As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 19, 2021

 

Registration No. 333-

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-3

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

SHINECO, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

52-2175898

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

Room3310, North Tower, Zhengda Center

No. 20, Jinhe East Road, Chaoyang District, BeijingPeople’s Republic of China 100020

(+86) 10-59246103

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Vcorp Services, LLC

1013 Centre Road, Suite 403-B

Wilmington, DE 19805

New Castle County

845-425-0077

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

With a Copy to:

Elizabeth Chen, Esq.

Pryor Cashman LLP

7 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

212-326-0199

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐

 

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, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plants, 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 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 registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer Non-accelerated filer
Accelerated filer Smaller reporting company
  Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, 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 Securities Act. ☐

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

                Proposed        
          Proposed     maximum        
    Amount     maximum     aggregate     Amount of  
Title of each class of   to be     offering price     offering     registration  
Securities to be registered(1)   registered(1)     per unit(2)     price(2)     fee(3)  
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share     -       -       -       -  
Preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share     -       -       -       -  
Warrants     -       -       -       -  
Rights     -       -       -       -  
Debt Securities     -       -       -       -  
Units     -       -       -       -  
Total   $ 100,000,000             $ 100,000,000     $ 9,270.00  

 

(1) There are being registered under this Registration Statement such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock, such indeterminate principal amount of debt securities, such indeterminate number of warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities, such indeterminate number of rights to purchase common stock or preferred stock and such indeterminate number of units as may be sold by the Registrant from time to time, which together shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $100,000,000. If the Registrant issues any debt securities at an original issue discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be in such greater principal amount at maturity as shall result in an aggregate offering price not to exceed $100,000,000, less the aggregate dollar amount of all securities previously issued hereunder. The Registrant may sell any securities it is registering under this Registration Statement separately or as units with the other securities it is registering under this Registration Statement. The Registrant will determine, from time to time, the proposed maximum offering price per unit in connection with its issuance of the securities it is registering under this Registration Statement. The securities it is registering under this Registration Statement also include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock and such indeterminate principal amount of debt securities as the Registrant may issue upon conversion of or exchange for preferred stock or debt securities that provide for conversion or exchange, upon exercise of warrants or rights or pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of any of such securities. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), the shares the Registrant is registering under this Registration Statement include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock as may be issuable with respect to the shares the Registrant is registering as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
   
(2) The Registrant will determine the proposed maximum aggregate offering price per class of security from time to time in connection with its issuance of the securities the Registrant is registering under this Registration Statement and the Registrant is not specifying such price as to each class of security pursuant to General Instruction II.D of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.
   
(3) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act, based on the Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price.

 

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 Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement relating to these securities that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion, dated November 19, 2021

 

PROSPECTUS

 

$100,000,000

 

Shineco, Inc.

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Rights

Debt Securities

Units

 

We may from time to time, in one or more offerings at prices and on terms that we will determine at the time of each offering, sell common stock, preferred stock, warrants, or a combination of these securities, or units, for an aggregate initial offering price of up to $100,000,000. This prospectus describes the general manner in which our securities may be offered using this prospectus. Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement as well as the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus before you purchase any of the securities offered hereby.

 

This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SISI.” On October 29, 2021, the closing price of our common stock was $10.32 per share. As of the date of this prospectus, none of the other securities that we may offer by this prospectus is listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system.

 

As of October 29, 2021, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates is approximately $93.1 million, based on 9,021,510 shares of outstanding common stock as of October 29, 2021, of which 7,141,154 shares are held by non-affiliates, and a per share price of $10.32 based on the closing sale price of our common stock on October 29, 2021. We have sold securities with an aggregate market value of $23,742,568 pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 during the 12 calendar months prior to and including the date of this prospectus.

 

The securities offered by this prospectus involve a high degree of risk. We are a holding company incorporated in Delaware. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct a substantial majority of our operations through our operating entities established in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”), primarily our variable interest entities (the “VIEs”). We do not have any equity ownership of our VIEs. Instead, we control and receive the economic benefits of our VIEs’ business operations through certain contractual arrangements. Our common stock offered in this prospectus is stock of our Delaware holding company that maintains service agreements with the associated operating companies. The Chinese regulatory authorities could disallow our structure, which could result in a material change in our operations and the value of our securities could decline or become worthless. For a description of our corporate structure and VIE contractual arrangements, see “Corporate Structure” on Page 7. See also “Risk Factors – Risks Related to our Corporate Structure. For a description of the risks involved in investing in our securities, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7, in addition to risk factors contained in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission 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.

 

We may offer the securities directly or through agents or to or through underwriters or dealers. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in an accompanying prospectus supplement. We can sell the securities through agents, underwriters, or dealers only with the delivery of a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

This prospectus is dated                 , 2021

 

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Table of Contents

 

  Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 4
   
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 4
   
THE COMPANY 5
   
RISK FACTORS 7
   
USE OF PROCEEDS 26
   
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED 26
   
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 40
   
LEGAL MATTERS 43
   
EXPERTS 43
   
MATERIAL CHANGES 43
   
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 44
   
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 44

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. If any person does provide you with information that differs from what is contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, you should not rely on it. No dealer, salesperson, or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and that any information contained in any document we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or any sale of a security. These documents are not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized, or in which the person is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC,” using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one of more offerings up to a total dollar amount of proceeds of $100,000,000. This prospectus describes the general manner in which our securities may be offered by this prospectus. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement that contains specific information about the terms of the securities being offered may also include a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences and any risk factors or other special considerations applicable to those securities. To the extent that any statement that we make in a prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in this prospectus or in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under “Where You Can Find Additional Information” before buying any securities in this offering.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we,” “our,” “us,” “Shineco,” or the “Company” in this prospectus mean Shineco, Inc., a Delaware corporation, on a consolidated basis with its wholly-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities, as applicable. “VIEs” refers to our variable interest entities.

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the documents and information incorporated by reference in this prospectus include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the “Securities Act,” and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “Exchange Act.” These statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Such forward-looking statements include those that express plans, anticipation, intent, contingency, goals, targets, or future development and/or otherwise are not statements of historical fact.

 

All statements in this prospectus and the documents and information incorporated by reference in this prospectus that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. We may, in some cases, use terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions or the negative of such items that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify forward-looking statements.

 

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Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates, and opinions on the date the statements are made and we undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates, and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as may be required by applicable law. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements.

 

THE COMPANY

Overview

We are a Delaware holding company that uses our subsidiaries’ and variable interest entities’ (“VIEs”) vertically and horizontally integrated production, distribution, and sales channels to provide health and well-being focused plant-based products. Our products are only sold domestically in China. We utilize modern engineering technologies and biotechnologies to produce, among other products, Chinese herbal medicines, organic agricultural produce, and specialized textiles. Our health and well-being focused plant-based products business is divided into two major segments:

 

Zhisheng Group

 

The Company’s VIEs, which form the Zhisheng Group and include Zhisheng Bio-Tech, Zhisheng Freight, Zhisheng Trade and Qingdao Zhihesheng, engage in the business of organic agricultural products, principally yew trees, as well as providing logistics services for all of the agricultural products we produce. Since 2013, this segment is focusing its efforts on the growing and cultivation of yew trees (taxus media), small evergreen trees that can be used for the production of anti-cancer medication as well as ornamental bonsai trees, which are known to have the effect of purifying indoor air quality. We currently cultivate and sell yew trees but do not currently process yew into Chinese or Western medicines. The entities composing the Zhisheng Group are currently focusing on researching, developing and cultivating organic produce, yew ecological products and other native plants. The operations of this segment are focused in the East region of Mainland China, principally Shandong Province, and in Beijing where we have newly developed over 100 acres of modern greenhouses for cultivating yew and other plants. This segment accounted for approximately 96% of our revenue for the year ended June 30, 2021.

 

Tenet-Jove

 

Through Tenet-Jove and Tianjin Tenet Huatai, the Company develops and distributes specialized textiles and health supplements derived from a native Chinese plant Apocynum venetum, grown in the Xinjiang region of China and known in Chinese as “Luobuma” or “bluish dogbane” and referred to herein as Luobuma. This plant has traditionally been used in China both internally and externally for centuries to treat high blood pressure, depression, dizziness, pain, insomnia, and other common ailments. The stems of Luobuma serve as raw material for fiber used in textile production, and the leaves serve as raw material for pharmaceutical drugs.

 

The companies of this segment, Tenet-Jove and Tianjin Tenet Huatai, specialize in Luobuma sourcing and developing Luobuma byproducts. With rich experience and broad channels in the Chinese domestic market, we believe that we are one of the leaders in Luobuma textile sales in China. This segment’s operations are focused in the north region of Mainland China, mostly carried out in Xinjiang and Tianjin. Our Luobuma products are specialized textile and health supplement products designed to incorporate traditional Eastern medicines with modern scientific methods. These products are predicated on centuries-old traditions of Eastern herbal remedies derived from the Luobuma raw material.

 

In addition to developing textile products, we expect to use our high-pressure steam degumming process to extract other Luobuma byproducts we intend to commercialize and distribute: flavonoids, xylooligosaccharides (XOS), edible pectin, fiberboard, and organic fertilizer. The traditional method of degumming Luobuma only produces Luobuma fiber, whereas our high-pressure steam degumming process produces these five additional Luobuma byproducts. Flavonoids are organic compounds widely distributed in plants, and flavonoid-rich Luobuma extract can be used in the manufacture of many pharmaceuticals. Xylooligosaccharides, or XOS, is a sugar that can be used as a food additive that provides various health benefits like lowering glucose levels. Pectin is a thickener and stabilizer used in food, beverages and cosmetics, as well as a gelling agent for jellies. Fiberboard is a type of engineered wood alternative that is made out of Luobuma fibers; it is used widely for furniture manufacturing and packaging. This segment accounted for approximately 4% of our revenue for the year ended June 30, 2021.

 

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Ankang Longevity Group

 

The companies of this former segment, Ankang Longevity Group, operate 66 cooperative retail pharmacies throughout Ankang, a city in southern Shaanxi province, China, through which we sell directly to individual customers traditional Chinese medicinal products produced by us as well as by third parties. Ankang Longevity Group also owns a factory specializing in decoction, which is the process by which solid materials are heated or boiled in order to extract liquids, and distributes decoction products to wholesalers and pharmaceutical companies around China.

 

On August 16, 2021, Tenet-Jove, completed the previously announced acquisition pursuant to the Restructuring Agreement dated June 8, 2021. Pursuant to the terms of the Restructuring Agreement, (i) the Company transferred all of its rights and interests in Ankang Longevity to Yushe County Guangyuan Forest Development Co., Ltd. (“Guangyuan”)’s Shareholders in exchange for the control of 100% of equity interests in Guangyuan, which composes of one group of similar identifiable assets; (ii) Tenet-Jove entered a Termination Agreement with Ankang Longevity and the Ankang Shareholders; (iii) as a consideration to the Restructuring Agreement and based on a valuation report on the equity interests of Guangyuan issued by an independent third party, Tenet-Jove relinquished all of its rights and interests in Ankang Longevity and transferred those rights and interests to the Guangyuan Shareholders; and (iv) Guangyuan and the Guangyuan Shareholders entered into a series of variable interest entity agreements with Tenet-Jove. The assets and liabilities of the entities of Ankang Longevity Group have been reclassified as “assets of discontinued operations” and “liabilities of discontinued operations” within current and non-current assets and liabilities, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2021 and 2020. The results of operations of Ankang Longevity have been reclassified to “net income (loss) from discontinued operations” in the consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020.

 

Our products are only sold domestically in China. From Chinese herbal medicines, organic agricultural produce, to specialized textiles, we believe that China remains among the world’s most attractive markets. China’s domestic pharmaceutical and healthcare products market is fast-growing but, in our opinion, underdeveloped. We believe China’s healthcare sector has the capacity to develop even further. Driving this growth is China’s aging population, increased incidence of chronic diseases, and a material increase in investment from both domestic and foreign corporations. The growth also reflects the Chinese government’s focus on healthcare as both a social priority (as witnessed in its late 2000s healthcare reforms) and a strategic priority (as evidenced in the 12th five-year plan’s stated focus on growing the biomedical industry in the future).

 

There are a number of uncertainties regarding the status of the rights of the Delaware holding company with respect to its contractual arrangements with the VIEs, its founders and owners, including whether the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce these contractual agreements due to uncertainties under Chinese law and jurisdictional limits.

 

Our principal executive offices are located at Room 3310, North Tower, Zhengda Center, No. 20, Jinhe East Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number is: (+86) 10-59246103.

 

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Corporate Structure

 

The chart below depicts the corporate structure of the Company as of the date of this prospectus.

