and the Company has received an indemnity in such form as the Board shall think fit with regard to the issue of any such new warrant. |
(c) |
The Directors may issue shares against payment in cash or against payment in kind (which may, in the sole determination of the Directors, include tangible assets, services or any other valuable property). |
7. |
The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained a Register of Members in accordance with the Statute. |
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 if the Directors so require, signed by the transferee). 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. |
9. |
The Directors, solely subject to and in accordance with contractual commitments regarding the transfer of shares that the Company may from time to time have, may decline to register any transfer of shares in violation of such commitments. If the Directors refuse to register a transfer they shall notify the transferee within two (2) Months of such refusal. |
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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 forty-five (45) days in any year. |
REDEEMABLE SHARES
11. | (a) | Subject to the provisions of the Statute and in accordance with these Articles, the Company may issue shares that are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Member or the Company, subject always to Board consent. The redemption of such Shares shall be effected in accordance with these Articles or in such manner as the Company may, by Special Resolution, determine before the issuance of such shares. | ||
(b) |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute and Articles 18, 19 and 127, the Company may purchase its own shares (including any redeemable shares) on such terms and in such manner as the Directors may determine and agree with the Shareholders, and make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own shares in any manner permitted by the Statute, including out of capital. The Directors may when making payments in respect of redemption or purchase of shares, if authorised by the terms of issue of the shares being redeemed or purchased or with the agreement of the holder of such shares, make such payment either in cash or in specie, including, without limitation, interests in a special purpose vehicle holding assets of the Company or holding entitlement to the proceeds of assets held by the Company or in a liquidating structure. |
VARIATION OF RIGHTS OF SHARES
12. | (a) | If at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes or series of shares, the rights attached to any class or series (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class or series) 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 or series, be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of at least a Majority of the issued shares of that class or series; provided that any change to the Directors appointment right as provided in Article 70 shall not be deemed as the variation of class rights. | ||
(b) |
The provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings shall apply to every such general meeting of the holders of one class or series of shares except that the necessary quorum shall be one or more persons holding or representing in person or by proxy at least a Majority of the issued shares of the class or series and that any holder of shares of the class or series present in person or by proxy may demand a poll. |
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13. |
The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class or series issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class or series, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu therewith. |
COMMISSION ON SALE OF SHARES
14. |
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 and/or fully or partly Paid-up shares. The Company may also on any issue of shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful. |
CONVERSION OF CLASS B ORDINARY SHARES
14A. |
If any of Founder Parties directly or indirectly transfers any Class B Ordinary Shares (including but not limited to transferring voting rights thereof) beneficially held by him or her to a Person that is not also a Founder Party or other Person which is not beneficially wholly owned by a Founder Party, or the Founder no longer serves as a director or officer of any Group Company, then such transferred Class B Ordinary Shares shall be automatically converted into the same number of fully-paid and nonassessable Class A Ordinary Shares as of the date of such Transfer. |
Subject to the provisions of this Article 14A and the requirements of the Statute, any Class B Ordinary Share may, at the option of the holder thereof, be converted at any time into the same number of fully-paid and nonassessable Class A Ordinary Shares.
CONVERSION OF PREFERRED SHARES
15. |
The holders of the Preferred Shares have conversion rights as follows: |
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(a) |
Right to Convert Preferred Shares. Unless converted earlier pursuant to Article 15(b) below, each Preferred Share shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time after the applicable Original Issue Date into such number of fully paid and non-assessable Class A Ordinary Shares as determined by dividing the applicable Issue Price by the then effective applicable Conversion Price, determined as hereinafter provided, in effect at the time of the conversion. The price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Shares (the Series A Conversion Price) shall initially be the Series A Issue Price per Ordinary Share. Such initial Series A Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided. Nothing in this Article 15(a) shall limit the automatic conversion rights of Series A Preferred Shares described in Article 15(b) below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series A Preferred Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares is 1:1 as of the date of adoption of these Articles. The price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be issuable upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Shares (the Series B Conversion Price) shall initially be the Series B Issue Price per Ordinary Share. Such initial Series B Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided. Nothing in this Article 15(a) shall limit the automatic conversion rights of Series B Preferred Shares described in Article 15(b) below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series B Preferred Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares is 1:1 as of the date of adoption of these Articles. The price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be issuable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Shares (the Series C Conversion Price) shall initially be the Series C Issue Price per Ordinary Share. Such initial Series C Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided. Nothing in this Article 15(a) shall limit the automatic conversion rights of Series C Preferred Shares described in Article 15(b) below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series C Preferred Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares is 1:1 as of the date of adoption of these Articles. The price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be issuable upon conversion of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares (the Series C-1 Conversion Price) shall initially be the Series C-1 Issue Price per Ordinary Share. Such initial Series C-1 Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided. Nothing in this Article 15(a) shall limit the automatic conversion rights of Series C-1 Preferred Shares described in Article 15(b) below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series C-1 Preferred Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares is 1:1 as of the date of adoption of these Articles. The price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be issuable upon conversion of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares (the Series C-2 Conversion Price) shall initially be the Series C-2 Issue Price per Ordinary Share. Such initial Series C-2 Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided. Nothing in this Article 15(a) shall limit the automatic conversion rights of Series C-2 Preferred Shares described in Article 15(b) below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series C-2 Preferred Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares is 1:1 as of the date of adoption of these Articles. The price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be issuable upon conversion of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares (the Series C-3 Conversion Price) shall initially be the Series C-3 Issue Price per Ordinary Share. Such initial Series C-3 Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided. Nothing in this Article 15(a) shall limit the automatic conversion rights of Series C-3 Preferred Shares described in Article 15(b) below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series C3 Preferred Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares is 1:1 as of the date of adoption of these Articles. The price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be issuable upon conversion of the Series D Preferred Shares (the Series D Conversion Price) shall initially be the Series D Issue Price per Ordinary Share. Such initial Series D Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided. Nothing in this Article 15(a) shall limit the automatic conversion rights of Series D Preferred Shares described in Article 15(b) below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series D Preferred Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares is 1:1 as of the date of adoption of these Articles. The price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be issuable upon conversion of the Series E Preferred Shares (the Series E Conversion Price) shall initially be the Series E Issue Price per Ordinary Share. Such initial Series E Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided. Nothing in this Article 15(a) shall limit the automatic conversion rights of Series E Preferred Shares described in Article 15(b) below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series E Preferred Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares is 1:1 as of the date of adoption of these Articles. The price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be issuable upon conversion of the Series E-1 Preferred Shares (the Series E-1 Conversion Price) shall initially be the Series E-1 Issue Price per Ordinary Share. Such initial Series E-1 Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided. Nothing in this Article 15(a) shall limit the automatic conversion rights of Series E-1 Preferred Shares described in Article 15(b) below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series E-1 Preferred Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares is 1:1 as of the date of adoption of these Articles. The price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be issuable upon conversion of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares (the Series E-2 Conversion Price) shall initially be the Series E-2 Issue Price per Ordinary Share. Such initial Series E-2 Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided. Nothing in this Article 15(a) shall limit the automatic conversion rights of Series E-2 Preferred Shares described in Article 15(b) below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series E-2 Preferred Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares is 1:1 as of the date of adoption of these Articles. The price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be issuable upon conversion of the Series F Preferred Shares (the Series F Conversion Price) shall initially be the Series F Issue Price per Ordinary Share. Such initial Series F Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided. Nothing in this Article 15(a) shall limit the automatic conversion rights of Series F Preferred Shares described in Article 15(b) below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series F Preferred Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares is 1:1 as of the date of adoption of these Articles. The price at which Class A Ordinary Shares shall be issuable upon conversion of the Series F+ Preferred Shares (the Series F+ Conversion Price) shall initially be the Series F+ Issue Price per Ordinary Share. Such initial Series F+ Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided. Nothing in this Article 15(a) shall limit the automatic conversion rights of Series F Preferred Shares described in Article 15(b) below. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial conversion ratio for Series F+ Preferred Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares is 1:1 as of the date of adoption of these Articles |
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(b) |
Automatic Conversion. Each Series A Preferred Share shall automatically be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares at the then effective Series A Conversion Price upon (i) the closing of a Qualified Public Offering, or (ii) the written consent of holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis). In the event of the automatic conversion of the Series A Preferred Shares upon a Qualified Public Offering as described above, the person(s) entitled to receive the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon such conversion of Series A Preferred Shares shall not be deemed to have converted such Series A Preferred Shares until immediately prior to the closing of the Qualified Public Offering. Each Series B Preferred Share shall automatically be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares at the then effective Series B Conversion Price upon (i) the closing of a Qualified Public Offering, or (ii) the written consent of holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series B Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis). In the event of the automatic conversion of the Series B Preferred Shares upon a Qualified Public Offering as described above, the person(s) entitled to receive the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon such conversion of Series B Preferred Shares shall not be deemed to have converted such Series B Preferred Shares until immediately prior to the closing of the Qualified Public Offering. Each Series C Preferred Share shall automatically be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares at the then effective Series C Conversion Price upon (i) the closing of a Qualified Public Offering, or (ii) the written consent of holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series C Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis). In the event of the automatic conversion of the Series C Preferred Shares upon a Qualified Public Offering as described above, the person(s) entitled to receive the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon such conversion of Series C Preferred Shares shall not be deemed to have converted such Series C Preferred Shares until immediately prior to the closing of the Qualified Public Offering. Each Series C-1 Preferred Share shall automatically be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares at the then effective Series C-1 Conversion Price upon (i) the closing of a Qualified Public Offering, or (ii) the written consent of holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series C-1 Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis). In the event of the automatic conversion of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares upon a Qualified Public Offering as described above, the person(s) entitled to receive the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon such conversion of Series C-1 Preferred Shares shall not be deemed to have converted such Series C-1 Preferred Shares until immediately prior to the closing of the Qualified Public Offering. Each Series C-2 Preferred Share shall automatically be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares at the then effective Series C-2 Conversion Price upon (i) the closing of a Qualified Public Offering, or (ii) the written consent of holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series C-2 Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis). In the event of the automatic conversion of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares upon a Qualified Public Offering as described above, the person(s) entitled to receive the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon such conversion of Series C-2 Preferred Shares shall not be deemed to have converted such Series C-2 Preferred Shares until immediately prior to the closing of the Qualified Public Offering. Each Series C-3 Preferred Share shall automatically be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares at the then effective Series C-3 Conversion Price upon (i) the closing of a Qualified Public Offering, or (ii) the written consent of holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series C-3 Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as- converted basis). In the event of the automatic conversion of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares upon a Qualified Public Offering as described above, the person(s) entitled to receive the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon such conversion of Series C-3 Preferred Shares shall not be deemed to have converted such Series C-3 Preferred Shares until immediately prior to the closing of the Qualified Public Offering. Each Series D Preferred Share shall automatically be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares at the then effective Series D Conversion Price upon (i) the closing of a Qualified Public Offering, or (ii) the written consent of holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series D Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis). In the event of the automatic conversion of the Series D Preferred Shares upon a Qualified Public Offering as described above, the person(s) entitled to receive the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon such conversion of Series D Preferred Shares shall not be deemed to have converted such Series D Preferred Shares until immediately prior to the closing of the Qualified Public Offering. Each Series E Share shall automatically be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares at the then effective Series E Conversion Price, Series E-1 Conversion Price, or Series E-2 Conversion Price, as applicable, upon (i) the closing of a Qualified Public Offering, or (ii) the written consent of the Series E Majority. In the event of the automatic conversion of the Series E Shares upon a Qualified Public Offering as described above, the person(s) entitled to receive the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon such conversion of Series E Shares shall not be deemed to have converted such Series E Shares until immediately prior to the closing of the Qualified Public Offering. Each Series F Preferred Share shall automatically be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares at the then effective Series F Conversion Price upon (i) the closing of a Qualified Public Offering, or (ii) the written consent of holders of the Series F Majority. In the event of the automatic conversion of the Series F Preferred Shares upon a Qualified Public Offering as described above, the person(s) entitled to receive the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon such conversion of Series F Preferred Shares shall not be deemed to have converted such Series F Preferred Shares until immediately prior to the closing of the Qualified Public Offering. Each Series F+ Preferred Share shall automatically be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares at the then effective Series F+ Conversion Price upon (i) the closing of a Qualified Public Offering, or (ii) the written consent of holders of the Series F+ Majority. In the event of the automatic conversion of the Series F+ Preferred Shares upon a Qualified Public Offering as described above, the person(s) entitled to receive the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon such conversion of Series F+ Preferred Shares shall not be deemed to have converted such Series F+ Preferred Shares until immediately prior to the closing of the Qualified Public Offering. |
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(c) |
Mechanics of Conversion. No fractional Class A 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 applicable Conversion Price. |
(i) |
In the event of an optional conversion pursuant to Article 15(a), before any holder of Preferred Shares shall be entitled to convert the same into Class A Ordinary Shares and to receive certificates therefor, the holder shall surrender the certificate or certificates therefor, duly endorsed, at the 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 Preferred Shares a certificate or certificates for the number of Class A Ordinary Shares to which the holder shall be entitled as aforesaid and a check payable to the holder in the amount of any cash amounts payable (if any) as the result of a conversion into fractional Class A Ordinary Shares. 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 representing the Preferred Shares to be converted, and the person or persons entitled to receive the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such Class A Ordinary Shares on such date. |
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(ii) |
In the event of an automatic conversion pursuant to Article 15(b), all holders of the Preferred Shares will be given at least ten (10) days prior written notice of the date fixed (which date shall in the case of a Qualified Public Offering be the latest practicable date immediately prior to the closing of a Qualified Public Offering) and the place designated for automatic conversion of all such Preferred Shares pursuant to this Article 15. Such notice shall be sent by overnight courier, postage prepaid, to each record holder of the Preferred Shares at such holders address appearing on the Register of Members. On or before the date fixed for conversion, each holder of the Preferred Shares shall surrender his or its certificate or certificates for all such shares to the Company at the place designated in such notice, and shall promptly receive certificates for the number of Class A Ordinary Shares to which such holder is entitled pursuant to this Article 15 and a cheque denominated in U.S. dollars payable to the holder in the amount of any cash amounts payable as a result of a conversion into fractional Class A Ordinary Shares. On the date fixed for conversion, the Register of Members shall be updated to show that the converted Preferred Shares have been redeemed and all rights with respect to the Preferred Shares so converted will terminate, with the exception of the rights of the holders thereof, upon surrender of the certificate or certificates therefor, to receive Class A Ordinary Shares (which shall be recorded as issued to such holder in the Register of Members) and certificates for the number of Class A Ordinary Shares into which such Preferred Shares have been converted and payment of any accrued but unpaid dividends thereon. All certificates evidencing the Preferred Shares which are required to be surrendered for conversion in accordance with the provisions hereof shall, from and after the date such certificates are so required to be surrendered, be deemed to have been returned and cancelled and the Preferred Shares represented thereby converted into Class A Ordinary Shares for all purposes, notwithstanding the failure of the holder or holders thereof to surrender such certificates on or prior to such date. |
(iii) |
The Directors of the Company may effect such conversion in any manner available under applicable law, including redeeming or repurchasing the relevant Preferred Shares and applying the proceeds thereof towards payment for the new Class A Ordinary Shares. For purposes of the repurchase or redemption, the Directors may, subject to the Company being able to pay its debts in the ordinary course of business, make payments out of its capital. |
33
(d) |
Reservation of Shares Issuable Upon Conversion. The Company shall at all times keep available out of its authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Preferred Shares such number of its Class A 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 authorised but unissued Class A 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 and its Members will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes. |
ADJUSTMENTS TO CONVERSION PRICE
16. | (a) | Special Definitions. For purposes of this Article 16, 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 evidences of indebtedness, shares (other than the Preferred Shares) or other securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares. |
(iii) |
Additional Ordinary Shares (each an Additional Ordinary Share) shall mean all Ordinary Shares (including reissued shares) issued (or, pursuant to Article 16(c), deemed to be issued) by the Company after the Series F+ Original Issue Date other than: |
(A) |
Class A Ordinary Shares issued upon conversion of the Preferred Shares authorised herein; |
(B) |
up to 145,696,410 Class A Ordinary Shares (and/or options or warrants therefor) (as adjusted for share dividend, share split, combination of shares, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification or other similar event) issued to officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company pursuant to a share grant, option plans, purchase plans or other employee stock incentive programs or arrangement (the ESOP) approved by the Board (including the affirmative votes of the Founder Director and the Majority Investor Directors) and the Preferred Super-majority; |
(C) |
as a dividend or distribution on Preferred Shares or any event for which adjustment is made pursuant to Article 16(f) or 16(g) hereof; |
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(D) |
Class A Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to a Qualified Public Offering; and |
(E) |
any securities of the Company 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, all or substantially all assets of such other corporation or entity, or fifty percent (50%) or more of the equity ownership or voting power of such other corporation or entity, in any case, as duly approved by the Company in accordance with the Shareholders Agreement and these Articles. |
(b) |
No Adjustment of Conversion Price. No adjustment in the Conversion Price of any Preferred Shares shall be made in respect of the issuance of Additional Ordinary Shares unless the issue price per share for an Additional Ordinary Share issued or deemed to be issued by the Company is less than the applicable Conversion Price in effect on the date of and immediately prior to such issue. |
(c) |
Deemed Issue of Additional Ordinary Shares. In the event the Company at any time or from time to time after the Series F Original Issue Date shall issue any Options or Convertible Securities or shall fix a record date for the determination of holders of any class or series of shares entitled to receive any such Options or Convertible Securities, then the maximum number of Ordinary Shares (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 Clause (ii) of this Article 16(c) below) 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 issue price per share (determined pursuant to Article 16(e) hereof) of such Additional Ordinary Shares would be less than the Series A Conversion Price, the Series B Conversion Price, the Series C Conversion Price, the Series C-1 Conversion Price, the Series C-2 Conversion Price, the Series C-3 Conversion Price, the Series D Conversion Price, the Series E Conversion Price, the Series E-1 Conversion Price, the Series E-2 Conversion Price, the Series F Conversion Price or the Series F+ Conversion Price in effect on the date of and immediately prior to such issue, or such record date, as the case may be, and provided further that in any such case in which Additional Ordinary Shares are deemed to be issued: |
(i) |
no further adjustment in the 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; |
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(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 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; |
(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 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 readjustment pursuant to Clause (ii) or (iii) above shall have the effect of increasing the Conversion Price to an amount which exceeds the lower of (i) the Conversion Price on the applicable original adjustment date, or (ii) the Conversion Price that would have resulted from any issuance of Additional Ordinary Shares between the applicable original adjustment date and such readjustment date; and |
36
(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 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 Clause (iii) above. |
(d) |
Adjustment of the Conversion Price upon Issuance of Additional Ordinary Shares below Conversion Price. In the event that after the Series F+ Original Issue Date, the Company shall issue Additional Ordinary Shares without consideration or for a consideration per share less than the Series A Conversion Price, the Series B Conversion Price, the Series C Conversion Price, the Series C-1 Conversion Price, the Series C-2 Conversion Price, the Series C-3 Conversion Price, the Series D Conversion Price, the Series E Conversion Price, the Series E-1 Conversion Price, the Series E-2 Conversion Price, the Series F Conversion Price or the Series F+ Conversion Price in effect on the date of and immediately prior to such issue, then and in such event, the respective applicable Conversion Price shall (except as otherwise provided in this Article 16) be reduced, concurrently with such issue, to a price determined by multiplying the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such issue by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately prior to such issue, plus the number of Ordinary Shares which the aggregate consideration received by the Company for the total number of Additional Ordinary Shares so issued would purchase at the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such issue, and the denominator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately prior to such issue plus the number of Additional Ordinary Shares so issued. For the purposes of this Article 16(d), all Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of all outstanding Convertible Securities and the exercise and/or conversion of any other outstanding Options shall be deemed to be outstanding. |
(e) |
Determination of Consideration. For purposes of this Article 16, 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 Clause (ii) below, such consideration shall: |
(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 market value thereof at the time of such issue, as determined in good faith by the Preferred Super-majority; provided, however, that no value shall be attributed to any services performed by any employee, officer or director of the Company; and |
37
(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 such Additional Ordinary Shares and such other shares or securities or other assets, be the proportion of such consideration so received with respect to such Additional Ordinary Shares, computed as provided in Clauses (A) and (B) above, as determined in good faith by the Preferred Super-majority. |
(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 16(c), relating to Options and Convertible Securities, shall be determined by dividing: |
(x) |
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; and |
(y) |
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 Class A Ordinary Shares shall be subdivided (by share dividend, share split, or otherwise), into a greater number of Class A Ordinary Shares, the Conversion Price then in effect shall, concurrently with the effectiveness of such subdivision, be proportionately decreased. In the event the outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares shall be combined or consolidated, by reclassification or otherwise, into a lesser number of Ordinary Shares, the Conversion Price then in effect shall, concurrently with the effectiveness of such combination or consolidation, be proportionately increased. |
(g) |
Adjustments for Other Distributions. In the event the Company at any time or from time to time 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 the 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 Class A 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 16 with respect to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Shares. |
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(h) |
Adjustments for Reclassification, Exchange and Substitution. If the Class A 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 or series 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 Preferred Shares 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 Class A Ordinary Shares that would have been subject to receipt by the holders upon conversion of the Preferred Shares immediately before that change, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein. |
(i) |
No Impairment. The Company will not, by amendment of these Articles 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 will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of Article 16 and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the conversion rights of the Preferred Shares against impairment. |
(j) |
Certificate as to Adjustments. Upon the occurrence of each adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion Price pursuant to this Article 16, the Company at its expense shall promptly compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and furnish to each holder of the applicable Preferred Shares a certificate setting forth such adjustment or readjustment and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment 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 readjustments, (ii) the Conversion Price at the time in effect, and (iii) the number of Class A Ordinary Shares and the amount, if any, of other property which at the time would be received upon the conversion of the Preferred Shares. |
(k) |
Miscellaneous. |
(i) |
All calculations under this Article 16 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one hundredth (1/100) of a share, as the case may be. |
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(ii) |
The holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis) shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Preferred Super-majority of fair value pursuant to this Article 16 if such determination is with respect to a Series A Conversion Price adjustment, the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series B Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis) shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Preferred Super-majority of fair value pursuant to this Article 16 if such determination is with respect to a Series B Conversion Price adjustment, the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series C Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis) shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Preferred Super-majority of fair value pursuant to this Article 16 if such determination is with respect to a Series C Conversion Price adjustment, the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series C-1 Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis) shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Preferred Super-majority of fair value pursuant to this Article 16 if such determination is with respect to a Series C-1 Conversion Price adjustment, the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series C-2 Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis) shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Preferred Super-majority of fair value pursuant to this Article 16 if such determination is with respect to a Series C-2 Conversion Price adjustment, the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series C-3 Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis) shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Preferred Super-majority of fair value pursuant to this Article 16 if such determination is with respect to a Series C-3 Conversion Price adjustment, the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series D Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis) shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Preferred Super-majority of fair value pursuant to this Article 16 if such determination is with respect to a Series D Conversion Price adjustment, the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series E Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis) shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Preferred Super-majority of fair value pursuant to this Article 16 if such determination is with respect to a Series E Conversion Price adjustment, the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding SeriesE-1 Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis) shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Preferred Super-majority of fair value pursuant to this Article 16 if such determination is with respect to a Series E-1 Conversion Price adjustment, the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series E-2 Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis) shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Preferred Super-majority of fair value pursuant to this Article 16 if such determination is with respect to a Series E-2 Conversion Price adjustment, the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series F Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis) shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Preferred Super-majority of fair value pursuant to this Article 16 if such determination is with respect to a Series F Conversion Price adjustment, and the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series F+ Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis) shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Preferred Super-majority of fair value pursuant to this Article 16 if such determination is with respect to a Series F+ Conversion Price adjustment, in each of which case such determination of fair market value shall be made by an independent appraiser selected jointly by the Preferred Super-majority and the challenging parties, the cost of such appraisal to be borne equally by the Company and the challenging parties. |
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(iii) |
No adjustment in the Conversion Price need to be made if such adjustment would result in a change in such Conversion Price of less than US$0.01 (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events). Any adjustment of less than US$0.01 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$0.01 or more in the Conversion Price. |
NOTICES OF RECORD DATE
17. |
Subject to and without prejudice to Article 19, 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 pro rata to the holders of any class or series of its shares any additional shares of any class or series or other rights; |
(c) |
to effect any reclassification or recapitalisation 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, |
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then, in connection with each such event, the Company shall send to the holders of the Preferred Shares:
(i) |
at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of 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 |
(ii) |
in the case of the matters referred to in (c) and (d) above, at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of 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
18. (a) |
To the extent permitted by applicable laws, the Company shall: |
(i) |
at any time and from time to time on or after the date of the earliest to occur of the following (i) following the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date if a Qualified Public Offering has not occurred prior to that date, (ii) the material breach of the Series A Transaction Documents by any Founder Party or any Group Company (and in case such breach is capable of remedy, the Founder Parties and Group Companies have failed to remedy such breach within fourteen (14) days after written notice is given by any holder of the Series A Preferred Shares to the Company), (iii) the expiration date of one (1) month commencing from the delivery of notice of the occurrence of any PRC Regulatory Development from the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) to the Company, if, during such one (1) month period, the Ordinary Shareholders have failed to devise a feasible alternative legal structure satisfactory to the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) that will give effect to the rights and preferences of holders of the Series A Preferred Shares under the Series A Transaction Documents as closely as possible, (iv) any holder of the Series B Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(ii) below, (v) any holder of the Series C Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(iii) below, (vi) any holder of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(iv) below, (vii) any holder of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(v) below, and (viii) any holder of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(vi) below, (ix) any holder of the Series D Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(vii) below, (x) any holder of the Series E Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(viii) below, (xi) any holder of the Series E-1 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(ix) below, (xii) any holder of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(x) below, (xiii) any holder of the Series F Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(xi) below and (ix) any holder of the Series F+ Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(xii) below (the Series A Redemption Start Date), at the option of each holder of the Series A Preferred Shares, redeem all or part of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares held by such holder out of funds legally available therefor including capital, at a redemption price per Series A Preferred Share (the Series A Redemption Price) equal to an amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series A Issue Price, plus (ii) an amount that would accrue on the Series A Issue Price at a simple interest rate of eight percent (8%) per annum, during the period commencing from the Series A Original Issue Date and ending on the date of the Redemption Notice, plus (iii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends thereon up to the date of redemption, proportionally adjusted for share subdivisions, share dividends, reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, or mergers; |
42
(ii) |
at any time and from time to time on or after the date of the earliest to occur of the following (i) following the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date if a Qualified Public Offering has not occurred prior to that date, (ii) the material breach of the Series B Transaction Documents by any Founder Party or any Group Company (and in case such breach is capable of remedy, the Founder Parties and Group Companies have failed to remedy such breach within fourteen (14) days after written notice is given by any holder of the Series B Preferred Shares to the Company), (iii) the expiration date of one (1) month commencing from the delivery of notice of the occurrence of any PRC Regulatory Development from the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series B Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) to the Company, if, during such one (1) month period, the Ordinary Shareholders have failed to devise a feasible alternative legal structure satisfactory to the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series B Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) that will give effect to the rights and preferences of holders of the Series B Preferred Shares under the Series B Transaction Documents as closely as possible, and (iv) any holder of the Series A Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(i) above, (v) any holder of the Series C Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(iii) below, (vi) any holder of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(iv) below, (vii) any holder of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(v) below, and (viii) any holder of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(vi) below, and (ix) any holder of the Series D Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(vii) below, (x) any holder of the Series E Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(viii) below, (xi) any holder of the Series E-1 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(ix) below, (xii) any holder of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(x) below, (xiii) any holder of the Series F Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(xi) below and (ix) any holder of the Series F+ Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(xii) below (the Series B Redemption Start Date), at the option of each holder of the Series B Preferred Shares, redeem all or part of the outstanding Series B Preferred Shares held by such holder out of funds legally available therefor including capital, at a redemption price per Series B Preferred Share (the Series B Redemption Price) equal to an amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series B Issue Price, plus (ii) an amount that would accrue on the Series B Issue Price at a simple interest rate of eight percent (8%) per annum, during the period commencing from the Series B Original Issue Date and ending on the date of the Redemption Notice, plus (iii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends thereon up to the date of redemption, proportionally adjusted for share subdivisions, share dividends, reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, or mergers; |
43
(iii) |
at any time and from time to time on or after the date of the earliest to occur of the following (i) following the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date if a Qualified Public Offering has not occurred prior to that date, (ii) the material breach of the Series C Transaction Documents by any Founder Party or any Group Company (and in case such breach is capable of remedy, the Founder Parties and Group Companies have failed to remedy such breach within fourteen (14) days after written notice is given by any holder of the Series C Preferred Shares to the Company), (iii) the expiration date of one (1) month commencing from the delivery of notice of the occurrence of any PRC Regulatory Development from the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series C Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) to the Company, if, during such one (1) month period, the Ordinary Shareholders have failed to devise a feasible alternative legal structure satisfactory to the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series C Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) that will give effect to the rights and preferences of holders of the Series C Preferred Shares under the Series C Transaction Documents as closely as possible, (iv) any holder of the Series A Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(i) above, (v) any holder of the Series B Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(ii) above, (vi) any holder of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(iv) below, (vii) any holder of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(v) below, and (viii) any holder of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(vi) below, (ix) any holder of the Series D Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(vii) below, (x) any holder of the Series E Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(viii) below, (xi) any holder of the Series E-1 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(ix) below, (xii) any holder of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(x) below, (xiii) any holder of the Series F Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(xi) below and (ix) any holder of the Series F+ Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(xii) below (the Series C Redemption Start Date), at the option of each holder of the Series C Preferred Shares, redeem all or part of the outstanding Series C Preferred Shares held by such holder out of funds legally available therefor including capital, at a redemption price per Series C Preferred Share (the Series C Redemption Price) equal to an amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series C Issue Price, plus (ii) an amount that would accrue on the Series C Issue Price at a simple interest rate of eight percent (8%) per annum, during the period commencing from the Series C Original Issue Date and ending on the date of the Redemption Notice, plus (iii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends thereon up to the date of redemption, proportionally adjusted for share subdivisions, share dividends, reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, or mergers; |
44
(iv) |
at any time and from time to time on or after the date of the earliest to occur of the following (i) following the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date if a Qualified Public Offering has not occurred prior to that date, (ii) the material breach of the Series C-1 Transaction Documents by any Founder Party or any Group Company (and in case such breach is capable of remedy, the Founder Parties and Group Companies have failed to remedy such breach within fourteen (14) days after written notice is given by any holder of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares to the Company), (iii) the expiration date of one (1) month commencing from the delivery of notice of the occurrence of any PRC Regulatory Development from the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series C-1 Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) to the Company, if, during such one (1) month period, the Ordinary Shareholders have failed to devise a feasible alternative legal structure satisfactory to the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series C-1 Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) that will give effect to the rights and preferences of holders of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares under the Series C-1 Transaction Documents as closely as possible, (iv) any holder of the Series A Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(i) above, (v) any holder of the Series B Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(ii) above, (vi) any holder of the Series C Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(iii) above, (vii) any holder of the Series C2 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(v) below, and (viii) any holder of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(vi) below, (ix) any holder of the Series D Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(vii) below, (x) any holder of the Series E Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(viii) below, (xi) any holder of the Series E-1 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(ix) below, (xii) any holder of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(x) below, (xiii) any holder of the Series F Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(xi) below and (ix) any holder of the Series F+ Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(xii) below (the Series C-1 Redemption Start Date), at the option of each holder of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, redeem all or part of the outstanding Series C1 Preferred Shares held by such holder out of funds legally available therefor including capital, at a redemption price per Series C-1 Preferred Share (the Series C-1 Redemption Price) equal to an amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series C-1 Issue Price, plus (ii) an amount that would accrue on the Series C-1 Issue Price at a simple interest rate of eight percent (8%) per annum, during the period commencing from the Series C-1 Original Issue Date and ending on the date of the Redemption Notice, plus (iii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends thereon up to the date of redemption, proportionally adjusted for share subdivisions, share dividends, reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, or mergers. |
45
(v) |
at any time and from time to time on or after the date of the earliest to occur of the following (i) following the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date if a Qualified Public Offering has not occurred prior to that date, (ii) the material breach of the Series C-2 Transaction Documents by any Founder Party or any Group Company (and in case such breach is capable of remedy, the Founder Parties and Group Companies have failed to remedy such breach within fourteen (14) days after written notice is given by any holder of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares to the Company), (iii) the expiration date of one (1) month commencing from the delivery of notice of the occurrence of any PRC Regulatory Development from the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series C-2 Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) to the Company, if, during such one (1) month period, the Ordinary Shareholders have failed to devise a feasible alternative legal structure satisfactory to the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series C-2 Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) that will give effect to the rights and preferences of holders of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares under the Series C-2 Transaction Documents as closely as possible, (iv) any holder of the Series A Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(i) above, (v) any holder of the Series B Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(ii) above, (vi) any holder of the Series C Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(iii) above, and (vii) any holder of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(iv) above, (viii) any holder of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(vi) below, (ix) any holder of the Series D Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(vii) below, (x) any holder of the Series E Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(viii) below, (xi) any holder of the Series E-1 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(ix) below, (xii) any holder of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(x) below, (xiii) any holder of the Series F Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(xi) below and (ix) any holder of the Series F+ Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(xii) below (the Series C-2 Redemption Start Date), at the request of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the issued and outstanding Series C-2 Preferred Shares, redeem all or part of the outstanding Series C-2 Preferred Shares held by such holder and other holder(s) of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares elected to participate in such redemption after receipt of the notice from the Company delivered pursuant to Article 18(b) below out of funds legally available therefor including capital, at a redemption price per Series C-2 Preferred Share (the Series C2 Redemption Price) equal to an amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series C-2 Issue Price, plus (ii) an amount that would accrue on the Series C-2 Issue Price at a simple interest rate of eight percent (8%) per annum, during the period commencing from the Series C-2 Original Issue Date and ending on the date of the Redemption Notice, plus (iii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends thereon up to the date of redemption, proportionally adjusted for share subdivisions, share dividends, reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, or mergers. |
46
(vi) |
at any time and from time to time on or after the date of the earliest to occur of the following (i) following the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date if a Qualified Public Offering has not occurred prior to that date, (ii) the material breach of the Series C-3 Transaction Documents by any Founder Party or any Group Company (and in case such breach is capable of remedy, the Founder Parties and Group Companies have failed to remedy such breach within fourteen (14) days after written notice is given by any holder of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares to the Company), (iii) the expiration date of one (1) month commencing from the delivery of notice of the occurrence of any PRC Regulatory Development from the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series C-3 Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) to the Company, if, during such one (1) month period, the Ordinary Shareholders have failed to devise a feasible alternative legal structure satisfactory to the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series C-3 Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) that will give effect to the rights and preferences of holders of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares under the Series C-3 Transaction Documents as closely as possible, (iv) any holder of the Series A Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(i) above, (v) any holder of the Series B Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(ii) above, (vi) any holder of the Series C Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(iii) above, (vii) any holder of the Series C1 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(iv) above, (viii) any holder of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(v) above, (ix) any holder of the Series D Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(vii) below, (x) any holder of the Series E Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(viii) below, (xi) any holder of the Series E-1 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(ix) below, (xii) any holder of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(x) below, (xiii) any holder of the Series F Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(xi) below and (ix) any holder of the Series F+ Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(xii) below (the Series C-3 Redemption Start Date), at the option of each holder of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares, redeem all or part of the outstanding Series C3 Preferred Shares held by such holder out of funds legally available therefor including capital, at a redemption price per Series C-3 Preferred Share (the Series C-3 Redemption Price) equal to an amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series C-3 Issue Price, plus (ii) an amount that would accrue on the Series C-3 Issue Price at a simple interest rate of eight percent (8%) per annum, during the period commencing from the Series C-3 Original Issue Date and ending on the date of the Redemption Notice, plus (iii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends thereon up to the date of redemption, proportionally adjusted for share subdivisions, share dividends, reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, or mergers. |
47
(vii) |
at any time and from time to time on or after the date of the earliest to occur of the following (i) following the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date if a Qualified Public Offering has not occurred prior to that date, (ii) the material breach of the Series D Transaction Documents by any Founder Party or any Group Company (and in case such breach is capable of remedy, the Founder Parties and Group Companies have failed to remedy such breach within fourteen (14) days after written notice is given by any holder of the Series D Preferred Shares to the Company), (iii) the expiration date of one (1) month commencing from the delivery of notice of the occurrence of any PRC Regulatory Development from the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series D Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) to the Company, if, during such one (1) month period, the Ordinary Shareholders have failed to devise a feasible alternative legal structure satisfactory to the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series D Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) that will give effect to the rights and preferences of holders of the Series D Preferred Shares under the Series D Transaction Documents as closely as possible, (iv) any holder of the Series A Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(i) above, (v) any holder of the Series B Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(ii) above, (vi) any holder of the Series C Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(iii) above, (vii) any holder of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(iv) above, (viii) any holder of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(v) above, (ix) any holder of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(vi) above, (x) any holder of the Series E Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(viii) below, (xi) any holder of the Series E-1 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(ix) below, (xii) any holder of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(x) below, (xiii) any holder of the Series F Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(xi) below and (ix) any holder of the Series F+ Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to Article 18(a)(xii) below (the Series D Redemption Start Date), at the option of each holder of the Series D Preferred Shares, such holder may, require the Company to redeem all or part of the outstanding Series D Preferred Shares held by GS or such holder (as the case may be) out of funds legally available therefor including capital, at a redemption price per Series D Preferred Share (the Series D Redemption Price) equal to an amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series D Issue Price, plus (ii) an amount that would accrue on the Series D Issue Price at a simple interest rate of eight percent (8%) per annum, during the period commencing from the Series D Original Issue Date and ending on the date of the Redemption Notice, plus (iii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends thereon up to the date of redemption, proportionally adjusted for share subdivisions, share dividends, reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, or mergers. |
48
(viii) |
at any time and from time to time on or after the date of the earliest to occur of the following (i) following the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date if a Qualified Public Offering has not occurred prior to that date, (ii) the material breach of the Series E Transaction Documents by any Founder Party or any Group Company (and in case such breach is capable of remedy, the Founder Parties and Group Companies have failed to remedy such breach within fourteen (14) days after written notice is given by any holder of the Series E Preferred Shares to the Company), (iii) the expiration date of one (1) month commencing from the delivery of notice of the occurrence of any PRC Regulatory Development from the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series E Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) to the Company, if, during such one (1) month period, the Ordinary Shareholders have failed to devise a feasible alternative legal structure satisfactory to the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series E Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) that will give effect to the rights and preferences of holders of the Series E Preferred Shares under the Series E Transaction Documents as closely as possible, and (iv) any holder of the Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to this Article 18(a) (the Series E Redemption Start Date), at the option of each holder of the Series E Preferred Shares, redeem all or part of the outstanding Series E Preferred Shares held by such holder out of funds legally available therefor including capital, at a redemption price per Series E Preferred Share (the Series E Redemption Price) equal to an amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series E Issue Price, plus (ii) an amount that would accrue on the Series E Issue Price at a simple interest rate of eight percent (8%), during the period commencing from the Series E Original Issue Date and ending on the date of the redemption, plus (iii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends thereon up to the date of redemption, proportionally adjusted for share subdivisions, share dividends, reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, or mergers. If the Company does not have sufficient cash or funds legally available to redeem all of the Series E Preferred Shares required to be redeemed, those assets or funds of the Company that are legally available shall nonetheless be paid and applied on the Redemption Date, to redeem the Series E Preferred Shares from each holder thereof requesting for redemption in proportion to the full amounts of the Series E Redemption Price to which such requesting holder would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon. |
49
(ix) |
at any time and from time to time on or after the date of the earliest to occur of the following (i) following the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date if a Qualified Public Offering has not occurred prior to that date, (ii) the material breach of the Series E-1 Transaction Documents by any Founder Party or any Group Company (and in case such breach is capable of remedy, the Founder Parties and Group Companies have failed to remedy such breach within fourteen (14) days after written notice is given by any holder of the Series E-1 Preferred Shares to the Company), (iii) the expiration date of one (1) month commencing from the delivery of notice of the occurrence of any PRC Regulatory Development from the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series E-1 Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) to the Company, if, during such one (1) month period, the Ordinary Shareholders have failed to devise a feasible alternative legal structure satisfactory to the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series E-1 Preferred Shares (calculated on as-converted basis) that will give effect to the rights and preferences of holders of the Series E-1 Preferred Shares under the Series E-1 Transaction Documents as closely as possible, (iv) any holder of the Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to this Article 18(a) (the Series E-1 Redemption Start Date), at the option of each holder of the Series E-1 Preferred Shares, redeem all or part of the outstanding Series E-1 Preferred Shares held by such holder out of funds legally available therefor including capital, at a redemption price per Series E-1 Preferred Share (the Series E-1 Redemption Price) equal to an amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series E-1 Issue Price, plus (ii) an amount that would accrue on the Series E-1 Issue Price at a simple interest rate of eight percent (8%), compounded annually, during the period commencing from the Series E-1 Original Issue Date and ending on the date of the redemption, plus (iii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends thereon up to the date of redemption, proportionally adjusted for share subdivisions, share dividends, reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, or mergers. If the Company does not have sufficient cash or funds legally available to redeem all of the Series E-1 Preferred Shares required to be redeemed, those assets or funds of the Company that are legally available shall nonetheless be paid and applied on the Redemption Date, to redeem the Series E-1 Preferred Shares from each holder thereof requesting for redemption in proportion to the full amounts of the Series E-1 Redemption Price to which such requesting holder would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon. |
50
(x) |
at any time and from time to time on or after the date of the earliest to occur of the following (i) following the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date if a Qualified Public Offering has not occurred prior to that date, (ii) the material breach of the Series E-2 Transaction Documents by any Founder Party or any Group Company (and in case such breach is capable of remedy, the Founder Parties and Group Companies have failed to remedy such breach within fourteen (14) days after written notice is given by any holder of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares to the Company), (iii) the expiration date of one (1) month commencing from the delivery of notice of the occurrence of any PRC Regulatory Development from the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series E-2 Preferred Shares to the Company, if, during such one (1) month period, the Ordinary Shareholders have failed to devise a feasible alternative legal structure satisfactory to the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series E-2 Preferred Shares that will give effect to the rights and preferences of holders of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares under the Series E-2 Transaction Documents as closely as possible, (iv) any holder of Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to this Article 18(a) (the Series E-2 Redemption Start Date), at the option of each holder of Series E2 Preferred Shares, redeem all or part of the outstanding Series E-2 Preferred Shares held by such holder out of funds legally available therefor including capital, at a redemption price per Series E-2 Preferred Share (the Series E-2 Redemption Price) equal to an amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series E-2 Issue Price, plus (ii) an amount that would accrue on the Series E-2 Issue Price at a simple interest rate of eight percent (8%), during the period commencing from the Series E-2 Original Issue Date and ending on the date of the redemption, plus (iii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends thereon up to the date of redemption, proportionally adjusted for share subdivisions, share dividends, reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, or mergers. If the Company does not have sufficient cash or funds legally available to redeem all of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares required to be redeemed, those assets or funds of the Company that are legally available shall nonetheless be paid and applied on the Redemption Date, to redeem the Series E-2 Preferred Shares from each holder thereof requesting for redemption in proportion to the full amounts of the Series E-2 Redemption Price to which such requesting holder would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon. |
51
(xi) |
at any time and from time to time on or after the date of the earliest to occur of the following (i) following the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date if a Qualified Public Offering has not occurred prior to that date, (ii) the material breach of the Series F Transaction Documents by any Founder Party or any Group Company (and in case such breach is capable of remedy, the Founder Parties and Group Companies have failed to remedy such breach within fourteen (14) days after written notice is given by any holder of the Series F Preferred Shares to the Company), (iii) the expiration date of one (1) month commencing from the delivery of notice of the occurrence of any PRC Regulatory Development from the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series F Preferred Shares to the Company, if, during such one (1) month period, the Ordinary Shareholders have failed to devise a feasible alternative legal structure satisfactory to the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series F Preferred Shares that will give effect to the rights and preferences of holders of the Series F Preferred Shares under the Series F Transaction Documents as closely as possible, (iv) any holder of Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to this Article 18(a) (the Series F Redemption Start Date), at the option of each holder of Series F Preferred Shares, redeem all or part of the outstanding Series F Preferred Shares held by such holder out of funds legally available therefor including capital, at a redemption price per Series F Preferred Share (the Series F Redemption Price) equal to an amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series F Issue Price, plus (ii) an amount that would accrue on the Series F Issue Price at a simple interest rate of eight percent (8%), during the period commencing from the Series F Original Issue Date and ending on the date of the redemption, plus (iii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends thereon up to the date of redemption, proportionally adjusted for share subdivisions, share dividends, reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, or mergers. If the Company does not have sufficient cash or funds legally available to redeem all of the Series F Preferred Shares required to be redeemed, those assets or funds of the Company that are legally available shall nonetheless be paid and applied on the Redemption Date, to redeem the Series F Preferred Shares from each holder thereof requesting for redemption in proportion to the full amounts of the Series F Redemption Price to which such requesting holder would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon. |
52
(xii) |
at any time and from time to time on or after the date of the earliest to occur of the following (i) following the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date if a Qualified Public Offering has not occurred prior to that date, (ii) the material breach of the Series F+ Transaction Documents by any Founder Party or any Group Company (and in case such breach is capable of remedy, the Founder Parties and Group Companies have failed to remedy such breach within fourteen (14) days after written notice is given by any holder of the Series F+ Preferred Shares to the Company), (iii) the expiration date of one (1) month commencing from the delivery of notice of the occurrence of any PRC Regulatory Development from the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series F+ Preferred Shares to the Company, if, during such one (1) month period, the Ordinary Shareholders have failed to devise a feasible alternative legal structure satisfactory to the holders of a Majority of the outstanding Series F+ Preferred Shares that will give effect to the rights and preferences of holders of the Series F+ Preferred Shares under the Series F+ Transaction Documents as closely as possible, (iv) any holder of Preferred Shares requests for redemption pursuant to this Article 18(a) (the Series F+ Redemption Start Date), at the option of each holder of Series F+ Preferred Shares, redeem all or part of the outstanding Series F+ Preferred Shares held by such holder out of funds legally available therefor including capital, at a redemption price per Series F+ Preferred Share (the Series F+ Redemption Price) equal to an amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series F+ Issue Price, plus (ii) an amount that would accrue on the Series F+ Issue Price at a simple interest rate of eight percent (8%), during the period commencing from the Series F+ Original Issue Date and ending on the date of the redemption, plus (iii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends thereon up to the date of redemption, proportionally adjusted for share subdivisions, share dividends, reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, or mergers. If the Company does not have sufficient cash or funds legally available to redeem all of the Series F+ Preferred Shares required to be redeemed, those assets or funds of the Company that are legally available shall nonetheless be paid and applied on the Redemption Date, to redeem the Series F+ Preferred Shares from each holder thereof requesting for redemption in proportion to the full amounts of the Series F+ Redemption Price to which such requesting holder would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon. |
53
(b) |
A notice of redemption (a Redemption Notice) by such holder of Preferred Shares (the Redeeming Investor) to be redeemed shall be given by hand or by mail to the Registered Office of the Company or any other address designated by the Company at any time on or after the date falling thirty (30) days before the applicable Redemption Start Date stating the date on or after the applicable Redemption Start Date on which the Preferred Shares are to be redeemed (the Redemption Date); provided, however, that the Redemption Date shall be no earlier than the applicable Redemption Start Date or the date thirty (30) days after such notice of redemption is given, whichever is later. Upon receipt of any such request, the Company shall promptly give written notice of the redemption request to each non-requesting holder of record of Preferred Shares stating the existence of such request, the Redemption Price, the Redemption Date and the mechanics of redemption. If the Companys assets and funds which are legally available on the Redemption Date are insufficient to pay in full such amount of aggregate Redemption Price to be paid on such date, (i) the holders of the Series F+ Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or surplus funds of the Company to the holders of the Series F Preferred Shares, the Series E-2 Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares, Series E Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares and Series A Preferred Shares, the Ordinary Shares (other than Class A Ordinary Shares converted from Preferred Shares) or any other class or series of shares issued by the Company, Series F+ Redemption Price in proportion to the full amounts of Series F+ Redemption Price to which each such holder would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon, (ii) following the payment in full of the Series F+ Redemption Price, the holders of the Series F Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or surplus funds of the Company to the holders of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares, Series E Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares and Series A Preferred Shares, the Ordinary Shares (other than Class A Ordinary Shares converted from Preferred Shares) or any other class or series of shares issued by the Company, Series F Redemption Price in proportion to the full amounts of Series F Redemption Price to which each such holder would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon, (iii) following the payment in full of the Series F+ Redemption Price and the Series F Redemption Price, the holders of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares and Series E Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or surplus funds of the Company to the holders of the Series D Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares, Series A Preferred Shares, the Ordinary Shares (other than Class A Ordinary Shares converted from Preferred Shares) or any other class or series of shares issued by the Company, the Series E-2 Redemption Price, Series E-1 Redemption Price and the Series E Redemption Price in proportion to the full amounts of the Series E-2 Redemption Price, Series E-1 Redemption Price and Series E Redemption Price to which each such holder would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon, (iv) following the payment in full of the Series F+ Redemption Price, the Series F Redemption Price, the Series E-2 Redemption Price, Series E-1 Redemption Price and Series E Redemption Price, the holders of the Series D Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or surplus funds of the Company to the holders of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares and Series A Preferred Shares, the Ordinary Shares (other than Class A Ordinary Shares converted from Preferred Shares) or any other class or series of shares issued by the Company, Series D Redemption Price in proportion to the full amounts of Series D Redemption Price to which each such holder would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon, (v) following the payment in full of the Series F+ Redemption Price, the Series F Redemption Price, the Series E-2 Redemption Price, Series E-1 Redemption Price, Series E Redemption Price and Series D Redemption Price, the remaining assets and funds which are legally available shall be used to the extent permitted by applicable Law to pay all amount of aggregate Redemption Price due on such date ratably in proportion to the full amounts to which such other holders of the Preferred Shares to which such aggregate Redemption Price are due would otherwise be respectively entitled thereon, and (vi) the remaining Preferred Shares to be redeemed but with respect to which the Redemption Price due and payable has not been paid in full shall be carried forward and redeemed as soon as the Company has legally available funds or assets to redeem the remaining Preferred Shares. |
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(c) |
Before any holder of the Preferred Shares shall be entitled for redemption under the provisions of this Article 18, such holder shall surrender his or her certificate or certificates representing such Preferred Shares to be redeemed to the Company in the manner and at the place designated by the Company for that purpose, and thereupon the Redemption Price shall be payable to the order of the person whose name appears on such certificate or certificates as the owner of such shares and each such certificate shall be cancelled. In the event less than all the shares represented by any such certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be promptly issued representing the unredeemed shares. Unless there has been a default in payment of the applicable Redemption Price, upon cancellation of the certificate representing such Preferred Shares to be redeemed, all dividends on such Preferred Shares designated for redemption on the Redemption Date shall cease to accrue and all rights of the holders thereof, except the right to receive the Redemption Price thereof (including all accrued and unpaid dividend up to the Redemption Date), without interest, shall cease and terminate and such Preferred Shares shall cease to be issued shares of the Company. |
(d) |
If the Company fails (for whatever reason) to redeem any Preferred Shares on its due date for redemption then: |
(i) |
as from such date until the date on which the same are redeemed the Company shall not declare or pay any dividend nor otherwise make any distribution of or otherwise decrease its profits available for distribution. |
(ii) |
the holder of such Preferred Shares shall be entitled to request the Company to pay the unpaid portion of the Redemption Price (A) by a two-year note, bearing an interest of ten percent (10%) per annum and with repayment of the principal and interest to be made on a monthly basis over a period of twenty-four (24) Months (or the interest rate and repayment schedule as otherwise agreed by the Company and such holder of the Preferred Shares) or (B) by the other terms and mechanisms agreed by the Company and such holder of the Preferred Shares. Without limiting any rights of the holders of the Preferred Shares that are set forth in these Articles, or are otherwise available under laws, any Preferred Shares subject to redemption hereunder with respect to which the Company has become obligated to pay the Redemption Price 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 Preferred Shares had prior to such date, until the Redemption Price has been paid in full with respect to such Preferred Shares. No Preferred Share acquired by the Company by reason of redemption, purchase conversion or otherwise shall be reissued. For the avoidance of doubt, the issuance of a note should not be deemed to be the payment of the Redemption Price in full. |
(e) |
To the extent permitted by laws, the Company shall procure that the profits of each subsidiary (each controlled contractually or through equity ownership) of the Company for the time being available for distribution shall be paid to it by way of dividend if and to the extent that, but for such payment, the Company would not itself otherwise have sufficient profits available for distribution to make any redemption of the Preferred Shares required to be made pursuant to this Article. |
55
PROTECTIVE PROVISIONS
19. (a) Acts of the Group Companies Requiring Approval of the Preferred Super-majority.
In addition to such other limitations as may be provided in these Articles and the Transaction Documents, the following acts of any Group Company (as applicable, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, and whether directly or indirectly, or by amendment, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise), shall require the prior written approval of the Preferred Super-majority; provided that items (i) and (ix) shall require the prior written approval of (i) the holders holding a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Shares (the Series A Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series A Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series A Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series A Preferred Shares under the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of May 20, 2014, and which will not affect any holder of Series A Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (ii) the holders holding a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series B Preferred Shares (the Series B Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series B Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series B Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series B Preferred Shares under the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of December 11, 2014, and which will not affect any holder of Series B Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (iii) the holders holding a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series C Preferred Shares (the Series C Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series C Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series C Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series C Preferred Shares under the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of April 3, 2015, and which will not affect any holder of Series C Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (iv) the holders holding a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series C-1 Preferred Shares (the Series C-1 Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series C-1 Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series C-1 Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares under the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of July 7, 2016, and which will not affect any holder of Series C-1 Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (v) the holders holding a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series C-2 Preferred Shares (the Series C-2 Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series C-2 Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series C-2 Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares under the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of August 15, 2016, and which will not affect any holder of Series C-2 Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (vi) the holders holding a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series C-3 Preferred Shares (the Series C-3 Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series C-3 Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series C-3 Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fullydiluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares under the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of February 10, 2017, and which will not affect any holder of Series C-3 Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (vii) the holders holding a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series D Preferred Shares (the Series D Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series D Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series D Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series D Preferred Shares under the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of October 31, 2017, and which will not affect any holder of Series D Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (viii) the holders holding more than eighty-five percent (85%) of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series E Shares (the Series E Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series E Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series E Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares under the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of July 4, 2019, and which will not affect any holder of Series E Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (ix) the holders holding more than two thirds (2/3) of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series F Preferred Shares (the Series F Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series F Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series F Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series F Preferred Shares under the Series F Purchase Agreement and which will not affect any holder of Series F Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); and (x) the holders holding more than two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series F+ Preferred Shares (the Series F+ Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series F+ Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series F+ Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the Closing and which will not affect any holder of Series F+ Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares):
56
(i) |
any amendment or change of the rights, preferences, privileges or powers of, or the restrictions provided for the benefit of, the Preferred Shares; |
(ii) |
any action that authorizes, creates or issues any class of securities of any Group Company; |
(iii) |
any action that reclassifies any outstanding shares into shares having preferences or priority senior to or on a parity with the preference of the Preferred Shares, whether as to liquidation, conversion, dividend, voting, redemption or otherwise; |
(iv) |
any action that increases, decreases, repurchases, issues, redeems or retires any Group Companys shares, notes or registered capital, or grants any option rights, warrants or other convertible securities which has the effect of direct or indirect diluting or reducing the effective shareholding of any Investor in the Company; |
(v) |
any action that repurchases, redeems or retires any Group Companys voting securities other than (i) pursuant to contractual rights to repurchase Ordinary Shares or preferred shares from employees, directors or consultants of such Group Company or its Subsidiaries upon termination of their employment or services or pursuant to the exercise of a contractual right of first refusal held by such Group Company, and (ii) the redemption of any Preferred Shares pursuant to these Articles; |
57
(vi) |
any increase or decrease in the number of authorized Ordinary Shares or Preferred Shares of any Group Company; |
(vii) |
any bond or note financing, or any action that authorizes, creates, issues, repurchases, redeems or retires any bond, note or other convertible securities of any Group Company; |
(viii) |
any increase or decrease of the registered capital of, and any issuance of any Equity Securities by, any Group Company that is incorporated under the laws of the PRC; |
(ix) |
any amendment or modification to, or waiver under, the Memorandum and these Articles or any other constitutional documents of any Group Company in a manner adverse to any series of Preferred Shares; |
(x) |
any termination, modification or waiver of, or any amendment to the Control Documents (as defined in the Series E-1 Purchase Agreements); |
(xi) |
the consolidation or merger of any Group Company with any entity or the consummation of any Trade Sale Event; |
(xii) |
any sale, Transfer, or disposal of all or substantially all assets or business of the Group Companies; |
(xiii) |
any sale, Transfer, creating pledge, encumbrance over or exclusive license of all or substantially all intellectual property owned by the Group Companies, other than licenses granted contemplated under the Control Documents; |
(xiv) |
the commencement of or consent to any proceeding seeking any winding up, scheme of arrangement, reorganization, reconstruction, dissolution, or liquidation in respect of any Group Company, or to appoint a liquidator or administrator to any Group Company, or to take advantage of any law providing for the relief of debtors in adverse financial circumstances in relation to any Group Company; |
(xv) |
the initial public offering of the securities of any Group Company (including the selection of any listing exchange), other than a Qualified Public Offering; |
(xvi) |
any authorization to set aside, the payment of, or pays, any distribution by way of dividend, capitalization of reserves or otherwise, to any holders of any class or series of shares of any Group Company; |
(xvii) |
any change to the size, composition or power of the board of any Group Company; |
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(xviii) |
the acquisition of or investment in, or divestiture or sale of an interest in, any other corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, association or other entity by any Group Company with an amount more than US$20,000,000 in a single transaction or a series of related transactions; |
(xix) |
any transaction or series of transactions between any Group Company and any of its shareholder, director, officer or employee or their Affiliate or Associate (as those terms are defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), any Affiliate or Associate of any Group Company or any shareholder, director, officer or employee of such Affiliate or Associate of any Group Company, or any adjustments or modifications to terms of such transaction(s), except for transactions and/or cooperation between any of the Group Companies and Tencent or any of its Affiliates in the ordinary course of business with an amount in aggregate no more than US$20,000,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies) within any fiscal year of the Company; |
(xx) |
any sale, Transfer, or disposal of material assets or business of any Group Company with a value in excess of US$5,000,000 individually or US$20,000,000 in aggregate within any twelve (12)-month period; |
(xxi) |
any sale, Transfer, license, creating pledge or encumbrance over, or disposal of any technology or intellectual property owned by any Group Company, other than the license contemplated under the Control Documents; |
(xxii) |
the approval of and any amendment in any Group Companys business plan or annual budget; |
(xxiii) |
the adoption, amendment or termination of the ESOP or any other equity incentive, purchase or participation plans for the benefit of any employees, officers, directors, contractors, advisors or consultants of any Group Company, and any increase of the total number of Equity Securities reserved for issuance thereunder; |
(xxiv) |
any change to the scope of business of any Group Company materially different from that described in the current business plan, or any change to or cease of the business to be engaged by any Group Company as contemplated in the current business plan; |
(xxv) |
the approval of any equity transfer of any Group Company (other than the Company), or any disposal, transfer of any Group Companys profits, interests, incomes or surplus directly or indirectly; |
(xxvi) |
the approval of, and any amendment to the plan of obtaining financing from any other investors; |
59
(xxvii) |
the appointment or removal of auditors of any Group Company or any change in the accounting and financial policies of any Group Company; or |
(xxviii) |
entry into an agreement, or permit any Group Company to enter into an agreement, to do any of the foregoing. |
Notwithstanding any other provision in these Articles, where any act or matter specified in Article 19(a) above requires an Ordinary Resolution or a Special Resolution of the Company in accordance with the Statute, and the approval of the Preferred Super-majority has not yet been obtained, and where a general meeting of Members is convened to consider such matters, the holders of the then outstanding Preferred Shares voting against the resolution shall have the same number of votes as the Members who vote in favor of the resolution plus one.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Articles, (i) without the prior written consent of the Series E Majority, the Company may not issue any class or series of shares or other convertible securities after the Closing that rank pari passu with the Series E Preferred Shares, the Series E-1 Preferred Shares and/or the Series E-2 Preferred Shares with respect to voting right, right to consent, dividend right, redemption right and/or right to liquidation preference as provided in these Articles, (ii) as long as GGV holds any Series E Shares, without GGVs prior written consent, the Company may not issue any class or series of Equity Securities or take any other action that may dilute GGVs shareholding for the purpose of calculating the Series E Majority, and (iii) as long as Tencent holds any Series E Shares, without Tencents prior written consent, the Company may not issue any class or series of Equity Securities or take any other action that may dilute Tencents shareholding for the purpose of calculating the Series E Majority.
(b) |
Acts of the Group Companies Requiring Approval of the Founder Director and the Majority Investor Directors. |
In addition to such other limitations as may be provided in these Articles and the Transaction Documents, the following acts of any Group Company (as applicable, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, and whether directly or indirectly, or by amendment, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise, shall require the prior written approval of the Founder Director and the Majority Investor Directors:
(i) |
any liability incurred, assumed or guaranteed by any Group Company individually or aggregately in excess of US$10,000,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies) within a fiscal year; |
(ii) |
any purchase of any assets valued individually or aggregately in excess of US$10,000,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies) within a fiscal year, or any rent payable for lease of any assets in excess of US$10,000,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies) within a fiscal year; |
60
(iii) |
any change in compensation by more than thirty percent (30%) in any twelve (12) months period of any of the five (5) most highly compensated employees of any Group Company; |
(iv) |
making any loan to any third party, the extension of any loan or advance, or guarantee for indebtedness by any Group Company to any third party other than other Group Companies in excess of US$10,000,000; |
(v) |
any borrowing other than any loans for the purpose of trade financing as obtained from banks or other financial institutions in the ordinary course of business in excess of US$10,000,000; |
(vi) |
any incurrence of any security interest, lien, pledge or other encumbrance on all or any parts of the assets, equities or rights of any Group Company; |
(vii) |
the appointment and removal of, and the determination of the compensation package for, the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of any Group Company; |
(viii) |
the initiation, waiver, compromise, or settlement of any dispute, claim, litigation or arbitration involving an amount in excess of US$10,000,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies); or |
(ix) |
entry into an agreement, or permit any Group Company to enter into an agreement, to do any of the foregoing. |
NON-RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS
20. |
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
21. |
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 amounts payable in respect of that share. |
61
22. |
The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors think fit, any shares on which the Company has a lien, if a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, and is not paid within fourteen (14) days after a notice in writing has been given to the registered holder or holders for the time being of the shares, or the person, of which the Company has notice, entitled thereto by reason of the death or bankruptcy of the holder, demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the shares may be sold. |
23. |
To give effect to any such sale, the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The purchaser or his nominee 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 sale or the exercise of the Companys power of sale under these Articles. |
24. |
The net proceeds of such sale after payment of costs shall be 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 before the sale) be paid to the person entitled to the shares at the date of the sale. |
CALL ON SHARES
25. | (a) | Subject to the terms of the allotment the Directors may from time to time make calls upon the Members in respect of any monies unpaid on their shares (whether in respect of par value or premium or otherwise), 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 time or times so specified 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. A person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for calls made upon him notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the shares in respect of which the call was made. | ||
(b) | A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising such call was passed. | |||
(c) | The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof. |
26. |
If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, the person from whom it is due shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid at such rate as the Directors may determine, but the Directors may waive payment of the interest either wholly or in part. |
27. |
An amount payable in respect of a share on allotment or at any fixed date, whether on account of the par value or premium or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a call and if it is not paid all the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if such amount had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
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28. |
The Directors may issue shares with different terms as to the amount and times of payment of calls or interest to be paid. |
29. | (a) | The Directors may, if they think fit, receive from any Member willing to advance all or any part of the monies uncalled and unpaid upon any shares held by him, and may (until the amount would otherwise become payable) pay interest at such rate as may be agreed upon between the Directors and the Member paying such amount in advance. | ||
(b) | No such amount paid in advance of calls shall entitle the Member paying such amount to any portion of a dividend declared in respect of any period prior to the date upon which such amount would, but for such payment, become payable. |
FORFEITURE OF SHARES
30. | (a) | If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the Directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than fourteen (14) days notice requiring payment of the amount unpaid together with any interest, which may have accrued. The notice shall specify where payment is to be made and shall state that if the notice is not complied with the shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. | ||
(b) | If the notice is not complied with any share in respect of which it was given may, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors. Such forfeiture shall include all dividends or other monies declared payable in respect of the forfeited share and not paid before the forfeiture. |
31. |
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 therein stated as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the share. The certificate shall (subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer) constitute good title to the share and the person to whom the share is sold or disposed of shall thereupon 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 share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of the share. |
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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. |
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
35. |
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 a 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. |
36. | (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 some person nominated by him as the transferee, 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. |
37. |
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 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 (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
38. | (a) | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, these Articles (in particular, Article 19) and the Transaction Documents, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution: |
(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; |
64
(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 these Articles or into shares without nominal or par value; |
(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) |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, these Articles (in particular, with respect to the variation of rights attached to a specific class or series of shares of the Company) and the Transaction Documents, the Company may by Special Resolution: |
(i) |
change its name; |
(ii) |
alter or add to these Articles; |
(iii) |
alter or add to the Memorandum with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein; and |
(iv) |
reduce its share capital and any capital redemption reserve fund. |
(d) |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may by resolution of the Directors change the location of its Registered Office. |
CLOSING REGISTER OF MEMBERS OR FIXING RECORD DATE
39. |
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 of the Company may provide that the Register of Members shall be closed for transfers for a stated period but not to exceed in any case forty (40) days. 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. |
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40. |
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. |
41. |
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 section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof. |
GENERAL MEETING
42. | (a) | Subject to Article 42(c) hereof, if so determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, the Company shall in each year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting and shall specify any meeting as such in the notices calling it. The annual general meeting 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) | Unless required by the Statute, the Company may but shall not be obliged to hold an annual general meeting. | |||
43. | (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 then outstanding Ordinary Shares (calculated on an as-converted basis) 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 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 (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 nearly as possible as that in which general meetings are to be convened by Directors. |
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NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
44. |
At least fourteen (14) 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 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 regulation has been given and whether or not the provisions of the Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed by the Members together holding not less than eighty percent (80%) of the then outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares (calculated on an as-converted basis). |
45. |
The accidental omission to give notice of a general meeting to, or 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
46. | (a) | Unless provided otherwise herein, no business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of Members is present; the holders of a Majority of the outstanding share capital of the Company (calculated on an as-converted basis and including the Preferred Super-majority) shall constitute a quorum; provided always that if the Company has one Member of record the quorum shall be that one Member present in person or by proxy. | ||
(b) | A person may participate at a general meeting by conference telephone 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. |
47. |
A resolution (whether an Ordinary Resolution or a Special Resolution) in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by all Members for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings (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. |
48. |
If within half an hour 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 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. |
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49. |
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 minutes after the time appointed for the holding of the meeting, or is unwilling to act, the Directors present shall elect one of their number to be Chairman of the meeting. |
50. |
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 members to be Chairman of the meeting. |
51. |
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. |
52. |
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 or any Member or Members present in person or by proxy collectively holding at least ten percent (10%) in nominal value of the shares entitled to attend and vote at the meeting. |
53. |
Subject to the provisions of these Articles, unless a poll be so demanded a declaration by the Chairman that a resolution has on a show of hands been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular Majority, or lost or not carried by a particular Majority, and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the proceedings of the meeting shall be conclusive evidence of that fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favor of or against such resolution. |
54. |
The demand for a poll may be withdrawn. |
55. |
Subject to the provisions of these Articles, except on a poll demanded on the election of a Chairman or on a question of adjournment, a 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 at which the poll was demanded. |
56. |
In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the Chairman of the general meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded, shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote. |
57. |
A poll demanded on the election of a Chairman 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 general meeting directs and any business other than that upon which a poll has been demanded or is contingent thereon may be proceeded with pending the taking of the poll. |
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VOTES OF MEMBERS
58. |
Except as otherwise required by law or as set forth herein, the holder of any Class A Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding shall have one vote for each Class A Ordinary Share held by such holder, the holder of each Class B Ordinary Share issued and outstanding shall have fifteen (15) votes for each Class B Ordinary Share held by such holder, and the holder of any Preferred Shares shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of Class A Ordinary Shares into which such 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 except as otherwise provided herein. Holders of the Ordinary Shares and the Preferred Shares shall be entitled to notice of any Members meeting in accordance with these Articles. |
59. |
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. |
60. |
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. |
61. |
No Member shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting or at any separate meeting of the holders of a class or series of shares 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.
62. |
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. |
63. |
On a poll or on a show of hands votes may be given either personally or by proxy. |
PROXIES
64. |
The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and shall be executed under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing, or, if the appointor is a corporation under the hand of an officer or attorney duly authorised in that behalf. A proxy need not be a Member of the Company. |
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65. |
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 telex, cable or telecopy confirmation from the appointor that the instrument of proxy duly signed is in the course of transmission to the Company. An instrument of proxy that is not deposited in the manner permitted shall be invalid. |
66. |
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. |
67. |
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 unless notice 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. |
CORPORATE MEMBERS
68. |
Any corporation or other non-natural person which is a Member of record of the Company may in accordance with its constitutional documents or in the absence of such provision 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 class or series of Members of the Company, and the person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual Member of record of the Company. |
SHARES THAT MAY NOT BE VOTED
69. |
Shares in the Company that are beneficially owned by the Company 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. |
70
DIRECTORS AND OBSERVORS
70. |
There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of not more than six (6) members (exclusive of alternate Directors). Subject to the provisions below in this Article 70, in case the shareholding percentage in the Company on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis of any shareholder of the Company, together with its Affiliates (if applicable), reaches ten percent (10%), such shareholder, together with those Affiliates (if applicable), may have the right to exclusively and collectively appoint, replace and reappoint at any time or from time to time one (1) director on the Board; provided that such right shall be automatically terminated and of no effect if the shareholding percentage in the Company on an as- converted and fully-diluted basis of such shareholder of the Company, together with its Affiliates (if applicable), decreased to no more than six percent (6%). Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the composition of the Board shall be determined as follows: (i) Tencent shall be exclusively entitled to appoint, replace and reappoint at any time or from time to time one (1) director (the Series E-2 Director), for so long as Tencent, together with its Affiliates (if applicable), holds no less than five percent (5%) of the total issued and outstanding shares of the Company on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis; (ii) Capital Today shall be entitled to appoint, replace and reappoint at any time or from time to time one (1) director (the Capital Today Director), for so long as Capital Today holds no less than six percent (6%) of the total issued and outstanding shares of the Company on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis; (iii) Ceyuan Funds shall be entitled to appoint, replace and reappoint at any time or from time to time one (1) director (the Ceyuan Director) on the Board, for so long as Ceyuan Funds hold no less than six percent (6%) of the total issued and outstanding shares of the Company on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis; (iv) Banyan shall be exclusively entitled to appoint, replace and reappoint at any time or from time to time one (1) director (the Banyan Director, together with the Series E-2 Director, Capital Today Director and Ceyuan Director, collectively the Investor Directors) of the Board, for so long as Banyan holds no less than six percent (6%) of the total issued and outstanding Shares on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis; and (v) the Founder shall be exclusively entitled to appoint, replace and reappoint at any time or from time to time one (1) director on the Board (the Founder Director), who shall be the Chairman of the Board and be entitled to cast six (6) votes on any matter submitted to the Board for approval. Jixun FOO shall be appointed to the Board as an independent director (the Independent Director) of the Company by the shareholders. The Board and/or requisite shareholders of the Company shall make such appointment of Jixun FOO in accordance with these Articles and the applicable laws and his term as an Independent Director is three (3) years. In case the shareholding percentage in the Company on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis of any shareholder of the Company (other than those having the right to appoint director(s) on the Board), together with its Affiliates (if applicable), reaches four percent (4%), such shareholder, together with those Affiliates (if applicable), automatically have one (1) observer seat of the Board (the Observer); provided that such observer seat shall be automatically terminated and of no effect if the shareholding percentage in the Company on an as-converted and fully diluted basis of such shareholder of the Company, together with its Affiliates (if applicable), decreased to no more than four percent (4%). The Company shall maintain no more than three (3) Observers of the Board, one (1) of whom shall be designated, appointed, removed, replaced and reappointed at any time or from time to time at the sole discretion of Coatue, for so long as Coatue (together with its Affiliates) holds no less than four percent (4%) of the total issued and outstanding Shares on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis for any consecutive period of three (3) years, one (1) of whom shall be designated, appointed, removed, replaced and reappointed at any time or from time to time at the sole discretion of Magic Stone Fund, for so long as Magic Stone Fund holds no less than four percent (4%) of the total issued and outstanding shares of the Company on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis and one (1) of whom shall be designated, appointed, removed, replaced and reappointed at any time or from time to time at the sole discretion of GS, for so long as GS holds no less than four percent (4%) of the total issued and outstanding shares of the Company on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis. The Observers shall be entitled to attend all meetings of the Board in a non-voting capacity. To appoint or remove a director in accordance with Article 70, a member must give written notice to the Company specifying the identity of the person it wishes to appoint and/or remove. Upon receipt of such notice the Registered Office shall immediately update the register of directors of the Company. |
71
REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS
71. |
The remuneration to be paid to the Directors shall be such remuneration as the Board shall determine (including the affirmative votes of the Founder Director and the Majority Investor Directors). The Directors and Observers shall also be entitled to be paid all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including but not limited to transportation, food and lodging expenses and any other reasonable expenses) properly incurred by them in connection with their attendance at 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. |
72. |
Subject to Article 19, the Board may award special remuneration to any Director of the Company for any service 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. |
DIRECTORS INTERESTS
73. |
A Director or alternate 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 Board may determine. |
74. |
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. |
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 Member 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. |
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 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. |
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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, director, officer or employee 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 for purposes of voting on a resolution in respect of a contract or transaction in which he has an interest, and after such general notice it shall not be necessary to give special notice relating to any particular transaction. |
NO MINIMUM SHAREHOLDING
78. |
There is no minimum shareholding required to be held by a Director. |
ALTERNATE DIRECTORS
79. |
Any Director (other than an alternate Director) may by writing appoint any other Director, or any other person willing to act, to be an alternate Director and by writing may remove from office an alternate Director so appointed by him. An alternate Director shall be entitled to receive notice of all meetings of Directors and of all meetings of committees of Directors of which his appointor is a member, to attend and vote at every such meeting at which the Director appointing him is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of his appointor as a Director in his absence; provided that such alternate Director agrees to keep confidential any information so obtained. An alternate Director shall cease to be alternate Director if his appointor ceases to be a Director. Any appointment or removal of an alternate Director shall be by notice to the Company signed by the Director making or revoking the appointment or in any other manner approved by the Directors. An alternate Director shall be deemed for all purposes to be a Director and shall alone be responsible for his own acts and defaults and shall not be deemed to be the agent of the Director appointing him. |
POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS
80. |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, these Articles, the Transaction Documents and to any directions given by Special Resolution, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors who may exercise all the powers of the Company. No alteration of these Articles and no such direction shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. A duly convened meeting of Directors at which a quorum is present may exercise all powers exercisable by the Directors. |
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81. |
Subject to Article 19, 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. |
82. |
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. |
83. |
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 dependents and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance. |
84. |
Subject to Article 19, 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. |
DELEGATION OF DIRECTORS POWERS
With respect to Articles 85-90, subject in each case to Article 19:
85. |
The Directors (acting as a Board) may delegate to any managing director or any Director holding any other executive office such of their powers as they consider desirable to be exercised by him; provided that an alternate Director may not act as a managing director and the appointment of a managing director shall be revoked forthwith if he ceases to be a Director. Any such delegation may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and may be revoked or altered. |
86. |
The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any person to be the agent of the Company on such conditions as the Directors may determine; provided that the delegation is not to the exclusion of their own powers and may be revoked by the Directors at any time. |
87. |
Subject to Article 19, the Directors may appoint such officers as they consider necessary on such terms, at such remuneration as may be determined by the Board and to perform such duties, and subject to such provisions as to disqualification and removal as the Directors may think fit. Unless otherwise specified in the terms of his appointment an officer may be removed by resolution of the Directors. |
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88. |
The Directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more Directors. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of a committee of Directors shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying. |
89. |
The Directors may from time to time and at any time by powers of attorney appoint any company, firm, person or body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or attorneys of the Company for such purpose 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 powers of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorneys as the Directors may think fit and may also authorise any such attorney to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretion vested in him. |
90. |
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 persons to be members of such committees or local boards or any managers or agents. |
PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
91. |
The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Directors shall be a Majority of the Directors then in office, including all of votes of the Founder Director and the Majority Investor Directors. An alternate Director or proxy appointed by a Director shall be counted in a quorum at a meeting if his appointor is not present. If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present solely because of the absence of the Majority Investor Directors, the meeting 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 and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting solely because of the absence of the Majority Investor Directors, the members present shall be a quorum. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article 91, if the Majority Investor Directors are not present at the aforesaid adjourned meeting, (i) the present Directors shall only discuss the matters described in the meeting notice as delivered pursuant to Article 93, and (ii) no Directors resolutions shall be passed in such adjourned meeting in respect to anything that requires approval of the Majority Investor Directors as provided in Article 19. |
92. |
Except as otherwise provided by these Articles, the Directors may regulate their meetings as they think fit. 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. A Director who is also an alternate Director shall be entitled in the absence of his appointor to a separate vote on behalf of his appointor in addition to his own vote. |
93. |
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 seven (7) business days notice in writing to every Director and alternate Director which notice shall set forth the time and place of the meeting and 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. |
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94. |
The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body, but if and 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 or Director may act for the purpose of increasing the number of Directors to that number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose. |
95. |
The Directors may elect a Chairman of their Board 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 member to be Chairman of the meeting. |
96. |
All acts done by any meeting of the 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. |
97. |
Members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other at the same time. Participation by a person in a meeting pursuant to this provision shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the Directors the meeting shall be deemed to be held at the place where the Chairman of the meeting is at the start of the meeting. |
98. |
A resolution in writing (in one or more counterparts), signed by all the Directors for the time being (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 duly convened and held. |
99. |
A Director, but not an alternate Director, may be represented at any meetings of the Board of Directors by a proxy appointed in writing by him. The proxy shall count towards the quorum and the vote of the proxy shall for all purposes be deemed to be that of the Director. The provisions of Articles 64-67 shall mutatis mutandis apply to the appointment of proxies by Directors. |
VACATION OF OFFICE OF DIRECTOR
100. |
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 dies, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; |
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(c) |
if he is found a lunatic or becomes of unsound mind; or |
(d) |
if he is removed by a shareholder vote by the holders of the class or series of shares that originally appointed him, as set forth in Article 70. |
APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
101. |
The Directors of the Company may only be appointed and removed as provided in Article 70. |
102. |
[Reserved]. |
SEAL
103. | (a) | The Company may, if the Directors so determine, have a Seal which shall, subject to paragraph (c) hereof, only be used by the authority of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors authorised by the Directors in that behalf and every instrument to which the Seal has been affixed shall be signed by one person who shall be either a Director or the Secretary or Secretary-Treasurer or some person appointed by the Directors for the 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) | Subject to Article 19, 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. |
OFFICERS
104. |
Subject to Article 19, the Directors may appoint such officers of the Company as they consider necessary, all for such terms, at such remuneration to be determined by the Board 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
105. | (a) | Subject to the Statute and Article 19, the Directors may from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and distributions on shares of the Company outstanding and authorise payment of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor and in accordance with the provisions of this Article 105. |
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(b) |
No dividend, whether in cash, in property or in shares of the capital of the Company, shall be paid on or declared and set aside for any Ordinary Shares or any other class or series of shares of the Company unless and until (1) all accrued but unpaid dividends on the Preferred Shares have been paid in full (calculated on as-converted basis), and (2) a distribution is likewise declared, paid, set aside or made, respectively, at the same time with respect to each outstanding Preferred Share such that the distribution declared, paid, set aside or made to the holder thereof pursuant to this Article 105(b) shall be equal to the distribution that such holder would have received if such Preferred Share had been converted into Class A 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. |
106. |
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. |
107. |
No dividend or distribution shall be payable except out of the profits of the Company, realized or unrealised, or out of the Share Premium Account or as otherwise permitted by the Statute. |
108. |
Subject to the special rights of certain class or classes or series of shares as to dividends or distributions, if dividends or distributions are to be declared on a class or series of shares they shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid or credited as paid on the shares of such class or series 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. |
109. |
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. |
110. |
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 on the basis 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. |
111. |
Any dividend, distribution, interest or other monies payable in cash in respect of shares may be paid by wire transfer to the holder or 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 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. |
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112. |
No dividend or distribution shall bear interest against the Company. |
CAPITALISATION
113. |
The Directors may capitalise 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 capitalisation, 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 authorise any person to enter on behalf of all of the Members interested into an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all concerned. |
BOOKS OF ACCOUNT
114. |
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; |
(c) |
the assets and liabilities of the Company. |
Proper books shall not be deemed to be kept if there are not kept such books of account as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the Companys affairs and to explain its transactions.
115. |
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 these Articles or authorised by the Directors or by the Company in general meeting. |
116. |
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
117. |
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. |
118. |
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 remuneration of any Auditor appointed by the Directors under this Article may be fixed by the Directors. |
119. |
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 Auditor. |
120. |
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
121. |
Notices shall be in writing and may be given by the Company to any Member either personally or by sending it by post, cable, telex, facsimile or email to him or to his address as shown in the Register of Members (or where the notice is given by email by sending it to the email address provided by such Member). Any notice, if posted from one country to another, shall be sent by airmail. |
122. | (a) | Where a notice is sent by post, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre-paying and posting a letter containing the notice, and shall be deemed to have been received on the fifth day (not including Saturdays or Sundays or public holidays) following the day on which the notice was posted. | ||
(b) | Where a notice is sent by cable, telex, or facsimile, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, and sending such notice and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was transmitted. | |||
(c) | Where a notice is given by email service shall be deemed to be effected by transmitting the email to the email address provided by the intended recipient and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was sent, and it shall not be necessary for the receipt of the email to be acknowledged by the recipient. |
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123. |
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. |
124. |
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 in the same manner as other notices which are required to be given under these Articles and shall be 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. |
125. |
Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner hereinbefore authorised to 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 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, and no other person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings. |
WINDING UP
126. |
Subject to these Articles and the Transaction Documents, 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 or series 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 shares or other securities whereon there is any liability. |
LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE
127. |
In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, either voluntary or involuntary, distributions to the Members of the Company shall be made in the following manner and priority (after satisfaction of all creditors claims and claims that may be preferred by law): |
(a) |
The holders of the Series F+ Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or funds of the Company to the holders of Ordinary Shares, the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series D Preferred Shares, the Series E Shares, the Series F Preferred Shares or any other class or series of shares by reason of their ownership of such shares, the amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series F+ Issue Price (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to such shares), as the case may be, for each Series F+ Preferred Share, plus (ii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends on the Series F+ Preferred Shares (the Series F+ Preferred Share Preference Amount). If the assets and funds thus distributed among the holders of the Series F+ Preferred Shares shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series F+ Preferred Share Preference Amount, then the entire assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution shall be distributed among the holders of the Series F+ Preferred Shares in proportion to the Series F+ Preferred Share Preference Amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive. |
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After the full payment of the Series F+ Preferred Share Preference Amount, the holders of the Series F Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or funds of the Company to the holders of Ordinary Shares, the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series D Preferred Shares, the Series E Shares or any other class or series of shares (other than the Series F+ Preferred Shares) by reason of their ownership of such shares, the amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series F Issue Price (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to such shares), as the case may be, for each Series F Preferred Share, plus (ii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends on the Series F Preferred Shares (the Series F Preferred Share Preference Amount). If the assets and funds thus distributed among the holders of the Series F Preferred Shares shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series F Preferred Share Preference Amount, then the entire assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution shall be distributed among the holders of the Series F Preferred Shares in proportion to the Series F Preferred Share Preference Amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive.
After the full payment of the Series F+ Preferred Share Preference Amount and the Series F Preferred Share Preference Amount, the holders of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or funds of the Company to the holders of Ordinary Shares, the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series D Preferred Shares or any other class or series of shares (other than the Series F+ Preferred Shares and the Series F Preferred Shares) by reason of their ownership of such shares, the amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series E-2 Issue Price (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to such shares) for each Series E-2 Preferred Share, plus (ii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends on the Series E-2 Preferred Shares (the Series E-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount). The holders of the Series E-1 Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or funds of the Company to the holders of Ordinary Shares, the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series D Preferred Shares or any other class or series of shares (other than the Series F+ Preferred Shares and the Series F Preferred Shares) by reason of their ownership of such shares, the amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series E-1 Issue Price (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to such shares) for each Series E-1 Preferred Share, plus (ii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends on the Series E-1 Preferred Shares (the Series E-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount). The holders of the Series E Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or funds of the Company to the holders of Ordinary Shares, the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series D Preferred Shares or any other class or series of shares (other than the Series F+ Preferred Shares and the Series F Preferred Shares) by reason of their ownership of such shares, the amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series E Issue Price (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to such shares) for each Series E Preferred Share, plus (ii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends on the Series E Preferred Shares (the Series E Preferred Share Preference Amount). If the assets and funds thus distributed among the holders of the Series E Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares and Series E-2 Preferred Shares shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series E Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount and Series E-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, then the entire assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution shall be distributed among the holders of the Series E Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares and Series E-2 Preferred Shares in proportion to the Series E Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount and/or Series E-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive.
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After the full payment of the Series F+ Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series F Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series E Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount and Series E-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the holders of the Series D Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or funds of the Company to the holders of Ordinary Shares, the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Preferred Shares or any other class or series of shares (other than the Series F+ Preferred Shares, the Series F Preferred Shares, the Series E-2 Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares and Series E Preferred Shares) by reason of their ownership of such shares, the amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series D Issue Price (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to such shares), as the case may be, for each Series D Preferred Share, plus (ii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends on the Series D Preferred Shares (the Series D Preferred Share Preference Amount). If the assets and funds thus distributed among the holders of the Series D Preferred Shares shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series D Preferred Share Preference Amount, then the entire assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution shall be distributed among the holders of the Series D Preferred Shares in proportion to the Series D Preferred Share Preference Amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive.
After the full payment of the Series F+ Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series F Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series E-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E Preferred Share Preference Amount and the Series D Preferred Share Preference Amount, the holders of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares (calculated as a single class) shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or surplus funds of the Company to the holders of Ordinary Shares, the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Preferred Shares or any other class or series of shares (other than the Series F+ Preferred Shares, the Series F Preferred Shares, the Series E-2 Preferred Shares, Series E1 Preferred Shares, Series E Preferred Shares and Series D Preferred Shares) by reason of their ownership of such shares, the amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series C-3 Issue Price (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to such shares), as the case may be, for each Series C-3 Preferred Share, plus (ii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends on the Series C-3 Preferred Shares (the Series C-3 Preferred Share Preference Amount). If the assets and funds thus distributed among the holders of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series C-3 Preferred Share Preference Amount, then the entire assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution shall be distributed among the holders of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares in proportion to the Series C-3 Preferred Share Preference Amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive.
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After the full payment of the Series F+ Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series F Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series E-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series D Preferred Share Preference Amount and the Series C-3 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the holders of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares (calculated as a single class) shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or surplus funds of the Company to the holders of Ordinary Shares, the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares or any other class or series of shares (other than the Series F+ Preferred Shares, the Series F Preferred Shares, the Series E-2 Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares, Series E Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares and the Series C-3 Preferred Shares) by reason of their ownership of such shares, the amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series C-2 Issue Price (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to such shares), as the case may be, for each Series C-2 Preferred Share, plus (ii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends on the Series C-2 Preferred Shares (the Series C-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount). If the assets and funds thus distributed among the holders of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series C-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, then the entire assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution shall be distributed among the holders of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares in proportion to the Series C-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive.
After the full payment of the Series F+ Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series F Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series E-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series D Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-3 Preferred Share Preference Amount and the Series C-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the holders of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares (calculated as a single class) shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or surplus funds of the Company to the holders of Ordinary Shares, the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares or any other class or series of shares (other than the Series F+ Preferred Shares, the Series F Preferred Shares, the Series E-2 Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares, Series E Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Preferred Shares and the Series C-2 Preferred Shares) by reason of their ownership of such shares, the amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series C-1 Issue Price (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to such shares), as the case may be, for each Series C-1 Preferred Share, plus (ii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends on the Series C-1 Preferred Shares (the Series C-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount). If the assets and funds thus distributed among the holders of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series C-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount, then the entire assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution shall be distributed among the holders of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares in proportion to the Series C-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive.