 

 

COVID-19 Impact

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the implementation of significant governmental measures, including lockdowns, closures, quarantines, and travel bans, intended to control the spread of the virus. In accordance with the epidemic control measures imposed by the local governments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, our offices and retail stores remained closed or had limited business operations after the Chinese New Year holiday until early April 2020. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic had caused severe disruptions in transportation, limited access to our facilities and limited support from workforce employed in our operations, and as a result, we experienced delays or the inability to delivery our products to customers on a timely basis. Further, some of our customers or suppliers experienced financial distress, delayed or defaults on payment, sharp diminishing of business, or suffer disruptions in their business due to the outbreak. Any decreased collectability of accounts receivable, delayed raw materials supply, bankruptcy of small and medium businesses, or early termination of agreements due to deterioration in economic conditions could negatively impact our results of operations. Wider-spread COVID-19 in China and globally could prolong the deterioration in economic conditions and could cause decreases in or delays in spending and reduce and/or negatively impact our short-term ability to grow our revenue.

 

Although we have used all reasonable efforts to adopt measures to overcome the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed our normal business activities in early May 2020, the outbreak had a negative impact on our operating results during the year ended June 30, 2021. See our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented and updated by subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K that we have filed or will file with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. As of the date of this prospectus, the COVID-19 pandemic in China appears to be under control. While we expect this matter to continue to negatively impact our business, results of operations, and financial position, the related financial impact and the duration of such impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making any investment decision, you should carefully consider the risk factors set forth below, the information under the caption “Risk Factors” in any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you and the information under the caption “Risk Factors” in our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act.

 

These risks could materially affect our business, results of operation or financial condition and affect the value of our securities. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not yet identified may also materially harm our business, operating results and financial condition and could result in a complete loss of your investment. You could lose all or part of your investment. For more information, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

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Additionally, we are subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with our VIEs’ operations in China. PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain, and therefore, these risks may result in a material change in our VIE’s operations, significant depreciation of the value of our common stock, or a complete hindrance of our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors. Recently, the PRC government initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over china-based companies listed overseas using variable interest entity structure, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. Since these statements and regulatory actions are new, it is highly uncertain how soon legislative or administrative regulation making bodies will respond and what existing or new laws or regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations will be modified or promulgated, if any, and the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on our daily business operation, the ability to accept foreign investments and list on an U.S. or other foreign exchange. The Chinese regulatory authorities could disallow our structure, which could result in a material change in our operations and the value of our securities could decline or become worthless.

 

Summary of Risk Factors

 

Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which you should carefully consider when investing in our common stock. Some of the principal risks and uncertainties include the following:

 

Our herb farming business is subject to the volatility of prices for raw TCM herbs.
  Unforeseen and severe weather can reduce cultivation activities and lead to a decrease in anticipated harvest.
  We may not be able to secure financing needed for future operating needs on acceptable terms or at all.
  Expansion of our business may put added pressure on our management and operational infrastructure.
  There can be no assurance that we can sustain or increase profitability.
  Our growth strategy includes the pursuit of acquisitions and new product development.
  We may fail to maintain our relationships with our existing customers or fail to obtain new customers.
  We rely on a limited number of suppliers and the loss of any of our suppliers, or delays or problems in the supply of materials used in our products.
  We have substantial existing indebtedness.
  Our future success depends in part on our ability to make strategic acquisitions and investments.
  We may fail to increase our current manufacturing capacity.
  We may lose one or more members of our management team or other key employees.
  We face intense competition. Our competitors may develop or commercialize products before or more successfully than us.
  We may not keep pace with rapid technological change.
  The ongoing anti-corruption campaign initiated by the Chinese government targeting state-owned hospitals could adversely affect our sales designated for hospitals.
  We depend upon the VIE Agreements in conducting our business in the PRC.
  We may not be able to consolidate the financial results of some of our affiliated companies or such consolidation could materially adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
  We rely on the VIE Agreements with the VIEs for our revenue.
  Contractual arrangements entered into by our subsidiary and our PRC operating affiliate may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities.
  The PRC government may deem that the VIE Agreements do not comply with PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in the relevant industries or other laws or regulations of the PRC, or these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations may change in the future.
  Any of our VIEs could become the subject of a bankruptcy or liquidation proceeding.

 

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  Substantial uncertainties and restrictions with respect to the political and economic policies of the PRC government and PRC laws and regulations.
  There is a potential for adverse regulatory developments in China.
  There could be a slowdown or other adverse developments in the PRC economy.
  There could be a worsening of relations between the United States and China.
  There is a possibility of future inflation in China.
  There could be fluctuation of the Renminbi and restrictions on currency exchange.
  Our subsidiaries and affiliated entities in China are subject to restrictions on making dividends and other payments to us.
  The PRC’s legal and judicial system may not adequately protect our business and operations and the rights of foreign investors and you may experience difficulties in protecting your rights through the United States courts.
  Certain PRC regulations, including the M&A Rules and national security regulations, may require a complicated review and approval process.
  PRC regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from making loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary and affiliated entities.
  The Chinese government controls the convertibility of Renminbi and restrictions on the transfer of cash into and out of China.
  The beneficial owners of our shares who are PRC residents could fail to comply with certain PRC foreign exchange regulations, which could restrict our ability to distribute profits, restrict our overseas and cross-border investment activities and subject us to liability under PRC law.
  You may face difficulties in protecting your interests and exercising your rights as a stockholder of ours since we conduct substantially all of our operations in China and most of our officers and directors reside in China..
  There could be increases in labor costs in the PRC.
  Our auditor, like other independent registered public accounting firms operating in China (including Hong Kong), is not permitted to be subject to inspection by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and consequently, investors may not be able inspect such audit documentation.
  Compliance with China’s new Data Security Law, Measures on Cybersecurity Review (revised draft for public consultation), Personal Information Protection Law (second draft for consultation), regulations and guidelines relating to the multi-level protection scheme and any other future laws and regulations.
  Our common stock may in the future be considered a “penny stock,” and thereby be subject to additional sale and trading regulations that may make it more difficult to sell.
  FINRA sales practice requirements may also limit your ability to buy and sell shares of our common stock, which could depress the price of shares of our common stock.
  Potential future sales under Rule 144 may depress the market price for our common stock.
  We are not likely to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

Risks Related To Our Business

 

Our herb farming business is subject to the volatility of prices for raw TCM herbs.

 

We currently planted gingko trees in our leased farm land. However, in the future, we may continue to cultivate and sell certain herbs in bulk to third-party vendors, based on local market prices primarily determined by TCM manufacturers and trading companies. Such market prices have increased significantly in recent years in response to changes in the supply of and demand for raw herbs, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors that are beyond our control, including inflation, changes in weather, disease outbreaks, domestic government regulation, market speculation and overall economic conditions. There can be no assurance that market prices, which historically have fluctuated widely, will continue to increase or remain stable, and any future declines in prices may negatively impact the viability of our herb farming business.

 

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Unforeseen and severe weather can reduce cultivation activities and lead to a decrease in anticipated harvest.

 

Seasonal climate change and weather variations such as levels of rainfall and temperature may, among other things, affect the quality, overall supply and availability of raw herbs. Sustained adverse weather conditions in Xinjiang Province and Shandong Province in general where our herbs are planted, such as rain, extreme cold or snow, could disrupt or curtail cultivation activities. This in turn could reduce our anticipated harvest yields, delay the timing of our anticipated harvest and distribution, and negatively affect the quality of our harvest. In addition, natural disasters such as fires, earthquakes, snowstorms, floods or droughts, or natural conditions such as crop disease, pests or soil erosion, may also negatively impact our cultivation and harvest.

 

In addition, the actual climatic conditions of the areas where we cultivate our plants may not conform to historical patterns and may be affected by variations in weather patterns, including any potential impact of climate change. The effects of climate change may produce more unpredictable weather events that may adversely affect our ability to cultivate and harvest successfully. The occurrence of any of these may materially harm our herb farming business.

 

We may not be able to secure financing needed for future operating needs on acceptable terms, or on any terms at all.

 

From time to time, we may seek additional financing to provide the capital required to maintain or expand our production facilities, research and development initiatives and equipment and/or working capital, as well as to repay outstanding loans if cash flow from operations is insufficient to do so. We cannot predict with certainty the timing or amount of any such capital requirements. If such financing is not available on satisfactory terms, we may be unable to expand our business or to develop new business at the rate desired, and our operating results may suffer. If we are able to incur debt, we may be subject to certain restrictions imposed by the terms of the debt and the repayment of such debt may limit our cash flow and our ability to grow. If we are unable to incur debt, we may be forced to issue additional equity, which could have a dilutive effect on our current stockholders.

 

Expansion of our business may put added pressure on our management and operational infrastructure impeding our ability to meet any increased demand for our products and services and possibly hurting our operating results.

 

Our business plan is to significantly grow our operations to meet anticipated growth in demand for our products and services. Our planned growth includes the increase of our line of products and expansion of sales in our existing markets as well as new markets over the next few years. Growth in our business may place a significant strain on our personnel, management, financial systems and other resources. The evolution of our business also presents numerous risks and challenges, including:

 

  the continued acceptance of our products and services by the pharmaceutical markets;
     
  our ability to successfully and rapidly expand sales to potential customers in response to potentially increasing demand;
     
  the costs associated with such growth, which are difficult to quantify, but could be significant;
     
  rapid technological change; and
     
  the highly competitive nature of the pharmaceutical industries.

 

If we are successful in obtaining rapid market growth of our products, we will be required to deliver large volumes of quality products and services to customers on a timely basis at a reasonable cost to those customers. Meeting any such increased demands will require us to expand our manufacturing facilities, to increase our ability to purchase raw materials, to increase the size of our work force, to expand our quality control capabilities and to increase the scale upon which we provide our products and services. Such demands would require more capital and working capital than we currently have available and we may be unable to meet the needs of our customers, which could adversely affect our relationship with our customers and reduce our revenues.

 

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There can be no assurance that we can sustain or increase profitability.

 

There can be no assurance that we can attain or increase profitability. Unanticipated problems, expenses, and delays are frequently encountered in developing and marketing products. These include, but are not limited to, competition, the need to develop customers and market expertise, market conditions, sales, marketing, increases in the cost of raw materials and governmental regulation. Our failure to meet any of these conditions would have a materially adverse effect upon us and may force us to reduce or curtail our operations. We may not achieve our business growth objectives and the failure to achieve such goals would have an adverse impact on our business and results of operations. In addition, we expect to incur additional general and administrative expenses as a public company in the United States which could also have a negative impact on our future profitability.

 

Our growth strategy includes the pursuit of acquisitions and new product development which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.

 

Our business strategy includes growth through strategic acquisitions of one or more complimentary businesses and the development of new products and technologies. Growth through acquisitions and/or new product development will involve significant expenditures of capital and other resources and involve significant risks. Developing new pharmaceutical products will result in research and development costs that may achieve no tangible results and will adversely affect our future profitability. In addition, any acquisition or combination that we consummate will likely involve, among other things, the payment of cash, the incurrence of contingent liabilities and the amortization of expenses related to goodwill and other intangible assets, and transaction costs, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. Our ability to integrate and organize any new businesses and/or products, whether internally developed or obtained by acquisition or combination, will likely require significant expansion of our operations. There is no assurance that we will have or be able to obtain the necessary resources to satisfactorily effect such expansion, and the failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. In addition, future acquisitions or combinations by the company involve risks of, among other things, entering markets or segments in which we have no or limited prior experience, the potential loss of key employees or difficulty, delay or failure in the integration of the operations of any such new business with our current business and operating and financial difficulties of any new or newly combined operations, any of which could have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the anticipated benefits of any internally developed new business segment or business combination will be realized.

 

The failure to maintain our relationships with our existing customers or the failure to obtain new customers could negatively affect our revenues and decrease our earnings or have an adverse impact on our business.

 

We maintain purchase orders for the sales of our products to our customers. Although we have entered into agreements to supply our customers, we cannot assure that such agreements will be renewed when the terms of such agreements expire or that our relationships with our customers will be maintained on satisfactory terms or at all. The failure to maintain our relationships with our customers or the failure to obtain new customers could negatively affect our revenues and decrease our earnings or have an adverse impact on our business.

 

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We rely on a limited number of suppliers and the loss of any of our suppliers, or delays or problems in the supply of materials used in our products, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.

 

We generally rely on a limited number of suppliers for most of the primary materials used in our products. Our suppliers may not be able to supply the necessary materials without interruption and we may not have adequate remedies for such failure, which could result in a shortage of our products. If one of our suppliers fails or refuses to supply us for any reason, it could take time and expense to obtain a new supplier. In addition, our failure to maintain existing relationships with our suppliers or to establish new relationships in the future could negatively affect our ability to obtain the materials used in our products in a timely manner. The search for new suppliers could potentially delay the manufacture of our products, resulting in shortages in the marketplace and may cause us to incur additional expense. Failure to comply with applicable legal requirements subjects our suppliers to possible legal or regulatory action, including shutdown, which may adversely affect their ability to supply us with the materials we need for our products. Any delay in supplying, or failure to supply, materials for our products by any of our suppliers could result in our inability to meet the commercial demand for our products, and could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.