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After the full payment of the Series F+ Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series F Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series E-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series D Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-3 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount and the Series C-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the holders of the Series C Preferred Shares (calculated as a single class) shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or surplus funds of the Company to the holders of Ordinary Shares, the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares or any other class or series of shares (other than the Series F+ Preferred Shares, the Series F Preferred Shares, the Series E-2 Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares, Series E Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Preferred Shares and the Series C-1 Preferred Shares) by reason of their ownership of such shares, the amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series C Issue Price (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to such shares), as the case may be, for each Series C Preferred Share, plus (ii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends on the Series C Preferred Shares (the Series C Preferred Share Preference Amount). If the assets and funds thus distributed among the holders of the Series C Preferred Shares shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series C Preferred Share Preference Amount, then the entire assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution shall be distributed among the holders of the Series C Preferred Shares in proportion to the Series C Preferred Share Preference Amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive.
After the full payment of the Series F+ Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series F Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series E-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series D Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-3 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount and the Series C Preferred Share Preference Amount, the holders of the Series B Preferred Shares (calculated as a single class) shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or surplus funds of the Company to the holders of Ordinary Shares, the Series A Preferred Shares or any other class or series of shares (other than the Series F+ Preferred Shares, the Series F Preferred Shares, the Series E-2 Preferred Shares, Series E1 Preferred Shares, Series E Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares and the Series C Preferred Shares) by reason of their ownership of such shares, the amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series B Issue Price (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to such shares), as the case may be, for each Series B Preferred Share, plus (ii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends on the Series B Preferred Shares (the Series B Preferred Share Preference Amount). If the assets and funds thus distributed among the holders of the Series B Preferred Shares shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series B Preferred Share Preference Amount, then the entire assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution shall be distributed among the holders of the Series B Preferred Shares in proportion to the Series B Preferred Share Preference Amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive.
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After the full payment of the Series F+ Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series F Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series E-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series D Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-3 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C Preferred Share Preference Amount and the Series B Preferred Share Preference Amount, the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares (calculated as a single class) shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or surplus funds of the Company to the holders of Ordinary Shares or any other class or series of shares (other than the Series F+ Preferred Shares, the Series F Preferred Shares, the Series E-2 Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares, Series E Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, the Series C-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C-2 Preferred Shares, the Series C-1 Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares and the Series B Preferred Shares) by reason of their ownership of such shares, the amount equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Series A Issue Price (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to such shares), as the case may be, for each Series A Preferred Share, plus (ii) all accrued or declared but unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Shares (the Series A Preferred Share Preference Amount). If the assets and funds thus distributed among the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series A Preferred Share Preference Amount, then the entire assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution shall be distributed among the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares in proportion to the Series A Preferred Share Preference Amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive.
If upon the occurrence of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the assets and funds distributed in accordance with the sequence of payment as set forth in this Article 127(a) to a particular series of the Preferred Shares is insufficient to satisfy the applicable Preferred Share Preference Amount in full, then the assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution to that particular series of the Preferred Shares shall be distributed ratably among the holders of that particular series of the Preferred Shares in proportion to the applicable Preferred Share Preference Amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive.
(b) |
After paying in full the Series F+ Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series F Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series E-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series E Preferred Share Preference Amount, Series D Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-3 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series B Preferred Share Preference Amount and the Series A Preferred Share Preference Amount due pursuant to Article 127(a) above, the remaining assets of the Company available for distribution to Members, if any, shall be distributed to the holders of Preferred Shares and Ordinary Shares on a pro rata basis, based on the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then held by each such holder on an as-converted basis. |
86
(c) |
A Trade Sale Event shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up within the meaning of this Article 127 unless waived by the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis), the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series B Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis), the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series C Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis), the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series C-1 Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis), the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series C-2 Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis), the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series C-3 Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis), the holders of at least a Majority of the outstanding Series D Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis), the Series E Majority, the Series F Majority and the Series F+ Majority. |
(d) |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 127, and subject to any other applicable provisions of these Articles, the Company may at any time, out of funds legally available therefor, repurchase the Ordinary Shares of the Company issued to or held by employees or officers of the Company or its subsidiaries upon termination of their employment or services, pursuant to any agreement approved by the Board and providing for such right of repurchase, whether or not dividends on the Preferred Shares shall have been declared and funds set aside therefor and such repurchases shall not be subject to the Series A Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series B Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series C-3 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series D Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series E Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series E-1 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series E-2 Preferred Share Preference Amount, the Series F Preferred Share Preference Amount and the Series F+ Preferred Share Preference Amount. |
(e) |
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 holders of the Preferred Shares and the Ordinary Shares shall be determined in good faith by the Preferred Super-majority. 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; |
87
(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 Preferred Super-majority. |
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 Clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) to reflect the fair market value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board. The Preferred Super-majority shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Board of fair market value pursuant to this Article 127, in which case the determination of fair market value shall be made by an independent appraiser selected jointly by the Board and the challenging parties, the cost of such appraisal to be borne by the Company.
INDEMNITY
128. |
To the fullest extent permissible under the Statute, every Director, agent or officer of the Company shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against any liability incurred by him as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out his functions other than such liability (if any) that he may incur by his own willful neglect or default. No such Director, agent or officer shall be liable to the Company for any loss or damage in carrying out his functions unless that liability arises through the willful neglect or default of such Director, agent or officer. |
FINANCIAL YEAR
129. |
Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on December 31 in each year and shall begin on January 1 in each year. |
TRANSFER BY WAY OF CONTINUATION
130. |
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. |
MERGERS AND CONSOLIDATIONS
131. |
Subject to Article 19(a), the Company shall have the power to merge or consolidate with one or more other constituent companies (as defined in the Statute) upon such terms as the Directors may determine and (to the extent required by the Statute) with the approval of a Special Resolution. |
88
Exhibit 3.2
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
FOURTEENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
KANZHUN LIMITED
(adopted by a Special Resolution passed on 21 May 2021 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 KANZHUN LIMITED. |
2. |
The Registered Office of the Company will be situated at offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, P.O. 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 Act 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 Act. |
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$200,000 divided into 2,000,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, comprising of (i) 1,750,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, (ii) 200,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each and (iii) 50,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.0001 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 Act 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 Act 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. |
2
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
FOURTEENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
KANZHUN LIMITED
(adopted by a Special Resolution passed on 21 May 2021 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 Act 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; |
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Class A Ordinary Share | means a Class A Ordinary Share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the capital of the Company and having the rights provided for in these Articles; | |
Class B Ordinary Share | means a Class B Ordinary Share of a par value of US$0.0001 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; | |
Communication Facilities | means video, video-conferencing, internet or online conferencing applications, telephone or tele-conferencing and/or any other video-communications, internet or online conferencing application or telecommunications facilities by means of which all Persons participating in a meeting are capable of hearing and being heard by each other; | |
Company | means KANZHUN LIMITED, a Cayman Islands exempted company; | |
Companies Act | means the Companies Act (As Revised) 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 Act 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 Act | means the Electronic Transactions Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and any statutory amendment or re-enactment thereof; | |
electronic record | has the meaning given to it in the Electronic Transactions Act 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 Mr. Peng Zhao (赵鹏), a citizen of PRC with his ID Card number as ********; | |
Founder Affiliate | (a) each of the Founders legal spouse, parents, children and other lineal descendants (each, an Immediate Family Member); and (b) any trust for the benefit of the Founder and/or any of the Immediate Family Members as defined under (a), and any corporation, partnership or any other entity ultimately controlled by the Founder and/or any of the Immediate Family Members as defined under (a) through possession of voting power or investment power over Shares held by any such entity. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms voting power and investment power shall have such meanings as defined under Rule 13d-3 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; | |
Memorandum of Association | means the memorandum of association of the Company, as amended or substituted from time to time; |
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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; | |
Present | means in respect of any Person, such Persons presence at a general meeting of Shareholders (or any meeting of the holders of any Class of Shares), which may be satisfied by means of such Person or, if a corporation or other non natural Person, its duly authorised representative (or, in the case of any Shareholder, a proxy which has been validly appointed by such Shareholder in accordance with these Articles), being: (a) physically present at the meeting; or (b) in the case of any meeting at which Communication Facilities are permitted in accordance with these Articles, including any Virtual Meeting, connected by means of the use of such Communication Facilities; | |
Register | means the register of Members of the Company maintained in accordance with the Companies Act; | |
Registered Office | means the registered office of the Company as required by the Companies Act; | |
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 share 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 Act; | |
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; |
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Special Resolution | means a special resolution of the Company passed in accordance with the Companies Act, 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 |
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(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; |
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Treasury Share | means a Share held in the name of the Company as a treasury share in accordance with the Companies Act; | |
United States | means the United States of America, its territories, its possessions and all areas subject to its jurisdiction; and | |
Virtual Meeting | means any general meeting of the Shareholders (or any meeting of the holders of any Class of Shares) at which the Shareholders (and any other permitted participants of such meeting, including without limitation the chairman of the meeting and any Directors) are permitted to attend and participate solely by means of Communication Facilities. |
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; |
(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; |
6
(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 Transactions Act; and |
(j) |
Sections 8 and 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Act shall not apply. |
3. |
Subject to the last two preceding Articles, any words defined in the Companies Act 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 |
(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 an Ordinary 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; |
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(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; |
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. |
8
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 fifteen (15) 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 and re-classification 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) and upon entries being made in the Register to record the re-designation and re-classification of the relevant Class B Ordinary Shares as Class A Class Shares, 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 upon entries being made in the Register to record the re-designation and re-classification 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, an Affiliate of the Founder, or a Founder Affiliate, or upon a change of control of the ultimate beneficial ownership of any Class B Ordinary Share to any Person who is not the Founder, an Affiliate of the Founder, or a Founder Affiliate, such Class B Ordinary Share shall be automatically and immediately converted into the same number of 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 15 (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. |
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 and adversely varied with the consent in writing of the holders of at least two-thirds of the issued Shares of that Class or with the sanction of an Ordinary 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. |
9
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 and 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 and 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 lodgment 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. |
10
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 (14) 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 (14) 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. |
11
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. |
36. |
The notice shall name a further day (not earlier than the expiration of fourteen (14) 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. |
12
(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 |
(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 (10) 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 (30) 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 (90) 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. |
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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 |
(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 the Companies Act. |
REDEMPTION, PURCHASE AND SURRENDER OF SHARES
54. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act 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 Ordinary 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 Shareholders 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 Act, 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. |
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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 the Directors (acting by a resolution of the Board) 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 the issued and outstanding Shares that as at the date of the deposit carry the right to vote at general meetings of the Company. |
(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 (21) calendar days from the date of the deposit of the requisition duly proceed to convene a general meeting to be held within a further forty-five (45) calendar days, the requisitionists, or any of them representing more than one-half (1/2) 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) calendar months after the expiration of the said forty-five (45) 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 seven (7) 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 (2/3) of the Shareholders having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, Present at the meeting or, in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person, represented by its duly authorised representative or proxy. |
15
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 (1/3) of all votes attaching to all Shares in issue and entitled to vote at such general meeting Present, 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, attendance and participation in any general meeting of the Company may be by means of Communication Facilities. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Directors may determine that any general meeting may be held as a Virtual Meeting. The notice of any general meeting at which Communication Facilities will be utilised (including any Virtual Meeting) must disclose the Communication Facilities that will be used, including the procedures to be followed by any Shareholder or other participant of the meeting who wishes to utilise such Communication Facilities for the purposes of attending and participating in such meeting, including attending and casting any vote thereat. |
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 general 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 shall choose any Person Present to be chairman of that meeting. |
70. |
The chairman of any general meeting (including any Virtual Meeting) shall be entitled to attend and participate at any such general meeting by means of Communication Facilities, and to act as the chairman of such general meeting, in which event the following provisions shall apply: |
(a) |
The chairman of the meeting shall be deemed to be Present at the meeting; and |
(b) |
If the Communication Facilities are interrupted or fail for any reason to enable the chairman of the meeting to hear and be heard by all other Persons participating in the meeting, then the other Directors Present at the meeting shall choose another Director Present to act as chairman of the meeting for the remainder of the meeting; provided that if no other Director is Present at the meeting, or if all the Directors Present decline to take the chair, then the meeting shall be automatically adjourned to the same day in the next week and at such time and place as shall be decided by the Board of Directors. |
71. |
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 (14) 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. |
16
72. |
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. |
73. |
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, 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. |
74. |
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. |
75. |
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 Act. 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. |
76. |
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
77. |
Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Share, on a show of hands every Shareholder Present shall, at a general meeting of the Company, each have one vote and on a poll every Shareholder Present at the meeting shall have one (1) vote for each Class A Ordinary Share and fifteen (15) votes for each Class B Ordinary Share of which he is the holder. |
78. |
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. |
79. |
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. |
80. |
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. |
81. |
On a poll votes may be given either personally or by proxy. |
82. |
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. |
83. |
An instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may approve. |
17
84. |
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.
85. |
The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll. |
86. |
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
87. |
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
88. |
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
89. (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 Board may, by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the Directors present and voting at a Board meeting, or 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. Any 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 the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors then in office (except with regard to the removal of the Chairman, who may be removed from office by the affirmative vote of all Directors), or by Ordinary Resolution (except with regard to the removal of the Chairman, who may be removed from office by Special 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. |
90. |
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. |
91. |
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. |
92. |
The remuneration of the Directors may be determined by the Directors. |
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93. |
The Directors shall be entitled to be paid for 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
94. |
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. |
95. |
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
96. |
Subject to the Companies Act, these Articles and 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. |
97. |
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. |
98. |
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. |
99. |
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. |
20
100. |
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. |
101. |
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. |
102. |
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. |
103. |
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. |
104. |
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
105. |
The Directors may from time to time at their discretion exercise all the powers of the Company to raise or borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital or any part thereof, 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
106. |
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 affixing 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. |
107. |
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 affixing 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. |
21
108. |
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
109. 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; or |
(d) |
is removed from office pursuant to any other provision of these Articles. |
PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
110. |
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. |
111. |
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. |
112. |
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. |
113. |
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. Subject to the Designated Stock Exchange Rules and disqualification by the chairman of the relevant Board meeting, 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. |
22
114. |
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. |
115. |
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. |
116. 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. |
117. |
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. |
118. |
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. |
119. |
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. |
120. |
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. |
121. |
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. |
122. |
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. |
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PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT
123. |
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
124. |
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. |
125. |
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. |
126. |
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. |
127. |
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. |
128. |
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. |
129. |
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. |
130. |
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. |
131. |
No dividend shall bear interest against the Company. |
132. |
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. |
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ACCOUNTS, AUDIT AND ANNUAL RETURN AND DECLARATION
133. |
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. |
134. |
The books of account shall be kept at the Registered Office or at such other place or places as the Directors think fit, and shall always be open to the inspection of the Directors. |
135. |
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 Special Resolution. |
136. |
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. |
137. |
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. |
138. |
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. |
139. |
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. |
140. |
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 Act and deliver a copy thereof to the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands. |
CAPITALISATION OF RESERVES
141. Subject to the Companies Act, 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;
25
(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. |
142. |
Notwithstanding any provisions in these Articles and subject to the Companies Act, 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. |
SHARE PREMIUM ACCOUNT
143. |
The Directors shall in accordance with the Companies Act 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. |
144. |
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 Act, out of capital. |
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NOTICES
145. |
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. |
146. |
Notices sent from one country to another shall be sent or forwarded by prepaid airmail or a recognised courier service. |
147. |
Any Shareholder Present 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. |
148. Any notice or other document, if served by:
(a) |
post, shall be deemed to have been served five (5) 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.
149. |
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. |
150. 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.
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INFORMATION
151. |
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. |
152. |
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
153. |
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. |
154. 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.
FINANCIAL YEAR
155. |
Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on December 31st in each calendar year and shall begin on January 1st in each calendar year. |
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NON-RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS
156. |
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 Act 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
157. |
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 Act, divide amongst the Members in species 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, subject to Article 158, 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. |
158. |
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
159. |
Subject to the Companies Act, 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
160. |
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 (30) calendar days in any calendar year. |
161. |
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 (90) calendar days prior to the date of declaration of such dividend, fix a subsequent date as the record date for such determination. |
162. |
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
163. |
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
164. |
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 or to any stock exchange on which securities of the Company may from time to time be listed any information regarding the affairs of the Company including without limitation information contained in the Register and books of the Company. |
EXCLUSIVE FORUM
165. |
For the avoidance of doubt and without limiting the jurisdiction of the Cayman Courts to hear, settle and/or determine disputes related to the Company, the courts of the Cayman Islands shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any Director, officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Members, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Companies Act or these Articles including but not limited to any purchase or acquisition of Shares, security or guarantee provided in consideration thereof, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Company which if brought in the United States of America would be a claim arising under the internal affairs doctrine (as such concept is recognised under the laws of the United States from time to time). |
166. |
Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, if the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a particular dispute, the state courts in New York County, New York) shall be the exclusive forum within the United States for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising out of or relating in any way to the federal securities laws of the United States, regardless of whether such legal suit, action, or proceeding also involves parties other than the Company. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any Share or other securities in the Company, or purchasing or otherwise acquiring American depositary shares issued pursuant to deposit agreements, cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to claims arising under the Securities Act and shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article. Without prejudice to the foregoing, if the provision in this Article is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, the legality, validity or enforceability of the rest of these Articles shall not be affected and this Article shall be interpreted and construed to the maximum extent possible to apply in the relevant jurisdiction with whatever modification or deletion may be necessary so as best to give effect to the intention of the Company. |
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Exhibit 4.4
ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
THIS ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made and entered into as of November 27, 2020 by and among:
1. KANZHUN LIMITED, an exempted company duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the Company);
2. Techfish Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Hong Kong (the HK Company);
3. Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd. (北京华品博睿网络技术有限公司), a company incorporated under the laws of the PRC (the Domestic Enterprise);
4. Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd. (北京歌利沃夫企业管理有限公司), a wholly foreign owned enterprise incorporated under the laws of the PRC (the WFOE);
5. Beijing Renjuren Network Technology Co., Ltd. (北京人聚人网络技术有限公司), a company duly incorporated and validly exiting under the laws of the PRC and wholly owned by the Domestic Enterprise (the Renjuren);
6. Face Hired Inc., a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the State of California (the US Subsidiary);
7. the Persons listed on Schedule I hereto (each individually, an Investor and collectively, the Investors);
8. ZHAO Peng (赵鹏), a citizen of PRC with his ID Card number ********* (the Founder); and
9. TECHWOLF LIMITED, a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands and wholly owned by the Founder (the BVI Holdco, together with the Founder, collectively the Founder Parties and each, a Founder Party).
The Company, the HK Company, the WFOE, the Domestic Enterprise, Huaye Jishi, Renjuren, the US Subsidiary and the existing or future Subsidiaries of any of the foregoing, are referred as the Group Companies collectively, and each individually, a Group Company. The WFOE, the Domestic Enterprise, Huaye Jishi, Renjuren and the existing or future Subsidiaries of any of the foregoing, are referred as the PRC Companies, and each individually, a PRC Company.
RECITALS
A. The Company, the HK Company, the WFOE, the Domestic Enterprise, Renjuren, the US Subsidiary, certain Investors, the BVI Holdco and the Founder are parties to that certain TENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT dated as of February 10, 2020, and its amendment dated August 7, 2020 (the Prior Agreement).
B. The Company, the HK Company, the WFOE, the Domestic Enterprise, Sequoia, INTERNET FUND VI PTE. LTD., Coatue, Huaxing Growth Capital III, L.P., GGV, the BVI Holdco, the Founder and certain other parties are parties to that certain Share Purchase Agreement dated as of November 27, 2020 (as amended, the Purchase Agreement), pursuant to which the Company has agreed, among others, to issue and sell certain Series F+ Preferred Shares (as defined below), to Sequoia, INTERNET FUND VI PTE. LTD., Coatue, Huaxing Growth Capital III, L.P. and GGV, on the terms and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
C. The Purchase Agreement provides that the execution and delivery of this Agreement shall be a condition to the Closing.
D. In connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement to terminate, supersede and replace the Prior Agreement in its entirety.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, 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. INFORMATION RIGHTS; BOARD REPRESENTATION.
1.1 Information and Inspection Rights. The Company covenants and agrees that, commencing on the date of this Agreement, for so long as an Investor holds any Class A Ordinary Shares, series A preferred shares, par value of US$0.0001 per share, of the Company (the Series A Preferred Shares), series B preferred shares, par value of US$0.0001 per share, of the Company (the Series B Preferred Shares), series C preferred shares, par value of US$0.0001 per share, of the Company (the Series C Preferred Shares), series C-1 preferred shares, par value of US$0.0001 per share, of the Company (the Series C-1 Preferred Shares), series C-2 preferred shares, par value of US$0.0001 per share, of the Company (the Series C-2 Preferred Shares), series C-3 preferred shares, par value of US$0.0001 per share, of the Company (the Series C-3 Preferred Shares), series D preferred shares, par value of US$0.0001 per share, of the Company (the Series D Preferred Shares), series E preferred shares, par value of US$0.0001 per share, of the Company (the Series E Preferred Shares), series E-1 preferred shares, par value of US$0.0001 per share, of the Company (the Series E-1 Preferred Shares) or series E-2 preferred shares, par value of US$0.0001 per share, of the Company (the Series E-2 Preferred Shares, together with the Series E Preferred Shares and the Series E-1 Preferred Shares, the Series E Shares), series F preferred shares, par value of US$0.0001 per share, of the Company (the Series F Preferred Shares), series F+ preferred shares, par value of US$0.0001 per share, of the Company (the Series F+ Preferred Shares, together with the Series A Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares, Series C-1 Preferred Shares, Series C-2 Preferred Shares, Series C-3 Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, Series E Shares and Series F Preferred Shares, the Preferred Shares; together with the Ordinary Shares, Series A Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares, Series C-1 Preferred Shares, Series C-2 Preferred Shares, Series C-3 Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, Series E Shares, Series F Preferred Shares and any other shares in the capital of the Company, the Shares and each a Share), the Company shall deliver to such Investor: (a) as soon
as practicable, but in any event within thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal year, unaudited annual consolidated financial statements of the Group Companies;
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(b) as soon as practicable, but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, audited annual consolidated financial statements of the Group Companies, audited by a Big Four accounting firm or a reputable accounting firm acceptable to the Preferred Super-majority (for the purpose of this Agreement, the Preferred Super-majority means the holders holding more than two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Preferred Shares);
(c) as soon as practicable, but in any event within thirty (30) days after the end of each of the first three quarters, audited quarterly consolidated financial statements of the Group Companies;
(d) as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than thirty (30) days prior to the end of each fiscal year, an annual consolidated budget and a business plan forecasting the revenues, expenses of the Group Companies for the following fiscal year for consideration by the Board (the above rights, collectively, the Information Rights).
All financial statements to be provided to the Investors pursuant to this Section 1.1 shall include an income statement, a balance sheet and a cash flow statement for the relevant period as well as for the fiscal year to-date and if it is so required by the Investors, such financial statements shall be prepared in conformance with the U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
The Company further covenants and agrees that, commencing on the date of this Agreement, for so long as any Investor holds any Shares, such Investor shall have the right to inspect the facilities, records and books of the Group Companies at any time during regular working hours on reasonable prior notice to the Company and the right to discuss the business, operation and conditions of the Group Companies with any Group Companys directors and officers (the foregoing rights, collectively, the Inspection Rights).
The Information Rights and Inspection Rights shall terminate upon the consummation of a firm underwritten public offering of the Class A Ordinary Shares of the Company on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market, or on such other internationally recognized stock exchange approved in writing by the Preferred Super-majority, with an offering price (exclusive of underwriting commissions and expenses) that reflects a pre-offering market capitalization of not less than US$5,000,000,000 and offering proceeds (prior to payment of any underwriters commission and other fees and expenses) to the Company in excess of US$300,000,000 (a Qualified Public Offering).
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1.2 Board Representation.
(a) The Company. The Restated Articles shall provide that the Companys Board shall consist of not more than six (6) members, which number of members shall not be changed except pursuant to an amendment to the Restated Articles. The parties hereto agree that, in case the shareholding percentage in the Company on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis of any shareholder of the Company, together with its Affiliates (if applicable), reaches ten percent (10%), such shareholder, together with those Affiliates (if applicable), may have the right to exclusively and collectively appoint, replace and reappoint at any time or from time to time one (1) director on the Board, provided that such right shall be automatically terminated and of no effect if the shareholding percentage in the Company on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis of such shareholder of the Company, together with its Affiliates (if applicable), decreased to no more than six percent (6%). Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, Tencent shall be exclusively entitled to appoint, replace and reappoint at any time or from time to time one (1) director (the Series E-2 Director) of the Board and such Series E-2 Director shall be included on any committee thereof, for so long as Tencent, together with its Affiliates (if applicable), holds no less than five percent (5%) of the total issued and outstanding Shares on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis. Capital Today shall be exclusively entitled to appoint, replace and reappoint at any time or from time to time one (1) director (the Capital Today Director), for so long as Capital Today holds no less than six percent (6%) of the total issued and outstanding Shares on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis. Ceyuan Funds shall be exclusively and collectively entitled to appoint, replace and reappoint at any time or from time to time one (1) director (the Ceyuan Director) on the Board, for so long as Ceyuan Funds hold no less than six percent (6%) of the total issued and outstanding Shares on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis. Banyan shall be exclusively entitled to appoint, replace and reappoint at any time or from time to time one (1) director (the Banyan Director, together with the Series E-2 Director, Capital Today Director and Ceyuan Director, collectively the Investor Directors) of the Board, for so long as Banyan holds no less than six percent (6%) of the total issued and outstanding Shares on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis. The Founder shall be exclusively entitled to appoint, replace and reappoint at any time or from time to time one (1) director on the Board (the Founder Director), who shall be the chairman of the Board and be entitled to cast six (6) votes on any matter submitted to the Board for approval. Jixun FOO shall be appointed to the Board as an independent director (the Independent Director) of the Company by the shareholders and his term as an Independent Director is three (3) years. The parties hereto agree that the Board and/or requisite shareholders of the Company shall make such appointment of Jixun FOO in accordance with the Restated Articles and the applicable laws. The parties hereto further agree that, in case the shareholding percentage in the Company on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis of any shareholder of the Company (other than those having the right to appoint director(s) on the Board), together with its Affiliates (if applicable), reaches four percent (4%), such shareholder, together with those Affiliates (if applicable), automatically have one (1) observer seat of the Board (the Observer), provided that such observer seat shall be automatically terminated and of no effect if the shareholding percentage in the Company on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis of such shareholder of the Company, together with its Affiliates (if applicable), decreased to no more than four percent (4%). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement or other Transaction Documents, the Company shall maintain no more than three (3) Observers of the Board, one (1) of whom shall be designated, appointed, removed, replaced and reappointed at any time or from time to time at the sole discretion of Coatue, for so long as Coatue (together with its Affiliates) does not hold less than four percent (4%) of the total issued and outstanding Shares on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis for any consecutive period of three (3) years, one (1) of whom shall be designated, appointed, removed, replaced and reappointed at any time or from time to time at the sole discretion of Magic Stone Fund, for so long as Magic Stone Fund holds no less than four percent (4%) of the total issued and outstanding Shares on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis and one (1) of whom shall be designated, appointed, removed, replaced and reappointed at any time or from time to time at the sole discretion of GS, for so long as GS holds no less than four percent (4%) of the total issued and outstanding Shares on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis. The Observers shall be entitled to attend all meetings of the Board and the meetings of any committee thereof in a non-voting capacity.
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(b) Other Group Companies. Upon request by the Preferred Super-majority, the composition of the board of directors of each other Group Company shall be comprised of up to eleven (11) directors, up to four (4) of which to be the Investor Directors, one (1) of which should be the Independent Director and six (6) of which to be elected solely by the Founder, and each of the parties hereto shall take all such necessary or advisable actions to ensure the election of the Investor Directors and the Independent Director to the board of directors of each such Group Company.
(c) Quorum; Frequency; Expenses; Notices. All meetings of the Board shall be held either telephonically or in person. The Company shall reimburse the Investor Directors, the Independent Director and the Observers for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending any meetings of the Board and any committee thereof (including but not limited to transportation, food and lodging expenses and any other reasonable expense). The Company shall ensure that a notice of each meeting, agenda of the business to be transacted at such meeting and all documents and materials to be circulated or presented at such meeting are sent to all Directors and Observers entitled to receive notice of the meeting at least seven (7) Business Days before such meeting and a copy of the minutes of such meeting is sent to all such Directors within twenty (20) days following such meeting. The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Directors shall be a majority of the Directors then in office, including the votes of the Founder Director and the Majority Investor Directors. For purposes of this Agreement, the Majority Investor Directors shall mean at least a majority of all the Directors being appointed as Investor Directors and as Independent Director.
(d) Information Sharing. Subject to Section 6 of this Agreement, the Observer appointed by GS may disclose or otherwise provide any information (including any confidential information) received from any Group Company, or which relates to the Group Company and which otherwise comes into his or her possession (including the Financing Terms (as defined below) to GS and their respective partners, directors, officers and employees, respectively, for the purpose of evaluating the matters to be determined by the Board). The Observer appointed by GS may keep confidential any information relating to GS or any of its Affiliates.
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1.3 Limitation on Information Rights and Inspection Rights of the Investor(s).
(a) In the event that any Investor and/or any of its Investor Affiliates directly and/or indirectly hold more than the Limitation Threshold, then such Investor shall notify the Company accordingly in a prompt manner. Subject to Section 1.3(b), for as long as such Investor and/or any of its Investor Affiliates directly and/or indirectly hold more than the Limitation Threshold, such Investor shall not be entitled to the Information Rights and the Inspection Rights. For the this Section 1.3 only, an Investor Affiliate means, with respect to any given Investor, a Person that directly or indirectly Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with the given Investor and, for any Investor that is a private equity or venture capital investment fund, the term Investor Affiliate shall also include any investment fund which is Controlled by or under common Control with one or more general partners of such Investor. Notwithstanding the foregoing and any other provisions to the contrary contained herein or in the other Transaction Documents, with respect to GS, the term Investor Affiliate shall refer only to GPOP II and in the event any new fund is formed within two years from the date hereof and advised by GSIP Venture Capital and Growth Equity, such fund shall also be qualified as an Investor Affiliate. For the purposes of this Section 1.3, the term GPOP II means Global Private Opportunities Partners II LP with its offices at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware, Global Private Opportunities Partners II Offshore Holdings LP with its offices at 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Cayman Islands, and Global Private Opportunities Partners II Offshore SCSp with its offices at 47 Avenue J.F. Kennedy, Luxembourg, Luxembourg, and GSIP Venture Capital and Growth Equity shall mean the GSIP Venture Capital and Growth Equity division of Goldman Sachs Asset Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd, a company incorporated in Singapore with its offices at 1 Raffles Link, #07-01 South Lobby, Singapore 039393, advising GPOP II. The Limitation Threshold means two percent (2%) of the total outstanding Equity Securities in any Identified Company Competitor on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis; provided that, in the event that such any Investor and/or any of its Investor Affiliates directly and/or indirectly hold more than two percent (2%) of the total outstanding Equity Securities in any Identified Company Competitor on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis due to any investment that already exists before the later date of (i) the date on which such Investor becomes a shareholder of the Company, or (ii) the date on which such Identified Company Competitor is first listed in Exhibit D-2 (as duly updated from time to time) (such later date, the Relevant Date), then the Limitation Threshold shall mean, with respect to such Investor only, the shareholding percentage of such Investor and/or any of its Investor Affiliates in such Identified Company Competitor on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis as of the Relevant Date, and the ownership of any equity interest by such Investor in such Identified Company Competitor on or prior to the Relevant Date shall not be regarded as a breach or contravention of this Section 1.3(a) and the restriction in this Section 1.3(a) shall only apply to such Investor with respect to its equity interest in such Identified Company Competitor from the Relevant Date.
(b) Termination. The provisions under Section 1.3(a) shall automatically terminate on the earlier of (i) the fifth (5th) anniversary of the date hereof, or (ii) the closing of an initial public offering.
2. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
2.1 Applicability of Rights. The Holders (as defined below) shall be entitled to the following rights with respect to any potential public offering of the Companys Class A Ordinary Shares in the U.S. and shall be entitled to reasonably analogous or equivalent rights with respect to any other offering of the Companys securities in any other jurisdiction pursuant to which the Company undertakes to publicly offer or list such securities for trading on a recognized securities exchange.
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2.2 Definitions. For purposes of this Section 2:
(a) Registration. The terms register, registered, and registration refer to a registration of the Companys Registrable Securities (as defined below) effected by preparing and filing a registration statement with the SEC (as defined below) which is in a form which complies with, and is declared effective by the SEC in accordance with, the Securities Act.
(b) Registrable Securities. The term Registrable Securities means: (1) any Class A Ordinary Shares issued or issuable pursuant to conversion of any Preferred Shares, (2) any Class A Ordinary Shares issued (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 Preferred Shares, and (3) any Class A Ordinary Shares owned or hereafter acquired by the Investors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Registrable Securities shall exclude any Registrable Securities sold by a Person in a transaction in which rights under this Section 2 are not assigned in accordance with this Agreement, any securities or other equity awards issued by the Company to any director, officer, employee, or qualified consultants under an equity incentive plan, equity award agreement or other employee benefit plan adopted by the Company and any Registrable Securities which are sold in a registered public offering under the Securities Act or analogous statute of another jurisdiction, or sold pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or analogous rule of another jurisdiction.
(c) Registrable Securities Then Outstanding. The number of shares of Registrable Securities then outstanding shall mean the number of Class A Ordinary Shares that are Registrable Securities and are then issued and outstanding, issuable upon conversion of Preferred Shares then issued and outstanding or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security then outstanding.
(d) Holder. For purposes of this Section 2, the term Holder shall mean any Person owning or having the rights to acquire Registrable Securities or any permitted assignee of record of such Registrable Securities to whom rights under this Section 2 have been duly assigned in accordance with this Agreement.
(e) Form F-3. The term Form F-3 shall mean such form under the Securities Act as is in effect on the date hereof or any successor 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.
(f) SEC. The term SEC shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
(g) Registration Expenses. The term Registration Expenses shall mean all expenses incurred by the Company in complying with Sections 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 hereof, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, printing expenses, fees, and disbursements of counsel for the Company, blue sky fees and expenses and the expense of any special audits incident to or required by any such registration (but excluding the compensation of regular employees of the Company which shall be paid in any event by the Company and the Selling Expenses (as defined below)).
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(h) Selling Expenses. The term Selling Expenses shall mean the cost of all underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to Sections 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 hereof, including all fees and expenses of any counsel (and any other advisers) representing any Holder, and any share transfer taxes and duties.
(i) Exchange Act. The term Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute.
(j) For purposes of this Agreement, reference to registration of securities under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall be deemed to mean the equivalent registration in a jurisdiction other than the U.S. as designated by such Holders, it being understood and agreed that in each such case all references in this Agreement to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and rules, forms of registration statements and registration of securities thereunder, U.S. law and the SEC, shall be deemed to refer, to the equivalent statutes, rules, forms of registration statements, registration of securities and laws of and equivalent government authority in the applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction.
2.3 Demand Registration.
(a) Request by Holders. If the Company shall receive a written request from (i) the Holders of at least fifty percent (50%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding at any time after the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date or (ii) the Holders of at least thirty percent (30%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding at any time after six (6) months following the effectiveness of a registration statement for a Qualified Public Offering that the Company file certain registration statement on a form other than Form F-3 under the Securities Act covering the registration of at least twenty percent (20%) of the Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2.3 (or any lesser percentage if the anticipated gross receipts from the offering are not less than US$20,000,000), then the Company shall, within ten (10) Business Days of the receipt of such written request, give written notice of such request (the Request Notice) to all Holders, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect, as soon as practicable, the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities that the Holders request to be registered and included in such registration by written notice given by such Holders to the Company within twenty (20) days after receipt of the Request Notice, subject only to the limitations of this Section 2.3; provided that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration if the Company has, within the six (6) months period preceding the date of such request, already effected a registration under the Securities Act pursuant to this Section 2.3 or Section 2.5 or in which the Holders had an opportunity to participate pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.4, other than a registration from which the Registrable Securities of the Holders have been excluded (with respect to all or any portion of the Registrable Securities the Holders requested to be included in such registration) pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.4(a).
(b) Underwritten Offering. If the Holders initiating the registration request under this Section 2.3 (the Initiating Holders) intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their request by means of an underwritten offering, then they shall so advise the Company as a part of their request made pursuant to this Section 2.3 and the Company shall include such information in the Request Notice. The Company shall have the right to select the managing underwriter or underwriters to administer the offering. In such event, 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 underwritten offering shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the managing underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwritten offering. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.3, 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 (x) first, to the Investors on a pro rata basis according to the number of Registrable Securities then outstanding held by each Investor requesting registration and (y) then, to the other Holders of Registrable Securities on a pro rata basis according to the number of Registrable Securities then outstanding held by each such Holder requesting registration; provided, however, that the number of shares of Registrable Securities to be included in such underwriting and registration shall not be reduced unless all other securities are first entirely excluded from the underwriting and registration including, without limitation, all shares that are not Registrable Securities and are held by any other Person, including, without limitation, any Person who is an employee, officer or director of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; provided further, that at least twenty-five percent (25%) of shares of Registrable Securities requested by the Holders to be included in such underwriting and registration shall be so included. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by 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.
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(c) Maximum Number of Demand Registrations. The Company shall not be obligated to effect more than two (2) such registrations pursuant to this Section 2.3.
(d) Deferral. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company shall furnish to the Holders requesting registration pursuant to this Section 2.3, 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 at such time, then the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than one hundred twenty (120) 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 the Company shall not register any other of its shares during such twelve (12) month period. A demand right shall not be deemed to have been exercised if such deferred registration shall have been effected.
2.4 Piggyback Registrations.
(a) The Company shall notify all Holders of Registrable Securities in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to filing any registration statement under the Securities Act for purposes of effecting a public offering of securities of the Company (including, but not limited to, registration statements relating to secondary offerings of securities of the Company, but excluding registration statements relating to any registration under Section 2.3 or Section 2.5 of this Agreement or to any employee benefit plan or a corporate reorganization) and shall 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 it shall within twenty (20) 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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(b) Underwritten Offering. If a registration statement under which the Company gives notice under this Section 2.4 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 2.4 shall be conditioned upon such Holders participation in such underwritten offering and the inclusion of such Holders Registrable Securities in the underwritten offering to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwritten offering shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the managing underwriter or underwriters selected by the Company for such underwritten offering. 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, second, to each of the Investors requesting inclusion of their Registrable Securities in such registration statement on a pro rata basis based on the total number of shares of Registrable Securities then held by each such Investor, third, to the other Holders requesting inclusion of their Registrable Securities in such registration statement on a pro rata basis based on the total number of shares of Registrable Securities then held by each such Holder and fourth, to holders of other securities of the Company; 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 shares of Registrable Securities for which inclusion has been requested; and (ii) all shares that are not Registrable Securities and are held by any other Person, including, without limitation, 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, unless otherwise approved by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by 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.
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(c) Right to Terminate Registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any Registration initiated by it under Section 2.4(a) prior to the effectiveness of such Registration, whether or not any Holder has elected to participate therein. The expenses of such withdrawn Registration under this Section 2.4(c) shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section 2.6.
(d) Not Demand Registration. Registration pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall not be deemed to be a demand registration as described in Section 2.3 above. There shall be no limit on the number of times the Holders may request registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 2.4.
2.5 Form F-3 Registration. In case the Company shall receive from Holders of a majority of all Registrable Securities then outstanding a written request or requests that the Company effect a registration on Form F-3 (or an equivalent registration in a jurisdiction outside of the U.S.) and if the Company qualifies to use the Form F-3, then the Company will:
(a) Notice. Promptly give written notice of the proposed registration and the Holders or Holders request therefor, to all other Holders of Registrable Securities; and
(b) Registration. As soon as practicable, use its reasonable best efforts to effect such registration 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 Company provides the notice contemplated by Section (a); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration pursuant to this Section 2.5:
(i) if Form F-3 is not available 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 to the public of less than US$1,000,000;
(iii) if the Company shall furnish to the Holders a certificate signed by the president or chief executive officer of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of the Company, it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such Form F-3 Registration to be effected at such time, in which event the Company shall have the right to defer the filing of the Form F-3 registration statement no more than once during any twelve (12) month period for a period of not more than sixty (60) days after receipt of the request of the Holder or Holders under this Section 2.5; provided that the Company shall not register any of its other shares during such sixty (60) day period.
(iv) if the Company has, within the six (6) month period preceding the date of such request, already effected one registration under the Securities Act other than a registration from which the Registrable Securities of the 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 Sections 2.3(b) and 2.4(b); or
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(v) in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to qualify to do business or to execute a general consent to service of process in effecting such registration, qualification or compliance.
(c) Not Demand Registration. Form F-3 registrations shall not be deemed to be demand registrations as described in Section 2.3 above. The Company shall be obligated to effect no more than one (1) Registration on Form F-3 during any twelve (12)-month period pursuant to this Section 2.5.
(d) Underwriting. If the Holders of Registrable Securities requesting registration under this Section 2.5 intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their request by means of an underwritten offering, the provisions of Section 2.3(b) shall apply to such registration.
2.6 Expenses. All Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration pursuant to Sections 2.3, 2.4 or 2.5 (but excluding Selling Expenses) shall be borne by the Company. Each Holder participating in a registration pursuant to Sections 2.3, 2.4 or 2.5 shall bear such Holders proportionate share (based on the total number of shares sold in such registration other than for the account of the Company) of all Selling Expenses or other amounts payable to underwriter(s) or brokers, in connection with such offering by the Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to pay for any expenses of any registration proceeding begun pursuant to Section 2.3 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 to forfeit their right to one (1) registration pursuant to Subsection 2.3 or 2.5, as the case may be; 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, then the Holders shall not be required to pay any of such expenses and shall not forfeit their right to one (1) registration pursuant to Subsection 2.3 or 2.5.
2.7 Obligations of the Company. Whenever required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under this Agreement, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:
(a) Registration Statement. Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, and, upon the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered thereunder, keep such registration statement effective for a period of up to ninety (90) days or, in the case of Registrable Securities registered under Form F-3 in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act or a successor rule, until the distribution contemplated in the registration statement has been completed; provided, however, that (i) such ninety (90) day period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period any Holder refrains from selling any securities included in such registration at the request of the underwriter(s), and (ii) in the case of any registration of Registrable Securities on Form F-3 which are intended to be offered on a continuous or delayed basis, such ninety (90) day period shall be extended, if necessary, to keep the registration statement effective until all such Registrable Securities are sold.
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(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 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 commercially reasonable 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 unless the Company is already subject to service in such jurisdiction and except as may be required by the Securities Act.
(e) 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.
(f) Opinion 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 securities are being sold through underwriters, or, if such securities are not being sold through underwriters, on the date that the registration statement with respect to such securities becomes effective, (i) an opinion, dated as of such date, of the counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering addressed to the underwriters, if any, and (ii) letters dated as of (x) the effective date of the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities and (y) the closing date of the offering 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 addressed to the underwriters, if any.
2.8 Furnish Information. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to Sections 2.3, 2.4 or 2.5 that the selling Holders shall furnish to the Company such information regarding themselves, the Registrable Securities held by them and the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be required to timely effect the Registration of their Registrable Securities.
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2.9 Indemnification. In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under Sections 2.3, 2.4 or 2.5:
(a) By the Company. To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its partners, officers, directors, legal counsel, any underwriter (as defined 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 U.S. federal or state 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):
(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 by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any U.S. federal or state securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any U.S. federal or state securities law in connection with the offering covered by such registration statement; and the Company will reimburse each such Holder, its partner, officer, director, legal counsel, underwriter or controlling Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them, as incurred, in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, Liability or Action; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Subsection 2.9(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), 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 or any partner, officer, director, counsel, underwriter or controlling Person of such Holder.
(b) By Selling Holders. To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder will, if Registrable Securities held by Holder are included in the securities as to which such registration qualifications or compliance is being effected, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its Directors, each of its officers who has signed the registration statement, each Person, if any, who Controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, 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 U.S. federal or state 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 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 agreement contained in this Section 2.9(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 in no event shall any indemnity under this Section 2.9(b) exceed the net proceeds received by such Holder in the registered offering out of which the applicable Violation arises.