 

Our existing indebtedness may adversely affect our ability to obtain additional funds and may increase our vulnerability to economic or business downturns.

 

We are subject to a number of risks associated with our indebtedness, including:

 

  we must dedicate a portion of our cash flows from operations to pay debt service costs and, as a result, we have less funds available for operations and other purposes;
     
  it may be more difficult and expensive to obtain additional funds through financings, if available at all;
     
  we are more vulnerable to economic downturns and fluctuations in interest rates, less able to withstand competitive pressures and less flexible in reacting to changes in our industry and general economic conditions; and
     
  if we default under any of our existing credit facilities or if our creditors demand payment of a portion or all of our indebtedness, we may not have sufficient funds to make such payments.

 

Our future success depends in part on our ability to make strategic acquisitions and investments. Our failure to consummate or handle the risks associated with these acquisitions and investments could have a material adverse effect on our market penetration and revenues growth.

 

As part of our plan to expand our manufacturing capacity and product offerings, we intend to make strategic acquisitions in the highly-fragmented traditional Chinese medicine sector. Strategic acquisitions could subject us to uncertainties and risks, including:

 

  high acquisition and financing costs;
     
  potential ongoing financial obligations and unforeseen or hidden liabilities;
     
  failure to achieve the intended objectives, benefits or revenue-enhancing opportunities;
     
  cost of and difficulties in integrating acquired businesses and managing a larger business; and
     
  diversion of our resources and management attention.

 

The failure to increase our current manufacturing capacity could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.

 

We currently manufacture our products at traditional manufacturing facilities to accommodate our production lines. Manufacturing products in only one region in Shandong presents risks because a disaster, such as a fire or hurricane, may interrupt our manufacturing capability. In such an event, we will have to resort to alternative sources of manufacturing that could increase our costs as well as result in significant delays. Any increase in costs, slowdowns or shutdowns could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.

 

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Due to the impact of COVID-19, our current utilization of the manufacturing facilities has not reached full capacity which may restrict our ability to attract large customers who require certainty in the production process. We intend to expand our manufacturing operations by adding production lines, but there is no assurance that we will have the financial resources required for this planned expansion or that any such expansion will be successful or completed in a timely fashion or within budget. We may encounter difficulties and significant unexpected costs and delays in scaling up our manufacturing operations. The failure to scale-up manufacturing operations in a timely and cost-effective way may adversely affect our income. In the event the demand for our products rapidly increases or spikes in a certain period, we may not have the manufacturing ability to fulfill demand, either in our own facilities or through agreements with third parties. This lack of manufacturing capacity could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.

 

The loss of one or more members of our management team or other key employees could affect our ability to successfully grow our business.

 

Our success and future growth depends to a significant degree on the skills and continued services of our management team and other key employees. We do not currently have an employment agreement with any of our executive officers, nor do we currently maintain key person life insurance. If one or more members of our management or other key employees were to resign or no longer be able to serve as our employees, it could impair our revenue growth, business and future prospects. In addition, our ability to execute our business plan is dependent on our ability to attract and retain additional highly skilled personnel.

 

If we are unable to maintain appropriate internal financial reporting controls and procedures, it could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, result in the restatement of our financial statements, harm our operating results, subject us to regulatory scrutiny and sanction, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and have a negative effect on the market price for shares of our Common Stock.

 

Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud. We maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting, which is defined as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

As a public company, we have significant additional requirements for enhanced financial reporting and internal controls. We are required to document and test our internal control procedures in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting is a continuous effort that requires us to anticipate and react to changes in our business and the economic and regulatory environments and to expend significant resources to maintain a system of internal controls that is adequate to satisfy our reporting obligations as a public company.

 

We cannot assure you that we will not, in the future, identify areas requiring improvement in our internal control over financial reporting. We cannot assure you that the measures we will take to remediate any areas in need of improvement will be successful or that we will maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future as we continue our growth. If we are unable to maintain appropriate internal financial reporting controls and procedures, it could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, result in the restatement of our financial statements, harm our operating results, subject us to regulatory scrutiny and sanction, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and have a negative effect on the market price for shares of our Common Stock.

 

Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure

 

Our corporate structure, in particular, our Variable Interest Entities (or VIEs), and their Agreements (or VIE Agreements), are subject to significant risks, as set forth in the following risk factors.

 

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We depend upon the VIE Agreements in conducting our business in the PRC, which may not be as effective as direct ownership.

 

We rely on contractual arrangements with our consolidated VIEs and their shareholders, to operate our business. Our affiliations with the VIEs are managed through the VIE Agreements, which agreements may not be as effective in providing us with control over the VIEs as direct ownership. These contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over our consolidated VIEs. If our consolidated VIEs or their shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under these contractual arrangements, our recourse to the assets held by our consolidated VIEs is indirect and we may have to incur substantial costs and expend significant resources to enforce such arrangements in reliance on legal remedies under PRC law. These remedies may not always be effective, particularly in light of uncertainties in the PRC legal system. Furthermore, in connection with litigation, arbitration or other judicial or dispute resolution proceedings, assets under the name of any of record holder of equity interest in our consolidated VIEs, including such equity interest, may be put under court custody. As a consequence, we cannot be certain that the equity interest will be disposed pursuant to the contractual arrangement or ownership by the record holder of the equity interest.

 

All of these contractual arrangements are governed by PRC law and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in the PRC. Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with PRC laws and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal environment in the PRC is not as developed as in other jurisdictions, such as the U.S. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements. In the event that we are unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, or if we suffer significant time delays or other obstacles in the process of enforcing these contractual arrangements, it would be very difficult to exert effective control over our consolidated VIEs, and our ability to conduct our business and our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

 

We may not be able to consolidate the financial results of some of our affiliated companies or such consolidation could materially adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

 

All of our business, other than that conducted through Tenet-Jove and Tenet Huatai, is conducted through the VIEs, which are considered VIEs for accounting purposes, and we are considered the primary beneficiary, thus enabling us to consolidate our financial results in our consolidated financial statements. In the event that in the future a company we hold as a VIE no longer meets the definition of a VIE under applicable accounting rules, or we are deemed not to be the primary beneficiary, we would not be able to consolidate line by line that entity’s financial results in our consolidated financial statements for reporting purposes. Also, if in the future an affiliate company becomes a VIE and we become the primary beneficiary, we would be required to consolidate that entity’s financial results in our consolidated financial statements for accounting purposes. If such entity’s financial results were negative, this would have a corresponding negative impact on our operating results for reporting purposes.

 

Because we rely on a series of agreement with the VIEs to form our control over our VIEs (the “VIE Agreements”), the termination of these agreements would severely and detrimentally affect our continuing business viability under our current corporate structure.

 

We are a holding company and a substantial majority of our business operations are conducted through the VIE Agreements. As a result, our revenues mainly rely on dividend payments from the VIEs after it receives payments from the VIEs pursuant to the VIE Agreements. The VIEs may terminate the VIE Agreements for any or no reason at all. Because neither we, nor our subsidiaries, own equity interests of the VIEs, the termination of the VIE Agreements would sever our ability to continue receiving payments from the VIEs under our current holding company structure. While we are currently not aware of any event or reason that may cause the VIE Agreements to terminate, we cannot assure you that such an event or reason will not occur in the future. In the event that any or all of the VIE Agreements are terminated, this would have a severe and detrimental effect on our continuing business viability under our current corporate structure, which, in turn, may affect the value of your investment.

 

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Contractual arrangements entered into by our subsidiary and our PRC operating affiliate may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities. Such scrutiny may lead to additional tax liability and fines, which would hinder our ability to achieve or maintain profitability.

 

Under PRC law, arrangements and transactions among related parties may be subject to audit or challenge by the PRC tax authorities. If any of the transactions entered into by our subsidiary and our PRC operating affiliate are found not to have been conducted on an arm’s-length basis or to result in an unreasonable reduction in tax under PRC law, the PRC tax authorities have the authority to disallow tax savings, adjust the profits and losses of our respective PRC entities and assess late payment interest and penalties.

 

If the PRC government deems that the VIE Agreements do not comply with PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in the relevant industries or other laws or regulations of the PRC, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations, which may therefore materially reduce the value of our securities.

 

We are a holding company incorporated in Delaware. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct a substantial majority of our operations through our operating entities established in the People’s Republic of China, or the PRC, primarily our variable interest entities (the “VIEs”). Due to PRC legal restrictions on foreign ownership in any internet-related businesses we may explore and operate, we do not have any equity ownership of our VIEs, instead we control and receive the economic benefits of our VIEs’ business operations through certain contractual arrangements. Our common stock that currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Markets are shares of our Delaware holding company that maintains service agreements with the associated operating companies. The Chinese regulatory authorities could disallow our structure, which could result in a material change in our operations and the value of our securities could decline or become worthless. For a description of our corporate structure and contractual arrangements, see “Corporate Structure” on page 7 above and the section titled “Contractual Arrangements with Ankang Longevity Group or Zhisheng Group and their Owners” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

We believe that our corporate structure and contractual arrangements comply with the current applicable PRC laws and regulations. We also believe that each of the contracts among our wholly-owned PRC subsidiary, our consolidated VIEs and its shareholders is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms. However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws and regulations. Thus, the PRC governmental authorities may take a view contrary to the opinion of our PRC legal counsel. It is uncertain whether any new PRC laws or regulations relating to variable interest entity structure will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide. PRC laws and regulations governing the validity of these contractual arrangements are uncertain and the relevant government authorities have broad discretion in interpreting these laws and regulations.

 

If these regulations change or are interpreted differently in the future and our corporate structure and contractual arrangements are deemed by the relevant regulators that have competent authority, to be illegal, either in whole or in part, we may lose control of our consolidated VIEs, which conducts our manufacturing operations, holds significant assets and accounts for significant revenue, and have to modify such structure to comply with regulatory requirements. However, there can be no assurance that we can achieve this without material disruption to our business. Further, if our corporate structure and contractual arrangements are found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, the relevant regulatory authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violations, including:

 

  revoking our business and operating licenses;

 

  levying fines on us;

 

  confiscating any of our income that they deem to be obtained through illegal operations;

 

  shutting down our services;

 

  discontinuing or restricting our operations in China;

 

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  imposing conditions or requirements with which we may not be able to comply;

 

  requiring us and our PRC entities to restructure the relevant ownership structure and contractual arrangements; and

 

  restricting or prohibiting our use of proceeds from overseas offerings to finance our consolidated VIEs’ business and operations; and
     
  taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to our business.

 

Furthermore, new PRC laws, rules and regulations may be introduced to impose additional requirements that may be applicable to our corporate structure and contractual arrangements. Occurrence of any of these events could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and the market price of our common stock. In addition, if the imposition of any of these penalties or requirement to restructure our corporate structure causes us to lose the rights to direct the activities of our consolidated VIE or our right to receive their economic benefits, we would no longer be able to consolidate the financial results of such VIE in our consolidated financial statements, which may cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or even become worthless.

 

If any of our VIE becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or liquidation proceeding, we may lose the ability to use and enjoy assets held by such entity, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We currently conduct our operations in China through contractual arrangements with our VIEs. As part of these arrangements, substantially all of our assets that are important to the operation of our business are held by our VIEs. If any of these entities goes bankrupt and all or part of their assets become subject to liens or rights of third-party creditors, we may be unable to continue some or all of our business activities, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If any of our VIEs undergoes a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, its equity owner or unrelated third-party creditors may claim rights relating to some or all of these assets, which would hinder our ability to operate our business and could materially and adversely affect our business, our ability to generate revenue and the market price of our common stock.

 

Risks Associated With Doing Business in China

 

Changes in the policies of the PRC government could have a significant impact upon the business we may be able to conduct in the PRC and the profitability of our business.

 

The PRC’s economy is in a transition from a planned economy to a market-oriented economy subject to five-year and annual plans adopted by the government that set national economic development goals. Policies of the PRC government can have significant effects on the economic conditions within the PRC. The PRC government has confirmed that economic development will follow the model of a market economy. Under this direction, we believe that the PRC will continue to strengthen its economic and trading relationships with foreign countries and business development in the PRC will follow market forces. While we believe that this trend will continue, there can be no assurance that this will be the case. A change in policies by the PRC government could adversely affect our interests by, among other factors: changes in laws, regulations or the interpretation thereof, confiscatory taxation, restrictions on currency conversion, imports or sources of supplies, or the expropriation or nationalization of private enterprises. Although the PRC government has been pursuing economic reform policies for more than two decades, there is no assurance that the government will continue to pursue such policies or that such policies may not be significantly altered, especially in the event of a change in leadership, social or political disruption, confiscatory taxation, restrictions on currency conversion, imports or sources of supplies, or ability to continue as a for-profit enterprise, expropriation or nationalization of private enterprises, changes in the allocation of resources or other circumstances affecting the PRC’s political, economic and social environment.