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(c) Notice. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 2.9 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 indemnified party under this Section 2.9, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof 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, 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 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 2.9 to the extent the indemnifying party is prejudiced as a result thereof, but the omission to so deliver written notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any Liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 2.9.
(d) 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 indemnified party makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 2.9 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 2.9 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any indemnified party in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 2.9; then, and in each such case, the indemnified party and the indemnifying party will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or Liabilities to which they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such proportion so that a Holder (together with its related Persons) is responsible for the portion represented by the percentage that the public offering price of its Registrable Securities offered by and sold under the registration statement bears to the public offering price of all securities offered by and sold under such registration statement, and the Company and other selling Holders are responsible for the remaining portion. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by a court of law by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission; provided, however, that, in any such case: (A) no Holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the net proceeds to such Holder from the sale of all such Registrable Securities offered and sold by such Holder pursuant to such registration statement; and (B) no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
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(e) Survival. The obligations of the Company and Holders under this Section 2.9 shall survive 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. No indemnifying party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of each indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all Liabilities in respect to such claim or litigation.
2.10 Termination of the Companys Obligations. The Companys obligations under Sections 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 with respect to any Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by a Holder in a registration pursuant to Section 2.3, 2.4 or 2.5 shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the third (3rd) anniversary of the initial public offering of the Company; or (ii) the date on which such Holder is eligible to sell all of the Registrable Securities held by it under Rule 144 within any ninety (90) day period without volume limitations.
2.11 No Registration Rights to Third Parties. Without the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority in interest 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 any registration rights of any kind (whether similar to the demand, piggyback or Form F-3 registration rights described in this Section 2, or otherwise) relating to any securities of the Company which are senior to, or on a parity with, those granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities.
2.12 Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to make available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC which may at any time permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form F-3, after such time as a public market exists for the Class A Ordinary Shares, the Company agrees to:
(a) Make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times after the effective date of the first registration under the Securities Act 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 and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements); and
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(c) So long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, to furnish to such Holder forthwith upon request (i) a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (at any time after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the Companys initial public offering), the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements), or its qualification as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form F-3 (at any time after it so qualifies), (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and (iii) such other reports and documents of the Company as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such securities without registration or pursuant to Form F-3.
2.13 Market Stand-Off. Each shareholder of the Company agrees that, so long as it holds any voting securities of the Company, upon request by the Company or the underwriters managing the initial public offering of the Companys securities, it will not sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any securities of the Company (other than those permitted to be included in the registration and other transfers to Affiliates permitted by law) without the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for a period of time specified by the representative of the underwriters not to exceed one hundred and eighty (180) days from the effective date of the registration statement covering such initial public offering or the pricing date of such offering as may be requested by the underwriters. The foregoing provision of this Section 2.13 shall not apply to the sale of any securities of the Company to an underwriter pursuant to any underwriting agreement, and shall only be applicable to the Holders if all officers, directors and holders of one percent (1%) or more of the Companys outstanding share capital enter into similar agreements, and if the Company or any underwriter releases any officer, director or holder of one percent (1%) or more of the Companys outstanding share capital from his or her sale restrictions so undertaken, then each Holder shall be notified prior to such release and shall itself be simultaneously released to the same proportional extent. The Company shall require all future acquirers of the Companys securities holding at least one percent (1%) of the then outstanding share capital of the Company to execute prior to a Qualified Public Offering a market stand-off agreement containing substantially similar provisions as those contained in this Section 2.13.
3. RIGHT OF PARTICIPATION.
3.1 General. Each Investor shall have the right of first refusal to purchase their respective Pro Rata Share (as defined below) of all (or any part) of any New Securities (as defined in Section 3.3 below) that the Company may from time to time issue after the Closing (the Right of Participation).
3.2 Pro Rata Share. For the purposes of the Right of Participation, an Investors Pro Rata Share is the ratio of (a) the number of Class A Ordinary Shares (calculated on a fully-diluted and as-converted basis) held by such Investor (if such Investor is any of the Founder Parties, excluding any Class A Ordinary Shares held by such Founder Party) immediately prior to the issuance of New Securities giving rise to the Right of Participation, to (b) the total number of Class A Ordinary Shares (calculated on a fully-diluted and as-converted basis) outstanding immediately prior to the issuance of New Securities giving rise to the Right of Participation.
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3.3 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 of the Company, provided, however, that the term New Securities shall not include:
(a) up to 145,696,410 Class A Ordinary Shares (as adjusted for share dividend, share split, combination of shares, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification or other similar event) issued to officers, Directors, employees and consultants of the Company pursuant to the ESOP (as defined below) approved in accordance with Section 7.1.1 and Section 7.2;
(b) any securities issued in connection with any share split, share dividend, reclassification or other similar event in which all Investors are entitled to participate on a pro rata basis;
(c) any securities issued upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of any outstanding security if such outstanding security constituted a New Security;
(d) any security issued pursuant to a Qualified Public Offering;
(e) any securities of the Company 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, all or substantially all assets of such other corporation or entity, or fifty percent (50%) or more of the equity ownership or voting power of such other corporation or entity, in any case, as duly approved by the Company in accordance with this Agreement and the Restated Articles; and
(f) any Preferred Shares issued or issuable under the Purchase Agreement and any Class A Ordinary Shares issued upon the conversion of the Preferred Shares.
3.4 Procedures. 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 Investor of the Company a written notice of its intention to issue New Securities (the Participation Notice), describing the identity of the prospective subscriber, the amount and type of New Securities, the price and the general terms upon which the Company proposes to issue such New Securities. Each Investor shall have thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of any such Participation Notice (the Participation Period) to agree in writing to purchase such Investors Pro Rata Share of the New Securities for the price and upon the terms and conditions specified in the 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 to exceed such Investors Pro Rata Share of the New Securities). If any Investor fails to send such written notice within the Participation Period to purchase such Investors full Pro Rata Share of the New Securities, then the right of such Investor hereunder shall be forfeit in respect to the part of its Pro Rata Share of the New Securities that it did not agree to purchase.
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3.5 Failure to Exercise. Upon the expiration of the Participation Period, the Company shall have ninety (90) days thereafter to sell the New Securities described in the Participation Notice (with respect to which the Right of Participation was not fully exercised) at the same or a higher price and upon non-price terms not more favorable to the purchasers thereof than specified in the Participation Notice. In the event that the Company has not issued and sold such New Securities within such ninety (90) days period, then the Company shall not thereafter issue or sell any New Securities without again first offering such New Securities to the Investors pursuant to this Section 3.
3.6 Assignment. Each Investor is entitled to assign all or part of its Right of Participation to its Affiliated Investor(s), provided that (a) such Investor shall have described in reasonable details of such assignment in the Participation Notice, including, without limitation, (i) the name and address of the relevant assignee, and (ii) a confirmation that such assignee is one of its Affiliated Investors, and (b) such Investor and the Company shall have entered into friendly negotiations and mutually agreed with such assignment.
3.7 Termination. The Right of Participation shall terminate upon an initial public offering.
4. TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS.
4.1 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Section 4, Class A Ordinary Shares means (i) the Companys outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares, (ii) the Class A Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon conversion of the Companys outstanding preferred shares, (iii) the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants and (iv) the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of any outstanding convertible securities; and Restricted Shares means any of the Companys securities (other than the Preferred Shares) now directly or indirectly owned or subsequently acquired by the Founder Parties or their Permitted Transferees. ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders means (i) each of the Investors, and (ii) any Investors Affiliated Investor(s) to whom the rights of such Investor under Section 4.3 have been duly assigned in accordance with the following: (a) such Investor shall describe in reasonable details of such assignment in the applicable First Refusal Period, including, without limitation, (i) the name and address of the relevant assignee, and (ii) a confirmation that such assignee is one of its Affiliated Investors, and (b) such Investor and the Company shall have entered into friendly negotiations and mutually agreed with such assignment.
4.2 Sale of Restricted Shares; Notice of Sale. Subject to Section 4.7 of this Agreement, if any of the Founder Parties and their Permitted Transferees (collectively the Selling Shareholders and each a Selling Shareholder) proposes to sell or transfer any Restricted Shares held by it, then the Selling Shareholder shall promptly give a written notice (the Transfer Notice) to each ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder and the Company prior to such sale or transfer. The Transfer Notice shall describe in reasonable detail the proposed sale or transfer including, without limitation, the number of Restricted Shares to be sold or transferred (the Offered Shares), the nature of such sale or transfer, the consideration to be paid and the material terms and conditions upon which the proposed sale or transfer to be made, and the name and address of each prospective purchaser or transferee. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the transfer restrictions under this Section 4 (except for Section 4.10) shall apply to any transfer of Shares by the Investors.
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4.3 Right of First Refusal.
(a) ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders Option.
(i) Each ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder shall have the right, exercisable upon written notice to the Selling Shareholder, the Company, and each other ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder, within thirty (30) days following the date of the Transfer Notice (the First Refusal Period), to elect to purchase all or any part of its pro rata share of the Offered Shares equivalent to the product obtained by multiplying the aggregate number of the Offered Shares by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Class A Ordinary Shares (calculated on a fully-diluted and as-converted basis) held by such ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder on the date of the Transfer Notice and the denominator of which is the total number of Class A Ordinary Shares (calculated on a fully-diluted and as-converted basis) owned by all the ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders on the date of the Transfer Notice (the First Refusal Allotment), at the same price and subject to the same material terms and conditions as described in the Transfer Notice. To the extent that any ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder does not exercise its right of first refusal to the full extent of its First Refusal Allotment, the Selling Shareholder and the exercising ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders shall, within five (5) days after the expiration of the First Refusal Period, make such adjustments to the First Refusal Allotment of each exercising ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder so that any remaining Offered Shares may be allocated to those ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders exercising their rights of first refusal on a pro rata basis. For purpose of the foregoing sentence, on a pro rata basis means on the basis of the ratio of (a) the number of Class A Ordinary Shares (calculated on a fully-diluted and as-converted basis) held by an exercising ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder on the date of the Transfer Notice, to (b) the total number of Class A Ordinary Shares (calculated on a fully-diluted and as-converted basis) then held by all such exercising ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders on the date of the Transfer Notice.
(ii) Action Required. A ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder shall not have the right or obligation to purchase any of the Offered Shares unless it exercises its right of first refusal within the First Refusal Period to purchase up to all, or any of its pro rata share, of the Offered Shares.
(iii) Expiration Notice. Within ten (10) days after expiration of the First Refusal Period, the Company will give written notice (the First Refusal Expiration Notice) to the Selling Shareholder and each ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder specifying either (i) that all of the Offered Shares were purchased by the ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders by exercising their rights of first refusal, or (ii) that the ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders have not purchased all of the Offered Shares, in which case the First Refusal Expiration Notice will specify the Co-Sale Pro Rata Portion (as defined below) of the remaining Offered Shares for the purpose of their co-sale rights described in Section 4.4 below.
(iv) Purchase Price. The purchase price per share of the Offered Shares to be purchased by the ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders exercising their right of first refusal will be the price per share set forth in the Transfer Notice, and will be payable as set forth in Section 4.3(a)(v). If the purchase price in the Transfer Notice includes consideration other than cash, the cash equivalent value of the non-cash consideration will be determined by the Preferred Super-majority in good faith, which determination will be binding upon the ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders, and the Selling Shareholder, absent fraud or error.
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(v) Payment. Payment of the purchase price per share for the Offered Shares purchased by the ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders shall be made within ten (10) days following the date of the First Refusal Expiration Notice. Payment of the purchase price shall be made by wire transfer or check as directed by the Selling Shareholder.
(vi) Application of Co-Sale Rights. If the ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders have not elected to purchase all of the Offered Shares, then the sale of the remaining Offered Shares will become subject to the co-sale rights set forth in Section 4.4 below.
4.4 Co-Sale Right. To the extent the ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders have not exercised their right of first refusal with respect to all the Offered Shares, then each ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder that has not exercised its right of first refusal provided in Section 4.3 above shall have the right, exercisable upon delivery of a written notice to the Selling Shareholder, with a copy to the Company and each other ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder (the Co-Sale Notice), within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the First Refusal Expiration Notice (the Co-Sale Right Period), to participate in the sale of the remaining Offered Shares at the same price and subject to the same terms and conditions as set forth in the Transfer Notice. The Co-Sale Notice shall set forth the number of Company securities (calculated on a fully-diluted and as-converted basis) that such participating ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder wishes to include in such sale or transfer, which amount shall not exceed the Co-Sale Pro Rata Portion (as defined below) of such ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder. To the extent one or more of the ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders exercise such right of participation in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth below, the number of Offered Shares that the Selling Shareholder may sell in the transaction shall be correspondingly reduced. To the extent that any ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder does not participate in the sale to the full extent of its Co-Sale Pro Rata Portion, the Selling Shareholder and the participating ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders shall, within ten (10) days after the expiration of the Co-Sale Right Period, make such adjustments to the Co-Sale Pro Rata Portion of each participating ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder so that any remaining Offered Shares may be allocated to other participating ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders on a pro rata basis. The co-sale right of each ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) Co-Sale Pro Rata Portion. Each ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder exercising its co-sale right may sell all or any part of that number of Class A Ordinary Shares held by it (calculated on a fully-diluted and as-converted basis) that is equal to the product obtained by multiplying (x) the aggregate number of the Offered Shares subject to the co-sale right hereunder (excluding Shares purchased by the ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders under Section 4.3, if any) by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Class A Ordinary Shares (calculated on an as-converted basis) owned by such ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder on the date of the Transfer Notice, and the denominator of which is the total number of all Class A Ordinary Shares (calculated on a fully-diluted and as-converted basis) then owned by the Selling Shareholder (excluding any Class A Ordinary Shares of the Selling Shareholder on which any ROFR and Co- Sale Right Holder has exercised its right of first refusal) and all ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders exercising their co-sale rights hereunder (Co-Sale Pro Rata Portion).
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(b) Transferred Shares. Each participating ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder shall effect its participation in the sale by promptly delivering to the Selling Shareholder for transfer to the prospective purchaser a transfer form and one or more share certificates, properly endorsed for transfer, which represent:
(i) the number of Class A Ordinary Shares which such ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder elects to sell;
(ii) that number of Preferred Shares, which is at such time convertible into the number of Class A Ordinary Shares that such ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder elects to sell (calculated on a fully-diluted and as-converted basis); or
(iii) a combination of the above.
provided in such case that, if the prospective purchaser objects to the transfer of Preferred Shares in lieu of Ordinary Shares, such ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder shall convert such Preferred Shares into Class A Ordinary Shares and deliver certificates for Class A Ordinary Shares as provided in Subsection 4.4(b)(i) above. The Company agrees to make any such conversion concurrent with the actual transfer of such shares to the purchaser.
(c) Payment to ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders; Registration of Transfer. The share certificate or certificates that the participating ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder delivers to the Selling Shareholder pursuant to Section 4.4(b) shall be transferred to the prospective purchaser in consummation of the sale of the Offered Shares pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the Transfer Notice, and the Selling Shareholder shall concurrently therewith remit to such ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder that portion of the sale proceeds to which such ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder is entitled by reason of its participation in such sale. To the extent that any prospective purchaser or purchasers prohibits such assignment or otherwise refuses to purchase shares or other securities from a ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder exercising its co-sale right hereunder, the Selling Shareholder shall not sell to such prospective purchaser or purchasers any Offered Shares unless and until, simultaneously with such sale, the Selling Shareholder shall purchase such shares or other securities from such ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder. In selling of their Shares pursuant to their co-sale right hereunder, such ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder shall not be required to give any representations or warranties except for such representations and warranties in relation to their legal, full and integral ownership, title and right to such Shares without any encumbrance, their full authority to transfer such Shares and such customary representations and warranties expected to be made by a minority shareholder, which excludes the operation, assets, liabilities and financials of the Company. The Company shall, upon surrendering by the prospective purchaser or the Selling Shareholder of the certificates for the Preferred Shares or Class A Ordinary Shares being transferred from the participating ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders as provided above, make proper entries in the register of members of the Company and cancel the surrendered certificates and issue any new certificates in the name of the prospective purchase or the Selling Shareholder, as the case may be, as necessary to consummate the transactions in connection with the exercise by ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders of their co-sale rights under this Section 4.4.
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4.5 Right to Transfer. The Selling Shareholder may, not later than one hundred (100) days following delivery to each ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holder of the Transfer Notice, conclude a transfer of the Offered Shares covered by the Transfer Notice and not elected to be purchased or sold by the ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders, which shall be on term and conditions that are no more favorable than those as described in the Transfer Notice. Any proposed transfer on terms and conditions which are materially different from those described in the Transfer Notice, as well as any subsequent proposed transfer of any Restricted Shares by the Selling Shareholder, shall again be subject to the right of first refusal and co-sale right of the ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders and shall require compliance by the Selling Shareholder with the procedures described in Section 4 of this Agreement.
4.6 Exempt Transfers. Subject to Section 4.7 hereof, the right of first refusal and co-sale right of the ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders shall not apply to (a) any sale or transfer of the Restricted Shares to the Company pursuant to a repurchase right held by the Company in the event of a termination of employment or consulting relationship; (b) any transfer of the Restricted Shares to the parents, children or spouse, or to trusts for the benefit of such Persons, of the Selling Shareholder for bona fide estate planning purposes; and (c) transfer of the Equity Securities of the Company held by the Founder Parties on a cumulative basis from the date hereof in an amount not exceeding one percent (1%) of all Equity Securities of the Company on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis immediately after February 10, 2020 (collectively the Permitted Transferees, and each, a Permitted Transferee); provided that adequate documentation therefor is provided to the ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders to their reasonable satisfaction and that any such Permitted Transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the Transaction Documents in place of the relevant Selling Shareholder; and provided further, that such transferor shall remain liable for any breach by such Permitted Transferee of any provision hereunder.
4.7 Prohibited Transfers.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, except for transfers by the Selling Shareholder to its Permitted Transferees as provided in Section 4.6 above, none of Founder Parties shall directly or indirectly, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose (Transfer) through one or a series of transactions any Restricted Shares held by such Founder Party or its Permitted Transferees to any Person prior to an initial public offering, unless with the prior written consents of the Preferred Super-majority.
(b) Any attempt by the Founder Parties to transfer any Restricted Shares in violation of this Section 4 shall be void and the Company hereby agrees it will not effect such a Transfer nor will it treat any alleged transferee as the holder of such Restricted Shares without the prior written approval of the Preferred Super-majority.
4.8 Restriction on Indirect Transfers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, without the prior written approval of the Preferred Super-majority:
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(a) The Founder shall not, and shall cause any other Person not to, directly or indirectly, Transfer, through one or a series of transactions any equity interest held or Controlled by them in the PRC Companies to any Person. Any Transfer in violation of this Section 4.8(a) shall be void and the PRC Companies hereby agrees that it shall not effect such a transfer nor will it treat any alleged transferee as the holder of such equity interest without the prior written approval of the Preferred Super-majority.
(b) None of the HK Company, the US Subsidiary and the PRC Companies shall, and the Founder shall cause such Group Company not to, issue to any Person any Equity Securities of such Group Company, or any options or warrants for, or any other securities exchangeable for or convertible into, such Equity Securities of such Group Company.
(c) The Founder agrees not to circumvent or otherwise avoid the transfer restrictions or intent thereof set forth in the Section 4, whether by holding the Equity Securities of the Company indirectly through the BVI Holdco or by causing or effecting, directly or indirectly, the transfer or the issuance of any Equity Securities of the BVI Holdco, or otherwise. Any purported transfer, sale or issuance of any Equity Securities of the BVI Holdco in contravention of this Agreement shall be void and ineffective for any and all purposes and shall not confer on any transferee or purported transferee any rights whatsoever, and no party hereof (including without limitation, the Founder and the BVI Holdco) shall recognize any such transfer, sale or issuance.
4.9 Legend.
(a) Each certificate representing the Restricted Shares shall be endorsed with the following legend:
THE SALE, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE SHAREHOLDER, THE COMPANY, CERTAIN AFFILIATES OF THE COMPANY AND CERTAIN SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.
The above restrictions on share transfer should also be recorded in a notation on the Companys register of members.
(b) The Founder Parties agree that the Company may instruct its transfer agent to impose transfer restrictions on the existing or future shares represented by certificates bearing the legend referred to in Section 4.9(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 4.
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4.10 Restriction on Transfer of Preferred Shares.
(1) Without the prior written consent of the Founder Parties, the holders of the Preferred Shares shall not transfer or otherwise dispose of any Shares to the following Persons:
(a) any Person listed on Exhibit D-1 (the Company Competitors), which list shall be subject to a yearly update as approved by the Board (including the affirmative votes of all Investor Directors and the Independent Director);
(b) the De Facto Controlling Person of any Company Competitor;
(c) the chief executive officer of any Company Competitor at the time of such transfer or any of his/her spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and brothers and sisters-in-law; and/or
(d) any Person who is controlled by any of the Persons specified in subsections (a), (b) or (c) above.
For purposes of this Section 4.10(1) only, control of a specific Person means (i) in case such specific Persons equity securities are listed on a securities exchange, possessing, directly or indirectly, share capital or other equity interests of such specific Person representing more than thirty percent (30%) of the voting power or outstanding equity securities of such specified Person and there being no other Person who owns a greater number of voting power or outstanding equity securities of such specified Person, (ii) in case such specific Persons equity securities are not listed on a securities exchange, possessing, directly or indirectly, share capital or other equity interests of such specific Person representing more than fifty (50%) of the voting power or outstanding equity securities of such specified Person, or (iii) possessing, directly or indirectly, the power to designate, appoint or remove a majority of the member on the board of directors of such specified Person; De Facto Controlling Person of a specific Person means such other Person who controls such specified Person and any of his/her spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and brothers and sisters-in-law.
The provisions under Section 4.10(1) shall automatically terminate on the earlier of (i) July 3, 2024 or (ii) the consummation of an initial public offering, after which any restriction on transfer of Shares pursuant to Section 4.10(1) shall expire and be of no effect.
(2) Company Right of First Refusal
(a) Subject to Section 4.10(1) and Section 4.10(2)(d), in the event that any of Investors (collectively the Transferors, and each a Transferor) proposes to sell or transfer any Shares held by it directly or indirectly to any Person, then the Transferor shall promptly give a written notice (the Investor Transfer Notice) to the Company prior to such sale or transfer. The Investor Transfer Notice shall describe in reasonable detail the proposed sale or transfer including, without limitation, the number of Shares to be sold or transferred (the Transfer Shares), the nature of such sale or transfer, the consideration to be paid and the material terms and conditions upon which the proposed sale or transfer to be made, and the name and address of each prospective purchaser or transferee.
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(b) Subject to Section 4.10(2)(d) below, the Company and/or the designee(s) of the Company shall have the right, exercisable upon written notice to the Transferor, within fifteen (15) Business Days following the date of the Investor Transfer Notice (the Company First Refusal Period), to elect to purchase all or part of the Transfer Shares (the Company Right of First Refusal). Payment of the purchase price for the Transfer Shares elected to be purchased shall be made within sixty (60) days following the date of the exercise of the Company Right of First Refusal. Payment of the purchase price shall be made by wire transfer or check as directed by the Company.
(c) If the Company chooses not to fully exercise its Company Right of First Refusal within the Company First Refusal Period or fails to exercise its Company Right of First Refusal within the Company First Refusal Period, then within four (4) months following delivery to the Company of the Investor Transfer Notice, the Transferor may conclude a transfer of the remaining Transfer Shares which are not elected to be purchased by the Company which shall be on term and conditions that are no more favorable than those as described in the Investor Transfer Notice. Any proposed transfer on terms and conditions which are materially different from those described in the Investor Transfer Notice, as well as any subsequent proposed transfer of any Transfer Shares by the Transferor, shall again be subject to the Company Right of First Refusal and shall require compliance by the Transferor with the procedures described in Section 4.10 of this Agreement.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Transfer of any Shares held by each of the Investors to its Affiliated Investor(s) shall not be subject to the Company Right of First Refusal, provided that (a) such Investor shall have described in reasonable details of such Transfer in a prior written notice to the Company, including, without limitation, (i) the name and address of the relevant Transferee, (ii) the number of Shares to be sold or transferred; and (iii) a confirmation that such Transferee is one of its Affiliated Investors, and (b) such Investor and the Company shall have entered into friendly negotiations and mutually agreed to such Transfer; provided that the foregoing subsection (b) shall not apply if such Transfer is made for (x) the purpose of tax planning, or (y) the purpose of compliance with any applicable laws, rules or internal policies of such Investor (such Transfer, the Permitted Affiliated Transfer), provided, further, that such Permitted Affiliated Transfer shall not circumvent or otherwise avoid the restrictions under subsection (b) by syndicating or otherwise transferring any economic interests in the Equity Securities held by such Investor to any third parties.
4.11 Term. The provisions under this Section 4 shall terminate upon the consummation of an initial public offering.
5. AMENDMENT AND ASSIGNMENT.
5.1 Amendment. Subject to Section 7.1.1, this Agreement may only be amended with the written consent of each of (i) the Founder; (ii) the Company; (iii) the Preferred Super-majority; and (iv) Persons or entities holding a majority of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares (excluding Class A Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares); provided that any amendment or waiver that affects any holder of Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares shall require the written Consent of the holder so disproportionately and adversely affected; provided further any amendment or waiver that affects any holder of Ordinary Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Ordinary Shares shall require the written Consent of the holder so disproportionately and adversely affected. Any amendment effected in accordance with this Section 5.1 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 5.1, an Investors prior written consent shall be required for amendment to any of the rights expressly granted to such particular Investor hereunder (other than those granted to it in its capacity as a holder of a certain series of Preferred Shares), which rights shall, for the avoidance of doubt, include without limitation Tencents rights under Section 8.22 Restricted Person Transactions, Section 1.2 Board Representation with respect to Tencent.
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5.2 Waiver of Rights. Subject to Section 7.1.1, to the extent that any party seeks a waiver of rights from any other party, such waiver may be given or made (i) as to the Group Companies, only by the written consent of the Company; (ii) as to the holders of Preferred Shares, by the written consent of the Preferred Super-majority; provided, however, that any holder of Preferred Shares may waive any of its rights hereunder without obtaining the consent of any other holder of Preferred Shares; (iii) as to each Founder Party, by the written consent of such Founder Party and the Founder; and (iv) as to each Investor, by the written consent of such Investor. Any waiver effected in accordance with this Section 5.2 shall be binding upon the Group Companies, the Founder Parties, the Investors and their respective assigns.
5.3 Assignment.
(a) Assignment and Transfer. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding on the respective transferees, successors and/or assigns of the parties hereto. This Agreement is not assignable except in connection with a Transfer of Equity Securities of the Company by a Shareholder in accordance with this Agreement but only to the extent of such Transfer, and any such transferee shall execute and deliver to the Company the Adherence Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the Adherence Agreement). Other than as provided for in this Agreement, this Agreement and the rights and obligations of any party hereunder shall not otherwise be assigned without the mutual consent of the other parties.
(b) Adherence Agreement. Each transferee or assignee of Equity Securities of the Company subject to this Agreement shall continue to be subject to the terms hereof, and as a condition to the Companys recognizing such transfer, the transferee or assignee shall assume the obligations of the transferor under this Agreement by executing and delivering to the Company an 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.
6. CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-DISCLOSURE.
6.1 Disclosure of Terms. The terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Purchase Agreement, and all exhibits and schedules attached to such agreements (collectively, the Financing Terms), including their existence, shall be considered confidential information and shall not be disclosed by any party hereto to any third party except in accordance with the provisions set forth below; provided that such confidential information shall not include any information that is in the public domain other than caused by the breach of the confidentiality obligations hereunder.
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6.2 Press Releases. Any press release issued by the Company shall not disclose any of the Financing Terms and the final form of such press release shall be approved in advance in writing by the Investors. No other announcement regarding any of the Financing Terms in a press release, conference, advertisement, announcement, professional or trade publication, mass marketing materials or otherwise to the general public may be made without the Investors prior written consent. Notwithstanding the above, none of the parties hereto shall issue a press release or make any public announcement or other public disclosure with respect to any of the transactions contemplated herein without obtaining the prior written consent of Coatue or use the name of Coatue or any Affiliate of Coatue without obtaining in each instance the prior written consent of Coatue; none of the parties hereto shall issue a press release or make any public announcement or other public disclosure with respect to any of the transactions contemplated herein without obtaining the prior written consent of Tencent or use the name of Tencent or any Affiliate of Tencent without obtaining in each instance the prior written consent of Tencent; none of the parties hereto shall issue a press release or make any public announcement or other public disclosure with respect to any of the transactions contemplated herein without obtaining the prior written consent of GS or use the name of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC., or any Affiliate of GS without obtaining in each instance the prior written consent of GS; none of the parties hereto shall issue a press release or make any public announcement or other public disclosure with respect to any of the transactions contemplated herein without obtaining the prior written consent of GGV or use the name of GGV, GGV Capital or any Affiliate of GGV without obtaining in each instance the prior written consent of GGV; none of the parties hereto shall issue a press release or make any public announcement or other public disclosure with respect to any of the transactions contemplated herein without obtaining the prior written consent of Sunshine or use the name of Sunshine or any Affiliate of Sunshine without obtaining in each instance the prior written consent of Sunshine; none of the parties hereto shall issue a press release or make any public announcement or other public disclosure with respect to any of the transactions contemplated herein without obtaining the prior written consent of Zhongwei Capital or use the name of Zhongwei Capital or any Affiliate of Zhongwei Capital without obtaining in each instance the prior written consent of Zhongwei Capital; none of the parties hereto shall issue a press release or make any public announcement or other public disclosure with respect to any of the transactions contemplated herein without obtaining the prior written consent of Sequoia or use the name of Sequoia or any Affiliate of Sequoia without obtaining in each instance the prior written consent of Sequoia; none of the parties hereto shall issue a press release or make any public announcement or other public disclosure with respect to any of the transactions contemplated herein without obtaining the prior written consent of Tiger or use the name of Tiger or any Affiliate of Tiger without obtaining in each instance the prior written consent of Tiger; none of the parties hereto shall issue a press release or make any public announcement or other public disclosure with respect to any of the transactions contemplated herein without obtaining the prior written consent of Huaxing or use the name of Huaxing or any Affiliate of Huaxing without obtaining in each instance the prior written consent of Huaxing.
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6.3 Permitted Disclosures. Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, (a) any party may disclose any of the Financing Terms to its current or bona fide prospective investor, employees, investment bankers, lenders, partners, accountants and attorneys, in each case only where such Persons are under appropriate nondisclosure obligations imposed by contract, professional ethics, law or otherwise; and (b) each Investor shall have the right to disclose (i) any information to the Investors current or bona fide prospective partners, co-investors and financing sources or transferees, Affiliates and its and their respective employees, officers, directors, bankers, lenders, accountants, legal counsels, business partners or representatives or advisors, provided, however, that any of the foregoing Persons shall be advised of the confidential nature of the information or are under appropriate non-disclosure obligation imposed by contract, professional ethics, law or otherwise, (ii) any information as required by law, regulation, legal process, subpoena, civil investigative demand (or similar process), order, statute, Governmental Authorities, courts, judicial, regulatory or legislative body, organization, commission, agency or committee or otherwise in connection with any judicial or administrative proceeding, (iii) any of the Financing Terms as required to be disclosed to or pursuant to requests from Governmental Authorities or stock exchanges, in each case as such Investor deems appropriate, and (iv) any information the disclosure of which is approved in writing by the party providing the information.
6.4 Legally Compelled Disclosure. In the event that any party is requested or becomes legally compelled (pursuant to law, regulation, legal process, a subpoena, civil investigative demand (or similar process), order, statute, rule, request or other legal or similar requirement made, promulgated or imposed by a court or by a judicial, governmental, regulatory, self-regulatory (including stock exchange) or legislative body, organization, commission, agency or committee or otherwise in connection with any judicial or administrative proceeding (including, in response to oral questions, interrogatories or requests for information or documents) to disclose the existence of this Agreement and the Purchase Agreement, any of the exhibits and schedules attached to such agreements, or any of the Financing Terms hereof in contravention of the provisions of this Section 6, such party (the Disclosing Party) shall provide the other parties (the Non-Disclosing Parties) with prompt written notice of that fact and use all reasonable efforts to 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 which is legally required to be disclosed and shall exercise reasonable efforts to keep confidential such information to the extent reasonably requested by any Non-Disclosing Party.
6.5 Other Information. The provisions of this Section 6 shall be in addition to, and not in substitution for, the provisions of any separate nondisclosure agreement executed by any of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.
6.6 Notices. All notices required under this section shall be made pursuant to Section 8.1 of this Agreement.
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7. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS.
7.1 Protective Provisions.
7.1.1 Acts of the Group Companies Requiring Approval of the Preferred Super-majority.
In addition to such other limitations as may be provided in the Restated Articles, the following acts of any Group Company (as applicable, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, and whether directly or indirectly, or by amendment, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise) shall require the prior written approval of the Preferred Super-majority, provided that items (a) and (i) shall require the prior written approval of (i) the holders holding a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Shares (the Series A Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series A Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series A Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series A Preferred Shares under the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of May 20, 2014 and which will not affect any holder of Series A Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (ii) the holders holding a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series B Preferred Shares (the Series B Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series B Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series B Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series B Preferred Shares under the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of December 11, 2014 and which will not affect any holder of Series B Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (iii) the holders holding a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series C Preferred Shares (the Series C Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series C Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series C Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series C Preferred Shares under the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of April 3, 2015 and which will not affect any holder of Series C Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (iv) the holders holding a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series C-1 Preferred Shares (the Series C-1 Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series C-1 Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series C-1 Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series C-1 Preferred Shares under the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of July 7, 2016 and which will not affect any holder of Series C-1 Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (v) the holders holding a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series C-2 Preferred Shares (the Series C-2 Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series C-2 Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series C-2 Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series C-2 Preferred Shares under the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of August 15, 2016 and which will not affect any holder of Series C-2 Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (vi) the holders holding a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series C-3 Preferred Shares (the Series C-3 Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series C-3 Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series C-3 Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares under the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of February 10, 2017 and which will not affect any holder of Series C-3 Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (vii) the holders holding a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series D Preferred Shares (the Series D Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series D Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series D Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series D Preferred Shares under the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of October 31, 2017 and which will not affect any holder of Series D Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (viii) the holders holding more than eighty-five percent (85%) of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series E Shares (the Series E Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series E Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series E Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares under the Series E-2 Purchase Agreement and which will not affect any holder of Series E Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares); (ix) the holders holding more than two thirds (2/3) of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series F Preferred Shares (the Series F Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series F Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series F Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the consummation of sale and purchase of the Series F Preferred Shares under the Series F Purchase Agreement and which will not affect any holder of Series F Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares), (x) the holders holding more than two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Series F+ Preferred Shares (the Series F+ Majority) where such amendment will affect any right, preference, privilege, obligation or restriction of the holders of Series F+ Preferred Shares (other than such diminishment of right, preference and privilege resulting solely from issuance of securities of the Company that ranks senior to Series F+ Preferred Shares with a pre-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) higher than the post-money valuation of the Company per Share (on an as-converted and fully-diluted basis) immediately after the Closing and which will not affect any holder of Series F+ Preferred Shares in a disproportionate and adverse manner than the effect of such amendment or waiver on other holders of Preferred Shares):
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(a) any amendment or change of the rights, preferences, privileges or powers of, or the restrictions provided for the benefit of, the Preferred Shares;
(b) any action that authorizes, creates or issues any class of securities of any Group Company;
(c) any action that reclassifies any outstanding shares into shares having preferences or priority senior to or on a parity with the preference of the Preferred Shares, whether as to liquidation, conversion, dividend, voting, redemption or otherwise;
(d) any action that increases, decreases, repurchases, issues, redeems or retires any Group Companys shares, notes or registered capital, or grants any option rights, warrants or other convertible securities which has the effect of direct or indirect diluting or reducing the effective shareholding of any Investor in the Company;
(e) any action that repurchases, redeems or retires any Group Companys voting securities other than (i) pursuant to contractual rights to repurchase Ordinary Shares or preferred shares from employees, directors or consultants of such Group Company or its Subsidiaries upon termination of their employment or services or pursuant to the exercise of a contractual right of first refusal held by such Group Company, and (ii) the redemption of any Preferred Shares pursuant to the Restated Articles;
(f) any increase or decrease in the number of authorized Ordinary Shares or Preferred Shares of any Group Company;
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(g) any bond or note financing, or any action that authorizes, creates, issues, repurchases, redeems or retires any bond, note or other convertible securities of any Group Company;
(h) any increase or decrease of the registered capital of, and any issuance of any Equity Securities by, any Group Company that is incorporated under the laws of the PRC;
(i) any amendment to or modification to or waiver under the Restated Articles or any other constitutional documents of any Group Company in a manner adverse to any series of Preferred Shares;
(j) any termination, modification or waiver of, or any amendment to the Control Documents;
(k) the consolidation or merger of any Group Company with any entity or the consummation of any Trade Sale Event;
(l) any sale, Transfer, or disposal of all or substantially all assets or business of the Group Companies;
(m) any sale, Transfer, creating pledge, encumbrance over or exclusive license of all or substantially all intellectual property owned by the Group Companies, other than licenses granted contemplated under the Control Documents;
(n) the commencement of or consent to any proceeding seeking any winding up, scheme of arrangement, reorganization, reconstruction, dissolution, or liquidation in respect of any Group Company, or to appoint a liquidator or administrator to any Group Company, or to take advantage of any law providing for the relief of debtors in adverse financial circumstances in relation to any Group Company;
(o) the initial public offering of the securities of any Group Company (including the selection of any listing exchange), other than a Qualified Public Offering;
(p) any authorization to set aside, the payment of, or pays, any distribution by way of dividend, capitalization of reserves or otherwise, to any holders of any class or series of shares of any Group Company;
(q) any change to the size, composition or power of the board of any Group Company;
(r) the acquisition of, or investment in, or divestiture or sale of an interest in any other corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, association or other entity by any Group Company with an amount more than US$20,000,000 in a single transaction or a series of related transactions;
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(s) any transaction or series of transactions between any Group Company and any of its shareholder, director, officer or employee or their Affiliate or Associate (as those terms are defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), any Affiliate or Associate of any Group Company or any shareholder, director, officer or employee of such Affiliate or Associate of any Group Company, or any adjustments or modifications to terms of such transaction(s), except for transactions and/or cooperation between any of the Group Companies and Tencent or any of its Affiliates in the ordinary course of business with an amount in aggregate no more than US$20,000,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies) within any fiscal year of the Company;
(t) any sale, Transfer, or disposal of material assets or business of any Group Company with a value in excess of US$5,000,000 individually or US$20,000,000 in aggregate within any twelve (12)-month period;
(u) any sale, Transfer, license, creating pledge or encumbrance over, or disposal of any technology or intellectual property owned by any Group Company, other than the license contemplated under the Control Documents;
(v) the approval of and any amendment in any Group Companys business plan or annual budget;
(w) the adoption, amendment or termination of the ESOP or any other equity incentive, purchase or participation plans for the benefit of any employees, officers, directors, contractors, advisors or consultants of any Group Company, and any increase of the total number of Equity Securities reserved for issuance thereunder;
(x) any change to the scope of business of any Group Company materially different from that described in the current business plan, or any change to or cease of the business to be engaged by any Group Company as contemplated in the current business plan;
(y) the approval of any equity transfer of any Group Company (except for the Company), or any disposal, transfer of any Group Companys profits, interests, incomes or surplus directly or indirectly;
(z) the approval of, and any amendment to the plan of obtaining financing from any other investors;
(aa) the appointment or removal of auditors of any Group Company or any change in the accounting and financial policies of any Group Company; or
(bb) entry into an agreement, or permit any Group Company to enter into an agreement, to do any of the foregoing.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, where any act or matter specified in this Section 7.1.1 above requires a special resolution of the Company in accordance with the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands (as amended), and the approval of the Preferred Super-majority has not yet been obtained, and where a general meeting of shareholders of the Company is convened to consider such matters, the holders of the then outstanding Preferred Shares voting against the resolution shall have the same number of votes as the Shareholders who vote in favor of the resolution plus one.
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Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, after the date hereof, (i) without the prior written consent of the Series E Majority, the Company may not issue any class or series of Equity Securities that rank pari passu with the Series E Preferred Shares, the Series E-1 Preferred Shares and/or the Series E-2 Preferred Shares with respect to voting right, right to consent, dividend right, redemption right and/or right to liquidation preference as provided in the Restated Articles, (ii) as long as GGV holds any Series E Shares of the Company, without GGVs prior written consent, the Company may not issue any class or series of Equity Securities or take any other action that may dilute GGVs shareholding for the purpose of calculating the Series E Majority, and (iii) as long as Tencent holds any Series E Shares of the Company, without Tencents prior written consent, the Company may not issue any class or series of Equity Securities or take any other action that may dilute Tencents shareholding for the purpose of calculating the Series E Majority.
7.1.2 Acts of the Group Companies Requiring Approval of the Founder Director and the Majority Investor Directors.
In addition to such other limitations as may be provided in the Restated Articles, the following acts of any Group Company (as applicable, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, and whether directly or indirectly, or by amendment, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise) shall require the prior written approval of the Founder Director and the Majority Investor Directors:
(a) any Liability incurred, assumed or guaranteed by any Group Company individually or aggregately in excess of US$10,000,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies) within a fiscal year;
(b) any purchase of any assets valued individually or aggregately in excess of US$10,000,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies) within a fiscal year, or any rent payable for lease of any assets in excess of US$10,000,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies) within a fiscal year;
(c) any change in compensation by more than thirty percent (30%) in any twelve (12) months period of any of the five (5) most highly compensated employees of any Group Company;
(d) making any loan to any third party, the extension of any loan or advance, or guarantee for indebtedness by any Group Company to any third party other than other Group Companies in excess of US$10,000,000;
(e) any borrowing other than any loans for the purpose of trade financing as obtained from banks or other financial institutions in the ordinary course of business in excess of US$10,000,000;
(f) any incurrence of any security interest, lien, pledge or other encumbrance on all or any parts of the assets, equities or rights of any Group Company;
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(g) the appointment and removal of, and the determination of the compensation package for, the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of any Group Company;
(h) the initiation, waiver, compromise, or settlement of any dispute, claim, litigation or arbitration involving an amount in excess of US$10,000,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies); or
(i) entry into an agreement, or permit any Group Company to enter into an agreement, to do any of the foregoing.
7.2 Employee Share Option Plan. Prior to the Closing, the Company has reserved 145,696,410 Class A Ordinary Shares (subject to share split, share combination, share dividend or such similar recapitalization event) for issuance under a share incentive plan established for the benefit of the officers, employees and consultants of the Company (the ESOP); provided, (i) the adoption and the amendment of the ESOP shall be consistent with the terms of the Restated Articles and shall be subject to the approval of the Preferred Super-majority, and (ii) any grant of share options under the ESOP shall be consistent with the terms of the Restated Articles and shall be subject to the approval by the majority of the members of the Board; provided, further, that, unless otherwise approved by the Board (including the affirmative vote of the Founder Director and the Majority Investor Directors), all officers, employees and consultants of the Company who are entitled to purchase, or receive options to purchase, shares of the Company under the ESOP shall be required to execute share purchase or option agreements providing for vesting of shares over at least a four-year period. In the event of (i) a Trade Sale Event, or (ii) a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, unless approved otherwise by the Preferred Super-majority, all of the options that have not been issued or granted under the ESOP shall be cancelled immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction.
7.3 Director Indemnification and Insurance. To the maximum extent permitted by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Company is incorporated, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Investor Directors and the Independent Director and shall comply with the terms of each director indemnification agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the Director Indemnification Agreement), and at the request of any Investor Director or the Independent Director who is not a party to a Director Indemnification Agreement, shall enter into a director indemnification agreement with such Investor Director or the Independent Director in similar form to the Director Indemnification Agreement. From and after the Closing, upon the written request of the Investor Directors or the Independent Director, the Company shall purchase and at all times thereafter maintain, customary directors and officers liability insurance for the Investor Directors and the Independent Director, provided however that such directors and officers liability insurance shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Investor Directors and the Independent Director.
7.4 Corporate Opportunity. Each of the Group Companies hereby renounces any interest or expectancy of such Group Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, or in being informed about, an Excluded Opportunity. An Excluded Opportunity is any matter, transaction or interest that is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or which otherwise comes into the possession of any holder of Preferred Shares or any Affiliate, partner, member, director, stockholder, employee, agent or other related Person of any such holder, other than the Founder Parties and someone who is an employee of such Group Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, Covered Persons), unless such matter, transaction or interest is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or otherwise comes into the possession of, a Covered Person expressly and exclusively in such Covered Persons capacity as a director of such Group Company.
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Each of the Group Companies acknowledges that the Investors and their Affiliates, members, equity holders, director representatives, partners, employees, agents and other related persons are engaged in the business of investing in private and public companies in a wide range of industries, including the industry segment in which such Group Company operates (the Company Industry Segment). Accordingly, each of the Group Companies and the Investors hereby acknowledges and agrees that a Covered Person shall:
(a) have no obligation or duty (contractual or otherwise) to such Group Company to refrain from participating as a director, investor or otherwise with respect to any company or other Person that is engaged in the Company Industry Segment or is otherwise competitive with such Group Company; and
(b) in connection with making investment decisions, to the fullest extent permitted by laws, have no obligation or duty (contractual or otherwise) to such Group Company to refrain from using any information, including, but not limited to, market trend and market data, which comes into Covered Persons possession, whether as a director or, or investor in, such Group Company or otherwise.
7.5 [Reserved.]
7.6 Public Dissemination Rights. The Company shall keep Coatue, Tencent, GS, GGV, Sunshine, Zhongwei Capital, Sequoia, Tiger and Huaxing informed, on a current basis, of any events, discussions, notices or changes with respect to any Tax (other than ordinary course communications which could not reasonably be expected to be material to the Company), criminal or regulatory investigation or action involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, so that Coatue, Tencent, GS, GGV, Sunshine, Zhongwei Capital, Sequoia, Tiger and Huaxing will have the opportunity to take appropriate steps to avoid or mitigate any regulatory consequences to them that might arise from such criminal or regulatory investigation or action and the Company shall reasonably cooperate with Coatue, Tencent, GS, GGV, Sunshine, Zhongwei Capital, Sequoia, Tiger and Huaxing, their members and their respective Affiliates in an effort to avoid or mitigate any cost or regulatory consequences that might arise from such investigation or action (including by reviewing written submissions in advance, attending meetings with authorities, coordinating and providing assistance in meeting with regulators and, if requested by Coatue, Tencent, GS, GGV, Sunshine, Zhongwei Capital, Sequoia, Tiger and Huaxing, making a public announcement of such matters).
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7.7 Anti-Corruption.
(a) None of the Group Companies nor any director, officer, agent, employee, Affiliate or any other Person acting for or on behalf of the foregoing (individually and collectively, a Company Affiliate), is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation of or has violated the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, as amended, the United Kingdom Bribery Act, as amended, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, including, without limitation, using any funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful payments to any foreign or domestic governmental official or employee from funds, nor has any Company Affiliate offered, paid, promised to pay, or authorized the payment of any money, or offered, given, promised to give, or authorized the giving of anything of value, to any officer, employee or any other Person acting in an official capacity for any Government Entity, as defined below, to any political party or official thereof or to any candidate for political office (individually and collectively, a Government Official) or to any Person under circumstances where such Company Affiliate knew or was aware of a high probability that all or a portion of such money or thing of value would be offered, given or promised, directly or indirectly, to any Government Official, for the purpose of: (1) influencing any act or decision of such Government Official in his official capacity; (2) inducing such Government Official to do or omit to do any act in relation to his lawful duty; (3) securing any improper advantage; or (4) inducing such Government Official to influence or affect any act or decision of any Government Entity, in order to assist the Group Companies in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to the Group Companies or in connection with receiving any approval of the transactions contemplated herein. None of the Company Affiliate has accepted anything of value for any of the purposes listed in clauses (1) through (4) of this Section 7.7(a). The Company represents that it shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any of its or their respective directors, officers, managers, employees to, promise, authorize or make any payment to, or otherwise contribute any item of value, directly or indirectly, to any third party, including any Non-U.S. Official, in each case, in violation of the FCPA, the U.K. Bribery Act, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law. The Company further represents 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 their respective directors, officers, managers, employees in violation of the FCPA, the U.K. Bribery Act, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law. The Company further represents 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, the U.K. Bribery Act, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law.
(b) Government Entity as used in the Section 7.7(a) above means any government or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, including any entity or enterprise owned or controlled by a government, or a public international organization.
(c) The Company and the other Group Companies shall, and the Founder Parties shall procure the Company and the other Group Companies to, (i) implement and maintain the anti-corruption program adopted by the shareholders resolutions and board resolutions of the Company on October 31, 2017 (the Anti-Corruption Compliance Program), (ii) conduct, or procure a third party to conduct, routine and periodic compliance trainings for the employees, (iii) maintain internal controls sufficient to prevent, detect and deter violations of applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, and (iv) periodic internal audits to assess the Anti-Corruption Compliance Programs effectiveness.
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7.8 Anti-Money Laundering. The operations of the Group Companies are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable anti-money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, including, without limitation, the Cayman Islands, the PRC, Hong Kong and U.S., the anti-money laundering laws, the rule and regulations thereunder, and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental or regulatory agency.
7.9 Use of Proceeds. None of the Group Companies will directly or indirectly use the Investors proceeds, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person for the purpose of funding or facilitating any activities or business of or with any Person towards any sales or operations in Cuba, Iran, Syria, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Crimea or any other country sanctioned by the OFAC from time to time or for the purpose of funding any operations or financing any investments in, or make any payments to, any Person targeted by or subject to any Sanctions. The use of the Investors proceeds will be in compliance with and will not result in the breach by any Person of the Sanctions; and each Group Company further covenants not to engage, directly or indirectly, in any other activities that would result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person participating in the transactions contemplated herein. Except otherwise provided in this Agreement or in other Transaction Documents, the Investors proceeds shall be contributed into the WFOE as investment capital to be used only for capital expenditure and general working capital needs of the Group Companies. Without the prior written consent of the Investors, all the foregoing proceeds received by the Company shall be used in compliance with this Agreement and the Restated Articles.
7.10 Founders Non-Compete.
(a) The Founder covenants that, until the first (1st) anniversary of the initial public offering of the Class A Ordinary Shares of the Company, unless the Founders earlier termination of his employment agreement with the Group Companies is duly approved by the Series Preferred Majority, he will devote his full time and attention to the business of the Group Companies and will use his best efforts to develop the business and interests of the Group Companies.
(b) Without the prior written consent of the Series Preferred Majority, so long as the Founder is a director, officer, employee or a direct or indirect holder of Equity Securities of a Group Company and for a period of two (2) years after he is no longer a director, officer, employee or a direct or indirect holder of Equity Securities of a Group Company (the Restricted Period), the Founder Parties shall not, and shall cause their Affiliates or Associates (if any) not to, directly or indirectly, own, manage, engage in, operate, control, work for, consult with, render services for, do business with, maintain any interest in (proprietary, financial or otherwise) or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, any business, whether in corporate, proprietorship or partnership form or otherwise, that is related to the Principal Business or otherwise competes with any of the Group Companies (a Restricted Business); provided, however, that the restrictions contained in this Section 7.10 shall not restrict the acquisition by the Founder, directly or indirectly, of less than 0.2% of the outstanding share capital of any publicly traded company engaged in a Restricted Business.
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(c) During the Restricted Period, without the prior written consent of the Series Preferred Majority, he shall not, directly or indirectly, either by himself, or through any of his Affiliates, or in conjunction with or through any other Person:
(i) solicit in any manner any Person who is or has been during the Restricted 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; or
(ii) solicit or entice away, or endeavour to solicit or entice away, any employee or officer of any Group Company.
7.11 Compliance. The Group Companies shall, and the Founder Parties shall cause the Group Companies to, conduct their respective business in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations (including but not limited to all applicable employment and labor laws, anti-unfair competition law, data privacy laws, advertising and publishing laws and Tax laws) in all material respects, duly and timely file (giving effect to any permitted extensions) all Tax Returns or reports required to be filed with Governmental Authorities and promptly pay all Taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or assessed upon them or any of their properties. The Group Companies shall, and the Founder Parties shall cause the Group Companies to, obtain, make and maintain in effect, all Consents required in respect of the due and proper establishment and operations of each Group Company in accordance with applicable laws. The Founder shall fully comply with all requirements of the PRC Governmental Authorities with respect to his holding of any equity interests in the BVI Holdco, the Company and the HK Company, either directly or indirectly, on a continuing basis, including but not limited to, all reporting obligations imposed by, and all Consents required by the SAFE under the SAFE Circular.
7.12 PRC Matters.
(a) Compliance. Each of the Founder Parties and the Group Companies shall ensure that all Consents required in respect of the Principal Business, the Group Companies and the Founder Parties, shall be duly obtained or completed (as applicable) and in full force and effect from or with any Government Entities, any Tax bureau, customs, authorities and the local counterpart of each of the aforementioned PRC Government Entities, as applicable, and in accordance with all applicable laws. Each of the PRC Companies will conduct its business activities within the permitted scope of business and will conduct its business in full compliance with all relevant laws, regulations and legal requirements in all material respects.
(b) Control Documents. The Founder Parties and the Group Companies shall ensure that each party to the relevant Control Documents fully perform its/his/her respective obligations thereunder and carry out the terms and the intent of the Control Documents. Any termination, or material modification or waiver of, or material amendment to any Control Documents shall require the written consent of Preferred Super-majority. In the event that any provision under the Control Documents is ruled by any relevant Governmental Authority as invalid or unenforceable under the laws of the PRC, the Founder Parties and the Group Companies shall, subject to the laws of the PRC, to take, or cause to be taken, such action, to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such documents and instruments and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to ensure the economic interests of the shareholders of the Company and consolidate the financial results of the Group Companies into Companys financial statements.
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(c) Circular 37. If any Shareholder or beneficiary owner of shares of the Company, including Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares, or any other Equity Securities (each, a Company Security Holder) is a Domestic Resident as defined in Circular 37 and is subject to the SAFE registration or reporting requirements under Circular 37, the Company shall, and the Founder Parties shall cause the Company to promptly obtain a power of attorney reasonably satisfactory to the Preferred Super-majority from such Company Security Holder, and the Company shall, and the Founder Parties shall cause the Company to, cause the designated representative under such power of attorney to take such actions and execute such instruments on behalf of such Company Security Holder to comply with the applicable SAFE registration or reporting requirements under Circular 37 as determined in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors or counsel to the Company. The Group Companies and the Founder Parties shall fully comply with all applicable PRC laws relating to the filing, registration and reporting to SAFE or any of its local branches with respect to any foreign exchange transactions, investments, changes or occurrence of significant events.
7.13 Certain Tax Matters.
(a) General. The Investors, the Group Companies and the Founder Parties shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by an Investor, in connection with any Tax matters relating to the Group Companies, including (i) providing or preparing any relevant records or information to such Investor; (ii) furnishing as soon as reasonably practicable such information to such Investor as such Investor requires to withhold Tax, file its own Tax returns or reports, or furnish Tax information to any of its investors; and (iii) providing such additional information and/or assistance in the filing of additional Tax forms by such Investor.
(b) U.S. Tax.
(i) The Company will not take any action inconsistent with the treatment of the Company or any Group Company (for the purpose of this Sections 7.13 (b) (1), (2), (3) and (5), excluding the US Subsidiary) as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and will not elect for the Company or any Group Company to be treated as an entity other than a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes unless agreed upon by the Investors. Upon notification by the Investors that the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries should elect to be classified as partnerships or disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes (the Partnership Election), the Company shall make, or shall cause to be made, the Partnership Election by filing, or by causing to be filed, Internal Revenue Service Form 8832 (or any successor form) provided that such election is in compliance with all applicable laws, and the Company shall not permit the Partnership Election to be terminated or revoked without the written consent of the Investors.
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(ii) For each year in which a Partnership Election is not in effect, the Company shall determine, within forty-five (45) days from the end of each taxable year of the Company, whether any Group Company was a PFIC in such taxable year. Upon the request of any Investor, the Company shall make available to the Investors the books and records of any Group Company and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, and to provide information to the Investors pertinent to the Group Companys or any Subsidiarys status or potential status as a PFIC. Upon a determination by the Company, the Investors or any taxing authority that the Group Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary has been or is likely to become a PFIC, the Company shall, within sixty (60) days from the end of such taxable year, inform the Investors of such determination and will provide the Investors with all information reasonably available to the Group Company or any of its Subsidiaries to permit the Investors and their respective direct or indirect owners that are United States Person to (i) accurately prepare all tax returns and comply with any reporting requirements as a result of such determination and (ii) make any election (including, without limitation, a qualified electing fund election within the meaning of section 1295 of the Code), with respect to the Group Company or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries, and comply with any reporting or other requirements incident to such election. If a determination is made that the Group Company is a PFIC for a particular year, then for such year and for each year thereafter, the Group Company, at the Companys expense, will also provide the Investors with a completed PFIC Annual Information Statement substantially in the form as set out in the schedule headed PFIC Annual Information Statement as required by Treasury Regulation section 1.1295-1(g).
(iii) Within forty-five (45) days from the end of each taxable year, the Company shall determine as to whether there are United States shareholders (within the meaning of section 951(b) of the Code) (U.S. Shareholders) such that five or fewer U.S. Shareholders either directly or indirectly own more than 50 percent (50%) of the outstanding shares or value of the Company to become a CFC. If the Company is a CFC for any given year, the Company shall furnish to the Investors upon its reasonable request, on a timely basis, and at the Companys expense, all information necessary to satisfy the U.S. income tax return filing requirements of the Investors (and each of the Companys U.S. Shareholders) arising from its investment in any Group Company and relating to the Group Companys classification as a CFC. If any Group Company ceases to be a CFC at any time, and the Company will provide prompt written notice to the Investors.
(iv) The Company and each other Group Company shall meet all tax compliance, payment and withholding obligations, in all material respects, as required under the laws of the jurisdictions where the Company and each other Group Company operate, including but not limited to: (i) implementing internal tax policies and controls (and evidentiary requirements) to address tax risks arising from the current and future operations of the Company and each other Group Company; (ii) adhering to applicable transfer pricing rules and documentation requirements in all jurisdictions where the Company and each other Group Company operate; and (iii) conduct internal and external testing to the extent reasonably necessary, as determined on the basis of advice received from a big 4 accounting firm to achieve tax compliance. The Company and each Group Company will retain a big 4 accounting firm to handle all of its tax compliance matters in all jurisdictions in which the Group operates, including in respect of the matters referred to in clauses (2) and (3) above, relating to PFIC and CFC covenants, respectively.
(v) The Company shall use, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to use, its best efforts to arrange its management and business activities in such a way that the Company and each of its Subsidiaries are not treated as residents for tax purposes, or is otherwise subject to income tax in, a jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction in which they have been organized.
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7.14 Waiver of Prior Breaches. All of the applicable Investors hereby waive its rights to any indemnification under Section 8.2 of the Series C-3 Purchase Agreement in connection with any breach by any of the Warrantors (as defined in the Series C-3 Purchase Agreement) thereunder.
7.15 Onshore Payments.
(a) If required by the underwriter or the applicable regulators, stock exchanges or other regulatory authorities, or the counsel(s) to the Company, or the bookrunner(s) for the purpose of consummation of an initial public offering, Shenzhen Hina New Economic Equity Investment Fund Partnership (Limited Partnership) (深oriagogIgf 股权&%--4金*,R企业(Aia*,R)) (Hina Onshore) shall promptly, but in no event later than the initial submission of application by the Company or the other Group Companies, or a vehicle directly or indirectly established by the Group Companies or the Founder, for an initial public offering, pay the Company US$15,000,000 in full satisfaction of the payment obligation of Hina Onshore in respect of its subscription for the Series E Preferred Shares; and simultaneous with the receipt by the Company of the foregoing payments, the Domestic Enterprise shall repay Hina Onshore RMB103,596,000 in full satisfaction of the repayment of the loan extended by Hina Onshore to the Domestic Enterprise pursuant to the loan agreements entered into by and among Hina Onshore, the Domestic Enterprise, the Company and the Founder dated December 14, 2018 (the Hina Loan Agreement). Hina Onshore hereby covenants to waive all of its rights as a creditor under all of the Hina Loan Agreement, including its right to demand repayment of the loans and covert the loan amounts thereunder into any equity interests of any Group Company, unless and until it has paid the Company the amount as set forth in this Section 7.15(b), and in such case the only creditor right Hina Onshore shall have is the right to receive the repayment from the Domestic Enterprise as set forth in this Section 7.15(b). For the avoidance of doubt, any amendments to the Hina Loan Agreement shall be subject to the prior written consents of the Preferred Super-majority pursuant to Section 7.1.1 of this Agreement.
(b) If required by the underwriter or the applicable regulators, stock exchanges or other regulatory authorities, or the counsel(s) to the Company, or the bookrunner(s) for the purpose of consummation of an initial public offering, Founder shall, no later than the initial submission of application by the Company or the other Group Companies, or a vehicle established by the Group Companies, for an initial public offering, pay the Company US$4,568,239.93 in full satisfaction of his outstanding payables to the Company; and simultaneous with the receipt by the Company of the foregoing payment, the Domestic Enterprise shall repay Founder RMB28,289,281.19 in full satisfaction of outstanding payables to the Domestic Enterprise. Founder covenants to waive all of his rights as a creditor in connection with the outstanding payables owed by the Domestic Enterprise to him, including his right to demand repayment of such outstanding payables, unless and until he has paid the Company the amount set forth in this Section 7.15(c).
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(c) In case the resolutions of the Board to initiate preparation of initial public offering of the Company have been duly passed and the underwriter or the counsel(s) to the Company determines that the failure of Meridian Fund II or Hina Onshore to complete or procure the requisite registrations filings and the approval from the competent governmental authorities of the PRC and completion of relevant foreign exchange registration procedures in the PRC with respect to its outbound investment to the Company would result in a material adverse effect on the consummation of an initial public offering of the Company, the Company shall be entitled to, at its sole discretion, (i) cancel the purchase of Preferred Shares by such Investor under the relevant purchase agreement(s) entered by the Company, such Investor and other parties named therein, (ii) repurchase the foregoing Preferred Shares at nil consideration, and (iii) repay the loan under the Meridian Fund II Loan Agreements and/or Hina Loan Agreement, as applicable.
8. |
GENERAL PROVISIONS. |
8.1 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, upon delivery; (b) when sent by facsimile at the number set forth in Exhibit B hereto, upon receipt of confirmation of error-free transmission; (c) seven (7) Business Days after deposit in the mail as air mail or certified mail, receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed to the other party as set forth in Exhibit B; (d) three (3) Business Days after deposit with an international overnight delivery service, postage prepaid, addressed to the parties as set forth in Exhibit B with next Business Day delivery guaranteed, provided that the sending party receives a confirmation of delivery from the delivery service provider; or (e) when sent by email at the address set forth in Exhibit B, upon the time sent (as recorded on the device from which the sender sent the email) unless the sender receives an automated message that the email has not been delivered.
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 above, or designate additional addresses, for purposes of this Section 8.1 by giving the other party written notice of the new address in the manner set forth above.
8.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and other Transaction Documents, together with all the exhibits hereto and thereto, constitute and contain the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior negotiations, correspondence, agreements, understandings, duties or obligations between the parties respecting the subject matter hereof. Without limiting the generality of the above, this Agreement supersedes and replaces the Prior Agreement in its entirety, and the Prior Agreement shall be of no further force or effect upon execution of this Agreement by the parties required to amend and restate the Prior Agreement hereto. Each of the parties to the Prior Agreement hereby expressly consents and agrees to this termination and restatement of the Prior Agreement and represents and warrants that this Agreement has been duly approved by the parties to the Prior Agreement sufficient to constitute a valid termination of the Prior Agreement that is binding on all parties to the Prior Agreement.
8.3 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong without giving effect to any choice of law rule that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of Hong Kong to the rights and duties of the parties hereunder.
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8.4 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid
or unenforceable, then such provision shall be construed, to the extent feasible, so as to render the provision enforceable and to provide for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby on substantially the same terms as originally set forth herein, and if no feasible interpretation would save such provision, it shall be severed from the remainder of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect unless the severed provision is essential to the rights or benefits intended by the parties. In such event, the parties shall use best efforts to negotiate, in good faith, a substitute, valid and enforceable provision or agreement which most nearly effects the parties intent in entering into this Agreement.
8.5 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.
8.6 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.
8.7 Interpretation; Captions. 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 captions to sections of this Agreement have been inserted for identification and reference purposes only and shall not be used to construe or interpret this Agreement. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all references to sections and exhibits herein are to sections and exhibits of this Agreement.
8.8 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.
8.9 Adjustments for Share Splits, Etc. Wherever in this Agreement there is a reference to a specific number of shares of Preferred Shares, Ordinary Shares or Shares of the Company, then, upon the occurrence of any subdivision, combination or share dividend of the Preferred Shares, Ordinary Shares or 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.
8.10 Aggregation of Shares. All Preferred Shares, or Ordinary Shares held or acquired by affiliated Persons (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement.
8.11 Dispute Resolution.
(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 all parties within thirty (30) days within the commencement of such negotiations, Section 8.11(b) shall apply.
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(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 Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre in accordance with the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Administered Arbitration Rules (the HKIAC Rules) in effect at the time of the arbitration, which rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Subsection (b). The arbitration tribunal shall consist of three (3) arbitrators to be appointed according to the HKIAC Rules. The language of the arbitration shall be both English and Chinese.
8.12 No Fiduciary Duty. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that nothing in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents shall create a fiduciary duty of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC. or any of GS Affiliates to any of the Group Companies or any of their shareholders. GS has no advisory, suitability or other liability to any other parties hereto and has not provided, and will not provide, any advice or services to any such party in connection with the transactions contemplated under the Transaction Documents.
8.13 Investment Bank Services. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the other Transaction Documents or any actions or omissions by representatives of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC. or any of its Affiliates in whatever capacity, including as a director or observer to the Board, it is understood that neither Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC. nor any of its Affiliates is acting as a financial advisor, agent or underwriter to the Company or any of its Affiliates or otherwise on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates unless retained to provide such services pursuant to a separate written agreement.
8.14 Exculpation among Investors. Each Investor acknowledges that it is not relying upon any Person, other than the Company and its officers and directors, in making its investment or decision to invest in the Company. Each Investor agrees that no Investor nor the respective controlling Persons, officers, directors, partners, agents, or employees of any Investor shall be liable to any other Investor for any action heretofore or hereafter taken or omitted to be taken by any of them in connection with the transactions contemplated herein.
8.15 Shareholders Agreement to Control. If and to the extent that there are inconsistencies between the provisions of this Agreement and those of the Restated Articles, the terms of this Agreement shall control as among the shareholders of the Company only and none of the provisions of this Agreement that are inconsistent with those of the Restated Articles shall be binding on or enforceable against the Company. The parties agree to take all actions necessary or advisable, as promptly as practicable after the discovery of such inconsistency, to amend the Restated Articles so as to eliminate such inconsistency to the fullest extent permissible by law.
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8.16 No Promotion. The Company agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of GS, in each instance, (a) use in advertising, publicity, or otherwise the name of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC., or any of its Affiliate, or any partner or employee of GS or any of its Affiliates, nor any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC. or its Affiliates, or (b) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by the Company has been approved or endorsed by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC. or any of its Affiliates. The Company further agrees that it shall obtain the written consent from GS prior to the Companys issuance of any public statement detailing such GS participation in the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents. The Company agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of GGV, in each instance, (a) use in advertising, publicity, or otherwise the name of GGV Capital or any of its Affiliate, or any partner or employee of GGV or any of its Affiliates, nor any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned by GGV or its Affiliates, or (b) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by the Company has been approved or endorsed by GGV or any of its Affiliates. The Company further agrees that it shall obtain the written consent from GGV prior to the Companys issuance of any public statement detailing such GGV participation in the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents. The Company agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of Sunshine, in each instance, (a) use in advertising, publicity, or otherwise the name of Sunshine Life Insurance Corporation Limited, or any of its Affiliate, or any partner or employee of Sunshine or any of its Affiliates, nor any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned by Sunshine Life Insurance Corporation Limited or its Affiliates, or (b) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by the Company has been approved or endorsed by Sunshine Life Insurance Corporation Limited or any of its Affiliates. The Company further agrees that it shall obtain the written consent from Sunshine prior to the Companys issuance of any public statement detailing such Sunshine participation in the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents. The Company agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of Zhongwei Capital, in each instance, (a) use in advertising, publicity, or otherwise the name of Zhongwei Capital, or any of its Affiliate, or any partner or employee of Zhongwei Capital or any of its Affiliates, nor any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned by Zhongwei Capital or its Affiliates, or (b) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by the Company has been approved or endorsed by Zhongwei Capital or any of its Affiliates. The Company further agrees that it shall obtain the written consent from Zhongwei Capital prior to the Companys issuance of any public statement detailing such Zhongwei Capital participation in the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents. The Company agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of Tencent, in each instance, (a) use in advertising, publicity, or otherwise the name of Tencent, or any of its Affiliate, or any partner or employee of Tencent or any of its Affiliates, nor any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned by Tencent or its Affiliates, or (b) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by the Company has been approved or endorsed by Tencent or any of its Affiliates. The Company further agrees that it shall obtain the written consent from Tencent prior to the Companys issuance of any public statement detailing such Tencent participation in the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents. The Company agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of Coatue, in each instance, (a) use in advertising, publicity, or otherwise the name of Coatue, or any of its Affiliate, or any partner or employee of Coatue or any of its Affiliates, nor any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned by Coatue or its Affiliates, or (b) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by the Company has been approved or endorsed by Coatue or any of its Affiliates. The Company further agrees that it shall obtain the written consent from Coatue prior to the Companys issuance of any public statement detailing such Coatue participation in the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents. The Company agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of Sequoia, in each instance, (a) use in advertising, publicity, or otherwise the name of Sequoia, or any of its Affiliate, or any partner or employee of Sequoia or any of its Affiliates, nor any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned by Sequoia or its Affiliates, or (b) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by the Company has been approved or endorsed by Sequoia or any of its Affiliates. The Company further agrees that it shall obtain the written consent from Sequoia prior to the Companys issuance of any public statement detailing such Sequoia participation in the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents. The Company agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of Tiger, in each instance, (a) use in advertising, publicity, or otherwise the name of Tiger, or any of its Affiliate, or any partner or employee of Tiger or any of its Affiliates, nor any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned by Tiger or its Affiliates, or (b) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by the Company has been approved or endorsed by Tiger or any of its Affiliates. The Company further agrees that it shall obtain the written consent from Tiger prior to the Companys issuance of any public statement detailing such Tiger participation in the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents. The Company agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of Huaxing, in each instance, (a) use in advertising, publicity, or otherwise the name of Huaxing, or any of its Affiliate, or any partner or employee of Huaxing or any of its Affiliates, nor any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned by Huaxing or its Affiliates, or (b) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by the Company has been approved or endorsed by Huaxing or any of its Affiliates. The Company further agrees that it shall obtain the written consent from Huaxing prior to the Companys issuance of any public statement detailing such Huaxing participation in the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents.
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8.17 No Restriction on GS Ordinary Business. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, none of the provisions of this Agreement shall in any way limit GS or any of its Affiliates from engaging in any brokerage, investment advisory, financial advisory, anti-raid advisory, principaling, merger advisory, financing, asset management, trading, market making, arbitrage, investment activity and other similar activities conducted in the ordinary course of their business.
8.18 No Restriction on Sequoia Entity. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained herein or in the other Transaction Documents, with respect to Sequoia, the parties acknowledge and agree that (a) the name Sequoia Capital is commonly used to describe a variety of entities (collectively, the Sequoia Entities) that are affiliated by ownership or operational relationship and engaged in a broad range of activities related to investing and securities trading and (b) notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement shall not be binding on, or restrict the activities of, any (i) Sequoia Entity outside of the Sequoia China Sector Group , (ii) entity primarily engaged in investment and trading in the secondary securities market; (iii) the ultimate beneficial owner of an Sequoia Entity (or its general partner or ultimate general partner) who is a natural Person, and such Persons relatives (including but without limitation, such Persons spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law and father- in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law), (iv) any officer, director or employee of a Sequoia Entity (or its general partner or ultimate general partner) and such Persons relatives, and (v) for the avoidance of doubt, any portfolio companies of any Sequoia Entity and portfolio companies of any affiliated investment fund or investment vehicle of any Sequoia Entity. For purposes of the foregoing, the Sequoia China Sector Group means all Sequoia Entities (whether currently existing or formed in the future) that are principally focused on companies located in, or with connections to, the Peoples Republic of China that are exclusively managed by Sequoia Capital.
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8.19 Use of Company Logo. The Company shall grant the Investor and its Affiliates permission to use the Companys name and logo in its or its Affiliates marketing materials and bid documentation in relation to potential transactions.
8.20 Termination. This Agreement and all rights and covenants contained herein, including but not limited to those contained in Sections 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 (with the exception of the registration rights granted under Section 2), shall terminate on the earlier of (a) the closing of an initial public offering, (b) with respect to each Shareholder, the date on which such Shareholder no longer holds any Equity Securities in the Company and (c) any date agreed upon in writing by all of the parties hereto, in each case, provided that the termination shall be without prejudice to any accrued rights the parties may have.
8.21 Independent Advice. Each Party agrees and acknowledges that (i) each of them has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the risks of the transactions contemplated hereby and in the other Transaction Documents, (ii) each of them has obtained independent legal, financial and tax advice in relation to its obligations and liabilities under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and has consulted its advisors or otherwise satisfy itself concerning, without limitation, the tax, legal, currency and other economic considerations relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (iii) each of them fully understands all of the terms, conditions, restrictions and provisions set forth in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the obligations and liabilities thereof, and (iv) none of them have been induced to enter into any Transaction Document by fraud, any deceptive or improper means.
8.22 Restricted Person Transactions. Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary and in addition to any other rights available to Tencent under the Transaction Documents, for so long as Tencent, together with its Affiliates, holds at least fifty percent (50%) of the Shares it holds upon the closing under the Purchase Agreement, then:
(a) without Tencents prior written consent, the Company shall not, directly or indirectly, issue any new Shares or other securities (including rights, options or warrants to purchase such Shares or securities) of the Company to any of the Persons listed on Exhibit E (the Restricted Persons);
(b) without Tencents prior written consent, the Founder Parties and any Ordinary Shareholders shall not, directly or indirectly, Transfer any Shares or other securities of the Company to any Restricted Person;
48
(c) in the event that any Investor (the Selling Investor) intends to, directly or indirectly, Transfer any Shares or other Company securities held by it (the Target Shares) to any Restricted Person, the Selling Investor shall promptly give written notice (the Restricted Person Transfer Notice) to the Company and Tencent prior to such Transfer, and the Restricted Person Transfer Notice shall describe in reasonable details the identity of the potential purchaser (including without limitation whether such potential purchaser is a Restricted Person), the quantity of the Target Shares, the transfer price and other terms and conditions of such proposed Transfer,
(i) all of the Target Shares shall be subject to the Companys Company Right of First Refusal as set out in the Section 4.10(2);
(ii) if following the Company First Refusal Period, the Company has not fully exercised its Company Right of First Refusal or fails to exercise its Company Right of First Refusal pursuant to Section 4.10(2), the Selling Investor shall give to Tencent an additional written notice (the Additional Restricted Person Transfer Notice), which shall include the same information as required in the Restricted Person Transfer Notice and identify the number of the remaining Target Shares that the Company declined or failed to purchase (the Remaining Target Shares). Tencent shall have a right of refusal, upon written notice (the Tencent Purchase Notice) to the Company and the Selling Investor within the following period (the Tencent Exercise Period): (x) if the transfer price for the Remaining Target Shares only includes cash consideration, or if the transfer price for the Remaining Target Shares includes consideration other than cash and such non-cash consideration is traded on a securities exchange, twenty (20) Business Days from receipt of the Additional Restricted Person Transfer Notice, or (y) if the transfer price for the Remaining Target Shares includes consideration other than cash and such non-cash consideration is not traded on a securities exchange, ninety (90) days from receipt of the Additional Restricted Person Transfer Notice, to elect to purchase all but no less than all of the Remaining Target Shares, at the same price in cash and subject to the same material terms and conditions as described in the Additional Restricted Person Transfer Notice; and
(iii) within twenty (20) Business Days after the delivery by Tencent of the Tencent Purchase Notice, the Selling Investor and Tencent shall cooperate in good faith to complete the sale of the Remaining Target Shares, including without limitation procuring to update the register of members of the Company accordingly and paying the relevant purchase price by Tencent; provided that:
(A) in the event that Tencent has received the Remaining Restricted Person Transfer Notice but fails to deliver the Tencent Purchase Notice within the Tencent Exercise Period, then the Selling Investor shall have a ninety (90) days period after the expiration of the Tencent Exercise Period to Transfer all but not less than all of the Remaining Target Shares, to the same Person and substantively at same price and on the same terms and conditions as specified in the Restricted Person Transfer Notice;
(B) in the event that the potential purchaser is a Restricted Person but the Selling Investor fails to so notify Tencent or to deliver the Restricted Person Transfer Notice as provided above, then such Selling Investor may not Transfer any of the Remaining Target Shares to such potential purchaser and any Transfer in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void and not recognized by the Company; and
49
(C) in the event that the transfer price for the Remaining Target Shares includes consideration other than cash, then (x) if such non-cash consideration is traded on a securities exchange, the value of the non-cash consideration 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 date of the Additional Restricted Person Transfer Notice; and (y) if such non-cash consideration is not traded on a securities exchange, the cash equivalent value of the non-cash consideration shall be determined by the Board (the date of such determination, the Board Determination Date) in good faith within five (5) Business Days after receipt of the Additional Restricted Person Transfer Notice, which determination will be binding upon Tencent and the Selling Shareholder, absent fraud or error. Tencent and/or the Selling Shareholder shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Board of the fair market value of such non-cash consideration pursuant to the foregoing sentence within five (5) Business Days after the Board Determination Date (the date of such challenge, the Challenge Date), in which case (x) each of such challenging parties should also recommend two (2) firms from the Big Four accounting firms and/or Duff & Phelps to the Board on the Challenge Date (the Recommended Appraisers), (y) the Board should elect one (1) of the Recommended Appraisers as an independent appraiser for the determination of such fair market value within five (5) Business Days after the Challenge Date, with the cost of such appraisal being borne by the Company, and (z) the Recommended Appraiser elected by the Board shall complete the appraisal for determination of such fair market value and produce an appraisal report accordingly within twenty (20) Business Days after being elected by the Board. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary above, if any relevant Person fails to meet the time limitation set forth under this Subsection (C), the duration of the Tencent Exercise Period shall be automatically and correspondingly extended.
(d) in the event of a Trade Sale Event where the Company and/or the Shareholders propose to sell any Shares, assets, business, trademarks, copyrights, domain names or any other technology or intellectual properties of the Group Companies (collectively, the Transferred Targets) to any Restricted Person, Tencent shall have a right of refusal to purchase all but not less than all of the Transferred Targets at the same price and subject to the same material terms and conditions in which the procedures set forth in Subsection (c) above shall, mutatis mutandis, apply.
The provisions under this Section 8.22 shall terminate upon the consummation of an initial public offering.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
50
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.
COMPANY: | ||
KANZHUN LIMITED | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: ZHAO Peng (赵鹏) | ||
Title: Director | ||
HK COMPANY: | ||
Techfish Limited | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: ZHAO Peng (赵鹏) | ||
Title: Director | ||
US SUBSIDIARY: | ||
Face Hired Inc. | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: ZHAO Peng | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.
WFOE: | ||
Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd. | ||
(北京歌利沃夫企业管理有限公司) | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: ZHAO Peng (赵鹏) | ||
Title: Legal Representative | ||
(Common Seal) | ||
DOMESTIC ENTERPRISE: | ||
Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd. | ||
(北京华品博睿网络技术有限公司) | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: ZHAO Peng (赵鹏) | ||
Title: Legal Representative | ||
(Common Seal) | ||
RENJUREN: | ||
Beijing Renjure Network Technology Co., Ltd. (北京人聚人网络技术有限公司) |
||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: ZHAO Peng (赵鹏) | ||
Title: Legal Representative | ||
(Common Seal) |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.
FOUNDER: | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: ZHAO Peng (赵鹏) | ||
BVI HOLDCO: | ||
TECHWOLF LIMITED | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: ZHAO Peng (赵鹏) | ||
Title: Director |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
Banyan Partners Fund II, L.P. | ||
By: | Banyan Partners II Ltd., its General Partner | |
By: |
/s/ Peter Wang |
|
Name: Peter Wang | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
MSA CHINA FUND I L.P. | ||
By: |
/s/ ZENG Yu |
|
Name: ZENG Yu | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
Magic Stone Special Opportunity Fund VIII L.P. |
||
By: |
/s/ ZENG Yu |
|
Name: ZENG Yu | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR: |
||
Suzhou Industrial Park 825 New Media Investment Enterprise L.P. |
||
苏州工业园区八二五新媒体投资企业(有限合伙) |
||
By: |
/s/ JI Wei |
|
Name: JI Wei |
||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
||
(Company Seal) |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR: |
||
Suzhou Industrial Park 825 Fund II New Media Investment Centre L.P. |
||
苏州工业园区八二五二期新媒体投资中心(有限合伙) |
||
By: |
/s/ JI Wei |
|
Name: JI Wei | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
(Company Seal) |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.
INVESTORS: |
||
Ceyuan Ventures III, L.P. |
||
By: Ceyuan Ventures Management III, LLC Its: General Partner |
||
By: |
/s/ YUAN Ye |
|
Name: YUAN Ye |
||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
Ceyuan Ventures Advisors Fund III, LLC |
||
By: |
/s/ YUAN Ye |
|
Name: YUAN Ye | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTORS: | ||
Shunwei Technology III Limited | ||
By: |
/s/ Tuck Lye Koh |
|
Name: Tuck Lye Koh | ||
Title: Director |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTORS: |
||
CTG Evergreen Investment X Limited |
||
By: |
/s/ Xu Xin |
|
Name: Xu Xin | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
CTG Evergreen Investment R Limited | ||
By: |
/s/ Xu Xin |
|
Name: Xu Xin | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTORS: | ||
Global Private Opportunities Partners II Offshore Holdings LP |
||
By: GS Investment Strategies, LLC, in its Capacity as Investment Manager to Global Private Opportunities Partners II Offshore Holdings LP | ||
By: |
/s/ Sami Ahmad |
|
Name: Sami Ahmad | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
Global Private Opportunities Partners II LP | ||
By: GS Investment Strategies, LLC, in its Capacity as Investment Manager to Global Private Opportunities Partners II LP | ||
By: |
/s/ Sami Ahmad |
|
Name: Sami Ahmad | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTORS: | ||
GGV Capital VI L.P. | ||
By: GGV Capital VI L.L.C., its General Partner |
||
By: |
/s/ Stephen Hyndman |
|
Name: Stephen Hyndman | ||
Title: Attorney in Fact | ||
GGV Capital VI Entrepreneurs Fund L.P. |
||
By: GGV Capital VI Entrepreneurs Fund L.L.C., its General Partner |
||
By: |
/s/ Stephen Hyndman |
|
Name: Stephen Hyndman | ||
Title: Attorney in Fact | ||
GGV Capital VI Plus L.P. | ||
By: GGV Capital VI Plus L.L.C., its General Partner |
||
By: |
/s/ Stephen Hyndman |
|
Name: Stephen Hyndman | ||
Title: Attorney in Fact |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
Shenzhen Hina New Economic Equity Investment Fund Partnership (Limited Partnership) (深圳汉能新经济股权投资基金合伙企业(有限合伙)) |
||
By: |
/s/ CHEN Hong |
|
Name: CHEN Hong | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
(Company Seal) |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTORS: | ||
HINA GROUP FUND V, L.P. | ||
By: |
/s/ Eric Clow |
|
Name: Eric Clow | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
DELICATE MASTER LIMITED | ||
By: |
/s/ Wong Ngan |
|
Name: Wong Ngan | ||
Title: Authorized Person |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
INSPIRING LINK LIMITED | ||
By: |
/s/ Cheung Wing Hon |
|
Name: Cheung Wing Hon | ||
Title: Director |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
Sunshine Life Insurance Corporation Limited (阳光人寿保险股份有限公司) |
||
By: |
/s/ LI Ke |
|
Name: LI Ke | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
(Company Seal) |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR: |
||
Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited | ||
By: |
/s/ MA Huateng |
|
Name: MA Huateng | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC | ||
By: Coatue Management, L.L.C., its investment manager |
||
By: |
/s/ Zachary Feingold |
|
Name: Zachary Feingold | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||||
SCC Growth VI Holdco E, Ltd. | ||||
By: |
/s/ Ip Siu Wai Eva |
|||
Name: | Ip Siu Wai Eva | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||||
Internet Fund VI Pte. Ltd. | ||||
By: |
/s/ Venkatagiri Mudeliar |
|||
Name: | Venkatagiri Mudeliar | |||
Title: | Director |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
Huaxing Growth Capital III, L.P. | ||
By: |
/s/ BAO Fan |
|
Name: BAO Fan | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
(KANZHUN LIMITED)
Annex A
Definitions
1. Definitions
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
Action shall mean any action, suit, proceeding, claim, arbitration or investigation.
Additional Restricted Person Transfer Notice shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.22(c)(ii).
Adherence Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5.3(a).
Affiliate shall mean, 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 an Investor, shall include (i) any Person who holds Shares as a nominee for the Investor, (ii) any shareholder of the Investor, (iii) any entity or individual which has a direct or indirect interest in the Investor (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 the Investor, its shareholder, the general partner or the fund manager of the Investor 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. In the case of GS, Affiliate shall include (a) any direct or indirect shareholder of GS, (b) any of such shareholders general partners or limited partners, (c) the fund manager managing such shareholder (and general partners, limited partners and officers thereof), (d) trusts Controlled by or for the benefit of any such individuals referred to in (a), (b) or (c), and (e) any fund or holding company formed for investment purposes that is promoted, sponsored, managed, advised or serviced by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. or any of its Affiliates.
Affiliated Investor shall mean, with respect to any given Investor, a Person that directly or indirectly Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with the given Investor and, for any Investor that is a private equity or venture capital investment fund, the term Affiliated Investor shall also include any investment fund which is Controlled by or under common Control with one or more general partners, fund managers (and/or any entity that directly or indirectly Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with such fund manager) of such Investor.
Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.
Anti-Corruption Compliance Program shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.7(c).
Anti-Corruption Laws shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase Agreement.
Annex A
Banyan shall mean Banyan Partners Fund II, L.P.
Banyan Director shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2(a).
Board shall mean the board of directors of the Company.
Board Determination Date shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.22(c)(iii)(C).
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 the Cayman Islands, the United States, Hong Kong, or the PRC.
BVI Holdco shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.
Capital Today shall mean CTG Evergreen Investment X Limited and CTG Evergreen Investment R Limited.
Capital Today Director shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2(a). Ceyuan Director shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2(a).
Ceyuan Funds shall mean Ceyuan Ventures III, L.P. and Ceyuan Ventures Advisors Fund III, LLC.
Challenge Date shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.22(c) (iii)(C).
Circular 37 shall mean the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents to Engage in Overseas Financing and Round Trip
Investment via Overseas Special Purpose Companies (《国家外汇管理局关于境内居民通过境外特殊目的公司境外投融资及返程投资外汇管理有关问题的通知》) issued by SAFE on July 14, 2014, and its amendment and interpretation promulgated by SAFE from time to time.
Class A Ordinary Share means the class A ordinary shares in the capital of the Company with a par value of US$0.0001 per share having the rights set out in the Restated Articles.
Class B Ordinary Share means the class B ordinary shares in the capital of the Company with a par value of US$0.0001 per share having the rights set out in the Restated Articles.
Closing shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase Agreement.
Closing Date shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase Agreement.
Coatue shall mean Coatue PE Asia 26 LLC.
Company shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.
Company Affiliate shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.7(a).
2
Annex A
Company Competitors shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.10(a).
Company First Refusal Period shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.10(2)(b).
Company Industry Segment shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.4.
Company Right of First Refusal shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.10(2)(b).
Company Security Holder shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.12(c).
Consents shall mean all consents, permits, approvals, orders, authorizations or registrations, qualifications, designations, declarations or filings by or with any Governmental Authority and any relevant competent party.
Contract shall mean, as to any Person, any contract, agreement, undertaking, understanding, indenture, note, bond, loan, instrument, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, franchise, or license to which such Person is a party or by which such Person or any of its property is bound, whether oral or written.