 

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Substantial uncertainties and restrictions with respect to the political and economic policies of the PRC government and PRC laws and regulations could have a significant impact upon the business that we may be able to conduct in the PRC and accordingly on the results of our operations and financial condition.

 

Our business operations conducted through the VIEs may be adversely affected by the current and future political environment in the PRC. The Chinese government exerts substantial influence and control over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities. Our ability to operate in China may be adversely affected by changes in Chinese laws and regulations. Under the current government leadership, the government of the PRC has been pursuing reform policies which have adversely affected China-based operating companies whose securities are listed in the United States, with significant policies changes being made from time to time without notice. There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the laws and regulations governing our business, or the enforcement and performance of our contractual arrangements with borrowers in the event of the imposition of statutory liens, death, bankruptcy or criminal proceedings. Only after 1979 did the Chinese government begin to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws that regulate economic affairs in general, deal with economic matters such as foreign investment, corporate organization and governance, commerce, taxation and trade, as well as encourage foreign investment in China. Although the influence of the law has been increasing, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. Also, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published cases and their lack of force as precedents, interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve significant uncertainties. New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively. In addition, there have been constant changes and amendments of laws and regulations over the past 30 years in order to keep up with the rapidly changing society and economy in China. Because government agencies and courts provide interpretations of laws and regulations and decide contractual disputes and issues, their inexperience in adjudicating new business and new polices or regulations in certain less developed areas causes uncertainty and may affect our business. Consequently, we cannot predict the future direction of Chinese legislative activities with respect to either businesses with foreign investment or the effectiveness on enforcement of laws and regulations in China. The uncertainties, including new laws and regulations and changes of existing laws, as well as judicial interpretation by inexperienced officials in the agencies and courts in certain areas, may cause possible problems to foreign investors. Although the PRC government has been pursuing economic reform policies for more than two decades, the PRC government continues to exercise significant control over economic growth in the PRC through the allocation of resources, controlling payments of foreign currency, setting monetary policy and imposing policies that impact particular industries in different ways. We cannot assure you that the PRC government will continue to pursue policies favoring a market oriented economy or that existing policies will not be significantly altered, especially in the event of a change in leadership, social or political disruption, or other circumstances affecting political, economic and social life in the PRC. Any adverse changes in Chinese laws and regulations and the Chinese government’s significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.

 

Adverse regulatory developments in China may subject us to additional regulatory review, and additional disclosure requirements and regulatory scrutiny to be adopted by the SEC in response to risks related to recent regulatory developments in China may impose additional compliance requirements for companies like us with significant China-based operations, all of which could increase our compliance costs, subject us to additional disclosure requirements.

 

The recent regulatory developments in China, in particular with respect to restrictions on China-based companies raising capital offshore, may lead to additional regulatory review in China over our financing and capital raising activities in the United States. In addition, we may be subject to industry-wide regulations that may be adopted by the relevant PRC authorities, which may have the effect of limiting our service offerings, restricting the scope of our operations in China, or causing the suspension or termination of our business operations in China entirely, all of which will materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We may have to adjust, modify, or completely change our business operations in response to adverse regulatory changes or policy developments, and we cannot assure you that any remedial action adopted by us can be completed in a timely, cost-efficient, or liability-free manner or at all.

 

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On July 30, 2021, in response to the recent regulatory developments in China and actions adopted by the PRC government, the Chairman of the SEC issued a statement asking the SEC staff to seek additional disclosures from offshore issuers associated with China-based operating companies before their registration statements will be declared effective. On August 1, 2021, the China Securities Regulatory Commission stated in a statement that it had taken note of the new disclosure requirements announced by the SEC regarding the listings of Chinese companies and the recent regulatory development in China, and that both countries should strengthen communications on regulating China-related issuers. We cannot guarantee that we will not be subject to tightened regulatory review and we could be exposed to government interference in China.

 

A slowdown or other adverse developments in the PRC economy may harm our customers and the demand for our services and our products.

 

All of our operations are conducted in the PRC. Although the PRC economy has grown significantly in recent years, there is no assurance that this growth will continue. A slowdown in overall economic growth, an economic downturn, a recession or other adverse economic developments in the PRC could significantly reduce the demand for our products and services.

 

If relations between the United States and China worsen, investors may be unwilling to hold or buy our stock and our stock price may decrease.

 

At various times during recent years, the United States and China have had significant disagreements over political and economic issues. Controversies may arise in the future between these two countries that may affect our economic outlook both in the United States and in China. Any political or trade controversies between the United States and China, whether or not directly related to our business, could reduce the price of our common stock.

 

Future inflation in China may inhibit the profitability of our business in China.

 

In recent years, the Chinese economy has experienced periods of rapid expansion and high rates of inflation. Rapid economic growth can lead to growth in the money supply and rising inflation. If prices for our services and products rise at a rate that is insufficient to compensate for the rise in the costs of supplies, it may have an adverse effect on profitability. These factors have led to the adoption by Chinese government, from time to time, of various corrective measures designed to restrict the availability of credit or regulate growth and contain inflation. High inflation may in the future cause the Chinese government to impose controls on credit and/or prices, or to take other action, which could inhibit economic activity in China, and thereby harm the market for our services and products.

 

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The fluctuation of the Renminbi may have a material adverse effect on your investment.

 

The change in value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by, various factors, such as changes in China’s political and economic conditions and China’s foreign exchange controls. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar. Under such policy, the Renminbi was permitted to fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of certain foreign currencies. Later on, the People’s Bank of China has decided to further implement the reform of the RMB exchange regime and to enhance the flexibility of RMB exchange rates. Such changes in policy have resulted in a significant appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar since 2005. There remains significant international pressure on the PRC government to adopt a more flexible currency policy, which could result in a further and more significant adjustment of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar. Any significant appreciation or revaluation of the Renminbi may have a material adverse effect on the value of, and any dividends payable on, shares of our common stock in foreign currency terms. More specifically, if we decide to convert our Renminbi into U.S. dollars, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to us. To the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from our 2018 offering into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi amount we would receive from the conversion. In addition, appreciation or depreciation in the exchange rate of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar could materially and adversely affect the price of shares of our common stock in U.S. dollars without giving effect to any underlying change in our business or results of operations.

 

Restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to receive and use our revenue effectively.

 

Substantially all of our revenue is denominated in Renminbi. As a result, restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to use revenue generated in Renminbi to fund any business activities we may have outside China in the future or to make dividend payments to our stockholders in U.S. dollars. Under current PRC laws and regulations, Renminbi is freely convertible for current account items, such as trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions and dividend distributions. However, Renminbi is not freely convertible for direct investment or loans or investments in securities outside China, unless such use is approved by SAFE. For example, foreign exchange transactions under our subsidiary’s capital account, including principal payments in respect of foreign currency-denominated obligations, remain subject to significant foreign exchange controls and the approval requirement of SAFE. These limitations could affect our ability to convert Renminbi into foreign currency for capital expenditures.

 

Our subsidiaries and affiliated entities in China are subject to restrictions on making dividends and other payments to us.

 

We are a holding company and rely principally on dividends paid by our subsidiary in China for our cash needs, including paying dividends and other cash distributions to our stockholders to the extent we choose to do so, servicing any debt we may incur and paying our operating expenses. Our wholly-owned subsidiaries, such as Tenet Jove’s and Tenet Huatai’s income in turn depends on the fees paid by our VIEs in China under the VIE Agreements. Current PRC regulations permit our subsidiary in China to pay dividends to us only out of its accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. Under the applicable requirements of PRC law, Our wholly-owned subsidiaries in China may only distribute dividends after it has made allowances to fund certain statutory reserves. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. In addition, if our subsidiaries or our affiliated entities in China incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us. Any such restrictions may materially affect such entities’ ability to make dividends or make payments, in service fees or otherwise, to us, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The PRC’s legal and judicial system may not adequately protect our business and operations and the rights of foreign investors.

 

The legal and judicial systems in the PRC are still rudimentary, and enforcement of existing laws is uncertain. As a result, it may be impossible to obtain swift and equitable enforcement of laws that do exist, or to obtain enforcement of the judgment of one court by a court of another jurisdiction. The PRC’s legal system is based on the civil law regime, that is, it is based on written statutes. A decision by one judge does not set a legal precedent that is required to be followed by judges in other cases. In addition, the interpretation of Chinese laws may be varied to reflect domestic political changes.

 

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The promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws and the pre-emption of local regulations by national laws may adversely affect foreign investors. There can be no assurance that a change in leadership, social or political disruption, or unforeseen circumstances affecting the PRC’s political, economic or social life, will not affect the PRC government’s ability to continue to support and pursue these reforms. Such a shift could have a material adverse effect on our business and prospects.

 

Because our principal assets are located outside of the United States and most of our directors and officers reside outside the United States, it may be difficult for you to enforce your rights based on U.S. federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors in the U.S. or to enforce a U.S. court judgment against us or them in the PRC.

 

Most of our directors and officers reside outside the United States. In addition, our operating subsidiaries are located in the PRC and substantially all of their assets are located outside of the United States. It may therefore be difficult for investors in the United States to enforce their legal rights against us based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us in the courts of either the U.S. or the PRC and, even if civil judgments are obtained in U.S. courts, it may be difficult to enforce such judgments in PRC courts.

 

Certain PRC regulations, including the M&A Rules and national security regulations, may require a complicated review and approval process which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.

 

The M&A Rules established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities in China by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex. For example, the MOFCOM must be notified in the event a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise. In addition, certain acquisitions of domestic companies by offshore companies that are related to or affiliated with the same entities or individuals of the domestic companies, are subject to approval by the MOFCOM. In addition, the Implementing Rules Concerning Security Review on Mergers and Acquisitions by Foreign Investors of Domestic Enterprises, issued by the MOFCOM in August 2011, require that mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors in “any industry with national security concerns” be subject to national security review by the MOFCOM. In addition, any activities attempting to circumvent such review process, including structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement, are strictly prohibited. There is significant uncertainty regarding the interpretation and implementation of these regulations relating to merger and acquisition activities in China. In addition, complying with these requirements could be time-consuming, and the required notification, review or approval process may materially delay or affect our ability to complete merger and acquisition transactions in China. As a result, our ability to seek growth through acquisitions may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, if the MOFCOM determines that we should have obtained its approval for our entry into contractual arrangements with our affiliated entities, we may be required to file for remedial approvals. There is no assurance that we would be able to obtain such approval from the MOFCOM. We may also be subject to administrative fines or penalties by the MOFCOM that may require us to limit our business operations in the PRC, delay or restrict the conversion and remittance of our funds in foreign currencies into the PRC or take other actions that could have material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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PRC regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from making loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary and affiliated entities, which could harm our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

 

As an offshore holding company of our PRC subsidiary, we may (i) make loans to our PRC subsidiary and affiliated entities, (ii) make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary, (iii) establish new PRC subsidiaries and make capital contributions to these new PRC subsidiaries, and (iv) acquire offshore entities with business operations in China in an offshore transaction. However, most of these uses are subject to PRC regulations and approvals. For example:

 

  loans by us to our wholly-owned subsidiary in China, which is a foreign-invested enterprise, cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC (or SAFE) or its local counterparts;
  loans by us to our affiliated entities, which are domestic PRC entities, over a certain threshold must be approved by the relevant government authorities and must also be registered with SAFE or its local counterparts; and
  capital contributions to our wholly-owned subsidiary must file a record with the MOFCOM or its local counterparts and shall also be limited to the difference between the registered capital and the total investment amount.

 

We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain these government registrations or filings on a timely basis, or at all. If we fail to finish such registrations or filings, our ability to capitalize our PRC subsidiary’s operations may be adversely affected, which could adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

 

On March 30, 2015, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) promulgated a notice relating to the administration of foreign-invested company of its capital contribution in foreign currency into Renminbi (Hui Fa [2015]19) (or Circular 19). Although Circular 19 has fastened the administration relating to the settlement of exchange of foreign-investment, allows the foreign-invested company to settle the exchange on a voluntary basis, it still requires that the bank review the authenticity and compliance of a foreign-invested company’s settlement of exchange in previous time, and the settled in Renminbi converted from foreign currencies shall deposit on the foreign exchange settlement account, and shall not be used for several purposes as listed in the “negative list”. As a result, the notice may limit our ability to transfer funds to our operations in China through our PRC subsidiary, which may affect our ability to expand our business. Meanwhile, the foreign exchange policy is unpredictable in China, it shall be various with the nationwide economic pattern, the strict foreign exchange policy may have an adverse impact in our capital cash and may limit our business expansion.