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 thirty percent (30%) 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 or (b) over other members of such partys immediate family. Immediate family members include, without limitation, an individuals spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law and father-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law. For the avoidance of doubt, Control of a given Person shall also mean the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct the business, management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, provided that such power or authority shall conclusively be presumed to exist upon possession of beneficial ownership or power to direct the vote of more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of the members or shareholders of such Person or power to control the composition of a majority of the board of directors of such Person. The terms Controlling and Controlled have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
Control Documents shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase Agreement. Co-Sale Notice shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.4.
Co-Sale Pro Rata Portion shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.4(a).
Co-Sale Right Period shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.4.
Covered Persons shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.4.
Director Indemnification Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.3.
3
Annex A
Directors shall mean members of the board of directors of the Company.
Disclosing Party shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.4.
Domestic Enterprise shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.
Egarden shall mean DELICATE MASTER LIMITED.
Equity Securities shall mean, with respect to any Person that is a legal entity, any and all shares of capital stock, membership interests, units, profits interests, ownership interests, equity interests, registered capital, and other equity securities of such Person, and any right, warrant, option, call, commitment, conversion privilege, preemptive right or other right to acquire any of the foregoing, or security convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for any of the foregoing, or any Contract providing for the acquisition of any of the foregoing.
ESOP shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.2.
Exchange Act shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(i).
Excluded Opportunity shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.4.
Financing Terms shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.1.
First Refusal Allotment shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.3(a).
First Refusal Expiration Notice shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.3(a)(iii).
First Refusal Period shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.3(a).
Form F-3 shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(e).
Founder shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.
Founder Director shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2(a).
Founder Parties or Founder Party shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.
GAAP shall mean the generally accepted accounting principles in the relevant jurisdiction.
GGV shall mean GGV Capital VI L.P., GGV Capital VI Entrepreneurs Fund L.P. and GGV Capital VI Plus L.P.
Government Entity shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.7(b).
Government Official shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.7(a).
4
Annex A
Governmental Authority shall mean any nation or government, or any federation, province or state or any other political subdivision thereof; 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 of the PRC, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong or any other country or district, or any political subdivision thereof, any court, tribunal or arbitrator, and any self-regulatory organization.
Group Companies or Group Company shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.
GS shall mean Global Private Opportunities Partners II Offshore Holdings LP and Global Private Opportunities Partners II LP.
Hina shall mean Shenzhen Hina New Economic Equity Investment Fund Partnership (Limited Partnership) (深圳汉能新经济股权投资基金合伙企业(有限合伙)) and Hina Group Fund V, L.P..
Hina Loan Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.15(b).
Hina Onshore shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.15(b).
HK Company shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.
HKIAC Rules shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.11(b).
Holder shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(d).
Hong Kong shall mean the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China.
Huaye Jishi shall mean Beijing Huaye Jishi Network Technology Co., Ltd. (北京华业基石网络技术有限公司), a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Domestic Enterprise.
Identified Company Competitor shall mean any Person listed on Exhibit D-2, (which list shall be subject to a yearly update as approved by the Board (including the affirmative votes of all Investor Directors and the Independent Director), provided that (i) the total number of entities in such updated list shall in no event be more than eight (8) and (ii) with respect to any entity newly added in such updated list, the valuation of such entity shall be no less than US$500,000,000) or any of its Subsidiaries. For avoidance of doubts, the foregoing valuation shall be determined as follows: (i) if the Equity Securities of such entity is traded on a securities exchange, the valuation shall be determined according to the average of the securitys closing prices on such exchange over the thirty (30) day period ending one (1) day prior to the date of decision made by the Board approving such update, and (ii) if the Equity Securities of such entity is not traded on a securities exchange, the valuation shall be equivalent to the post-money valuation in the then most recent financing of such entity.
5
Annex A
Information Rights shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1(d). Initiating Holders shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.3(b). Inspection Rights shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1. Investor or Investors shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.
Investor Affiliate or Investor Affiliates shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.3(a).
Investor Director or Investor Directors shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2(a).
Investor Transfer Notice shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.10(2)(a).
Independent Director shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2(a).
Liabilities or Liability shall mean, with respect to any Person, all debts, obligations, liabilities owed by such Person of any nature, whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether due or to become due.
Limitation Threshold shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.3(a).
Magic Stone Fund shall mean MSA China Fund I L.P. and Magic Stone Special Opportunity Fund VIII L.P..
Majority Investor Directors shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2(c). Meridian shall mean Meridian Fund I and Meridian Fund II.
Meridian Fund I shall mean Suzhou Industrial Park 825 New Media Investment Enterprise L.P. (苏州工业园区八二五新媒体投资企业(有限合伙)).
Meridian Fund II shall mean Suzhou Industrial Park 825 Fund II New Media Investment Centre L.P. (苏州工业园区八二五二期新媒体投资中心(有限合伙)).
Meridian Fund II Loan Agreement I shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.15(a).
Meridian Fund II Loan Agreement II shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.15(a).
Meridian Fund II Loan Agreement III shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.15(a).
Meridian Fund II Loan Agreements shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.15(a).
New Securities shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.3.
6
Annex A
Non-Disclosing Parties shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.4. Observer shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2(a).
OFAC shall mean the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of Treasury.
Offered Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2.
Ordinary Shareholders shall mean the holders of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, other than (i) Class A Ordinary Shares converted from Preferred Shares, (ii) the Class A Ordinary Shares held by Tencent in accordance with the Share Transfer Agreement entered into by and among Tencent, Zhao Peng (赵鹏) and TECHWOLF LIMITED dated as of August 7, 2020, and (iii) the Class A Ordinary Shares held by Coatue in accordance with the Share Subscription Agreement entered into by and between the Company and Coatue dated as of August 7, 2020.
Ordinary Shares shall mean Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares, collectively or any of them.
Participation Notice shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.4.
Participation Period shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.4.
Partnership Election shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.13(b)(1).
Permitted Affiliated Transfer shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.10(2)(d).
Permitted Transferee or Permitted Transferees shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.6.
Person shall mean 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, but solely for purposes of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, excluding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and the Islands of Taiwan.
PRC Companies shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.
Preferred Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.
Preferred Super-majority shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1(b).
Principal Business shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase Agreement.
Prior Agreement is defined in the recital A of this Agreement.
7
Annex A
Pro Rata Share shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.2.
Purchase Agreement is defined in the recital B of this Agreement.
Qualified Public Offering shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.
Recommended Appraisers shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.22(c) (iii)(C).
Registrable Securities shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(b).
Registrable Securities then outstanding shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(c).
Registration Expenses shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(g).
Renjuren shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.
Remaining Target Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.22(c)(ii).
Request Notice shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.3(a).
Restated Articles shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase Agreement.
Restricted Business shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.10(b).
Restricted Persons shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.22(a).
Restricted Person Transfer Notice shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.22(c).
Restricted Period shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.10(b).
Restricted Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1.
Right of Participation shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.1.
ROFR and Co-Sale Right Holders shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1.
SAFE shall mean the State Administration for Foreign Exchange of the PRC.
SAFE Circular shall mean collectively, the Circular 37 and any other applicable SAFE rule and regulation, as amended.
Sanctions shall mean any sanctions from time to time administered by OFAC, or by the U.S. Department of State, or any sanctions imposed by the European Union (including under Council Regulation (EC) No. 194/2008), the United Nations Security Council, Her Majestys Treasury or any other relevant governmental entity and any activities sanctionable under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010, as amended or the Iran Sanctions Act, as amended.
8
Annex A
SEC shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(f).
Selling Expenses shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(h).
Selling Investor shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.22(c).
Selling Shareholder or Selling Shareholders shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2.
Sequoia shall mean SCC Growth VI Holdco E, Ltd..
Series A Majority shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.1.
Series A Preferred Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.
Series B Majority shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.1.
Series B Preferred Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.
Series C Majority shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.1.
Series C Preferred Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.
Series C-1 Majority shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.1.
Series C-1 Preferred Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1. Series C-2 Majority shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.1.
Series C-2 Preferred Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.
Series C-3 Preferred Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.
Series C-3 Purchase Agreement shall mean that certain purchase agreement, dated as of February 10, 2017, entered into by and among the Company, the other Group Companies, the Founder Parties and other Persons set forth therein with respect to the purchase and sale of the Series C-3 Preferred Shares.
Series C-3 Majority shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.1.
Series D Preferred Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.
Series E Majority shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.1.
Series E Preferred Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.
Series E Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.
9
Annex A
Series E-1 Preferred Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1. Series E-2 Director shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2(a).
Series E-2 Purchase Agreement shall mean that certain Share Purchase Agreement dated as of July 4, 2019 (as amended) by and among the Company, the HK Company, the WFOE, the Domestic Enterprise, Tencent, the BVI Holdco, the Founder and certain other parties thereto, pursuant to which the Company and certain Selling Shareholders (as defined therein) have agreed, among others, to issue and/or sell certain Preferred Shares to Tencent on the terms and conditions set forth therein.
Series E-2 Preferred Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.
Series F Majority shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.1.
Series F Preferred Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.
Series F Purchase Agreement shall mean that certain Share Purchase Agreement dated as of February 10, 2020 by and among the Company, the HK Company, the WFOE, the Domestic Enterprise, Coatue, Tencent, the BVI Holdco, the Founder and certain other parties set forth therein with respect to the purchase and sale of the Series F Preferred Shares.
Series F+ Majority shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.1.
Series F+ Preferred Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.
Series Preferred Majority shall mean the Series A Majority, the Series B Majority, the Series C Majority, the Series C-1 Majority, the Series C-2 Majority, the Series C-3 Majority, the Series D Majority, the Series E Majority, the Series F Majority and the Series F+ Majority.
Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.
Shunwei Fund shall mean Shunwei Technology III Limited.
Subsidiary shall mean, with respect to any subject entity (the subject entity), (i) any company, partnership or other Person (x) more than 50% of whose shares or other interests entitled to vote 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 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 relevant GAAP treatment, 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, as of the date hereof and the Closing Date, the Subsidiaries of the Company shall include the HK Company, the US Subsidiary, the Domestic Enterprise, the WFOE, Huaye Jishi, and Renjuren.
Sunshine shall mean Sunshine Life Insurance Corporation Limited (阳光人寿保险股份有限公司).
10
Annex A
Target Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.22(c).
Tax shall mean (i) in the PRC: (a) any national, provincial, municipal, or local taxes, charges, fees, levies, or other assessments, including, without limitation, all net income (including enterprise income tax and individual income withholding tax), turnover (including value-added tax, business tax, and consumption tax), resource (including urban and township land use tax), special purpose (including land value-added tax, urban maintenance and construction tax, and additional education fees), property (including urban real estate tax and land use fees), documentation (including stamp duty and deed tax), filing, recording, tariffs (including import duty and import value-added tax), and estimated and provisional taxes, charges, fees, levies, or other assessments of any kind whatsoever, (b) all interest, penalties (administrative, civil or criminal), or additional amounts imposed by any Governmental Authority in connection with any item described in clause (a) above, and (c) any form of transferee liability imposed by any Governmental Authority in connection with any item described in clauses (a) and (b) above, and (ii) in any jurisdiction other than the PRC: all similar liabilities as described in clause (i)(a) and (i)(b) above.
Tencent shall mean Image Frame Investment (HK) Limited.
Tencent Exercise Period shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.22(c)(ii).
Tencent Purchase Notice shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.22(c)(ii).
Trade Sale Event shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Restated Article. Transfer shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.7(a).
Transferred Targets shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.22(c). Transferor(s) shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.10(2)(a).
Transaction Documents shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase Agreement.
Transfer Notice shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2.
Transfer Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.10(2)(a).
U.S. shall mean the United States of America.
U.S. Shareholders shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.13(b).
US Subsidiary shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.
US$ shall mean the lawful currency of the United States of America. Violation shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.9(a). WFOE shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.
Zhongwei Capital shall mean INSPIRING LINK LIMITED.
11
Annex A
2. Interpretations
(a) Directly or Indirectly. The phrase directly or indirectly means directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediate Persons or through contractual or other legal arrangements, and direct or indirect has the correlative meaning.
(b) Gender and Number. Unless the context otherwise requires, all words (whether gender-specific or gender neutral) shall be deemed to include each of the masculine, feminine and neuter genders, and words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa.
(c) Headings. Headings are included for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of any provision of this Agreement.
(d) Include not Limiting. Include, including, are inclusive of and similar expressions are not expressions of limitation and shall be construed as if followed by the words without limitation.
(e) Language. This Agreement is written in English.
(f) Rights not obligations. References in this Agreement to any Person having a right shall not connote any corresponding obligation.
(g) References to Documents. References to this Agreement include the Schedules and Exhibits, which form an integral part hereof. A reference to any Section, Schedule or Exhibit is, unless otherwise specified, to such Section of, or Schedule or Exhibit to this Agreement. The words hereof, hereunder and hereto, and words of like import, unless the context requires otherwise, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section hereof or Schedule or Exhibit hereto. References to any document (including this Agreement) are references to that document as amended, consolidated, supplemented, novated or replaced from time to time.
(h) Share Calculations. In calculations of share numbers or percentages, (i) references to fully-diluted basis mean that the calculation is to be made assuming that (a) all outstanding options, warrants and other Equity Securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Ordinary Shares (whether or not by their terms then currently convertible, exercisable or exchangeable), have been so converted, exercised or exchanged, and (b) all Class A Ordinary Shares reserved under the ESOP have been issued and are outstanding, and (ii) references to as-converted basis mean that the calculation should be made assuming that the Preferred Shares have been converted into Class A Ordinary Shares at such time, but no other Equity Securities have been so converted, exercised or exchanged, in each case of (i) and (ii), excluding any new Equity Securities issued in connection with an initial public offering. Any share calculation shall be appropriately adjusted to take into account any share split, share consolidation, recapitalization, bonus issue, reclassification or similar event.
12
Annex A
(i) Time. Except as otherwise provided, (i) if a period of time is specified and dates from a given day or the day of a given act or event, such period shall be calculated exclusive of that day and a time of day is a reference to Beijing time; and (ii) if the day on or by which something must be done is not a Business Day, that thing must be done on or by the Business Day immediately following such day.
(j) Writing. References to writing and written include any mode of reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form including emails and faxes.
13
Annex A
Schedule I
SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS
Schedule I
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF DIRECTOR INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT A
EXHIBIT B
NOTICES
EXHIBIT B
EXHIBIT C
ADHERENCE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT C
EXHIBIT D-1
COMPANY COMPETITORS
EXHIBIT D-2
IDENTIFIED COMPANY COMPETITORS
EXHIBIT D
EXHIBIT E
RESTRICTED PERSONS
EXHIBIT E
Exhibit 5.1
Harney Westwood & Riegels 3501 The Center 99 Queens Road Central Hong Kong Tel: +852 5806 7800 Fax: +852 5806 7810 |
21 May 2021
038180.0016
KANZHUN LIMITED
18/F, GrandyVic Building
Taiyanggong Middle Road
Chaoyang District
Beijing 100020
Peoples Republic of China
Dear Sir or Madam
KANZHUN LIMITED (the Company)
We are attorneys-at-law qualified to practise in the Cayman Islands and have acted as Cayman Islands legal advisers to 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 (the 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 a par value of US$0.0001 each (the Shares).
We are furnishing this opinion as Exhibits 5.1, 8.1 and 23.2 to the Registration Statement.
For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined the Documents (as defined in Schedule 1). We have not examined any other documents, official or corporate records or external or internal registers and have not undertaken or been instructed to undertake any further enquiry or due diligence in relation to the transaction which is the subject of this opinion.
In giving this opinion we have relied upon the assumptions set out in Schedule 2 which we have not verified.
Based solely upon the foregoing examinations and assumptions and having regard to legal considerations which we deem relevant, and subject to the qualifications set out in Schedule 3, we are of the opinion that under the laws of the Cayman Islands:
1 |
Existence and Good Standing. The Company is an exempted company duly incorporated with limited liability, and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands. |
2 |
Constitutional Documents. Based on our review of the IPO Memorandum and Articles (as defined in Schedule 1), 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$200,000 divided into 2,000,000,000 shares nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each, consisting of: |
(a) |
1,750,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each; |
Resident Partners: M Chu | JP Engwirda | A Johnstone P Kay | BJ King | MW Kwok | IN Mann | R Ng | ME Parrott ATC Ridgers | PJ Sephton | X Yin Bermuda legal services provided through an association with Zuill & Co. HK:12548126_1 |
Anguilla | Bermuda | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands Cyprus | Hong Kong | London | Luxembourg | Montevideo São Paulo | Shanghai | Singapore | Vancouver harneys.com |
(b) |
200,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each; and |
(c) |
50,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors may determine in accordance with the articles of association of the Company. |
3 |
Shares. The Shares to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement have been duly authorised. When the Shares are issued by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement against payment in full of the consideration therefor and entered as fully paid on the register of members of the Company, the Shares will be validly allotted and issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
4 |
Taxes. 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 as at the date of this opinion and that such statements constitute our opinion. |
This opinion is confined to the matters expressly opined on herein and given on the basis of the laws of the Cayman Islands as they are in force and applied by the Cayman Islands courts at the date of this opinion. We have made no investigation of, and express no opinion on, the laws of any other jurisdiction. We express no opinion as to matters of fact. 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. We express no opinion with respect to the commercial terms of the transactions the subject of this opinion.
In connection with the above opinion, we hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference made to this firm in the Registration Statement 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.
This opinion is limited to the matters referred to herein and shall not be construed as extending to any other matter or document not referred to herein.
This opinion shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands.
Yours faithfully |
/s/ Harney Westwood & Riegels |
Harney Westwood & Riegels |
2
SCHEDULE 1
List of Documents Examined
1 |
the certificate of incorporation of the Company dated 16 January 2014; |
2 |
the thirteenth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company as adopted by a special resolution passed on 27 November 2020 and effective from 27 November 2020 (the Pre-IPO Memorandum and Articles); |
3 |
the fourteenth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company as conditionally adopted by a special resolution passed on 21 May 2021 and effective immediately prior to the completion of the Companys initial public offering of the ADSs representing the Shares (the IPO Memorandum and Articles); |
4 |
a certificate of good standing in respect of the Company issued by the Registrar of Companies dated 18 May 2021 (the Certificate of Good Standing); |
5 |
a copy of the written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 21 May 2021 (the Directors Resolutions); |
6 |
a copy of the unanimous written resolutions of the shareholders of the Company dated 21 May 2021 (the Shareholders Resolutions, together with the Directors Resolutions, the Resolutions), |
7 |
a directors certificate issued by ZHAO, Peng, being the director of the Company, on 21 May 2021 confirming various information about the Company (the Directors Certificate), a copy of which is annexed to this confirmation as Appendix I, |
(1 to 7 above are the Corporate Documents); and
8 |
the Registration Statement. |
The Corporate Documents and the Registration Statement are collectively referred to in this opinion as the Documents.
3
SCHEDULE 2
Assumptions
1 |
Authenticity of Documents. Copy documents or drafts of documents provided to us are true and complete copies of, or in the final forms of, the originals. All original Corporate Documents are authentic, all signatures, initials and seals are genuine, all copies of the Registration Statement are true and correct copies and the Registration Statement conform in every material respect to the latest drafts of the same produced to us and, where the Registration Statement has been provided to us in successive drafts marked-up to indicate changes to such documents, all such changes have been so indicated. |
2 |
Corporate Documents. All matters required by law to be recorded in the Corporate Documents are so recorded, and all corporate minutes, resolutions, certificates, documents and records which we have reviewed are accurate and complete, and all facts expressed in or implied thereby are accurate and complete. |
3 |
Constitutional Documents. The IPO Memorandum and Articles remain in full force and effect and are otherwise unamended and will become effective immediately prior to the closing of the Companys initial public offering of ADSs representing the Shares. |
4 |
Conversion. The conversion of any shares in the capital of the Company will be effected via legally available means under Cayman law. |
5 |
No Steps to Wind-up. The directors and shareholders of the Company have not taken any steps to have the Company struck off or placed in liquidation, no steps have been taken to wind up the Company and no receiver has been appointed over any of the property or assets of the Company. |
6 |
Resolutions. The Resolutions have been duly executed (and where by a corporate entity such execution has been duly authorised if so required) by or on behalf of each director, or by or on behalf of each shareholder in respect of the shareholder resolutions, and the signatures and initials thereon are those of a person or persons in whose name the Resolutions have been expressed to be signed. The Resolutions remain in full force and effect. |
7 |
Unseen Documents. Save for the Corporate Documents provided to us there are no resolutions, agreements, documents or arrangements which materially affect, amend or vary the transactions envisaged in the Registration Statement. |
8 |
Proceeds of Crime. No monies paid to or for the account of any party under the transaction which is the subject of this opinion represent or will represent criminal property or terrorist property (as defined in the Proceeds of Crime Act (2020 Revision) and the Terrorism Act (2018 Revision), respectively). |
9 |
Consideration. Upon the issue of any Shares to be sold by the Company, the Company will receive consideration for the full issue price thereof which shall be equal to at least the par value thereof. |
10 |
No Implication. There is nothing under any law (other than the law of the Cayman Islands) or contained in the minute book or corporate records of the Company (which we have not inspected), which would or might affect the opinions set out above. |
Directors Certificate. The information contained in the Directors Certificate is accurate, correct and complete, and we have not separately and independently verified.
4
SCHEDULE 3
Qualifications
1 |
Foreign Statutes. We express no opinion in relation to provisions making reference to foreign statutes in the Registration Statement. |
2 |
Good Standing. The Company shall be deemed to be in good standing at any time if all fees (including annual filing fees) and penalties under the Companies Act have been paid and the Registrar of Companies has no knowledge that the Company is in default under the Companies Act. |
3 |
Economic Substance. We have undertaken no enquiry and express no view as to the compliance of the Company with the International Tax Co-operation (Economic Substance) Act (2020 Revision). |
4 |
Non-assessable. In this opinion the phrase non-assessable means, with respect to the issuance of shares, that a shareholder shall not, in respect of the relevant shares, have any obligation to make further contributions to the Companys assets (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). |
5 |
Register of members. Under the Companies Act, the register of members of a Cayman Islands company is by statute regarded as prima facie evidence of any matters which the Companies Act directs or authorises to be inserted therein. A third party interest in the shares in question would not appear. An entry in the register of members may yield to a court order for rectification (for example, in the event of fraud or manifest error). |
6 |
Directors Certificate. We accept no responsibility for any liability in relation to any opinion which was given in reliance on the Directors Certificate. |
5
Appendix I
Directors Certificate
KANZHUN LIMITED
incorporated in the Cayman Islands
Company No. 284419
(the Company)
DIRECTORS CERTIFICATE
This certificate is given by the undersigned in his capacity as a duly authorised director of the Company to Harney Westwood & Riegels in connection with a legal opinion in relation to the Company (the Legal Opinion). Capitalised terms used in this certificate have the meaning given to them in the Opinion.
1 |
The Legal Opinion in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A is factually true, correct and complete in all respects, and the undersigned has no knowledge of any other factual matters which shall constitute as exceptions, assumptions, qualifications or further disclosures to the Legal Opinion. |
2 |
Harney Westwood & Riegels may rely on the statements made in this certificate as a basis for the Legal Opinion. |
3 |
I, the undersigned, am a director of the Company duly authorised to issue this certificate. Under the constitutional documents of the Company, the business and affairs of the Company are conducted by the board of directors of the Company. |
4 |
I, the undersigned, confirm in relation to the Company the followings: |
(a) |
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. |
(b) |
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 each director of the Company) and have not been amended, varied or revoked in any respect. |
(c) |
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. |
(d) |
The authorised share capital of the Company is US$150,000 divided into 150,000,000 shares, comprising of (i) 827,539,829 Class A ordinary shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (ii) 121,108,037 Class B ordinary shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (iii) 60,000,000 Series A preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (iv) 40,000,000 voting redeemable Series B preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (v) 48,000,000 Series C preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (vi) 45,319,316 Series C-1 preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (vii) 42,251,744 voting redeemable Series C-2 preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (viii) 11,497,073 Series C-3 preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (ix) 60,856,049 Series D preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (x) 83,474,263 Series E preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (xi) 32,373,031 Series E-1 preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (xii) 28,226,073 Series E-2 preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, (xiii) 48,689,976 Series F preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, and (ix) 50,664,609 Series F+ preferred shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each. |
(e) |
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$200,000 divided into 2,000,000,000 shares comprising of (i) 1,750,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each; (ii) 200,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each; and (iii) 50,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors may determine in accordance with the articles of association of the Company. |
(f) |
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. |
(g) |
The directors of the Company at the date of the Directors Resolutions and at the date hereof were and are: |
ZHAO, Peng
YUAN, Ye
XU, Xin
GAO, Xiang
Haiyang Yu
FOO, JI-XUN
(h) |
Each director of the Company 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. |
(i) |
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. |
(j) |
Upon the completion of the Companys initial public offering of the ADSs representing the Shares, the ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market and accordingly the Company will not be subject to the requirements of Part XVIIA of the Companies Act (As Revised). |
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2
You may assume that all of the information in this certificate remains true and correct unless and until you are notified otherwise in writing.
/s/ ZHAO, Peng |
May 21, 2021 |
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Name: ZHAO, Peng | Date: | |||
Director |
3
EXHIBIT A
Legal Opinion
Exhibit 10.1
KANZHUN LIMITED
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2020 GLOBAL SHARE PLAN
(Adopted by a resolution of Companys board of directors on May 21, 2021)
1. Purposes of the Plan. The purpose of this Plan is to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentives to selected Employees, Directors, and Consultants and to promote the success of the Companys business by offering these individuals an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the success of the Company or to increase this interest, by permitting them to acquire Shares of the Company. The Plan provides both for the direct award or sale of Shares and for the grant of Options to purchase Shares. Options granted under the Plan may be Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options, as determined by the Administrator at the time of grant.
2. Definitions. For the purposes of this Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) Administrator means the Board or any of its Committees or such delegates as shall be administering the Plan in accordance with Section 4 hereof.
(b) Applicable Law means any applicable legal requirements relating to the administration of and the issuance of securities under equity securities-based compensation plans, including, without limitation, the requirements of laws of the PRC, U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, U.S. federal law, U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the laws of the Cayman Islands, and the requirements of any stock exchange or quotation system upon which the Shares may then be listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any other country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted under the Plan. For all purposes of this Plan, references to statutes and regulations shall be deemed to include any successor statutes or regulations, to the extent reasonably appropriate as determined by the Administrator.
(c) Award means an Option, a Restricted Share Purchase Right or a Share Award.
(d) Awardee means a recipient of an Award.
(e) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(f) Change in Control means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) or more than one person acting as a group becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power represented by the Companys then outstanding voting securities, except that any change in the ownership of the share capital of the Company as a result of a private financing of the Company that is approved by the Board will not be considered a Change in Control. For purposes of this Section (i), persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of shares, or similar business transaction with the Company;
(ii) the consummation of the sale, lease, or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets; or
(iii) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation.
Anything in the foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Code Section 409A, as it has been and may be amended from time to time, and any proposed or final Treasury Regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance that has been promulgated or may be promulgated thereunder from time to time. Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if its sole purpose is to change the legal jurisdiction of the Companys incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Companys securities immediately before such transaction. In addition, a sale by the Company of its securities in a transaction, the primary purpose of which is to raise capital for the Companys operations and business activities including, without limitation, an initial public offering of Shares under the Securities Act or other Applicable Law, shall not constitute a Change in Control.
(g) Code means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(h) Committee means the award management committee of the Company.
(i) Company means KANZHUN LIMITED, a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, or any successor corporation thereto.
(j) Consultant means any natural person, including an advisor, who is directly engaged by the Company or any Subsidiary to render bona fide consulting or advisory services to such entity and who is compensated for the services; provided that the term Consultant, does not include (i) Employees or (ii) securities promoters, and the service 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.
(k) Date of Grant means the date an Award is granted to an Awardee in accordance with Section 13 hereof.
(l) Director means a member of the Board.
(m) Disability means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, provided that in the case of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the Administrator in its discretion may determine whether a permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator from time to time.
(n) Employee means any person, including officers, consultants and Directors, employed by the Company or any Subsidiary. A Service Provider shall not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or any Subsidiary, including sick leave, military leave, or any other personal leave, or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company or any Subsidiary, or any successor. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then three (3) months following the 91st day of such leave, any Incentive Stock Option held by the Optionee shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a directors fee by the Company or any Subsidiary shall be sufficient to constitute employment by the Company or any Subsidiary.
(o) Exercise Price means the amount for which one Share may be purchased upon exercise of an Option, as specified by the Administrator in the applicable Option Agreement in accordance with Section 6(d) hereof.
(p) Exchange Act means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(q) Fair Market Value means, as of any date, the value of the Shares determined as follows:
(i) if the Shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including, without limitation, The Nasdaq Global Market or The Nasdaq Capital Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange (Main Listing or Alternative Investment Market), the Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for the Shares (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the
(ii) if the Shares are regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the high bid and low asked prices for the Shares on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or any other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or
(iii) in the absence of an established market for the Shares, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator in accordance with Applicable Law.
(r) Hong Kong means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China.
(s) Incentive Stock Option means an Option that by its terms qualifies and is otherwise intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as designated in the applicable Option Agreement.
(t) Nonstatutory Stock Option means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, as designated in the applicable Option Agreement.
(u) Option means an option to purchase Shares that is granted pursuant to the Plan in accordance with Section 6 hereof.
(v) Option Agreement means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and an Optionee, the form(s) of which shall be approved from time to time by the Administrator, evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option granted under the Plan, and includes any documents attached to or incorporated into the Option Agreement, including, but not limited to, a notice of option grant and a form of exercise notice. The Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(w) Optioned Shares means the Shares subject to an Option.
(x) Optionee means the holder of an outstanding Option granted under the Plan.
(y) Parent means a parent corporation with respect to the Company, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(z) Plan means this Amended and Restated 2020 Global Share Plan, as amended from time to time.
(aa) PRC means the Peoples Republic of China.
(bb) Purchase Price means the amount of consideration for which one Share may be acquired pursuant to a Restricted Share Purchase Right or Share Award, as specified by the Administrator in the applicable Restricted Share Purchase Agreement or Share Award Agreement in accordance with Section 7(c) hereof.
(cc) Purchaser means the holder of Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of a Restricted Share Purchase Right or a Share Award.
(dd) Restricted Share Purchase Agreement means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Purchaser, the form(s) of which shall be approved from time to time by the Administrator, evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Restricted Share Purchase Right, and includes any documents attached to or incorporated into the Restricted Share Purchase Agreement. The Restricted Share Purchase Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(ee) Restricted Share Purchase Right means a right to purchase Restricted Shares pursuant to Section 7 hereof.
(ff) Restricted Shares means Shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Share Purchase Right (if subjected to rights of redemption, repurchase or forfeiture).
(gg) Securities Act means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(hh) Service Provider means an Employee, Director, or Consultant.
(ii) Share means an ordinary share of the Company, par value of US$0.0001 as adjusted in accordance with Section 12 hereof.
(jj) Share Award means an award or issuance of Shares or stock appreciation rights other similar awards made under Section 7 of the Plan, the grant, issuance, retention, vesting, settlement and/or transferability of which is subject during specified periods of time to such conditions (including continued employment or performance conditions) and terms as are expressed in the agreement or other documents evidencing the Award.
(kk) Share Award Agreement means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Purchaser, the form(s) of which shall be approved from time to time by the Administrator, evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Share Award, and includes any documents attached to or incorporated into the Share Award Agreement. The Share Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(ll) Shareholders Agreement means any agreement between an Awardee and the Company or members of the Company or both.
(mm) Subsidiary means a subsidiary corporation with respect to the Company, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, including any variable interest entity whose financial statements are intended to be consolidated with the Company.
(nn) Ten Percent Owner means a Service Provider who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding securities of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary. In determining ownership of securities, the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply.
(oo) United States means the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any State of the United States, and the District of Columbia.
3. Shares Subject to the Plan.
(a) Basic Limitation. Subject to the provisions of Section 12 hereof, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan shall be 145,696,410 Shares (as appropriately adjusted for subsequent stock splits, stock dividends and the like), and upon the taking effect of a registration statement for a Qualified Public Offering (as defined in the Companys thirteenth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), plus an annual increase of 1.5% of the total number of Shares issued and outstanding on an as converted basis as of December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year on the first day of each fiscal year (Evergreen Increase), beginning in 2022 and continuing for four years after the first Evergreen Increase. After five Evergreen Increases, the Board shall determine the amount of annual increase, if any, to the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan. The Shares may be authorized but unissued or reacquired Shares. The number of Shares that are subject to Awards outstanding under the Plan at any time shall not exceed the aggregate number of Shares that then remain available for issuance under the Plan. The Company, during the term of the Plan, shall at all times reserve and keep available sufficient Shares to satisfy the requirements of outstanding Awards granted under the Plan.
(b) Additional Shares. If an Award expires, becomes unexercisable, or is cancelled, forfeited, or otherwise terminated without having been exercised or settled in full, as the case may be, the Shares allocable to the unexercised portion of the Award shall again become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated).
4. Administration of the Plan.
(a) Administrator. The Plan shall be administered by the chairman of the Board or the Committee as authorized by the Board, provided that such Committee is established. Any Committee of the Board shall be constituted to comply with Applicable Law. If the Committee is established, any actions taken by such committee to administer the Plan shall be approved by a simple majority of the members of the committee with majority of the members of the Committee constitute a quorum. Any grant or amendment of Awards to any Committee member shall then require an affirmative vote of a majority of the Board members who are not on the Committee.
(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and, in the case of a Committee, the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, and subject to, if applicable, the approval of any relevant authorities, the Administrator shall have the authority in its discretion:
(i) to determine the Fair Market Value, in accordance with Section 2(r) hereof;
(ii) to select the Awardees to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder;
(iii) to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(iv) to approve the form(s) of agreement for use under the Plan;
(v) to determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder including, but not limited to, the Exercise Price, the Purchase Price, the time or times when Options may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), the time or times when repurchase or redemption rights shall lapse, any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, the extension of the post-termination exercisability of an Option or payment of the Exercise Price longer than is otherwise provided for in an Option Agreement, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine;
(vi) to implement a program where (A) outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for Awards of the same type (which may have lower Exercise/Purchase Prices and different terms), Awards of a different type, or cash, or (B) the Exercise/Purchase Price of an outstanding Award is reduced, based in each case on terms and conditions determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion;
(vii) to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable laws of jurisdictions other than the United States;
(viii) to allow Awardees to satisfy withholding tax obligations by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued under an Award that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld. The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld shall be determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. All elections by Awardees to have Shares withheld for this purpose shall be made in such form and under such conditions as the Administrator may deem necessary or advisable;
(ix) to modify or amend each Award (subject to Section 17 hereof and Awardee consent if the modification or amendment is to the Awardees detriment), including, without limitation, the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability of an Option longer than is otherwise provided for in an Option Agreement or accelerate the vesting or exercisability of an Option or lapsing of a repurchase or redemption right to which Restricted Shares may be subject;
(x) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan; and
(xi) to make any other determination and take any other action that the Administrator deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.
(c) Delegation of Authority to Officers. Subject to Applicable Law, the Administrator may delegate limited authority to specified officers of the Company to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect an Award previously granted by the Administrator.
(d) Effect of Administrators Decision. All decisions, determinations, and interpretations of the Administrator shall be final and binding on all Awardees.
(e) Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Laws, each member of the Committee, or the chairman of the Board, as applicable, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her 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 taken or failure to act under this Plan or pursuant to the terms and conditions of any Award except for actions taken in bad faith or failures to act in bad faith, and (ii) any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Companys approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such claim, action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided that such member shall give the Company an opportunity, at the Companys own expense, to handle and defend any such claim, action, suit or proceeding 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 under the Companys Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation, as such may be amended or restated from time to time, or by contract, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or under any other power that the Company may have to indemnify or hold harmless each such person.
5. Eligibility. (a) Only Service Providers, or trusts or companies established in connection with any employee benefit plan of the Company (including the Plan) for the benefit of a Service Provider, shall be eligible for the grant of Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees only. Any Awards granted to Consultants that are intended to comply with and qualify under Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act may only be granted to natural persons who meet the requirements set forth under Rule 701(c)(1)(ii) and (iii) of the Securities Act. (b) A Ten Percent Owner shall not be eligible for the grant of an Incentive Stock Option unless (i) the Exercise Price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant, and (ii) the Incentive Stock Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the Date of Grant.
6. Terms and Conditions of Options.
(a) Option Agreement. Each grant of an Option under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement between the Optionee and the Company. Each Option shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan and that the Administrator deems appropriate for inclusion in an Option Agreement. The provisions of the various Option Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.
(b) Type of Option. Each Option may be designated in the Option Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding a designation of an Option as an Incentive Stock Option, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an Optionee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds US$100,000, such Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 6(b), Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the Date of Grant, and calculation will be performed in accordance with Section 422 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
(c) Number of Shares. Each Option Agreement shall specify the number of Shares that are subject to the Option and shall provide for the adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 12 hereof.
(d) Exercise Price. Each Option Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option generally shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant, and a higher percentage may be required by Section 5(b) hereof. Subject to the foregoing, the Exercise Price of any Option may be lower than the price required above in case the Administrator determines in its sole discretion that it is in the best interest of the Company to motivate the Optionee(s). The Exercise Price shall be payable in accordance with Section 9 hereof and the applicable Option Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, in the event of a transaction described in Section 424(a) of the Code, then, consistent with Section 424(a) of the Code, Incentive Stock Options may be issued at an Exercise Price other than as required by the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(d) and Section 5(b).
(e) Term of Option. The Option Agreement shall specify the term of the Option; provided, however, that the term shall not exceed ten (10) years from the Date of Grant. Subject to the preceding sentence, the Administrator in its sole discretion shall determine when an Option is to expire.
(f) Exercisability. Each Option Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment of the Option is to become exercisable. The exercisability provisions of any Option Agreement shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.
(g) Exercise Procedure. Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable according to the terms hereof at such times and under such conditions as may be determined by the Administrator and as set forth in the Option Agreement; provided, however, that an Option shall not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
(i) An Option shall be deemed exercised when the Company receives (A) written or electronic notice of exercise (in accordance with the Option Agreement) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, (B) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised, and (C) all representations, indemnifications, and documents reasonably requested by the Administrator including, without limitation, any Shareholders Agreement. Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Administrator in accordance with Section 9 hereof and permitted by the Option Agreement.
(ii) Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall be issued in the name of the Optionee or, if requested by the Optionee, in the name of the Optionee and his or her spouse, or by trusts or companies established in connection with any employee benefit plan of the Company (including the Plan) for the benefit of a Service Provider or Service Providers. Subject to the provisions of Sections 8, 9, 14, and 15, the Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) certificates evidencing the issued Shares promptly after the Option are exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator in its discretion may require the Company to retain possession of any certificate evidencing Shares acquired upon the exercise of an Option, if those Shares remain subject to repurchase or redemption under the provisions of the Option Agreement, any Shareholders Agreement, or any other agreement between the Company and the Awardee, or if those Shares are collateral for a loan or obligation due to the Company.
(iii) Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan (in accordance with Section 3(b)) and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.
(h) Termination of Service (other than by death).
(i) If an Optionee ceases to be a Service Provider for any reason other than because of death, then the Optionees Options shall expire on the earliest of the following occasions:
(A) The expiration date determined by Section 6(e) hereof;
(B) The last day of the three-month period following the termination of the Optionees relationship as a Service Provider for any reason other than Disability, or such later date as the Administrator may determine and specify in the Option Agreement, provided that no Option that is exercised after the expiration of the three-month period immediately following the termination of the Optionees relationship as an Employee shall be treated as an Incentive Stock Option; or
(C) The last day of the six-month period following the termination of the Optionees relationship as a Service Provider by reason of Disability, or such later date as the Administrator may determine and specify in the Option Agreement; provided that no Option that is exercised after the expiration of the twelve-month period immediately following the termination of the Optionees relationship as an Employee shall be treated as an Incentive Stock Option.
(ii) Following the termination of the Optionees relationship as a Service Provider, the Optionee may exercise all or part of the Optionees Option at any time before the expiration of the Option as set forth in Section 6(h)(i) hereof, but only to the extent that the Option was vested and exercisable as of the date of termination of the Optionees relationship as a Service Provider (or became vested and exercisable as a result of the termination). The balance of the Shares subject to the Option shall be forfeited on the date of termination of the Optionees relationship as a Service Provider. In the event that the Optionee dies after the termination of the Optionees relationship as a Service Provider but before the expiration of the Optionees Option as set forth in Section 6(h)(i) hereof, all or part of the Option may be exercised (prior to expiration) by the executors or administrators of the Optionees estate or by any person who has acquired the Option directly from the Optionee by beneficiary designation, bequest, or inheritance, but only to the extent that the Option was vested and exercisable as of the termination date of the Optionees relationship as a Service Provider (or became vested and exercisable as a result of the termination). Any Optioned Shares subject to the portion of the Option that are vested as of the termination date of the Optionees relationship as a Service Provider but that are not purchased prior to the expiration of the Option pursuant to this Section 6(h) shall be forfeited immediately following the Options expiration.
(i) Leaves of Absence. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator and subject to the restriction described in Section 2(o), for purposes of this Section 6, the service of an Optionee as a Service Provider shall be deemed to continue while the Optionee is on a bona fide leave of absence, if such leave was approved by the Company in writing. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator and subject to Applicable Law, vesting of an Option shall be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence.
(j) Death of Optionee.
(i) If an Optionee dies while being a Service Provider, then the Optionees Option shall expire on the earlier of the following dates:
(A) The expiration date determined by Section 6(e) hereof;
(B) The last day of the six-month period immediately following the Optionees death, or such later date as the Administrator may determine and specify in the Option Agreement.
(ii) All or part of the Optionees Option may be exercised at any time before the expiration of the Option as set forth in Section 6(j)(i) hereof by the executors or administrators of the Optionees estate or by any person who has acquired the Option directly from the Optionee by beneficiary designation, bequest, or inheritance, but only to the extent that the Option was vested and exercisable as of the date of the Optionees death or had become vested and exercisable as a result of the death. The balance of the Shares subject to the Option shall be forfeited upon the Optionees death. Any Optioned Shares subject to the portion of the Option that are vested as of the Optionees death but that are not purchased prior to the expiration of the Option pursuant to this Section 6(j) shall be forfeited immediately following the Options expiration.
(k) Restrictions on Transfer of Shares. Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall be subject to such special forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase or redemption, rights of first refusal, and other transfer restrictions as the Administrator may determine. The restrictions described in the preceding sentence shall be set forth in the applicable Option Agreement and shall apply in addition to any restrictions that may apply to holders of Shares generally.
7. Terms and Conditions of Restricted Share Purchase Rights and Share Awards.
(a) Restricted Share Purchase Agreement or Share Award Agreements. Each Restricted Share Purchase Right or Share Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Restricted Share Purchase Agreement or Share Award Agreement, respectively, between the Purchaser and the Company. Each Restricted Share Purchase Right and each Share Award shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan and that the Administrator deems appropriate for inclusion in a Restricted Share Purchase Agreement or Share Award Agreement, including without limitation, (i) the number of Shares subject to such Restricted Share Purchase Agreement or Share Award Agreement, as applicable, or a formula for determining such number, (ii) the purchase price of the Shares, if any, and the means of payment for the Shares, (iii) the performance criteria, if any, and level of achievement versus these criteria that shall determine the number of Shares granted, issued, retainable and/or vested, (iv) such terms and conditions on the grant, issuance, vesting, settlement and/or forfeiture of the Shares as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator and (v) restrictions on the transferability of the Award. The provisions of the various Restricted Share Purchase Agreements and Share Award Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.
(b) Duration of Offers of Restricted Share Purchase Rights. Any Restricted Share Purchase Rights granted under the Plan shall automatically expire if not exercised by the Purchaser within 30 days (or such longer time as is specified in the Restricted Share Purchase Agreement) after the Date of Grant.
(c) Purchase Price. The Purchase Price, if any, shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. The Purchase Price, if any, shall be payable in a form described in Section 9 hereof.
(d) Restrictions on Transfer of Shares. Any Shares awarded or sold pursuant to Restricted Share Purchase Rights or Share Awards shall be subject to such special forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase or redemption, rights of first refusal, market stand-offs, and other transfer restrictions as the Administrator may determine. The restrictions described in the preceding sentence shall be set forth in the applicable Restricted Share Purchase Agreement or Share Award Agreement, as applicable, and shall apply in addition to any restrictions that may apply to holders of Shares generally. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator and subject to Applicable Law, vesting of Shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Share Purchase Agreement or Share Award Agreement shall be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence.
8. Withholding Taxes. As a condition to the exercise of an Option, purchase of Restricted Shares or receipt of a Share Award, the Awardee (or in the case of the Awardees death or in the event of a permissible transfer of Awards hereunder, the person exercising the Option, purchasing Restricted Shares or receiving the Share Award) shall make such arrangements as the Administrator may require for the satisfaction of any applicable withholding taxes arising in connection with the exercise of an Option or purchase of Restricted Shares under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction including Hong Kong, the PRC, the U.S. and any other jurisdiction. The Awardee (or in the case of the Awardees death or in the event of a permissible transfer of Awards hereunder, the person exercising the Option, purchasing Restricted Shares or receiving Share Awards) also shall make such arrangements as the Administrator may require for the satisfaction of any applicable Hong Kong, PRC, U.S. federal, state, local, or non-PRC and non-U.S. withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the disposition of Shares acquired by exercising an Option, purchasing Restricted Shares or receiving Share Awards. The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares under the Plan until the foregoing obligations are satisfied. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, upon the exercise of the Option or delivery of Restricted Shares or Share Award, the Company shall have the right to withhold taxes from any compensation or other amounts that the Company may owe to the Awardee, or to require the Awardee to pay to the Company the amount of any taxes that the Company may be required to withhold with respect to the Shares issued to the Awardee. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator in its discretion may authorize the Awardee to satisfy all or part of any withholding tax liability by (i) having the Company withhold from the Shares that would otherwise be issued upon the exercise of an Option, purchase of Restricted Shares that number of Shares or received in a Share Award having a Fair Market Value, as of the date the withholding tax liability arises, equal to the portion of the Companys withholding tax liability to be so satisfied or (ii) by delivering to the Company previously owned and unencumbered Shares having a Fair Market Value, as of the date the withholding tax liability arises, equal to the amount of the Companys withholding tax liability to be so satisfied.
9. Payment for Shares. The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued under the Plan, including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator (and, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall be determined on the Date of Grant), subject to the provisions in this Section 9.
(a) General Rule. The entire Purchase Price or Exercise Price (as the case may be) for Shares issued under the Plan shall be payable in cash or cash equivalents at the time when the Shares are purchased, except as otherwise provided in this Section 9.
(b) Surrender of Shares. To the extent that an Option Agreement, Restricted Share Purchase Agreement or Share Award Agreement so provides, all or any part of the Exercise Price or Purchase Price (as the case may be) may be paid by surrendering, or attesting to the ownership of, Shares that are already owned by the Awardee. These Shares shall be surrendered to the Company in good form for transfer and shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date the Option is exercised, Restricted Shares are purchased, or receipt of a Share Award. The Awardee shall not surrender, or attest to the ownership of, Shares in payment of the Exercise Price or Purchase Price (as the case may be) if this action would subject the Company to adverse accounting consequences, as determined by the Administrator.
(c) Services Rendered. At the discretion of the Administrator and to the extent so provided in the agreements evidencing Awards of Shares under the Plan, Shares may be awarded under the Plan in consideration of services rendered to the Company or any Subsidiary prior to the Award.
(d) Exercise/Sale. At the discretion of the Administrator and to the extent an Option Agreement or a Restricted Share Purchase Agreement or a Share Award Agreement so provides, and if the Shares are publicly traded, payment may be made all or in part by the delivery (on a form prescribed by the Company) of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company in payment of all or part of the Exercise Price and any withholding taxes.
(e) Exercise/Pledge. At the discretion of the Administrator and to the extent an Option Agreement or a Restricted Share Purchase Agreement or a Share Award Agreement so provides, and if the Shares are publicly traded, payment may be made all or in part by the delivery (on a form prescribed by the Company) of an irrevocable direction to pledge Shares to a securities broker or lender approved by the Company, as security for a loan, and to deliver all or part of the loan proceeds to the Company in payment of all or part of the Exercise Price and any withholding taxes.
(f) Other Forms of Consideration. At the discretion of the Administrator and to the extent an Option Agreement, a Restricted Share Purchase Agreement or Share Award Agreement so provides, all or a portion of the Exercise Price or Purchase Price may be paid by any other form of consideration and method of payment to the extent permitted by Applicable Law.
10. Non-transferability of Awards. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator and so provided in the applicable Option Agreement, Restricted Share Purchase Agreement or Share Award Agreement (or be amended to provide), no Award shall be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner (whether by operation of law or otherwise) other than (i) by will or applicable laws of descent and distribution or (except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or (ii) by trusts or companies established in connection with any employee benefit plan of the Company (including the Plan) for the benefit of a Service Provider or Service Providers, in each case subject to Applicable Law, and shall not be subject to execution, attachment, or similar process. In the event the Administrator in its sole discretion makes an Award transferable, only a Nonstatutory Stock Option, Restricted Share Purchase Right or Share Award may be transferred provided such Award is transferred by gift to members of the Awardees immediate family (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(e) of the Exchange Act) or to trusts or partnerships established exclusively for the benefit of the Awardee and the members of the Awardees immediate family, all as permitted by Applicable Law. Upon any attempt to pledge, assign, hypothecate, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any Award or of any right or privilege conferred by this Plan contrary to the provisions hereof, or upon the sale, levy or attachment or similar process upon the rights and privileges conferred by this Plan, such Award shall thereupon terminate and become null and void. Incentive Stock Options may be exercised during the lifetime of the Awardee only by the Awardee.
11. Rights as a Member. Until the Shares actually are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a member shall exist with respect to the Shares, notwithstanding the exercise of the Award. No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 12 of the Plan.
12. Adjustment of Shares.
(a) Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the members of the Company in accordance with Applicable Law, the class(es) and number and type of Shares that have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or that have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Award, and the class(es), number, and type of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, as well as the price per Share covered by each outstanding Award, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase, decrease, or change in the number or type of outstanding Shares or other securities of the Company or exchange of outstanding Shares or other securities of the Company into or for a different number or type of shares or other securities of the Company or successor entity, or for other property (including, without limitation, cash) or other change to the Shares resulting from a share split, reverse share split, share dividend, dividend in property other than cash, combination of shares, exchange of shares, combination, consolidation, recapitalization, reincorporation, reorganization, change in corporate structure, reclassification, or other distribution of the Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been effected without receipt of consideration. The adjustment contemplated in this Section 12(a) shall be made by the Board, whose determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of equity securities of the Company of any class, or securities convertible into equity securities of the Company of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number, type, or price of Shares subject to an Award. Where an adjustment under this Section 12(a) is made to an Incentive Stock Option, the adjustment shall be made in a manner that will not be considered a modification under the provisions of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code.
(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator shall notify each Awardee as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. The Administrator in its sole discretion may (but is not obligated to) provide for an Optionee to have the right to exercise his or her Option until fifteen (15) days prior to the proposed dissolution or liquidation as to all of the Optioned Shares covered thereby, including Shares as to which the Option would not otherwise be exercisable. In addition, the Administrator may provide that any Company repurchase or redemption option applicable to any Shares purchased upon exercise of an Option or Restricted Shares purchased under a Restricted Share Purchase Right or a Share Award shall lapse as to all such Shares, provided the proposed dissolution or liquidation takes place at the time and in the manner contemplated. To the extent an Option has not been previously exercised and all Restricted Shares covered by a Restricted Share Purchase Right or a Share Award have not been purchased, the Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.
(c) Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, unless the Option Agreement, Restricted Share Purchase Agreement or Share Award Agreement provides otherwise, each outstanding Option shall be assumed or an equivalent option shall be substituted by, and each right of the Company to repurchase, redeem or reacquire Shares upon termination of a Purchasers relationship as a Service Provider shall be assigned to, the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. If, in the event of a Change in Control, the Option is not assumed or substituted, or the repurchase, redemption or reacquisition or similar right is not assigned, in the case of an outstanding Option, the Option shall fully vest immediately and the Awardee shall have the right to exercise the Option as to all of the Optioned Shares, including Shares as to which it would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, and, in the case of Restricted Shares, the Companys repurchase, redemption or reacquisition or similar right shall lapse immediately and all of the Restricted Shares subject to the repurchase, redemption or reacquisition or similar right shall become vested. If an Option becomes fully vested and exercisable, in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a Change in Control, the Administrator shall notify the Optionee in writing or electronically that the Option shall be fully exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, and the Option shall terminate upon the expiration of such period. For purposes of this Section 12(c), an Option shall be considered assumed, and Restricted Shares will be considered assigned if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each covered Share immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether shares, cash, or other securities or property) received in connection with the Change in Control by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if the consideration received in the Change in Control is not solely common stock or common shares of the successor corporation or its Parent or Subsidiary, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Option or vesting of the Restricted Shares, for each covered Share, to be solely common stock or common shares of the successor corporation or its Parent or Subsidiary equal in Fair Market Value to the per Share consideration received by holders of Shares in the Change in Control.
(d) Outstanding Awards. In the event of any other change in the capitalization of the Company or corporate change other than those specifically referred to in this Section 12, the Administrator 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 Administrator may consider appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.
(e) Reservation of Rights. Except as provided in this Section 12 and in the applicable Option Agreement, Restricted Share Purchase Agreement or Share Award Agreement, an Awardee shall have no rights by reason of (i) any subdivision or consolidation of Shares or other securities of any class, (ii) the payment of any dividend, or (iii) any other increase or decrease in the number of Shares or other securities of any class. Any issuance by the Company of equity securities of any class, or securities convertible into equity securities of any class, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or Exercise Price of Optioned Shares, or the number or Purchase Price of Restricted Shares. The grant of an Option, Restricted Share Purchase Right or Share Award shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, to merge or consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
13. Date of Grant. The Date of Grant of an Award shall, for all purposes, be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination to grant the Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator; provided, however, that the Date of Grant of an Incentive Stock Option shall be no earlier than the date on which the Service Provider becomes an Employee.
14. Securities Law Requirements.
(a) Legal Compliance. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to the Plan, the Company shall not be obligated, and nor shall it have any liability for failure to deliver any Shares under the Plan unless the issuance and delivery of Shares comply with (or are exempt from) all Applicable Law, including, without limitation, the applicable securities laws in the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, PRC, Securities Act, U.S. state securities laws and regulations, and the regulations of any stock exchange or other securities market on which the Companys securities may then be traded, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
(b) Investment Representations. Shares delivered under the Plan shall be subject to transfer restrictions, and the person acquiring the Shares shall, as a condition to the exercise of an Option or the purchase or acquisition of Restricted Shares if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Company may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with Applicable Law, including, without limitation, the representation and warranty at the time of acquisition of Shares that the Shares are being acquired only for investment purposes and without any present intention to sell, transfer, or distribute the Shares.
15. Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Companys counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.
16. Approval of the Plan. The Plan shall be subject to approval by the Board. Such approval by the Board shall be obtained in the degree and manner required under Applicable Law.
17. Duration and Amendment.
(a) Term of Plan. Subject to approval by the Board in accordance with Section 16 hereof, the Plan shall become effective upon the approval by the Board as described in Section 16 hereof. Unless sooner terminated under Section 17(b) hereof, the Plan shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years. 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.
(b) Amendment and Termination. The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend, or terminate the Plan, provided, however, the Board shall obtain approval of the members of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Law.
(c) Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration, suspension, or termination of the Plan shall materially and adversely impair the rights of any Awardee with respect to an outstanding Award, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Awardee and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Awardee and the Company. The Administrator shall obtain approval of the Board of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary or desirable to comply with Applicable Law. Termination of the Plan shall not affect the Administrators ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination. No Shares shall be issued or sold under the Plan after the termination thereof, except upon exercise of an Award granted prior to the termination of the Plan.
18. Legending Share Certificates. In order to enforce any restrictions imposed upon Shares issued upon the exercise of Options or the acquisition of Restricted Shares, including, without limitations, the restrictions described in Sections 6(k) and 7(d) hereof, the Administrator may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any share certificates representing the Shares, which legend or legends shall make appropriate reference to the restrictions, including, without limitation, a restriction against sale of the Shares for any period as may be required by Applicable Law.
19. No Retention Rights. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall confer upon any Awardee any right to continue his or her relationship as a Service Provider with the Company for any period of specific duration or interfere in any way with his or her right or the right of the Company (or any Subsidiary employing or retaining the Awardee), which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate this relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice.
20. No Registration Rights. The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, register or qualify the sale of Shares under the Securities Act or any other Applicable Law. The Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the sale of Shares under this Plan to comply with any law.
21. No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Subsidiary and an Awardee or any other person. To the extent that any Awardee acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary.
22. No Rights to Awards. No Awardee, eligible Service Provider, or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of a Service Provider, Awardee, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards under the Plan. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to any Awardee or with respect to different Awardees.
23 Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Subsidiaries.
24 Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Administrator 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.
25 Governing Law. The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the Cayman Islands.
26. Prevailing Language. This Plan is made in English and Chinese. In the event of any conflict or discrepancy between the English and Chinese version of this Plan, the English version shall prevail.
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Exhibit 10.2
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made as of , 2021 by and between KANZHUN LIMITED, an exempted company incorporated and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the Company), and , an individual, (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 Indemnitees 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.
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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).
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.
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(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.
(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).
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(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.
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;
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(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; or
(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;
(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.
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(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.
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.
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19. Notices. Any notice required to be given under this Agreement shall be directed to Mr. Yu Zhang, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, at 18/F, GrandyVic Building, Taiyanggong Middle Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, 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.
KANZHUN LIMITED | ||
By: |
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Name: | ||
Title: | ||
INDEMNITEE | ||
By: |
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Name: |
Exhibit 10.3
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the Agreement) is entered into as of , 2021 by and between KANZHUN LIMITED, an exempted company incorporated and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the Company) and , an individual (Passport/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 , 2021 (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 entities 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) that 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) that 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 ten business days to cure, and such Cause remains uncured at the end of such ten-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. |
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8. |
CONFIDENTIALITY AND NONDISCLOSURE |
(a) |
Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure. |
(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, customers, business partners 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 customers 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 customers or potential customers and the manner in which such services are performed or to be performed; the product and/or service needs of actual or prospective customers; 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.
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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.
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 one percent (1%) 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 the provision of recruitment and related services 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 customer or business partners 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 customer 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 supplier. |
9
(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.
10
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 by the Company under the laws of the Cayman Islands 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. To the maximum permitted by the governing law, any agreements 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 shall remain the same effective and operative as pursuant to the terms thereof.
16. |
GOVERNING LAW |
The Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands.
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.
11
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.
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.
[Remainder of the page intentionally left blank.]
12
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
Power of Attorney
I, [Name of Shareholder], a citizen of the Peoples Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the PRC) with ID number [Number], and a shareholder of [Equity Interest Percentage]% of the equity (hereinafter referred to as My Equity) in Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the Domestic Company), hereby on February 21, 2020 irrevocably authorize Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd. (the WFOE) to exercise the following rights with respect to My Equity during the term of this Power of Attorney (POA):
I hereby authorize the WFOE to act as my sole and exclusive agent to exercise, in my name and on my behalf, the following rights with respect to My Equity including but not limited to: (1) to attend shareholders meetings of the Domestic Company and sign resolutions of the shareholders meeting on my behalf; (2) to exercise all shareholder rights that I am entitled to under the laws and the Articles of Association of the Domestic Company, including, but not limited to, the right to vote as a shareholder, and the right to sell or transfer or pledge or dispose of all or any part of My Equity; and (3) acting as my authorized representative to elect, designate and appoint the Legal Representative, Chairman, directors, supervisors, General Manager and other senior executives of the Domestic Company.
The WFOE will have the right to execute, on my behalf and within the remit of its authority, the Transfer Contract as provided in the Exclusive Call Option Agreement (to which I shall be required to be a party), and to duly perform the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Call Option Agreement, to both of which I am a party and both of which are dated the same date as this POA. In no way shall the exercise of such right by the WFOE limit the authorization contained herein.
Except as otherwise agreed herein, the WFOE shall have the right to transfer, use or otherwise dispose of the cash dividends and other non-cash proceeds arising from My Equity in accordance with my oral or written instructions.
Except as otherwise agreed herein, all the actions of the WFOE with respect to My Equity may be taken at its sole discretion without any oral or written instruction from me.
All the actions of the WFOE in relation to My Equity shall be deemed my own and all the documents executed by the WFOE shall be deemed to have been executed by myself, and I hereby acknowledge such actions and documents.
The WFOE shall have the right to delegate its authority to any other person or entity to handle the foregoing matters and exercise My Equity without prior notice to or consent from me.
This POA shall be irrevocable and remain in effect as long as I am a shareholder of the Domestic Company, and shall become effective from the date hereof.
During the term hereof, I hereby waive and will no longer exercise any of my rights in relation to My Equity that I have through this POA delegated to the WFOE.
[This page is intentionally left blank]
Authorizer: [Name of Shareholder] | ||
By: |
/s/ [Name of Shareholder] |
Power of Attorney
Schedule of Material Differences
One or more persons executed 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 Shareholder |
% of Shareholders Equity Interest in
the VIE |
||||
1. |
ZHAO Peng |
99.5 | % | |||
2. |
YUE Xu |
0.5 | % |
Exhibit 10.5
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd.
ZHAO Peng and YUE Xu
and
Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd.
Table of Contents
Article | Page | |||||
I. |
Definitions and Interpretation |
2 | ||||
II. |
Pledge Right |
2 | ||||
III. |
Pledge Period |
3 | ||||
IV. |
Custody of Certificate of Pledge Right |
4 | ||||
V. |
Representations and Warranties of the Pledgors and the Domestic Company |
4 | ||||
VI. |
Undertakings of the Pledgors |
5 | ||||
VII. |
Event of Default |
6 | ||||
VIII. |
Exercise of Pledge Right |
8 | ||||
IX. |
Liability for Breach |
8 | ||||
X. |
Transfer |
9 | ||||
XI. |
Termination |
9 | ||||
XII. |
Service Charges and Other Expenses |
9 | ||||
XIII. |
Force Majeure |
10 | ||||
XIV. |
Dispute Resolution |
10 | ||||
XV. |
Notices |
11 | ||||
XVI. |
Annexes |
11 | ||||
XVII. |
Severability |
11 | ||||
XVIII. |
Effectiveness |
11 | ||||
Annex I | ||||||
Annex II | ||||||
Annex III |
This Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (hereinafter referred to as this Contract) is made and entered into as of this 21st day of February, 2020, by and among:
A |
Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd., a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), with its registered address at Room 303, TPV Tower, 8 Taiyanggong Middle Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing (hereinafter referred to as the Pledgee); |
B |
ZHAO Peng, a PRC citizen, ID number: ******; |
YUE Xu, a PRC citizen, ID number: ****** (together with ZHAO Peng, the Pledgors); and
C |
Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its registered address at Room 302, TPV Tower, 8 Taiyanggong Middle Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing (hereinafter referred to as the Domestic Company). |
In this Contract, the Pledgee, the Pledgors and the Domestic Company shall be referred to collectively as the Parties and individually as a Party.
WHEREAS
1 |
The Domestic Company is a company incorporated in the PRC, and the Pledgors own an aggregate 100% of the equity interests in the Domestic Company (see Annex III for details). |
2 |
The Pledgee and the Domestic Company entered into an Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the Service Agreement) as of February 10, 2017. |
3 |
In order to ensure that the Pledgee can normally collect the technology development, consulting and service fees from the Domestic Company in accordance with the Service Agreement, the Pledgors provide pledge security for the technology development, consulting and service fees under the Service Agreement using all the equity interests held by the Pledgors in the Domestic Company. |
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties have reached consensus on the issue of equity pledge through friendly negotiation; and, in order to specify the rights and obligations of the Parties, they hereby enter into this Contract for joint compliance.
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement | 1 |
I. |
Definitions and Interpretation |
Unless otherwise provided herein, the following terms shall have the meanings given below:
1. |
Pledge Right: means the full contents of Article 2 hereof. |
2. |
Pledged Equity Interests: means all the equity interests legally held by the Pledgors in the Domestic Company, accounting for an aggregate 100% of the equity interests in the Domestic Company. |
3. |
Secured Indebtedness: means all the direct, indirect, derivative losses and loss of predictable interests suffered by the Pledgee due to any Event of Default on the part of the Pledgors and/or the Domestic Company. The amount of such loss shall be based on, but not limited to, the reasonable business plan and profit forecast of the Pledgee, the service fee payable by the Domestic Company under the Service Agreement, and all the expenses incurred by the Pledgee to compel the Pledgors and/or the Domestic Company to perform their Contractual Obligations. |
4. |
Contractual Obligations: means all the obligations of the Pledgors hereunder, and all the obligations of the Domestic Company under the Service Agreement and this Contract. |
5. |
Pledge Period: means the period specified in Article 3 hereof. |
6. |
Event of Default: means any of the circumstances set forth in Article 7 hereof. |
7. |
Default Notice: means a notice issued by the Pledgee in accordance with this Contract announcing an Event of Default. |
II. |
Pledge Right |
1. |
The Pledgors pledge to the Pledgee all of their equity interests in the Domestic Company as a security for the Pledgee to receive the technology development, consulting and service fees under the Service Agreement. |
2. |
Pledge Right means the priority available to the Pledgee to be reimbursed with the proceeds from the discount, auction or sale of the equity interests pledged by the Pledgors to the Pledgee. |
3. |
Within the Pledge Period, the Pledgee shall be entitled to receive bonuses or dividends arising from the Pledged Equity Interests. The Pledgors may not receive dividends or bonuses on the Pledged Equity Interests except with the prior written consent of the Pledgee. The Dividends or bonuses distributed to the Pledgors in connection with the Pledged Equity Interests, after deduction of the individual income tax paid by the Pledgors, shall, upon request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into the account designated by the Pledgee, subject to the supervision by the Pledgee, and be used to secure the Contractual Obligations and first pay off the Secured Indebtedness; or (2) given away to the Pledgee or its designee unconditionally, subject to the laws of the PRC. |
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement | 2 |
4. |
The Pledgors may not increase their capital contributions to the Domestic Company except with the prior written consent of the Pledgee. The capital increment contributed by the Pledgors to the registered capital of the Domestic Company shall also fall within the Pledged Equity Interests. |
5. |
If the Domestic Company is required to be dissolved or liquidated according to the mandatory provisions of PRC laws, any interests lawfully distributed to the Pledgors from the Domestic Company after the Domestic Company completes the dissolution or liquidation procedures according to law shall, upon request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into the account designated by the Pledgee, subject to the supervision by the Pledgee, and be used to secure the Contractual Obligations and first pay off the Secured Indebtedness; or (2) given away to the Pledgee or its designee unconditionally, subject to the laws of the PRC. |
III. |
Pledge Period |
1. |
This Contract shall come into force as of the date of its execution, and the Pledge Right hereunder shall become effective as of the date when the same is recorded in the register of shareholders of the Domestic Company (see Annex III) and the equity pledge registration with the Beijing Municipal Administration for Market Regulation is completed and shall be valid for the same period as the Service Agreement. Both the Pledgors and the Domestic Company shall (A) register the Pledge Right hereunder in the register of shareholders of the Domestic Company within 3 business days from the date hereof, and (B) apply to the competent administration for market regulation for the registration of the Pledge Right hereunder within 30 business days from the date hereof. The Parties jointly acknowledge that, in order to go through the business registration procedures for the equity pledge, they shall submit to the competent administration for market regulation this Contract or an equity pledge contract (hereinafter referred to as the Pledge Contract for Business Registration) which is executed in the form required by the local administration for market regulation related to the Domestic Company and which truly reflects the information about the Pledge Right hereunder. Matters not provided in the Pledge Contract for Business Registration shall still be subject to the provisions hereof. The Pledgors and the Domestic Company shall, in accordance with the PRC laws and regulations and the requirements of the relevant administration for market regulation, submit all necessary documents and go through all necessary procedures to ensure that the Pledge Right can be registered as soon as possible after the submission of the application. |
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement | 3 |
2. |
During the pledge process, if the Domestic Company fails to pay the technology development, consulting and service fees in accordance with the provisions of the Service Agreement, the Pledgee shall have the right to dispose of the Pledge Right in accordance with this Contract and the relevant PRC laws and regulations. |
IV. |
Custody of Certificate of Pledge Right |
1. |
Within the Pledge Period provided herein, the Domestic Company shall execute, and the Pledgors shall execute or cause the Domestic Company to execute, the capital contribution certificate and the register of shareholders attached hereto, and shall deliver the foregoing duly-executed documents to the Pledgee for its keeping within the Pledge Period as provided herein. |
2. |
The Pledgee shall be entitled to receive all the cash proceeds such as dividends and bonuses as well as all the non-cash proceeds generated from the Pledged Equity Interests from the date hereof. |
V. |
Representations and Warranties of the Pledgors and the Domestic Company |
The Pledgors and the Domestic Company hereby respectively warrant to the Pledgee that:
1. |
The Pledgors have the full power to enter into this Contract and perform their obligations hereunder, and the terms hereof constitute their legal, valid and binding obligations. |
2. |
The Domestic Company has the full power and authority to enter into this Contract and perform its obligations hereunder, and the terms hereof constitute its legal, valid and binding obligations. |
3. |
The execution, delivery and performance of this Contract and any relevant agreement by the Pledgors and the Domestic Company will not, due to the limitation period and/or the occurrence of any act or event or for any other reason, violate any of the following: |
(a) |
Any incorporation document of the Domestic Company; |
(b) |
Any law with which the Pledgors and the Domestic Company shall comply; or |
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement | 4 |
(c) |
Any provisions set forth and obligations undertaken in any contract, agreement, memorandum or other written or oral documents executed and made effective by the Pledgors and the Domestic Company. |
4. |
The Pledgors are the legal owners of the Pledged Equity Interests. |
5. |
At any time, once the Pledgee exercises the Pledge Right pursuant to this Contract, there shall be no interference from any other party. |
6. |
The Pledgee has the right to dispose of and transfer the Pledge Right in the manner provided herein. |
7. |
The Pledgors have not created any pledge rights or any third party rights over the equity interests other than the Pledge Right hereunder. |
VI. |
Undertakings of the Pledgors |
1. |
During the term hereof, the Pledgors undertake to the Pledgee that they will: |
(a) |
Not, without the prior written consent of the Pledgee, directly or indirectly transfer the equity interests in any way, or create or permit the existence of any pledge or other form of security which might affect the rights and interests of the Pledgee, other than the transfer of such equity interests to the Pledgee or its designee pursuant to the Exclusive Option Contract entered into as of the date hereof by and among the Pledgors, the Pledgee and the Domestic Company; |
(b) |
Comply with and enforce the provisions of all the laws and regulations governing the pledge of rights, present to the Pledgee the notices, instructions or suggestions issued by the competent authorities in connection with the Pledge Right within five (5) days upon receipt of the foregoing notices, instructions or suggestions, and comply with such notices, instructions or suggestions or make objections and statements concerning the foregoing matters at the reasonable request of the Pledgee or with the consent of the Pledgee; |
(c) |
Promptly notify the Pledgee of any event or notice received that might affect the equity interests of the Pledgors or any part thereof, as well as any event or notice received that might alter any of the Pledgors warranties and obligations hereunder or might affect the Pledgors performance of their obligations hereunder. |
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement | 5 |
2. |
The Pledgors agree that the Pledgees right to exercise the Pledge Right pursuant to the terms hereof shall not be interrupted or hindered by the Pledgors or their heirs, spouses, or their agents or any other person through divorce, inheritance or other legal procedures. |
3. |
The Pledgors warrant to the Pledgee that, in order to protect or perfect the security hereunder for the payment of the technology development, consulting and service fees under the Service Agreement, the Pledgors will honestly execute and cause other interested parties to execute all the title certificates and contracts required by the Pledgee and/or perform and cause other interested parties to perform any action required by the Pledgee, facilitate the exercise of the rights and authority granted to the Pledgee hereunder, execute all the variation documents relating to the share certificate with the Pledgee or its designee (natural person/legal person), and provide the Pledgee within a reasonable period with all the notices, orders and decisions relating to the Pledge Right that the Pledgee deems necessary. |
4. |
The Pledgors warrant to the Pledgee that, for the benefit of the Pledgee, the Pledgors will abide by and perform all the warranties, undertakings, agreements, representations and conditions. If the Pledgors fail to perform or fully perform their warranties, undertakings, agreements, representations and conditions, the Pledgors shall indemnify the Pledgee for all the losses thus suffered. |
5. |
The Pledgors warrant to the Pledgee that, on the date hereof, the Pledgors and the Domestic Company shall register the Pledge Right hereunder in the register of shareholders of the Domestic Company; and within sixty (60) days from the date hereof, the Pledgors shall, and shall cause the Domestic Company to, complete the equity pledge registration with the Beijing Municipal Administration for Market Regulation. |
VII. |
Event of Default |
1. |
The following events shall be deemed as Events of Default: |
(a) |
The Domestic Company fails to pay the technology development, consulting and service fees payable under the Service Agreement in full and on time; |
(b) |
Any representation or warranty made by the Pledgors and the Domestic Company in Article 5 hereof is materially misleading or incorrect, and/or the Pledgors and the Domestic Company breach any of the representations and warranties set forth in Article 5 hereof; |
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement | 6 |
(c) |
The Pledgors breach any of the undertakings set forth in Article 6 hereof; |
(d) |
The Pledgors breach any provision hereof; |
(e) |
The Pledgors forfeit the Pledged Equity Interests for any reason or transfer the Pledged Equity Interests without the written consent of the Pledgee except as provided in Article 6.1 (a) hereof; |
(f) |
Any loan, security, indemnity, undertaking or other debt repayment obligations of the Pledgors to external parties (1) are required to be repaid or performed in advance due to a breach of contract; or (2) have become due but cannot be repaid or performed as scheduled, so that the Pledgee considers that the ability of the Pledgors to perform their obligations hereunder has been affected; |
(g) |
The Pledgors are unable to pay general debts or other liabilities, so that the Pledgee considers that the Pledgors ability to perform their obligations hereunder has been affected; |
(h) |
The promulgation of relevant laws renders this Contract illegal or prevents the Pledgors from continuing to perform their obligations hereunder; |
(i) |
All the governmental consents, permits, approvals or authorizations required to make this Contract enforceable or lawful or effective are withdrawn, suspended, invalidated or materially modified; |
(j) |
There is any adverse change in the property owned by the Pledgors, so that the Pledgee considers that the Pledgors ability to perform their obligations hereunder has been affected; |
(k) |
The successor or trustee of the Domestic Company can only partially perform or simply refuse to perform the payment obligations under the Service Agreement; |
(l) |
Other circumstances where the Pledgee is prevented by relevant legal provisions from exercising the right to dispose of the Pledge Right. |
2. |
The Pledgors shall immediately notify the Pledgee in writing if they know or find that any of the matters referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article or any event that might lead to such matter has occurred. The Pledgee shall have the right to require the Pledgors to correct such breach within a prescribed period. |
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement | 7 |
3. |
Unless the breach set forth in Paragraph 1 of this Article has been fully resolved to the satisfaction of the Pledgee, the Pledgee may, upon the occurrence of the breach by the Pledgors or at any time after the occurrence of such breach, send a written Default Notice to the Pledgors, requiring the Pledgors to pay promptly all arrears and other amounts payable under the Service Agreement or dispose of the Pledge Right in accordance with Article 8 hereof. |
VIII. |
Exercise of Pledge Right |
1. |
Prior to the full payment of the technology development, consulting and service fees referred to in the Service Agreement, without the written consent of the Pledgee, the Pledgors may not: |
(a) |
Transfer their equity interests for any reason or by any means; |
(b) |
Transfer the Pledge Right. |
2. |
The Pledgee shall give a Default Notice to the Pledgors when exercising the Pledge Right. |
3. |
Subject to the provisions of Article 7.3, the Pledgee may exercise the right to dispose of the Pledge Right at the same time as the Default Notice is given in accordance with Article 7.3 or at any time after the Default Notice is given. When the Pledgee decides to exercise the right to dispose of the Pledge Right, the Pledgors will no longer have any rights and interests related to the Pledged Equity Interests. |
4. |
The Pledgee shall have the priority to be reimbursed with the proceeds from the discount, auction or sale of all or part of the equity interests hereunder according to the legal procedures, until the unpaid technology development, consulting and service fees and all other amounts payable under the Service Agreement have been fully offset. |
5. |
When the Pledgee disposes of the Pledge Right in accordance with this Contract, the Pledgors shall not create obstacles and shall provide necessary assistance to enable the Pledgee to realize its Pledge Right. |
IX. |
Liability for Breach |
1. |
If the Pledgors or the Domestic Company materially violates any covenant made hereunder, the Pledgee shall have the right to terminate this Contract and/or require the Pledgors or the Domestic Company to pay damages; this Article 9 shall not prejudice any other right of the Pledgee hereunder; |
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement | 8 |
2. |
Unless otherwise provided by law, neither the Pledgors nor the Domestic Company shall have any right to terminate or rescind this Contract under any circumstances. |
X. |
Transfer |
1. |
The Pledgor shall have no right to grant or transfer its rights and obligations hereunder except with the prior consent of the Pledgee. |
2. |
This Contract shall be binding upon the Pledgors and their successors and shall be valid for the Pledgee and each of its successors and assigns. |
3. |
The Pledgee may at any time transfer all or any of its rights and obligations under the Service Agreement to a person (natural person/legal person) designated by it; in such case, the transferee shall enjoy and assume the rights and obligations of the Pledgee hereunder as if such transferee were a party to this Contract. When the Pledgee transfers its rights and obligations under the Service Agreement, the Pledgors shall, at the request of the Pledgee, execute the relevant agreements and/or documents in connection with such transfer. |
4. |
After the change of the Pledgee due to such transfer, the Pledgors and the new pledgee shall enter into a new pledge contract. |
XI. |
Termination |
This Contract shall be terminated after the technology development, consulting and service fees under the Service Agreement have been repaid in full and the Domestic Company no longer undertakes any obligations under the Service Agreement. The Pledgee shall, within a reasonably feasible period of time, terminate this Contract and assist the Pledgors in cancelling the registration of the equity pledge.
XII. |
Service Charges and Other Expenses |
1. |
All the costs and actual expenses related to this Contract, including but not limited to legal fees, costs of production, stamp duty and any other taxes and expenses, shall be borne by the Pledgors. If the law requires the Pledgee to pay relevant taxes and expenses, the Pledgors shall fully compensate for the taxes and fees already paid by the Pledgee. |
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement | 9 |
2. |
If the Pledgors fail to pay any taxes and expenses payable by them pursuant to the provisions hereof or otherwise cause the Pledgee to take any recourse in any way or by any means, the Pledgors shall bear all the expenses arising therefrom (including but not limited to various taxes, service charges, management fees, legal costs, attorneys fees and various insurance premiums incurred in disposing of the Pledge Right). |
XIII. |
Force Majeure |
1. |
If the performance of this Contract is delayed or hindered due to any force majeure event, the Party affected by the force majeure event shall not bear any liability hereunder merely for such delayed or hindered performance. |
2. |
Force Majeure Event means any event which is beyond the reasonable control of a Party and which is unavoidable despite the reasonable care of the affected Party, including but not limited: act of government, natural force, fire, explosion, geographical change, windstorm, flood, earthquake, tide, lightning, or war. However, lack of credit, capital or financing shall not be deemed as an event beyond the reasonable control of a Party. |
3. |
The Party affected by a force majeure event that seeks to be released from its performance obligations under this Contract or under any provision hereof shall promptly notify the other Party of such release and inform it of the steps required to be taken to complete such performance. |
4. |
The Party affected by the force majeure event shall not be held liable for its failure to perform its obligations hereunder, provided that the affected Party shall try its best to mitigate the loss caused to the other Party, and the unperformed obligations shall be limited to those obligations that are not performed due to the force majeure event. After the end of the force majeure event, the Parties agree to use their best efforts to resume performance of their obligations hereunder. |
XIV. |
Dispute Resolution |
1. |
This Contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the PRC. |
2. |
In case of any dispute between the Parties concerning the interpretation and performance of any provision hereof, the Parties hereto shall resolve such dispute in good faith through negotiation. If, within thirty (30) days after one Party sends to the other Party a written notice requesting resolution of the dispute through negotiation, the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the resolution of the dispute, either Party may submit such dispute to China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration in accordance with its arbitration rules then in effect. The arbitration shall take place in Beijing and shall be conducted in Chinese. The arbitral award shall be final and binding upon the Parties. |
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement | 10 |
XV. |
Notices |
Unless a written notice is given to change the following address, any notice hereunder shall be delivered to the following address by hand or by registered mail. If the notice is sent by registered mail, the date of receipt stated on the receipt of the registered mail shall be the date of service; if sent by personal delivery, the notice shall be deemed served on the date of dispatch:
Pledgee: Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd.
Address: ******
Mobile: ******
Attn: *******
Pledgors: ZHAO Peng and YUE Xu
Address: ******
Mobile: ******
Domestic Company: Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: ******
Mobile: ******
Attn: ******
XVI. |
Annexes |
The Annexes set forth herein shall constitute an integral part hereof.
XVII. |
Severability |
If any provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable due to its inconsistency with the relevant laws, such provision shall be invalid or unenforceable only to the extent of the jurisdiction of the relevant laws and shall not affect the legal force of the other provisions hereof.
XVIII. |
Effectiveness |
1. |
This Contract and any amendment, supplement or modification hereto shall be in writing and shall come into force after being signed and sealed by the Parties, and shall supersede the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement entered into as of February 10, 2017 by and among the Pledgee, the Domestic Company, ZHAO Peng and TANG Weigang. |
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement | 11 |
2. |
This Contract is made in Chinese. This Contract may be made in one or more originals as required, each of which shall be of equal legal effect. |
[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank]
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement | 12 |
Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd. (seal) | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: | ZHAO Peng | |
Title: | Legal Representative | |
ZHAO Peng | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
YUE Xu | ||
By: |
/s/ YUE Xu |
|
Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd. (seal) | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: | ZHAO Peng | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Signature Page to the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
Annex I
Capital Contribution Certificate Concerning Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd.
This is to certify that ZHAO Peng (ID number: ******) has subscribed for RMB9,950,000 equivalent of capital contribution in cash and thus owns 99.5% of the equity interests in Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd., all of which have been pledged to Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd..
Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd. (seal) | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: | ZHAO Peng | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Annex I
Annex II
Capital Contribution Certificate Concerning Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd.
This is to certify that YUE Xu (ID number: ******) has subscribed for RMB50,000 equivalent of capital contribution in cash and thus owns 0.5% of the equity interests in Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd., all of which have been pledged to Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd..
Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd. (seal) | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: | ZHAO Peng | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Annex II
Annex III
Register of Shareholders of Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd.
Shareholder
|
ID Number |
Shareholding
Ratio |
Pledge Registration |
|||||
ZHAO Peng |
****** | 99.50 | % | Including the equity interests corresponding to RMB9,950,000 of the registered capital which have not been registered for pledge | ||||
YUE Xu |
****** | 0.50 | % | Including the equity interests corresponding to RMB50,000 of the registered capital which have not been registered for pledge |
Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd. (seal) | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: | ZHAO Peng | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Annex III
Exhibit 10.6
Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service Agreement
Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd.
And
Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd.
Table of Contents
Article | Page | |||||
I. |
Technology Development, Consulting and Services; Sole and Exclusive Interests |
1 | ||||
II. |
Calculation and Payment of Fees |
2 | ||||
III. |
Representations and Warranties |
3 | ||||
IV. |
Confidentiality |
3 | ||||
V. |
Indemnity |
4 | ||||
VI. |
Effectiveness and Term |
4 | ||||
VII. |
Termination |
4 | ||||
VIII. |
Dispute Resolution |
5 | ||||
IX. |
Force Majeure |
5 | ||||
X. |
Notices |
6 | ||||
XI. |
Transfer |
6 | ||||
XII. |
Severability |
6 | ||||
XIII. |
Modification and Supplement |
6 | ||||
XIV. |
Governing Law |
6 | ||||
Annex I | 1 |
This Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service Agreement (hereinafter referred to as this Agreement) is made and entered into as of this 10th day of February, 2017, by and between:
A |
Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd., a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the Peoples Republic of China, with its registered address at Room 303, TPV Tower, 8 Taiyanggong Middle Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing (hereinafter referred to as Party A); and |
B |
Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the Peoples Republic of China, with its registered address at Room 302, TPV Tower, 8 Taiyanggong Middle Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing (hereinafter referred to as Party B); |
In this Agreement, Party A and Party B shall be referred to collectively as the Parties and individually as a Party.
WHEREAS
1 |
Party A is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise established in the Peoples Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the PRC) and has the resources and qualifications for technology development, consulting and services; |
2 |
Party A agrees to provide technology development, consulting and related services to Party B, while Party B agrees to accept the technology development, consulting and related services provided by Party A. |
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties have reached consensus on the provision of technology consulting and related services through friendly negotiation. In order to specify the rights and obligations of the Parties, they hereby enter into this Agreement for joint compliance.
I. |
Technology Development, Consulting and Services; Sole and Exclusive Interests |
1. |
During the term hereof, Party A agrees to serve as the provider of technology development, consulting and services to Party B in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof (see Annex I for details). |
2. |
Party B agrees to accept the technology development, consulting and services provided by Party A. Party B further agrees that, except with Party As prior written consent, during the term hereof, Party B may not accept the same or similar technology development, consulting and services provided by any third party in connection with the foregoing business. |
Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service Agreement | 1 |
3. |
Party A shall have sole and exclusive interests in any rights and interests arising out of the performance of this Agreement, including but not limited to the relevant ownership, copyright, patent rights and other intellectual property rights, know-hows, trade secrets, among others, whether developed by Party A or by Party B based on Party As original intellectual property rights. |
II. |
Calculation and Payment of Fees |
1. |
The Parties agree that Party B shall pay Party A on a quarterly basis the technology development, consulting and service fees hereunder (hereinafter referred to as the Consulting and Service Fees), which shall be verified by the Parties based on the actual service content. In principle, the Consulting and Service Fees shall be the balance of Party Bs total revenue less the total expenses, but the specific amount of the Consulting and Service Fees may be separately determined by the Parties through negotiation. Party B shall, within thirty (30) days after the end of each quarter, provide Party A with Party Bs management statements and operating data for such quarter, including Party Bs net revenue for such quarter. |
2. |
The amount of the Consulting and Service Fees shall be determined based on the following factors: |
(a) |
The difficulty of technology development and the complexity of consulting and management services; |
(b) |
The time required by Party A to provide such technology development, consulting and management services; and |
(c) |
Specific content and commercial value of technology development, consulting and management services. |
3. |
The Consulting and Service Fees shall be in the amount approved by the boards of directors of Party A and its ultimate overseas controlling parent company Kanzhun Limited (the Offshore Company) (which shall include the consent of the directors (the Investor Directors) appointed by the preferred shareholders of the Offshore Company). Any adjustment and change to the Consulting and Service Fees shall be subject to the approval of the boards of directors of Party A and the Offshore Company (which shall include the consent of the Investor Directors (if any)). |
Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service Agreement | 2 |
4. |
Within thirty (30) days after the end of each year, Party B shall provide Party A with the financial statements and all business records, business contracts and financial information for such year. If Party A queries the financial information provided by Party B, it may appoint a reputable independent accountant to audit the relevant information, while Party B shall cooperate. |
III. |
Representations and Warranties |
1. |
Party A hereby represents and warrants that: |
(a) |
It is a company duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the PRC. |
(b) |
It executes and performs this Agreement within its corporate power and business scope; it has taken the necessary corporate actions and appropriate authorizations and has obtained the consents and approvals of third parties and governmental authorities and does not violate the legal and contractual restrictions that are binding or have an impact on it. |
(c) |
This Agreement, upon execution, shall constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of Party A, enforceable against it according to the terms hereof. |
2. |
Party B hereby represents and warrants that: |
(a) |
It is a company duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the PRC. |
(b) |
It executes and performs this Agreement within its corporate power and business scope; it has taken the necessary corporate actions and appropriate authorizations and has obtained the consents and approvals of third parties and governmental authorities and does not violate the legal and contractual restrictions that are binding or have an impact on it. |
(c) |
This Agreement, upon execution, shall constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of Party B, enforceable against it according to the terms hereof. |
IV. |
Confidentiality |
1. |
Party B agrees to use all reasonable confidentiality measures to keep confidential the confidential data and information (hereinafter referred to as Confidential Information) that Party B knows or has access to as a result of receiving the exclusive technology development, consulting and services from Party A; without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not disclose, give or transfer such Confidential Information to any third party. Upon termination hereof, Party B shall return any document, material or software containing the Confidential Information to Party A as required by Party A, or destroy the same at its own discretion, delete any Confidential Information from any relevant memory device, and shall not continue to use such Confidential Information. |
Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service Agreement | 3 |
2. |
The Parties agree that, this Article will survive, no matter whether this Agreement is modified, rescinded or terminated. |
V. |
Indemnity |
Party B shall fully indemnify Party A for any loss, damage, obligation and/or expense arising as a result of any lawsuit, claim or other requests against Party A resulting or arising from the content of the technology development, consulting and services requested by Party B, and hold harmless Party A from any damage and loss caused to Party A due to the acts of Party B or due to any third party claim brought on account of Party Bs acts, except where the foregoing lawsuit, claim or other requests arise as a result of the intentional misconduct or gross negligence of Party A.