 

Governmental control of the convertibility of Renminbi and restrictions on the transfer of cash into and out of China may constrain our liquidity and adversely affect our ability to use cash in our operation.

 

The PRC government also imposes controls on the convertibility of the Renminbi into foreign currencies. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and expenditures from trade-related transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Approvals from appropriate government authorities is required where Renminbi is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may, at its discretion, impose any restriction on access of foreign currencies for current account transactions.

 

As an offshore holding company of our PRC subsidiary, the majority of our income is received in Renminbi. If the PRC government imposes restrictions on access of foreign currencies for current account transactions, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our stockholders.

 

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A failure by the beneficial owners of our shares who are PRC residents to comply with certain PRC foreign exchange regulations could restrict our ability to distribute profits, restrict our overseas and cross-border investment activities and subject us to liability under PRC law.

 

SAFE has promulgated regulations, including the Notice on Relevant Issues Relating to Domestic Residents’ Investment and Financing and Round-Trip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles (or SAFE Circular No. 37), effective on July 4, 2014, and its appendices, that require PRC residents, including PRC institutions and individuals, to register with local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with such PRC residents’ legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE Circular No. 37 as a “special purpose vehicle.” SAFE Circular No. 37 further requires amendment to the registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material event. In the event that a PRC stockholder holding interests in a special purpose vehicle fails to fulfill the required SAFE registration, the PRC subsidiaries of that special purpose vehicle may be prohibited from making profit distributions to the offshore parent and from carrying out subsequent cross-border foreign exchange activities, and the special purpose vehicle may be restricted in its ability to contribute additional capital into its PRC subsidiary. Further, failure to comply with the various SAFE registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for foreign exchange evasion.

 

These regulations apply to our direct and indirect stockholders who are PRC residents and may apply to any offshore acquisitions or share transfers that we make in the future if our shares are issued to PRC residents. However, in practice, different local SAFE branches may have different views and procedures on the application and implementation of SAFE regulations, and since SAFE Circular No. 37 was relatively new, there remains uncertainty with respect to its implementation. As of the date of this prospectus, all PRC residents known to us that currently hold direct or indirect interests in our company have completed the necessary registrations with SAFE as required by SAFE Circular 37. However, we may not be informed of the identities of all the PRC residents or entities holding direct or indirect interest in our company, nor can we compel our beneficial owners to comply with the requirements of SAFE Circular 37. However, we cannot assure you that these individuals or any other direct or indirect stockholders or beneficial owners of our company who are PRC residents will be able to successfully complete the registration or update the registration of their direct and indirect equity interest as required in the future. If they fail to make or update the registration, our stockholders could be subject to fines and legal penalties, and SAFE could restrict our cross-border investment activities and our foreign exchange activities, including restricting our PRC subsidiary’s ability to distribute dividends to, or obtain loans denominated in foreign currencies from, our company, or prevent us from paying dividends. As a result, our business operations and our ability to make distributions to you could be materially and adversely affected.

 

Increases in labor costs in the PRC may adversely affect our business and our profitability.

 

The economy of China has been experiencing significant growth, leading to inflation and increased labor costs. China’s overall economy and the average wage in the PRC are expected to continue to grow. Future increases in China’s inflation and material increases in the cost of labor may materially and adversely affect our profitability and results of operations.

 

Our auditor, like other independent registered public accounting firms operating in China (including Hong Kong), is not permitted to be subject to inspection by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and consequently investors may be deprived of the benefits of such inspection.

 

Our independent registered public accounting firm issued an audit opinion on the financial statements included in our annual reports filed with the SEC. Our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit documentation related to their audit reports included in our annual reports is located in China (including Hong Kong), and audit procedures take place within China (including Hong Kong)’s borders. As auditors of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, our auditor is required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB. However, to the extent that our auditor’s work papers are or become located in China (including Hong Kong), such work papers will not be subject to inspection by the PCAOB because the PCAOB is currently unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the Chinese authorities. Inspections of certain other firms that the PCAOB has conducted outside of China have identified deficiencies in those firms’ audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of our auditors’ work papers in China (including Hong Kong) would make it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China (including Hong Kong) that are subject to PCAOB inspections. Investors may consequently lose confidence in our reported financial information and procedures and the quality of our financial statements. As a result, our investors may be deprived of the benefits of PCAOB’s oversight of our auditors through such inspections.

 

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Compliance with China’s new Data Security Law, Measures on Cybersecurity Review (revised draft for public consultation), Personal Information Protection Law (second draft for consultation), regulations and guidelines relating to the multi-level protection scheme and any other future laws and regulations may entail significant expenses and could materially affect our business.

 

China has implemented or will implement rules and is considering a number of additional proposals relating to data protection. China’s new Data Security Law promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China in June 2021, or the Data Security Law, will take effect in September 2021. The Data Security Law provides that the data processing activities must be conducted based on “data classification and hierarchical protection system” for the purpose of data protection and prohibits entities in China from transferring data stored in China to foreign law enforcement agencies or judicial authorities without prior approval by the Chinese government. As the Data Security Law has not yet come into effect, we may need to make adjustments to our data processing practices to comply with this law.

 

Additionally, China’s Cyber Security Law, requires companies to take certain organizational, technical and administrative measures and other necessary measures to ensure the security of their networks and data stored on their networks. Specifically, the Cyber Security Law provides that China adopt a multi-level protection scheme (MLPS), under which network operators are required to perform obligations of security protection to ensure that the network is free from interference, disruption or unauthorized access, and prevent network data from being disclosed, stolen or tampered. Under the MLPS, entities operating information systems must have a thorough assessment of the risks and the conditions of their information and network systems to determine the level to which the entity’s information and network systems belong-from the lowest Level 1 to the highest Level 5 pursuant to the Measures for the Graded Protection and the Guidelines for Grading of Classified Protection of Cyber Security. The grading result will determine the set of security protection obligations that entities must comply with. Entities classified as Level 2 or above should report the grade to the relevant government authority for examination and approval.

 

Recently, the Cyberspace Administration of China has taken action against several Chinese internet companies in connection with their initial public offerings on U.S. securities exchanges, for alleged national security risks and improper collection and use of the personal information of Chinese data subjects. According to the official announcement, the action was initiated based on the National Security Law, the Cyber Security Law and the Measures on Cybersecurity Review, which are aimed at “preventing national data security risks, maintaining national security and safeguarding public interests.” On July 10, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China published a revised draft of the Measures on Cybersecurity Review, expanding the cybersecurity review to data processing operators in possession of personal information of over 1 million users if the operators intend to list their securities in a foreign country.

 

It is unclear at the present time how widespread the cybersecurity review requirement and the enforcement action will be and what effect they will have on the life sciences sector generally and the Company in particular. China’s regulators may impose penalties for non-compliance ranging from fines or suspension of operations, and this could lead to us delisting from the U.S. stock market.

 

Also, on August 20, 2021, the National People’s Congress passed the Personal Information Protection Law, which will be implemented on November 1, 2021. The law creates a comprehensive set of data privacy and protection requirements that apply to the processing of personal information and expands data protection compliance obligations to cover the processing of personal information of persons by organizations and individuals in China, and the processing of personal information of persons in China outside of China if such processing is for purposes of providing products and services to, or analyzing and evaluating the behavior of, persons in China. The law also proposes that critical information infrastructure operators and personal information processing entities who process personal information meeting a volume threshold to-be-set by Chinese cyberspace regulators are also required to store in China personal information generated or collected in China, and to pass a security assessment administered by Chinese cyberspace regulators for any export of such personal information. Lastly, the draft contains proposals for significant fines for serious violations of up to RMB 50 million or 5% of annual revenues from the prior year.

 

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Interpretation, application and enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations evolve from time to time and their scope may continually change, through new legislation, amendments to existing legislation and changes in enforcement. Compliance with the Cyber Security Law and the Data Security Law could significantly increase the cost to us of providing our service offerings, require significant changes to our operations or even prevent us from providing certain service offerings in jurisdictions in which we currently operate or in which we may operate in the future. Despite our efforts to comply with applicable laws, regulations and other obligations relating to privacy, data protection and information security, it is possible that our practices, offerings or platform could fail to meet all of the requirements imposed on us by the Cyber Security Law, the Data Security Law and/or related implementing regulations. Any failure on our part to comply with such law or regulations or any other obligations relating to privacy, data protection or information security, or any compromise of security that results in unauthorized access, use or release of personally identifiable information or other data, or the perception or allegation that any of the foregoing types of failure or compromise has occurred, could damage our reputation, discourage new and existing counterparties from contracting with us or result in investigations, fines, suspension or other penalties by Chinese government authorities and private claims or litigation, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Even if our practices are not subject to legal challenge, the perception of privacy concerns, whether or not valid, may harm our reputation and brand and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, the legal uncertainty created by the Data Security Law and the recent Chinese government actions could materially adversely affect our ability, on favorable terms, to raise capital, including engaging in follow-on offerings of our securities in the U.S. market or the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.

 

Risks Relating to Our an Investment in Our Common Stock

 

An active and visible trading market for our common stock may not develop.

 

We cannot predict whether an active market for our common stock will develop in the future. In the absence of an active trading market:

 

  Investors may have difficulty buying and selling or obtaining market quotations;
     
   Market visibility for our common stock may be limited; and
     
   A lack of visibility for our common stock may have a depressive effect on the market price for our common stock.

 

The trading price of our common stock is subject to significant fluctuations in response to variations in quarterly operating results, changes in analysts’ earnings estimates, announcements of innovations by us or our competitors, general conditions in the industry in which we operate and other factors. These fluctuations, as well as general economic and market conditions, may have a material or adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

 

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The market price for our common stock may be volatile.

 

The market price for our common stock may be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations due to factors such as:

 

  the perception of U.S. investors and regulators of U.S. listed Chinese companies;
     
  actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results;
     
  changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts;
     
  negative publicity, studies or reports;
     
  conditions in Chinese and global cybersecurity product markets;
     
  our capability to match and compete with technology innovations in the industry;
     
  changes in the economic performance or market valuations of other companies in the same industry;
     
  announcements by us or our competitors of acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments;
     
  addition or departure of key personnel;
     
  fluctuations of exchange rates between RMB and the U.S. dollar;
     
  natural disasters, fires, explosions, acts of terrorism or war, or disease or other adverse health developments, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
     
  general economic or political conditions in or impacting China.

 

In addition, the securities market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

 

Our common stock may in the future be considered a “penny stock,” and thereby be subject to additional sale and trading regulations that may make it more difficult to sell.

 

Our common stock may in the future be considered to be a “penny stock” if it does not qualify for one of the exemptions from the definition of “penny stock” under Section 3a51-1 of the Exchange Act, as amended. Our common stock may be a “penny stock” if it meets one or more of the following conditions: (i) the stock trades at a price less than $5.00 per share; (ii) it is NOT traded on a “recognized” national exchange; (iii) it is not quoted on the NASDAQ Capital Market, or even if so, has a price less than $5.00 per share; or (iv) is issued by a company that has been in business less than three years with net tangible assets less than $5 million. The principal result or effect of being designated a “penny stock” is that securities broker-dealers participating in sales of our common stock will be subject to the “penny stock” regulations set forth in Rules 15-2 through 15g-9 promulgated under the Exchange Act. For example, Rule 15g-2 requires broker-dealers dealing in penny stocks to provide potential investors with a document disclosing the risks of penny stocks and to obtain a manually signed and dated written receipt of the document at least two business days before effecting any transaction in a penny stock for the investor’s account. Moreover, Rule 15g-9 requires broker-dealers in penny stocks to approve the account of any investor for transactions in such stocks before selling any penny stock to that investor. This procedure requires the broker-dealer to: (i) obtain from the investor information concerning his or her financial situation, investment experience and investment objectives; (ii) reasonably determine, based on that information, that transactions in penny stocks are suitable for the investor and that the investor has sufficient knowledge and experience as to be reasonably capable of evaluating the risks of penny stock transactions; (iii) provide the investor with a written statement setting forth the basis on which the broker-dealer made the determination in (ii) above; and (iv) receive a signed and dated copy of such statement from the investor, confirming that it accurately reflects the investor’s financial situation, investment experience and investment objectives. Compliance with these requirements may make it more difficult and time consuming for holders of our common stock to resell their shares to third parties or to otherwise dispose of them in the market or otherwise.

 

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We are not likely to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

We currently intend to retain any future earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our business. Accordingly, we do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future, but will review this policy as circumstances dictate. Should we determine to pay dividends in the future, our ability to do so will depend upon the receipt of dividends or other payments from the VIEs. The VIEs may, from time to time, be subject to restrictions on its ability to make distributions to us, including restrictions on the conversion of RMB into U.S. dollars or other hard currency and other regulatory restrictions.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, repayment of debt, repurchases of common stock, capital expenditures, the financing of possible acquisitions or business expansions, increasing our working capital and the financing of ongoing operating expenses and overhead.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED

 

General

 

The following description of our capital stock (which includes a description of securities we may offer pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus, as the same may be supplemented, forms a part) does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by our certificate of incorporation, as amended, by our amended and restated bylaws, and by the applicable provisions of Delaware law.

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 105,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, consisting of 100,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock.

 

We, directly or through agents, dealers, or underwriters designated from time to time, may offer, issue, and sell, together or separately, up to $100,000,000 in the aggregate of:

 

  common stock;
     
  preferred stock;

 

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  secured or unsecured debt securities consisting of notes, debentures, or other evidences of indebtedness which may be senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities, or subordinated debt securities, each of which may be convertible into equity securities;
     
  warrants to purchase our securities;
     
  rights to purchase our securities; or
     
  units comprised of, or other combinations of, the foregoing securities.

 

We may issue the debt securities as exchangeable for or convertible into shares of common stock, preferred stock, or other securities. The preferred stock may also be exchangeable for and/or convertible into shares of common stock, another series of preferred stock, or other securities. The debt securities, the preferred stock, the common stock, and the warrants are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the “securities.” When a particular series of securities is offered, a supplement to this prospectus will be delivered with this prospectus, which will set forth the terms of the offering and sale of the offered securities.

 

Common Stock

 

As of October 29, 2021, there were 9,021,510 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding, held of record by approximately 178 stockholders. The outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders.

 

Subject to preferential rights with respect to any future outstanding preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefore. Pursuant to Section 281 of Delaware General Corporation Law, in the event of our dissolution, the holders of common stock are entitled to the remaining assets after payment of all liabilities of the company.

 

Our common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. The common stock has no cumulative voting rights, including with respect to the election of directors.

 

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Preferred Stock

 

Our certificate of incorporation, as amended, empowers our board of directors, without action by our shareholders, to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series, which preferred stock may be offered by this prospectus and supplements thereto. As of the date of this prospectus, no shares of preferred stock were designated or issued and outstanding. Our board may fix the rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions of our authorized but undesignated preferred shares, including:

 

  dividend rights and preferences over dividends on our common stock or any series of preferred stock;
     
  the dividend rate (and whether dividends are cumulative);
     
  conversion rights, if any;
     
  voting rights;
     
  rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions, if any);
     
  redemption price and liquidation preferences of any wholly unissued series of any preferred stock and the designation thereof of any of them; and
     
  to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series subsequent to the issue of shares of that series but not below the number of shares then outstanding.

 

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to the series of preferred stock being offered for the specific terms of that series, including:

 

  title of the series and the number of shares in the series;
     
  the price at which the preferred stock will be offered;
     
  the dividend rate or rates or method of calculating the rates, the dates on which the dividends will be payable, whether or not dividends will be cumulative or noncumulative, and, if cumulative, the dates from which dividends on the preferred stock being offered will cumulate;
     
  the voting rights, if any, of the holders of shares of the preferred stock being offered;
     
  the provisions for a sinking fund, if any, and the provisions for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred stock being offered, including any restrictions on the foregoing as a result of arrearage in the payment of dividends or sinking fund installments;

 

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  the liquidation preference per share;

 

  the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock being offered will be convertible into our common stock, including the conversion price, or the manner of calculating the conversion price, and the conversion period;
     
  the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock being offered will be exchangeable for debt securities, including the exchange price, or the manner of calculating the exchange price, and the exchange period;
     
  any listing of the preferred stock being offered on any securities exchange;
     
  a discussion of any material federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock being offered;
     
  any preemptive rights;
     
  the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock being offered as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution, or the winding up of our affairs;
     
  any limitations on the issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior or equal to the series of preferred stock being offered as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution, or the winding up of our affairs; and
     
  any additional rights, preferences, qualifications, limitations, and restrictions of the series.

 

Upon issuance, the shares of preferred stock will be fully paid and nonassessable, which means that its holders will have paid their purchase price in full and we may not require them to pay additional funds.

 

Any preferred stock terms selected by our board of directors could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to holders of our common stock or adversely affect the rights and power, including voting rights, of the holders of our common stock without any further vote or action by the stockholders. The rights of holders of our common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may be issued by us in the future. The issuance of preferred stock could also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult.

 

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Debt Securities

 

As used in this prospectus, the term “debt securities” means the debentures, notes, bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness that we may issue from time to time. The debt securities will either be senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt, or subordinated debt securities. We may also issue convertible debt securities. Debt securities issued under an indenture (which we refer to herein as an Indenture) will be entered into between us and a trustee to be named therein. It is likely that convertible debt securities will not be issued under an Indenture.

 

We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report that we file with the SEC, the form of Indenture and the form of each Indenture agreement, if any, relating to Indentures offered under this prospectus.

 

Events of Default Under the Indenture

 

Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indentures with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:

 

  if we fail to pay the principal or premium, if any, when due and payable at maturity, upon redemption or repurchase or otherwise;
     
  if we fail to pay interest when due and payable and our failure continues for certain days;
     
  if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the securities of a series or in this Indenture, and our failure continues for certain days after we receive written notice from the trustee or holders of at least certain percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series. The written notice must specify the default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default”;
     
  if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization occur; and
     
  if any other event of default provided with respect to securities of that series, which is specified in a board resolution, a supplemental Indenture hereto, or an officers’ certificate as defined in the form of indenture.

 

We covenant in the form of indenture to deliver a certificate to the trustee annually, within certain days after the close of the fiscal year, to show that we are in compliance with the terms of the indenture and that we have not defaulted under the indenture. Nonetheless, if we issue debt securities, the terms of the debt securities and the final form of indenture will be provided in a prospectus supplement. Please refer to the prospectus supplement and the form of indenture attached thereto for the terms and conditions of the offered debt securities. The terms and conditions may or may not include whether or not we must furnish periodic evidence showing that an event of default does not exist or that we are in compliance with the terms of the indenture.

 

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The statements and descriptions in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement regarding provisions of the Indentures and debt securities are summaries thereof, do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the Indentures (and any amendments or supplements we may enter into from time to time which are permitted under each Indenture) and the debt securities, including the definitions therein of certain terms.

 

General

 

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be direct secured or unsecured obligations of our company. The senior debt securities will rank equally with any of our other unsecured senior and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to any senior indebtedness.

 

We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series, in each case with the same or various maturities, at par or at a discount. Unless indicated in a prospectus supplement, we may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the applicable Indenture and will be equal in ranking.

 

Should an indenture relate to unsecured indebtedness, in the event of a bankruptcy or other liquidation event involving a distribution of assets to satisfy our outstanding indebtedness or an event of default under a loan agreement relating to secured indebtedness of our company or our subsidiaries, the holders of such secured indebtedness, if any, would be entitled to receive payment of principal and interest prior to payments on the senior indebtedness issued under an Indenture.

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

Each prospectus supplement will describe the terms relating to the specific series of debt securities being offered. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

  the title of debt securities and whether they are subordinated, senior subordinated, or senior debt securities;
     
  any limit on the aggregate principal amount of debt securities of such series;

 

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  the percentage of the principal amount at which the debt securities of any series will be issued;
     
  the ability to issue additional debt securities of the same series;
     
  the purchase price for the debt securities and the denominations of the debt securities;
     
  the specific designation of the series of debt securities being offered;
     
  the maturity date or dates of the debt securities and the date or dates upon which the debt securities are payable and the rate or rates at which the debt securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, which may be fixed or variable, or the method by which such rate shall be determined;
     
  the basis for calculating interest if other than 360-day year or twelve 30-day months;
     
  the date or dates from which any interest will accrue or the method by which such date or dates will be determined;
     
  the duration of any deferral period, including the maximum consecutive period during which interest payment periods may be extended;
     
  whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the debt securities may be determined with reference to any index, formula, or other method, such as one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices, or other indices, and the manner of determining the amount of such payments;
     
  the dates on which we will pay interest on the debt securities and the regular record date for determining who is entitled to the interest payable on any interest payment date;
     
  the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities will be payable, where any securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, or conversion, as applicable, and notices and demands may be delivered to or upon us pursuant to the applicable Indenture;
     
  the rate or rates of amortization of the debt securities, if any;

 

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  if we possess the option to do so, the periods within which and the prices at which we may redeem the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to optional redemption provisions, and the other terms and conditions of any such provisions;
     
  our obligation or discretion, if any, to redeem, repay, or purchase debt securities by making periodic payments to a sinking fund or through an analogous provision or at the option of holders of the debt securities, and the period or periods within which and the price or prices at which we will redeem, repay, or purchase the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and the other terms and conditions of such obligation;
     
  the terms and conditions, if any, regarding the option or mandatory conversion or exchange of debt securities;
     
  the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any debt securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part at our option and, if other than by a board resolution, the manner in which any election by us to redeem the debt securities shall be evidenced;
     
  any restriction or condition on the transferability of the debt securities of a particular series;
     
  the portion, or methods of determining the portion, of the principal amount of the debt securities which we must pay upon the acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities in connection with any event of default if other than the full principal amount;
     
  the currency or currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated and in which principal, any premium and any interest will or may be payable or a description of any units based on or relating to a currency or currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated;
     
  provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events;
     
  any deletions from, modifications of, or additions to the events of default or our covenants with respect to the applicable series of debt securities, and whether or not such events of default or covenants are consistent with those contained in the applicable indenture;
     
  any limitation on our ability to incur debt, redeem stock, or sell our assets or other restrictions;
     
  the application, if any, of the terms of the applicable indenture relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance (which terms are described below) to the debt securities;

 

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  what subordination provisions will apply to the debt securities;
     
  the terms, if any, upon which the holders may convert or exchange the debt securities into or for our common stock, preferred stock, or other securities or property;
     
  whether we are issuing the debt securities in whole or in part in global form;
     
  any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable because of an event of default;
     
  the depositary for global or certificated debt securities, if any;
     
  any material federal income tax consequences applicable to the debt securities, including any debt securities denominated and made payable, as described in the prospectus supplements, in foreign currencies, or units based on or related to foreign currencies;
     
  any right we may have to satisfy, discharge, and defease our obligations under the debt securities, or terminate or eliminate restrictive covenants or events of default in the Indentures, by depositing money or U.S. government obligations with the trustee of the Indentures;
     
  the names of any trustees, depositories, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars, or other agents with respect to the debt securities;
     
  to whom any interest on any debt security shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name the security is registered, on the record date for such interest, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global debt security will be paid if other than in the manner provided in the applicable Indenture;
     
  if the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities is to be payable in one or more currencies or currency units other than as stated, the currency, currencies, or currency units in which it shall be paid and the periods within and terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amounts payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);
     
  the portion of the principal amount of any debt securities which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities pursuant to the applicable Indenture if other than the entire principal amount;

 

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  if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of any debt security of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such debt securities as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or which shall be deemed to be outstanding as of any date prior to the stated maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined); and
     
  any other specific terms of the debt securities, including any modifications to the events of default under the debt securities and any other terms which may be required by or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not be listed on any securities exchange. Holders of the debt securities may present registered debt securities for exchange or transfer in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as limited by the applicable Indenture, we will provide these services without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the exchange or transfer.

 

Debt securities may bear interest at a fixed rate or a variable rate as specified in the prospectus supplement. In addition, if specified in the prospectus supplement, we may sell debt securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below the prevailing market rate, or at a discount below their stated principal amount. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any special federal income tax considerations applicable to these discounted debt securities.

 

We may issue debt securities with the principal amount payable on any principal payment date, or the amount of interest payable on any interest payment date, to be determined by referring to one or more currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity indices or other factors. Holders of such debt securities may receive a principal amount on any principal payment date, or interest payments on any interest payment date, that are greater or less than the amount of principal or interest otherwise payable on such dates, depending upon the value on such dates of applicable currency, commodity, equity index, or other factors. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information as to how we will determine the amount of principal or interest payable on any date, as well as the currencies, commodities, equity indices, or other factors to which the amount payable on that date relates and certain additional tax considerations.