VI. |
Effectiveness and Term |
1. |
This Agreement is executed and effective as of the date first above written. This Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of ten (10) years unless earlier terminated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the relevant agreement entered into between the Parties. |
2. |
Upon Party As written confirmation prior to the expiration of the term hereof, this Agreement may be extended for a period of ten (10) years or such other period as may be agreed upon by the Parties through negotiation. |
VII. |
Termination |
1. |
Termination on Expiration Date |
This Agreement shall be terminated on the expiration date unless it is renewed in accordance with the relevant terms hereof.
Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service Agreement | 4 |
2. |
Early Termination |
During the term hereof, this Agreement may not be early terminated unless Party A goes bankrupt, or is dissolved or terminated according to law; if Party B goes bankrupt or is dissolved or terminated prior to the expiration date hereof, this Agreement shall be terminated automatically. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Party A shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time by giving thirty (30) days prior written notice to Party B.
3. |
Surviving Terms |
The rights and obligations of the Parties under Articles 4, 5 and 8 shall survive the termination hereof.
VIII. |
Dispute Resolution |
In case of any dispute between the Parties concerning the interpretation and performance of any provision hereof, the Parties shall resolve such dispute in good faith through negotiation. If, within thirty (30) days after one Party sends to the other Party a written notice requesting resolution of the dispute through negotiation, the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the resolution of the dispute, either Party may submit such dispute to the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration in accordance with its arbitration rules then in effect. The arbitration shall take place in Beijing and shall be conducted in Chinese. The arbitral award shall be final and binding upon the Parties.
IX. |
Force Majeure |
1. |
Force Majeure Event means any event which is beyond the reasonable control of a Party and which is unavoidable despite the reasonable care of the affected Party, including but not limited to: act of government, natural force, fire, explosion, windstorm, flood, earthquake, tide, lightning, or war. However, lack of credit, capital or financing shall not be deemed as an event beyond the reasonable control of a Party. The Party affected by a Force Majeure Event that seeks to be released from its performance obligations hereunder shall promptly notify the other Party of the Force Majeure Event giving rise to such release and inform it of the steps required to be taken to complete such performance. |
2. |
When the performance hereof is delayed or prevented by a Force Majeure Event as defined above, the Party affected by the Force Majeure Event shall not be held liable hereunder, only to the extent of such delay or prevention. The Party affected by the Force Majeure Event shall take appropriate measures to reduce or eliminate the effect of such Force Majeure Event and shall endeavor to resume the performance of the obligations delayed or prevented by such Force Majeure Event. Once the Force Majeure Event is eliminated, the Parties agree to use their best efforts to resume performance hereof. |
Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service Agreement | 5 |
X. |
Notices |
Unless a written notice is given to change the following address, any notice hereunder shall be delivered to the following address by hand or by registered mail. If the notice is sent by registered mail, the date of receipt stated on the receipt of the registered mail shall be the date of service; if sent by personal delivery, the notice shall be deemed served on the date of dispatch:
Party A: Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd.
Address: ******
Tel: ******
Attn: ******
Party B: Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: ******
Tel: ******
Attn: ******
XI. |
Transfer |
Party B may not transfer its rights and/or obligations hereunder to any third party without the prior written consent of Party A.
XII. |
Severability |
If any provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable due to its inconsistency with the relevant laws, such provision shall be invalid or unenforceable only to the extent of the jurisdiction of the relevant laws and shall not affect the legal effect of the other provisions hereof.
XIII. |
Modification and Supplement |
This Agreement shall be modified and supplemented by the Parties in the form of a written agreement. Any amendment and supplement hereto executed by the Parties shall constitute an integral part hereof and have the same legal effect as this Agreement. This Agreement supersedes the Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service Agreement entered into between the Parties as of June 22, 2016.
XIV. |
Governing Law |
This Agreement shall be governed by, and performed and construed in accordance with the laws of the PRC.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank]
Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service Agreement | 6 |
This page is intentionally left blank to serve as the signature page
Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd. (seal) | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: | ZHAO Peng | |
Title: | Legal Representative | |
Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd. (seal) | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: | ZHAO Peng | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Signature page to Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service Agreement
Annex I
Particulars of Technology Development, Consulting and Services
Party A will provide Party B with the following technology development, consulting and services:
1. |
Research and develop relevant technologies required for Party Bs business; including developing, designing and producing database software, anti-virus software, user interface software and other relevant technologies used to store relevant business information and licensing such software to Party B; |
2. |
Provide the application and implementation of relevant technologies for the operation of Party Bs business, including but not limited to the general design scheme of the system, installation and debugging of the system and trial operation of the system; |
3. |
Be responsible for daily maintenance, monitoring, debugging and troubleshooting of computer network equipment, including timely entering user information into the database, or timely updating the database according to other business information provided by Party B from time to time, regularly updating the user interface and providing other related technical services; |
4. |
Provide consulting services for the purchase of relevant equipment, software and hardware systems required for Party Bs network operation, including but not limited to advising on the selection of various tools and software, application software and technology platforms, system installation and debugging, as well as the selection, model and performance of various hardware facilities and equipment that match them; provide technical consulting and technical solutions to technical questions raised by Party B on network equipment, technical products and software; |
5. |
Party A will provide appropriate training, technical support and assistance to Party Bs employees, including but not limited to: providing technical and skills training, such as the application and editing of various image processing software, customer services or technical training and other training; providing consulting and advice to Party B on the application of other online editing platforms and software, and assist Party B in compiling and collecting various information contents; |
6. |
Assist Party B in customer management and after-sales tracking services related to its business; |
Annex I
7. |
Provide government public relations services and assist Party B in communicating with relevant government authorities; |
8. |
Assist Party B in personnel management, including recommending technical backbone, selecting employees for vacant positions, and managing employees social insurance and salary and leave benefits; |
9. |
Impart to Party B and its employees the knowledge and experience in installation and operation of software system and equipment, and assist Party B in solving problems arising in the installation and operation of the system and equipment at any time; |
10. |
Assist Party B in recovering arrears, mortgages, guarantees and other amounts from customers according to Party Bs accounts receivable; and |
11. |
Provide other technical services and consulting as required for Party Bs business operations. |
Annex I
Exhibit 10.7
Exclusive Call Option Agreement
Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd.
ZHAO Peng and YUE Xu
and
Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd.
Table of Contents
Article | Page | |||||
I. |
Equity Interest Purchase and Sale |
1 | ||||
II. |
Undertakings Concerning Equity Interests |
3 | ||||
III. |
Asset Purchase Option |
6 | ||||
IV. |
Representations and Warranties of Party B and Party C |
7 | ||||
V. |
Effective Date and Term |
9 | ||||
VI. |
Applicable Law and Dispute Resolution |
9 | ||||
VII. |
Taxes and Expenses |
9 | ||||
VIII. |
Notices |
9 | ||||
IX. |
Confidentiality |
10 | ||||
X. |
Further Assurance |
11 | ||||
XI. |
Termination, Liability for Breanch and Indemnity |
11 | ||||
XII. |
Miscellaneous |
11 |
This Exclusive Call Option Agreement (hereinafter referred to as this Contract) is made and entered into as of this 21st day of February, 2020, by and among:
A |
Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd., a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), with its registered address at Room 303, TPV Tower, 8 Taiyanggong Middle Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing (hereinafter referred to as Party A); |
B |
ZHAO Peng, a PRC citizen, ID number: ******; |
YUE Xu, a PRC citizen, ID number: ****** (together with ZHAO Peng, Party B); and
C |
Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its registered address at Room 302, TPV Tower, 8 Taiyanggong Middle Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing (hereinafter referred to as Party C). |
In this Contract, Party A, Party B and Party C shall be referred to collectively as the Parties and individually as a Party.
WHEREAS
1 |
Party B owns an aggregate 100% of the equity interests in Party C. |
2 |
Party A and Party C entered into an Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service Agreement) as of February 10, 2017. |
3 |
Party A, Party B and Party C entered into an Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement) as of the date hereof. |
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties have reached consensus on the issue of exclusive option through friendly negotiation; in order to specify the rights and obligations of the Parties, they hereby enter into this Contract for joint compliance.
I. |
Equity Interest Purchase and Sale |
1. |
Grant of Rights |
(a) |
Party B hereby irrevocably grants Party A an irrevocable exclusive option (hereinafter referred to as the Equity Interest Purchase Option) to purchase or designate one or more persons (hereinafter referred to as a Designee or Designees) to purchase from Party B all or part of Party Bs equity interests in Party C at any time according to the exercise steps determined by Party A at its sole discretion and at the price set forth in Article 1.3 hereof, to the extent permitted by PRC laws. No third party other than Party A and the Designees shall be entitled to the Equity Interest Purchase Option. Party C hereby permits Party B to grant the Equity Interest Purchase Option to Party A. |
Exclusive Call Option Agreement | 1 |
(b) |
For the purposes of this Paragraph and this Contract in general, Person means an individual, company, joint venture, partnership, enterprise, trust or unincorporated organization. |
2. |
Exercise of Option |
Party As exercise of its Equity Interest Purchase Option shall be subject to compliance with the provisions of the PRC laws and regulations. When exercising the Equity Interest Purchase Option, Party A shall give a written notice to Party B (hereinafter referred to as the Equity Interest Purchase Notice), which shall set forth the following:
(a) |
Party As decision to exercise the purchase option; |
(b) |
The share of equity interests that Party A intends to purchase from Party B (hereinafter referred to as the Purchased Equity Interests); |
(c) |
Purchase date/equity interest transfer date. |
3. |
Equity Interest Purchase Price |
Unless required to be evaluated by law, the purchase price of the Purchased Equity Interests (hereinafter referred to as the Equity Interest Purchase Price) shall be RMB 100 or the lowest price permitted by the PRC laws and regulations. However, if Party A and Party B have agreed otherwise, such agreement shall prevail.
4. |
Transfer of Purchased Equity Interests |
Each time Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option,
(a) |
Party B shall cause Party C to convene a shareholders meeting in a timely manner, at which a resolution approving the transfer of equity interests by Party B to Party A and/or its Designee shall be adopted; |
Exclusive Call Option Agreement | 2 |
(b) |
Party B shall enter into an equity interest transfer contract with Party A (or, where applicable, its Designee) in accordance with the provisions of this Contract and an Equity Interest Purchase Notice; |
(c) |
The relevant parties shall execute all other required contracts, agreements or documents, obtain all the required governmental approvals and consents and take all necessary actions to transfer the valid ownership of the Purchased Equity Interests to Party A and/or its Designee and make Party A and/or the Designee the registered owner of the Purchased Equity Interests, free and clear of any security interest. |
(d) |
For the purposes of this Paragraph and this Contract, Security Interest includes security, mortgage, third party rights or interests, any share option, acquisition right, right of first refusal, right of set-off, retention of title or other security arrangements, etc., but for the sake of clarity, excludes any security interest arising under this Contract or the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement, i.e. the pledge created by Party B over all of their equity interests in Party C for the benefit of Party A pursuant to the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement, to secure the performance by Party C of its obligations under the Exclusive Technology Development, Consulting and Service Agreement. |
II. |
Undertakings Concerning Equity Interests |
1. |
Party C hereby undertakes that: |
(a) |
Without the prior written consent of Party A or Party As ultimate overseas controlling parent company Kanzhun Limited (hereinafter referred to as Party As Parent Company), Party C will not supplement, alter or modify its Articles of Association in any form, increase or decrease its registered capital, or otherwise change its registered capital structure; |
(b) |
It will maintain the company in good standing and conduct its business and affairs prudently and efficiently in accordance with good financial and business standards and practices; |
(c) |
Without the prior written consent of Party A or Party As Parent Company, it will not sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of any assets, business, revenue or other legitimate interest of Party C or permit any other security interest to be created thereon at any time from the date hereof; |
Exclusive Call Option Agreement | 3 |
(d) |
Without the prior written consent of Party A or Party As Parent Company, it will not incur, inherit, guarantee or permit to exist any debt except for: |
(i) |
Debts arising in the ordinary or usual course of business other than by means of loans; and |
(ii) |
Debts that have been disclosed to Party A and have been approved by Party A in writing. |
(e) |
It will carry on all of its business at all times in the ordinary course of business and maintain the value of Party Cs assets and will not perform any act/omission which would be sufficient to affect its business condition and the value of its assets; |
(f) |
Without the prior written consent of Party A or Party As Parent Company, it will not enter into or terminate any material contract outside the ordinary course of business, where such material contract refers to a contract with a value of more than Fifty Thousand in Renminbi (RMB 50,000); |
(g) |
Without the prior written consent of Party A or Party As Parent Company, it will not provide any loan or credit to any person; |
(h) |
Upon the request of Party A, it will provide Party A with all the information concerning Party Cs operating and financial conditions; |
(i) |
Party C will purchase and maintain insurance from an insurance company acceptable to Party A, with the same insured amount and coverage as would normally be insured by companies operating similar businesses and owning similar property or assets in the same region; |
(j) |
Without the prior written consent of Party A or Party As Parent Company, it will not merge or combine with, or acquire or invest in, any person; |
(k) |
It will promptly notify Party A of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings that have occurred or might occur in connection with Party Cs assets, business and revenue; |
(l) |
To protect Party Cs ownership of all its assets, it will execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary or appropriate actions and file all necessary or appropriate complaints or take necessary and appropriate defense against all claims; |
Exclusive Call Option Agreement | 4 |
(m) |
Without the prior written consent of Party A or Party As Parent Company, it shall not distribute dividends in any form to its shareholders, but shall, upon the request of Party A, immediately distribute all distributable profits to its respective shareholders; and |
(n) |
It will, upon the request of Party A, appoint any person designated by Party A to act as a director of Party C. |
2. |
Party B hereby undertakes that: |
(a) |
Without the prior written consent of Party A or Party As Parent Company, they will not sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of any equity interests or permit any other security interest to be created thereon at any time from the date hereof, except for the pledge created on Party Bs equity interests according to the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement; |
(b) |
Without the prior written consent of Party A or Party As Parent Company, they will not cause the shareholders meeting of Party C to approve the sale, transfer, pledge or other disposal of any equity interests or the permission of the creation of any other security interest thereon, except for the approval of the creation of the pledge on Party Bs equity interests according to the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement; |
(c) |
Without the prior written consent of Party A or Party As Parent Company, they will not cause the shareholders meeting of Party C to approve Party C to merge or combine with, or acquire or invest in, any person; |
(d) |
They will promptly notify Party A of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings that have occurred or might occur in connection with the equity interests held by them; |
(e) |
They will cause the shareholders meeting of Party C to vote for the transfer of the Purchased Equity Interests as specified herein; |
(f) |
To protect their ownership of the equity interests, they will execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary or appropriate actions and/or file all necessary or appropriate complaints or take necessary and appropriate defense against all claims; |
(g) |
They will, upon the request of Party A, appoint any person designated by Party A to act as a director of Party C; |
Exclusive Call Option Agreement | 5 |
(h) |
Upon the request of Party A from time to time, they shall unconditionally and immediately transfer their equity interests to Party A or its designated representative at any time and waive their right of first refusal with respect to the foregoing equity transfer effected by other shareholders; and |
(i) |
They will strictly comply with the provisions of this Contract and other contracts entered into jointly or separately by Party A, Party As Parent Company, Party B and Party C, earnestly perform their obligations under such contracts, and will not perform any act/omission that would be sufficient to affect the validity and enforceability of such contracts. |
3. |
Party B and Party C shall not revoke the foregoing undertakings, and ZHAO Peng and Party C shall be jointly and severally liable for the obligations hereunder. |
III. |
Asset Purchase Option |
1. |
Definition |
Assets means all the assets of Party C, including but not limited to fixed assets, current assets, intellectual property rights and interests under all the contracts entered into by Party C. The foregoing intellectual property rights include patent rights, patent application rights, trademark rights, trademark application rights, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, inventions, know-hows, industrial designs, slogans, symbols, website designs, layout designs, domain names and other rights that Party C currently or will create, own or enjoy in the future.
2. |
Grant of Rights |
To the extent permitted by PRC laws, Party B and Party C hereby irrevocably grant Party A an irrevocable exclusive option (hereinafter referred to as the Asset Purchase Option) to purchase or cause its Designee to purchase from Party C all or part of the assets held by Party C at any time according to the exercise steps determined by Party A at its sole discretion and at the price set forth in Article 3.4 hereof. Party B unanimously allows Party C to grant the Asset Purchase Option to Party A.
Exclusive Call Option Agreement | 6 |
3. |
Exercise Steps |
(a) |
Party As exercise of its Asset Purchase Option shall be subject to compliance with the provisions of the PRC laws and regulations. When exercising the Asset Purchase Option, Party A shall give a written notice to Party B (hereinafter referred to as the Asset Purchase Notice), which shall set forth the following: |
(i) |
Party As decision to exercise the Asset Purchase Option; |
(ii) |
The assets that Party A intends to purchase from Party B (hereinafter referred to as the Purchased Assets); |
(iii) |
The purchase date. |
(b) |
After the issuance of the Asset Purchase Notice, each time Party A exercises its Asset Purchase Option, Party C shall undertake to perform, and Party B shall undertake to cause Party C to perform, the following actions: |
(i) |
Enter into an asset transfer agreement with respect to the Purchased Assets in accordance with the specific provisions of this Contract and each Asset Purchase Notice; and |
(ii) |
execute all other required contracts, agreements or documents, obtain all the required governmental approvals and consents and take all necessary actions to transfer the valid ownership of the Purchased Assets to Party A and/or its Designee and complete the registration and filing procedures necessary for the transfer of intellectual property rights in accordance with the relevant PRC laws and regulations, to make Party A and/or the Designee the registered owner of the Purchased Assets, free and clear of any security interest. |
4. |
Asset Purchase Price |
Unless otherwise provided by law, the purchase price of the Purchased Assets (hereinafter referred to as the Asset Purchase Price) shall be RMB 100 or the lowest price permitted by the PRC laws and regulations. However, if Party A and Party C have agreed otherwise, such agreement shall prevail. Party C shall solely bear all the taxes and fees arising from the transfer of the Purchased Assets.
IV. |
Representations and Warranties of Party B and Party C |
Party B and Party C hereby respectively represent and warrant to Party A as of the date of hereof and each transfer date that:
1. |
It has the power and right to enter into and deliver this Contract and any equity interest transfer contract to which it is a party and which is entered into for the purpose of each transfer of the Purchased Equity Interests (each a Transfer Contract), and to perform its obligations under this Contract and any Transfer Contract. This Contract and each Transfer Contract to which it is a party shall, as of the date hereof and thereof, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations against it and shall be enforceable against it in accordance with the terms of this Contract or each Transfer Contract; |
Exclusive Call Option Agreement | 7 |
2. |
Neither the execution and delivery of this Contract or any Transfer Contract nor the performance of its obligations under this Contract or any Transfer Contract will: |
(a) |
Result in a violation of any relevant PRC law; |
(b) |
Be in conflict with Party Cs Articles of Association or other organizational documents; |
(c) |
Result in a breach of or constitute a default under any contract or document to which it is a party or by which it is bound; |
(d) |
Result in a violation of any condition for the grant and/or survival of any permit or approval issued to it; or |
(e) |
Result in any permit or approval issued to it being suspended or revoked or subject to conditions. |
3. |
Party B is entitled to the legal title to the equity interests owned by them. Party B has not created any security interest on the foregoing equity interests, except for the pledge created on Party Bs equity interests pursuant to the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement; |
4. |
Party C has no outstanding debt except for the following: |
(a) |
Any debt incurred during its ordinary course of business, and |
(b) |
Any debt that has been disclosed to Party A and has been approved by Party A in writing. |
5. |
Party C complies with all the applicable laws and regulations; |
6. |
There are no ongoing, pending or possible litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C or its assets or relating to Party C itself. |
Exclusive Call Option Agreement | 8 |
V. |
Effective Date and Term |
This Contract shall become effective as of the date when it is executed by the Parties and shall supersede the Exclusive Call Option Agreement entered into as of February 10, 2017 by and among Party A, ZHAO Peng, TANG Weigang and Party C. This Contract shall be valid for ten (10) years and may be extended for another ten (10) years at the sole discretion of Party A.
VI. |
Applicable Law and Dispute Resolution |
1. |
Applicable Law |
The conclusion, validity, interpretation and performance of this Contract and the resolution of disputes hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the PRC.
2. |
Dispute Resolution |
In case of any dispute between the Parties concerning the interpretation and performance hereof, the Parties hereto shall resolve such dispute first through friendly negotiation. If, within thirty (30) days after one Party sends to the other Party a written notice requesting resolution of the dispute through negotiation, such dispute is not resolved, either Party may submit such dispute to China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration in accordance with its arbitration rules then in effect. The arbitration shall take place in Beijing. The arbitral award shall be final and binding upon the Parties.
VII. |
Taxes and Expenses |
Each Party shall be liable for any and all taxes and expenses incurred by it or levied on it in connection with the preparation and execution of this Contract and each Transfer Contract and the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Contract and each Transfer Contract in accordance with the PRC laws.
VIII. |
Notices |
Unless a written notice is given to change the following address, any notice hereunder shall be delivered to the following address by hand or by registered mail. If the notice is sent by registered mail, the date of receipt stated on the receipt of the registered mail shall be the date of service; if sent by personal delivery, the notice shall be deemed served on the date of dispatch:
Exclusive Call Option Agreement | 9 |
Party A: Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd.
Address: ******
Mobile: ******
Attn: ******
Party B: ZHAO Peng and YUE Xu
Address: ******
Mobile: ******
Party C: Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: ******
Mobile: ******
Attn: ******
IX. |
Confidentiality |
1. |
The Parties acknowledge and confirm that any oral or written information exchanged with each other in connection with this Contract is confidential. Each Party shall keep all such information confidential and shall not disclose any relevant information to any third party without the prior written consent of the other Party, except for: |
(a) |
Information that is or will be known to the public (but not disclosed to the public by the receiving party without authorization); |
(b) |
Information required to be disclosed by applicable laws or regulations; or |
(c) |
Information to be disclosed by any Party to its legal or financial adviser in connection with the transaction contemplated hereby, to the extent that such legal or financial adviser is also subject to a duty of confidentiality similar to that provided in this Article. |
2. |
Any breach of confidence by the staff of or an agency retained by any Party shall be deemed as a breach of confidence by such Party, which shall be liable for breach of contract in accordance with this Contract. This Article shall survive the termination of this Contract for any reason. |
Exclusive Call Option Agreement | 10 |
X. |
Further Assurance |
The Parties agree to promptly execute such documents and take such further actions as may be reasonably necessary or desirable for the fulfillment of the provisions and purposes hereof.
XI. |
Termination, Liability for Breach and Indemnity |
1. |
If any Party (hereinafter referred to as the Breaching Party) breaches its obligations hereunder, another Party (hereinafter referred to as the Non-breaching Party) may send to the Breaching Party a written notice requiring the Breaching Party to correct its breach. The Breaching Party shall, within thirty (30) days upon receipt of the foregoing notice, cease its breach and indemnify the Non-breaching Party for all the losses thus suffered; if the Breaching Party continues to breach its obligations thirty (30) days after the date of receipt of the foregoing notice, any Non-breaching Party shall have the right to unilaterally terminate this Contract and shall also have the right to require the Breaching Party to indemnify the Non-breaching Party for all the losses suffered as a result. |
2. |
Any indulgence or grace granted by the Non-breaching Party or any delay in the exercise of the rights available to it under law or under this Contract in respect of any breach by the Breaching Party shall not be deemed as a waiver of such rights by the Non-breaching Party. |
3. |
Party B and Party C shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Party A from and against any and all claims, damages, debts, expenses and costs, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys fee, borne by Party A, its officers, managers, directors, shareholders, members, representatives, agents and employees in any litigation or other legal proceedings between any indemnitor and any indemnified person or between any indemnified person or any third party arising from any dispute or litigation brought by a third party in connection with the Purchased Equity Interests due to Party Bs or Party Cs breach of any of its statutory or contractual warranties, representations or other covenants hereunder or prior to the transfer of the Purchased Equity Interests. |
XII. |
Miscellaneous |
1. |
Amendment, Modification and Supplement |
Any amendment, modification or supplement hereto shall be made in writing and shall come into force after being signed and sealed by the Parties.
Exclusive Call Option Agreement | 11 |
2. |
Compliance with Laws and Regulations |
The Parties shall comply with, and shall ensure that their operations are in full compliance with all the laws and regulations officially promulgated and publicly available in the PRC.
3. |
Entire Contract |
Except for written amendments, supplements or modifications made after the execution hereof, this Contract constitutes the entire contract between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral or written negotiations, representations and contracts with respect to the subject matter hereof.
4. |
Headings |
The headings used herein are for ease of reading only and shall not be used to interpret, construe or otherwise affect the meanings of the provisions hereof.
5. |
Language |
This Contract is made in Chinese. This Contract may be made in one or more originals as required, each of which shall be of equal legal effect.
6. |
Severability |
If any one or more of the provisions hereof is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any law or regulation, the validity, legality or enforceability of the other provisions hereof shall not be affected or impaired in any way. The Parties shall seek, through good faith consultation, to replace those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions whose economic effect shall be as similar as possible to that of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
7. |
Successors |
This Contract shall be binding upon each Partys successors and such assigns as may be permitted by the Parties.
Exclusive Call Option Agreement | 12 |
8. |
Survival |
(a) |
Any obligations incurred or due in connection with this Contract prior to the expiration or early termination hereof shall survive the expiration or early termination hereof. |
(b) |
The provisions of Articles 6, 9, 11 and Article 12.8 hereof shall survive the termination hereof. |
9. |
Waiver |
Any waiver of the terms and conditions hereof by any Party shall not take effect unless made in writing and signed by the Parties. A waiver by a Party in respect of a breach by another Party in one case shall not be deemed to have been a waiver by such Party in respect of a similar breach by the other Party in another case.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank]
Exclusive Call Option Agreement | 13 |
Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd. (seal) | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: | ZHAO Peng | |
Title: | Legal Representative | |
ZHAO Peng | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
YUE Xu | ||
By: |
/s/ YUE Xu |
|
Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd. (seal) | ||
By: |
/s/ ZHAO Peng |
|
Name: | ZHAO Peng | |
Title: | Legal Representative |
Signature Page to the Exclusive Call Option Agreement |
Exhibit 10.8
Spousal Consent Letter
I, [Name of Spouse] (ID number/passport number: [Number]), am the legal spouse of [Name of Shareholder] (ID number: [Number]). I hereby, on February 21, 2020, unconditionally and irrevocably consent to the execution of the following documents (hereinafter referred to as the Restructuring Documents) by [Name of Shareholder] on February 21, 2020, and consent to the disposal in accordance therewith of the equity in Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the Domestic Company) held by [Name of Shareholder] and registered in his name:
(1) |
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement entered into with Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the WFOE), [Name of Shareholder] and the Domestic Company; |
(2) |
Exclusive Call Option Agreement entered into with the WFOE, [Name of Shareholder], and the Domestic Company; and |
(3) |
Power of Attorney executed by [Name of Shareholder]. |
I undertake not to make any claim with respect to [Name of Shareholder]s equity in the Domestic Company. I further acknowledge that the performance of the Restructuring Documents and any further modification thereto or termination thereof by [Name of Shareholder] will require no stand-alone authorization or consent from me.
I undertake to execute all documents and take all actions necessary to ensure that the Restructuring Documents (as amended from time to time) are properly performed.
I agree and undertake that, if for any reason I acquire any of the equity held by [Name of Shareholder] in the Domestic Company, I shall be bound by the Restructuring Documents (as amended from time to time) and fulfill my obligations thereunder as a shareholder of the Domestic Company; moreover, for the purpose hereof, I shall, upon the request of the WFOE, execute a set of written documents in form and substance substantially the same as the Restructuring Documents (as amended from time to time).
The undersigned: | ||
By: |
/s/ [Name of Spouse] |
Schedule of Material Differences
One or more Spousal Consent Letters using this form were executed. 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 Shareholder |
Name of Spouse |
||
1. | ZHAO Peng | LI Yumei | ||
2. | YUE Xu | ZOU Qiang |
Exhibit 21.1
Principal Subsidiaries and VIE of the Registrant
Subsidiary |
Place of Incorporation |
|
Techfish Limited |
Hong Kong | |
Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd. |
PRC | |
Variable Interest Entity |
Place of Incorporation |
|
Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology 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 KANZHUN LIMITED of our report dated March 19, 2021 relating to the financial statements of KANZHUN LIMITED, 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
Shanghai, the Peoples Republic of China
May 21, 2021
Exhibit 23.4
May 21, 2021
KANZHUN LIMITED (the Company)
18/F, GrandyVic Building
Taiyanggong Middle Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020
Peoples Republic of China
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Rule 438 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, I hereby consent to the reference of my name as a director of the Company, effective immediately upon the effectiveness of the Companys registration statement on Form F-1 initially filed by the Company on May 21, 2021 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Charles Zhaoxuan Yang |
Name: Charles Zhaoxuan Yang |
Exhibit 23.5
May 21, 2021
KANZHUN LIMITED (the Company)
18/F, GrandyVic Building
Taiyanggong Middle Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020
Peoples Republic of China
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Rule 438 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, I hereby consent to the reference of my name as a director of the Company, effective immediately upon the effectiveness of the Companys registration statement on Form F-1 initially filed by the Company on May 21, 2021 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Yonggang Sun |
Name: Yonggang Sun |
Exhibit 99.1
KANZHUN LIMITED
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 KANZHUN LIMITED, 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, the Company adheres to these higher standards.
This Code is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:
|
honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; |
|
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; |
|
compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; |
|
strict prohibition of any bribes or kickbacks; |
|
prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code; and |
|
accountability for adherence to the Code. |
II. |
APPLICABILITY |
This Code applies to all directors, officers, employees and consultants 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, other chief officers, senior vice presidents, vice presidents, and any other persons who perform management functions that meet certain seniority levels of the Company (each, a senior employee, and collectively, the senior employees). Certain provisions of the Code apply to relevant third parties in assistance with the Companys business.
The Board of Directors of the Company (the Board) has appointed the Companys Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peng Zhao, 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@kanzhun.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 are considered conflicts of interest:
|
Competing Business. No employee may be employed by a business that competes with the Company or deprives it of any business. No employee may engage, or assist others (including family members) in engaging, any business activities that compete with the Company or deprive it of any business. An employee should notify the Company promptly if he/she knows that any of his or her family members are employed by or engaged in a competing business. |
|
Corporate Opportunity. No employee may 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. |
|
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 only hold up to 1% 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 1%, 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 employee or any family member of such senior employee (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 employee 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 employee joined the Company); or
(2) may in the future be made or obtained by the director or senior employee, 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 employee shall disclose such investment or other financial interest to the Board;
(b) an interested director or senior employee shall refrain from participating in any discussion among senior employees 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 employee shall obtain prior approval from the Audit Committee of the Board.
|
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 customer, supplier or competitor of the Company. This guideline does not prohibit arms-length transactions with recognized banks or other financial institutions. |
|
Service on Boards and Committees. No employee may 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:
|
Is the action to be taken legal? |
|
Is it honest and fair? |
|
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 stock exchange where the Companys American depositary shares representing its ordinary shares are listed and traded (the 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 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 (other than domestic employees) who shares 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 customers or suppliers only if the gift or entertainment is in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and policies, 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.
The Company encourages employees to submit gifts received to the Company. While it is not mandatory to submit small gifts, gifts of over US$150 must be submitted immediately to the legal department of the Company.
An employee should contact the Compliance Officer if he/she has any questions regarding any gifts or entertainment expenses. 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. ANTI-BRIBERY AND 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.
No employee shall give or authorize directly or indirectly any improper payments to any other person or entity to secure any improper advantage for the Company, nor shall any employee solicit any improper payment from any other person or entity in exchange for any improper advantage.
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 and are strictly prohibited. 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:
|
exercise reasonable care to prevent theft, damage or misuse of the Companys assets; |
|
promptly report any actual or suspected theft, damage or misuse of the Companys assets; |
|
safeguard all electronic programs, data, communications and written materials from unauthorized access; and |
|
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:
|
any contributions of the Companys funds or other assets for political purposes; |
|
encouraging individual employees to make any such contribution; and |
|
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. Any form of sexual harassment is also strictly forbidden. For further information, employees should consult the Compliance Officer.
XII. FAIR DEALING
Each employee should endeavor to deal fairly with the Companys customers, suppliers, competitors and employees. No employee 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 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. The Company expects 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
10/F, CPIC Plaza, No. 28 Fengsheng Lane, Xicheng District, Beijing 100032, China
Tel: 86 10 5776 3888 Fax: 86 10 5776 3777
May 21, 2021
To:
KANZHUN LIMITED
Suite #4-210, Governors Square,
23 Lime Tree Bay Avenue,
P.O. Box 32311,
Grand Cayman KY1-1209,
Cayman Islands
Re: Legal Opinion Regarding Certain PRC Law Matters
We are qualified lawyers of the Peoples Republic of China (the PRC) and are qualified to issue an opinion on the laws and regulations of the PRC (for the purposes of this opinion, excluding Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan).
We have acted as the PRC legal adviser to KANZHUN LIMITED (the Company). With respect to (i) the proposed initial public offering (the Offering) of the Companys American Depositary Shares (the ADSs), representing Class A ordinary shares (the Shares), par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company as set forth in the Companys registration statement on Form F-1 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the Registration Statement), including all amendments or supplements thereto, and (ii) the Companys proposed listing of the ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, you have requested us to furnish an opinion to you as to the matters hereinafter set forth.
For the purpose of rendering this legal opinion (the Opinion), we have examined the originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of documents provided to us by the PRC Group Companies, as defined below, and such other documents, corporate records, certificates, approvals, and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable for the purposes of rendering the Opinion, including, without limitation, originals or copies of the agreements and certificates issued by the Government Agencies and officers of the Company (the Documents). During such examination, we have assumed that:
(a) |
all Documents submitted to us as copies are identical to their originals and have not been varied, revoked, withheld, cancelled or superseded by some other documents or agreements or action of which we are not aware after due inquiry as of the date thereof; |
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(b) |
all signatures, seals and chops on such Documents are genuine; |
(c) |
all parties in relation to any of the Documents aforesaid or to any other documents as referred to in this Opinion have the requisite power and authority to enter into, and have duly executed and delivered the Documents and performed their obligations hereunder, except those parties with respect to whose power and authority we have opined upon in the Opinion; |
(d) |
the truthfulness, accuracy and completeness of all factual statements in the Documents submitted and made available to us up to the date of this Opinion. Where facts were not independently established by us, we have relied upon certificates issued by governmental agents and/or representatives of the Company and the PRC Group Companies with proper authority and upon representations, made by such persons in the course of our inquiry and consultation; |
(e) |
all facts and Documents which may affect our opinions herein have been disclosed to us, and there has not been or will not be any omission in respect of such disclosure; |
(f) |
all Governmental Authorizations as defined below, and other official statements and documentations were obtained from the competent PRC Government Agencies by lawful means; |
(g) |
the Transaction Documents constitutes legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations on the parties thereto (other than those governed by the PRC Laws or to which the PRC Laws are related); |
(h) |
the governing law of the Transaction Documents is complied with in relation to their execution, delivery, performance or enforcement, and each of the Transaction Documents as defined below and other related documents is legal, valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their respective governing laws in any and all respects; |
(i) |
each of the parties (other than the PRC Group Companies) to the Transaction Documents has full power, authority and legal right to enter into and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents, and has taken all necessary actions to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the documents, except for those required by PRC Laws; |
(j) |
there would be no factual or other arrangements between any of the parties which would modify or supersede any of the terms of Transaction Documents or otherwise affect our opinions set forth above; and |
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(k) |
all consents, licenses, permits, approvals, exemptions or authorizations required of or by, and any required registrations or filings with, any Government Agencies or regulatory body of any jurisdiction other than the PRC in connection with the transactions contemplated under the Transaction Documents have been obtained or made, and are in full force and effect as at the date thereof. |
We do not purport to be experts on or generally familiar with or qualified to express legal opinions based on the laws of any jurisdiction other than the PRC. Accordingly, we express or imply no opinion on the laws of any jurisdiction other than the PRC.
Section I Definition
Unless otherwise expressly prescribed in this Opinion, the following capitalized terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them below:
Governmental Authorization | refers to any approval, consent, permit, certificate, authorization, declaration, filing, registration, exemption, waiver, endorsement, annual inspection, qualification and license required by the applicable PRC Laws to be obtained from any Government Agency. | |
M&A Rules | refer to the Rules on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors jointly promulgated by the Ministry of Commerce, the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce, CSRC and the SAFE on August 8, 2006 and amended on June 22, 2009. | |
PRC Group Companies | refer to WFOE, the VIE Entity and its material PRC subsidiaries listed in Schedule I. | |
Prospectus | refers to the prospectus, including all amendments or supplements thereto, that forms part of the Registration Statement. | |
Registration Statement | refers to the registration statement in Form F-1, including all amendments or supplements thereto, under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) relating to the offering by the Company of the ADSs. | |
VIE Agreements | refers to certain contractual arrangements and agreements that have been filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, entered into between WFOE and the VIE Entity and its respective shareholders and other parties thereto. |
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VIE Entity | refers to Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd. (北京华品博睿网络技术有限公司). | |
WFOE | refers to Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd. (北京歌利沃夫企业管理有限公司), the Companys wholly-owned PRC subsidiary. |
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Registration Statement.
Section II Opinions
Based upon and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinions on the date hereof that:
1) |
Corporate Structure. To the best of our knowledge after due inquiry, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the ownership structure of the PRC Group Companies as set forth under the section captioned Our History and Corporate Structure in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, does not and will not, immediately after the offering and sale of the ADSs, violate any applicable PRC Laws in any material aspects. Mr. ZHAO Peng (赵鹏), the beneficial owner of the Company, who is a PRC resident, has completed the initial registrations under the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Offshore Special Purpose Vehicles (《国家外汇管理局关于境内居民通过境外特殊目的公司融资及返程投资外汇管理有关问题的通知 》(汇发[2005]75号)) promulgated by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC on October 21, 2005. |
2) |
VIE Agreements. To the best of our knowledge after due inquiries and as confirmed by the PRC Group Companies, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the execution, delivery and due performance of the VIE Agreements by the WFOE, VIE Entity and its respective shareholders do not and will not violate, breach, contravene, constitute a default under or otherwise conflict with (i) any compulsory provisions under any applicable PRC Laws; or (ii) the existing AOA or business license of each of the WFOE and VIE Entity. To the best of our knowledge after due inquiries and as confirmed by the PRC Group Companies, except that the exercise of the exclusive option and foreclosure of the pledge under the VIE Agreements shall be subject to relevant Governmental Authorizations, all Governmental Authorizations required under the PRC Laws for the entry and performance of the VIE Agreements have been obtained. However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC Laws, and there can be no assurance that any Governmental Agency will not take a view that is contrary to or otherwise different from our opinions stated herein. |
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The descriptions of the VIE Agreements and the contractual arrangements described in the Prospectus under the sections captioned Prospectus Summary, Risk Factors and Corporate History and Structure are in all material respects true and accurate and insofar as related to PRC Laws, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact, and do not omit any material fact necessary to make the descriptions, and in light of the circumstances under which they were made, such descriptions are not misleading.
3) |
M&A Rules. The M&A Rules purport, among other things, to require that offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, that are controlled by PRC companies or individuals and that have been formed for overseas listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic interest held by such PRC companies or individuals, to obtain the approval of CSRC prior to publicly listing their securities on an overseas stock exchange. On September 21, 2006, CSRC published a notice on its official website specifying documents and materials required to be submitted to it by SPVs seeking CSRC approval of their overseas listings. |
Based on our understanding on the current PRC Laws as well as the procedures announced on September 21, 2006, the Company is not required to submit an application to CSRC for its approval of the Offering, because (i) the Companys wholly-owned PRC subsidiary was incorporated as a foreign-invested enterprise by means of foreign direct investments rather than by merger with or acquisition of any PRC domestic companies as defined under the M&A Rules, and (ii) there is no statutory provision that clearly classifies the contractual arrangement based on VIE Agreements among WFOE, the VIE Entity and its shareholders as transactions regulated by the M&A Rules. However, this does not rule out the possibility of different interpretations to the M&A Rules from the Governmental Agencies.
4) |
Taxation. The statements set forth under the caption Taxation in the Prospectus, insofar as they constitute statements of PRC tax law, are accurate in all material respects and that such statements constitute our opinion, and insofar as related to PRC Laws nothing has been omitted from such statements which would make the same misleading in all material respects. |
5) |
Enforceability of Civil Procedures. The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are subject to compliance with the PRC Civil Procedures Law and relevant civil procedure requirements in PRC. 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 China will not enforce a foreign judgment against the Company or its 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. |
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6) |
Statements in the Prospectus. The statements in the Prospectus under the captions Risk Factors, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Taxation PRC, Business, Enforceability of Civil Liabilities, Regulation, Management, Taxation Peoples Republic of China Taxation, and Dividend Policy, and Legal Matters insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the PRC legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent, governed by the PRC Laws, fairly present the information and summarize in all material respects the matters referred to therein; and such statements are true and accurate in all material aspects, and correctly set forth therein, and nothing has been omitted from such statements which would make the same misleading in any material respect. |
Section III Consent
We hereby consent to the use of our name under the captions Risk Factors, Enforceability of Civil Liabilities, Corporate History and Structure, Regulation, Taxation, Legal Matters and elsewhere in the Prospectus.
This Opinion relates only to PRC Laws and we express no opinion as to any laws other than PRC Laws. PRC Laws referred to herein are laws currently in force as of the date of this Opinion and there is no guarantee that any of such PRC Laws, or the interpretation thereof or enforcement therefor, will not be changed, amended or revoked in the immediate future or in the longer term with or without retroactive effect.
We hereby consent to the use of this Opinion in, and the filing hereof as an exhibit to, the Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we fall within the category of the person whose consent is required under Section 7 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Yours faithfully, |
/s/ Tian Yuan Law Firm |
Tian Yuan Law Firm |
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Schedule I
List of PRC Group Companies
No. |
PRC Group Companies |
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1. | Beijing Glorywolf Co., Ltd. (北京歌利沃夫企业管理有限公司) | |
2. | Beijing Huapin Borui Network Technology Co., Ltd. (北京华品博睿网络技术有限公司) | |
3. | Tianjin Huapin Boruid Network Technology Co., Ltd. (天津华品博睿网络技术有限公司) | |
4. | Beijing Renjuren Network Technology Co., Ltd. (北京人聚人网络技术有限公司) | |
5. | Beijing Huaye Jishi Network Technology Co., Ltd. (北京华业基石网络技术有限公司) | |
6. | Hangzhou Zhipin Technology Co., Ltd. (杭州直品科技有限公司) |
Schedule I
Exhibit 99.3
Date: May 21, 2021
KANZHUN LIMITED
18/F, GrandyVic Building, Taiyanggong Middle Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020
Peoples Republic of China
Re: KANZHUN LIMITED
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We understand that KANZHUN LIMITED (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) in connection with its proposed initial public offering (the Proposed IPO).
We hereby consent to the 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, in the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto, in any other future filings with the SEC by the Company, including, without limitation, filings on Form 20-F or Form 6-K or other SEC filings (collectively, the SEC Filings), on the websites of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, in institutional and retail road shows and other activities in connection with the Proposed IPO, and in other publicity materials in connection with the Proposed IPO.
We further hereby consent to the filing of this 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
China Insights Industry Consultancy Limited
/s/ Julia Zhu |
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Name: | Julia Zhu | |
Title/Position: Partner |