 

Warrants

 

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our common stock, preferred stock, or debt securities or any combination thereof. Warrants may be issued independently or together with our common stock, preferred stock, or debt securities and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. To the extent warrants that we issue are to be publicly-traded, each series of such warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with such warrants. The warrant agent will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

 

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We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, forms of the warrant and warrant agreement, if any. The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants that we may offer will contain the specific terms of the warrants and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement, if any. These terms may include the following:

 

  the title of the warrants;
     
  the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;
     
  the designation, amount, and terms of the securities or other rights for which the warrants are exercisable;
     
  the designation and terms of the other securities, if any, with which the warrants are to be issued and the number of warrants issued with each other security;
     
  the aggregate number of warrants;
     
  any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the warrants;
     
  the price or prices at which the securities or other rights purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;
     
  if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the securities or other rights purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be separately transferable;
 
  a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the exercise of the warrants;
     
  the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence, and the date on which the right will expire;
     
  the maximum or minimum number of warrants that may be exercised at any time;

 

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  information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and
     
  any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

 

Each warrant will entitle the holder of warrants to purchase the amount of securities or other rights, at the exercise price stated or determinable in the prospectus supplement for the warrants. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date shown in the applicable prospectus supplement, unless otherwise specified in such prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, if applicable, unexercised warrants will become void. Warrants may be exercised in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement. When the warrant holder makes the payment and properly completes and signs the warrant certificate at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent, if any, or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as possible, forward the securities or other rights that the warrant holder has purchased. If the warrant holder exercises less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate, we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining warrants.

 

Rights

 

We may issue rights to purchase our securities. The rights may or may not be transferable by the persons purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other persons would purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such rights offering. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agent agreement to be entered into between us and one or more banks, trust companies, or other financial institutions, as rights agent that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any rights that we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among other matters:

 

  the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution;
     
  the aggregate number of rights issued and the aggregate amount of securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights;
     
  the exercise price;
     
  the conditions to completion of the rights offering;

 

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  the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the rights will expire; and
     
  any applicable federal income tax considerations.

 

Each right would entitle the holder of the rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of securities at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will become void.

 

If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than our security holders, to or through agents, underwriters, or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Units

 

We may issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we may issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent, if any, may be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent, if any, in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units. Specific unit agreements, if any, will contain additional important terms and provisions. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report that we file with the SEC, the form of unit and the form of each unit agreement, if any, relating to units offered under this prospectus.

 

If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable

 

  the title of the series of units;
     
  identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units;
     
  the price or prices at which the units will be issued;
     
  the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable;

 

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  a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and
     
  any other material terms of the units and their constituent securities.

 

The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under the description of “Common Stock,” “Preferred Stock,” and “Warrants” will apply to each unit and to any common stock, preferred stock, or warrant included in each unit, respectively.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions of the Delaware Law and Our Governing Documents

 

Delaware Law

 

We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“Section 203”). In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in “business combination” transactions with any “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

  prior to the time the stockholder became an interested stockholder, either the applicable business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder is approved by the corporation’s board of directors;

 

  upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) shares owned by directors who are also officers of the corporation and shares owned by employee stock plans in which the employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
     
  at or subsequent to the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by the corporation’s board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

A “business combination” is defined to include, in general and subject to exceptions, a merger of the corporation with the interested stockholder; a sale of 10% or more of the market value of the corporation’s consolidated assets to the interested stockholder; certain transactions that result in the issuance of the corporation’s stock to the interested stockholder; a transaction that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the corporation’s stock owned by the interested stockholder; and any receipt by the interested stockholder of loans, guarantees, or other financial benefits provided by the corporation. An “interested stockholder” is defined to include, in general and subject to exceptions, a person that (1) owns 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation or (2) is an “affiliate” or “associate” (as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL) of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock at any time within the prior three-year period.

 

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A Delaware corporation may opt out of Section 203 with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or by an amendment to its certificate of incorporation or bylaws expressly electing not to be governed by Section 203 and approved by a majority of its outstanding voting shares. We have not opted out of Section 203. As a result, Section 203 could delay, deter, or prevent a merger, change of control, or other takeover of our company that our stockholders might consider to be in their best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium being paid over the market price of our common stock, and may also limit the price that investors are willing to pay in the future for our common stock.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Transhare Corporation, Bayside Center 1, 17755 North US Highway 19, Suite 140, Clearwater, Fl. 33764, and its telephone number is (303) 662-1112.

 

NASDAQ Capital Market Listing

 

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “SISI.”

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities offered through this prospectus (i) to or through underwriters or dealers, (ii) directly to purchasers, including our affiliates, (iii) through agents, or (iv) through a combination of any of these methods. The securities may be distributed at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, market prices prevailing at the time of sale, prices related to the prevailing market prices, or negotiated prices. The prospectus supplement will include the following information:

 

  the terms of the offering;
     
  the names of any underwriters or agents;
     
  the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;

 

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  the purchase price of the securities;
     
  any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;
     
  the net proceeds from the sale of the securities;
     
  any delayed delivery arrangements;
     
  any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;
     
  any offering price;
     
  any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers;
     
  any commissions paid to agents; and
     
  any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed.

 

Sale Through Underwriters or Dealers

 

Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account, including through underwriting, purchase, security lending, or repurchase agreements with us. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. Underwriters may sell the securities in order to facilitate transactions in any of our other securities (described in this prospectus or otherwise), including other public or private transactions and short sales. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

 

If dealers are used in the sale of securities offered through this prospectus, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The prospectus supplement will include the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.

 

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We will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement any compensation we will pay to underwriters, dealers, or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts, concessions, or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers.

 

Direct Sales and Sales Through Agents

 

We may sell the securities offered through this prospectus directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. Such securities may also be sold through agents designated from time to time. The prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities and will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.

 

We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. The terms of any such sales will be described in the prospectus supplement.

 

Delayed Delivery Contracts

 

If the prospectus supplement indicates, we may authorize agents, underwriters, or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities at the offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

 

Market Making, Stabilization, and Other Transactions

 

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, other than our common stock, all securities we offer under this prospectus will be a new issue and will have no established trading market. We may elect to list offered securities on an exchange or in the over-the-counter market. Any underwriters that we use in the sale of offered securities may make a market in such securities, but may discontinue such market making at any time without notice. Therefore, we cannot assure you that the securities will have a liquid trading market.

 

Any underwriter may also engage in stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions, and penalty bids in accordance with Rule 104 under the Exchange Act. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the underlying security in the open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing, or maintaining the price of the securities. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.

 

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Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions, and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.

 

General Information

 

Agents, underwriters, and dealers may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Our agents, underwriters, and dealers, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus, and any supplement thereto, will be passed upon for us by Pryor Cashman LLP. The legality of the securities for any underwriters, dealers, or agents will be passed upon by counsel as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

EXPERTS

 

Centurion ZD CPA & Co. (“CZD”), an independent registered public accounting firm, audited our financial statements for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2021, as set forth in their report included therein, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on CZD’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

MATERIAL CHANGES

 

Except as otherwise described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, in our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed under the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference herein, and as disclosed in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement, no reportable material changes have occurred since June 30, 2021.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly, and special reports, along with other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov; you can also find our filings on our company website: http://www.tianyiluobuma.com/index.php/English/Touzi/index/id/34.html.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the SEC to register the securities offered hereby under the Securities Act. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement, including certain exhibits and schedules. You may obtain the registration statement and exhibits to the registration statement from the SEC at the address listed above or from the SEC’s internet site.

 

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them under certain conditions, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus and any information that we file subsequent to this prospectus with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. The documents we are incorporating by reference are as follows:

 

  (a) our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2021;
     
  (b) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021;
     
  (c) our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 12, 2021, July 15, 2021, July 16, 2021, July 21, 2021, August 16, 2021, August 23, 2021, September 9, 2021 and November 4, 2021; and

 

  (d) the description of the common stock, $0.001 par value per share, contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on May 13, 2016 pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and all amendments or reports filed by us for the purpose of updating those descriptions.

 

All documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the initial filing date of this prospectus, through the date declared effective, until the termination of the offering of securities contemplated by this prospectus shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus. These documents that we file later with the SEC and that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus will automatically update information contained in this prospectus or that was previously incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You will be deemed to have notice of all information incorporated by reference in this prospectus as if that information was included in this prospectus.

 

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We will provide to any person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus (excluding exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated), at no cost to the requesting party, upon request to us in writing or by telephone using the following information:

 

SHINECO, INC.

Room 3310, North Tower,

Zhengda Center, Chaoyang District,

Beijing, People’s Republic of China

Attn: Mr. Yuying Zhang

(+86) 10-59246103

 

SHINECO, INC.

 

$100,000,000

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Rights

Units

 

, 2021

 

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PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by the registrant in connection with this offering, other than underwriting commissions and discounts, all of which are estimated except for the SEC registration fee.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee   $ 9,270.00  
Accounting fees and expenses   $ 5,500.00  
Legal fees and expenses   $ *  
Miscellaneous expenses   $ *  
Total   $ *  

 

* These fees will depend on the type of securities offered and number of offerings and, therefore, cannot be estimated at this time. In accordance with Rule 430B under the Securities Act, additional information regarding estimated fees and expenses will be provided at the time information as to an offering is included in a prospectus supplement.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law allows a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached the duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or obtained an improper personal benefit.

 

II-1

 

 

Under Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, we can indemnify our directors and officers against liabilities they may incur in such capacities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Our certificate of incorporation provides that, pursuant to Delaware law, our directors shall not be liable for monetary damages for breach of the directors’ fiduciary duty of care to us and our stockholders. This provision in the certificate of incorporation does not eliminate the duty of care, and in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies such as injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available under Delaware law. In addition, each director will continue to be subject to liability for breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or knowing violations of the law, for actions leading to improper personal benefit to the director, and for payment of dividends or approval of stock repurchases or redemptions that are unlawful under Delaware law. The provision also does not affect a director’s responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.

 

Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides, among other things, that a director who willfully or negligently approves of an unlawful payment of dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption may be held liable for such actions. A director who was either absent when the unlawful actions were approved or dissented at the time, may avoid liability by causing his or her dissent to such actions to be entered in the books containing minutes of the meetings of our board of directors at the time such action occurred or immediately after such absent director receives notice of the unlawful acts.

 

Our amended and restated bylaws provide for the indemnification of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Our amended and restated bylaws further provide that our board of directors has discretion to indemnify our agents and employees. We are required to advance, prior to the final disposition of any proceeding, promptly on request, all expenses incurred by any director or executive officer in connection with that proceeding on receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of that director or executive officer to repay those amounts if it should be determined ultimately that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified under the bylaws or otherwise. We are not, however, required to advance any expenses in connection with any proceeding if our board determines, pursuant to Delaware law, that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the Delaware General Corporation Law for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed.

 

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As of the date of this prospectus, we have not entered into any indemnification agreement with our directors or officers, and our directors and officers are not covered by directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies.

 

Item 16. Exhibits.

 

The following documents are filed as exhibits to this registration statement, including those exhibits incorporated herein by reference to a prior filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as indicated in parentheses:

 

Exhibit Number   Description of Document
1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement (1)
4.1   Form of Indenture*
4.2   Form of Debt Securities (1)
4.3   Form of Warrant Agreement, including form of Warrant (1)
4.4   Form of Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation (1)
4.5   Form of Unit Agreement (1)
4.6   Form of Pledge Agreement (1)
4.7   Form of Rights Certificate (1)
4.8   Specimen Certificate for Common Stock (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 27, 2016 (Registration No. 333-202803))
5.1   Opinion of Pryor Cashman LLP*
23.1   Consent of Centurion ZD CPA & Co.*
23.2   Consent of Pryor Cashman LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)*
24.1   Power of Attorney (included on signature page)*
25.1   Statement of Eligibility of trustee on Form T-1+

 

* Filed herewith.
   
+ To be filed pursuant to Rule 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act, if applicable.

 

(1) If applicable, to be filed by amendment or by a report filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 17. Undertakings

 

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

  (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
     
  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

 

 

II-3

 

 

  (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

provided, however, Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-1, Form S-3, Form SF-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or, as to a registration statement on Form S-3, Form SF-3 or Form F-3, is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to § 230.424(b) of this chapter that is part of the registration statement.

 

  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment 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.

 

  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

  (4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or

 

  (5) That, 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 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:

 

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

II-4

 

 

(ii) 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;

 

(iii) 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

 

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

(b) That for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement 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.

 

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-5

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Beijing on November 19, 2021.

 

  SHINECO, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Jennifer Zhan
    Jennifer Zhan
    Chief Executive Officer

 

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Jennifer Zhan and Sai (Sam) Wang and each of them, his or her true and lawful agent, proxy and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to (1) act on, sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement together with all schedules and exhibits thereto and any subsequent registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together with all schedules and exhibits thereto, (2) act on, sign and file such certificates, instruments, agreements and other documents as may be necessary or appropriate in connection therewith, (3) act on and file any supplement to any prospectus included in this Registration Statement or any such amendment or any subsequent registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (4) take any and all actions which may be necessary or appropriate to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby approving, ratifying and confirming all that such agent, proxy and attorney-in-fact or any of his or her substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

/s/ Jennifer Zhan   Chief Executive Officer   November 19, 2021
Jennifer Zhan   (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ Sai (Sam) Wang   Chief Financial Officer and Director   November 19, 2021
Sai (Sam) Wang   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)    
         
/s/ Yuying Zhang   Executive Director, Director and Chairman   November 19, 2021
Yuying Zhang   of the Board    
         
/s/Mike Zhao   Director   November 19, 2021
Mike Zhao        
         
/s/ Jin Liu   Director   November 19, 2021
Jin Liu        
         
/s/ Yanzeng An   Director   November 19, 2021
Yanzeng An        
         
/s/ Hu Li   Director   November 19, 2021
Hu Li        

 

II-6

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of ____________, 20__

 

Between

 

Shineco, Inc.

as Issuer

 

And

 

[__________________________],

as Trustee

 

 

 

___________________

 

Debt Securities

 

____________________

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 1
  SECTION 1.01. Definitions 1
  SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions 3
  SECTION 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act 3
  SECTION 1.04 Rules of Construction 3
       
ARTICLE II THE SECURITIES 4
  SECTION 2.01 Unlimited in Amount, Issuable in Series, Form and Dating 4
  SECTION 2.02 Execution and Authentication 6
  SECTION 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent 7
  SECTION 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Assets in Trust 7
  SECTION 2.05 Holder Lists 7
  SECTION 2.06 Registration of Transfer and Exchange 7
  SECTION 2.07 Replacement Securities 8
  SECTION 2.08 Outstanding Securities 8
  SECTION 2.09 Treasury Securities 8
  SECTION 2.10 Temporary Securities 8
  SECTION 2.11 Cancellation 8
  SECTION 2.12 CUSIP Numbers 8
  SECTION 2.13 Defaulted Interest 9
  SECTION 2.14 Special Record Dates 9
       
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION 9
  SECTION 3.01 Notices to Trustee 9
  SECTION 3.02 Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed 9
  SECTION 3.03 Notice of Redemption 9
  SECTION 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption 10
  SECTION 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price 10
  SECTION 3.06 Securities Redeemed in Part 10
       
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS 10
  SECTION 4.01 Payment of Securities 10
  SECTION 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency 10
  SECTION 4.03 SEC Reports 11
  SECTION 4.04 Compliance Certificate 11
  SECTION 4.05 Taxes 11
  SECTION 4.06 Corporate Existence 11
       
ARTICLE V MERGER, ETC. 11
  SECTION 5.01 When Company May Merge, etc. 11
  SECTION 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted 11

 

i
 

 

ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES 12
  SECTION 6.01 Events of Default 12
  SECTION 6.02 Acceleration 12
  SECTION 6.03 Other Remedies 13
  SECTION 6.04 Wavier of Past Defaults 13
  SECTION 6.05 Control by Majority 13
  SECTION 6.06 Limitation on Suits 13
  SECTION 6.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment 13
  SECTION 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee 13
  SECTION 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 13
  SECTION 6.10 Priorities 14
  SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs 14
       
ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE 14
  SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee 14
  SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee 15
  SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer 16
  SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults 16
  SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders 16
  SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity 16
  SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee 16
  SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. 17
  SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification 17
  SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company 17
       
ARTICLE VIII DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE 18
  SECTION 8.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 18
  SECTION 8.02. Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification 18
  SECTION 8.03. Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series 19
  SECTION 8.04. Covenant Defeasance 20
  SECTION 8.05. Repayment to Company 20
       
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS 21
  SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders 21
  SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders 21
  SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act 21
  SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents 21
  SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Securities 21
  SECTION 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendment, etc. 22
       
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS 22
  SECTION 10.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls 22
  SECTION 10.02. Notices 22
  SECTION 10.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders 23
  SECTION 10.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent 23
  SECTION 10.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion 23
  SECTION 10.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents 23
  SECTION 10.07. Legal Holidays 23
  SECTION 10.08. Duplicate Originals 23
  SECTION 10.09. Governing Law 23
  SECTION 10.10. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements 23
  SECTION 10.11. Successors 23
  SECTION 10.12. Severability 23
  SECTION 10.13. Counterpart Originals 23

 

ii
 

 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

    Indenture
TIA Section   Section
     
Section 310 (a)(1) 7.10
  (a)(2) 7.10
  (a)(3) N.A.
  (a)(4) N.A.
  (a)(5) 7.10
  (b) 7.08; 7.10
  (c) N.A.
Section 311 (a) 7.11
  (b) 7.11
  (c) N.A.
Section 312(a) 2.05
  (b)(1) N.A.
  (b)(2) 7.06
  (c) 7.06; 12.02
  (d) 7.06
Section 314 (a)(1), (2), (3) 4.03
  (a)(4) 4.04
  (b) N.A.
  (c)(1) 10.04
  (c)(2) 10.04
  (c)(3) N.A.
  (d) N.A.
  (e) 10.05
  (f) N.A.
Section 315 (a) 7.01(b)
  (b) 7.05; 10.02
  (c) 7.01(a)
  (d) 7.01(c)
  (e) 6.11
Section 316(a) (last sentence) 2.09
  (a)(1)(A) 6.05
  (a)(1)(B) 6.04
  (a)(2) N.A.
  (b) 6.07
  (c) 9.04
Section 317 (a)(1) 6.08
  (a)(2) 6.09
  (b) 2.04
Section 318 (a) 10.01

 

N.A. means Not Applicable

 

NOTE: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the indenture.

 

iii
 

 

INDENTURE dated as of __________, 20___, between Shineco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), as issuer, and [_______________], a [__________] banking corporation, as Trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series (the “Securities”), as herein provided, up to such principal amount as may from time to time be authorized in or pursuant to one or more resolutions of the Board of Directors or by supplemental indenture.

 

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of each series of the Securities:

 

ARTICLE I

 

A. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

SECTION 1.01. Definitions.

 

Affiliate” means, when used with reference to the Company or another person, any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, the Company or such other person, as the case may be. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified person means the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of such person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting Securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “Controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative of the foregoing.

 

Agent” means any registrar, Paying Agent, authenticating agent or co-registrar.

 

Board of Directors” means, with respect to any person, the Board of Directors of a person or any duly authorized committee of such Board of Directors.

 

Board Resolution” means, with respect to any person, a copy of a resolution certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of such person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such person or any duly authorized committee thereof and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Business Day” means a day that is not a Legal Holiday as defined in Section 10.07.

 

Company” means the party named as such in this Indenture, or any other obligor under this Indenture, until a successor replaces it pursuant to this Indenture and thereafter means the successor.

 

Consolidated” or “consolidated” means, when used with reference to any amount, such amount determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, after the elimination of intercompany items.

 

Consolidated Assets” means, at a particular date, all amounts which would be included under total assets on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at such date, determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate services business shall be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Indenture is located at [__________________].

 

Default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

Event of Default” has the meaning provided in Section 6.01.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended any successor Statute.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are applicable from time to time.

 

1

 

 

Global Security” means a Security issued to evidence all or a part of any series of Securities that is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to a depositary or pursuant to such depositary’s instructions, all in accordance with this Indenture and pursuant to Section 2.01, which shall be registered as to principal and interest in the name of such depositary or its nominee.

 

Holder” means the person in whose name a Security is registered on the registrar’s books.

 

Indebtedness” of a Person means all obligations which would be treated as liabilities upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time, and shall include the terms of a particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.01.

 

Lien” means any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind.

 

Obligations” means all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

 

Officer” of any person means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary or the Controller of such person.

 

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and an Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Secretary or Assistant Controller of any person.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.

 

Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides that an amount less than its principal amount is due and payable upon acceleration after an Event of Default.

 

Person” or “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, association, limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Redemption Date” means, with respect to any Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Redemption Price” has the meaning provided in Section 3.03.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission and any government agency succeeding to its functions.

 

Securities” means the means the securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Series” means a series of Securities established pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Subsidiary” of any Person means (i) a corporation a majority of whose capital stock with voting power, under ordinary circumstances, to elect directors is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person or by such Person and a subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Person or by a subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Person or (ii) any other Person (other than a corporation) in which such Person or such Person and a subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Person or a subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Persons, at the time, directly or indirectly, own at least a majority voting interest under ordinary circumstances.

 

2

 

 

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code Section 77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the TIA is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as so amended.

 

Trustee” means the party named as such above until a successor becomes such pursuant to this Indenture and thereafter means or includes each party who is then a trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such party, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series means the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series. If Trustees with respect to different series of Securities are Trustees under this Indenture, nothing herein shall constitute the Trustees co-Trustees of the same trust, and each Trustee shall be the Trustee of a trust separate and apart from any trust administered by any other Trustee with respect to a different series of Securities.

 

Trust Officer” means any officer in the corporate trust department of the Trustee or any other officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer this Indenture.

 

U.S. Government Obligations” means (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America and which in either case, are non-callable at the option of the issuer thereof.

 

SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.  

 

    Defined in
Term   Section
     
Bankruptcy Law   6.01
Custodian   6.01
Legal Holiday   10.07
Paying Agent   2.03
Registrar   2.03

 

SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

 

The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

indenture Securities” means the Securities;

 

indenture Security holder” means a Holder;

 

indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

 

indenture Trustee” or “institutional Trustee” means the Trustee; and

 

obligor” on the Securities means the Company and any other obligor on the indenture Securities.

 

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

 

SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires: (i) a term has the meaning assigned to it; (ii) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP; (iii) “or” is not exclusive; (iv) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; (v) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and (vi) statements relating to the payment of principal and interest shall include the payment, premium (if any) and interest.

 

3

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 2.01. Unlimited in Amount, Issuable in Series, Form and Dating.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established pursuant to a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

 

(a) The title, ranking and authorized denominations of such Securities;

 

(b) The aggregate principal amount of such Securities and any limit on such aggregate principal amount;

 

(c) The price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which such Securities will be issued and, if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

(d) The date or dates, or the method for determining such date or dates, on which the principal of such Securities will be payable;

 

(e) The rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, at which such Securities will bear interest, if any;

 

(f) The date or dates, or the method for determining such date or dates, from which any such interest will accrue, the dates on which any such interest will be payable, the record dates for such interest payment dates, or the method by which such dates shall be determined, the persons to whom such interest shall be payable, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

(g) The place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on such Securities will be payable, where such Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be served;

 

(h) The period or periods, if any, within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities may, pursuant to any optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed, as a whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

 

(i) The obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase such Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a holder thereof, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be redeemed, repaid or purchased, as a whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(j) If other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which such Securities are denominated and payable, which may be a foreign currency or units of two or more foreign currencies or a composite currency or currencies, and the terms and conditions relating thereto;

 

(k) Whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such Securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may, but need not be, based on the yield on or trading price of other Securities, including United States Treasury Securities, or on a currency, currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies) and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

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(l) Whether the principal of or interest on the Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or a holder thereof, in a currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies other than that in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of, and identity of the exchange rate agent with responsibility for, determining the exchange rate between the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which such Securities are to be so payable;

 

(m) Provisions, if any, granting special rights to the holders of Securities of the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;

 

(n) Any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company with respect to Securities of the series, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants described herein;

 

(o) Whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay any additional amounts on such Securities in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities in lieu of making such payment;

 

(p) Whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as registered Securities, bearer Securities (with or without coupons) or both, any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of bearer Securities and the terms upon which bearer Securities of the series may be exchanged for registered Securities of the series and vice versa (if permitted by applicable laws and regulations), whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form with or without coupons and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent Global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor or any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in this Indenture, and, if registered Securities of the series are to be issuable as a Global Security, the identity of the depositary for such series;

 

(q) The date as of which any bearer Securities of the series and any temporary Global Security representing outstanding Securities of the series shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;

 

(r) The person to whom any interest on any registered Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name that Security (or one or more predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest, the manner in which, or the person to whom, any interest on any bearer Security of the series shall be payable, if otherwise than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto as they severally mature, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary Global Security on an interest payment date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in this Indenture;

 

(s) Whether such Securities will be issued in certificated or book entry form;

 

(t) The applicability, if any, of the legal defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions of this Indenture to the Securities of the series;

 

(u) If the Securities of such series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and/or terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

 

(v) Whether the Securities will be listed for trading on an exchange and the identity of such exchange;

 

(w) Whether any underwriters will act as market makers for the Securities;

 

(x) Any guarantees of such Securities by the Company’s Subsidiaries or others;

 

(y) The date or dates, if any, after which the Securities may be converted or exchanged into or for shares of the Company’s common stock or another company’s securities or properties or cash and the terms for any such conversion or exchange;

 

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(z) Any other terms of the series.

 

The Securities of any series shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a written order of the Company, in each case with such insertions, omission, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed or of the depository, or to conform to usage.

 

The Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

“This is one of the Securities of the series designated in accordance with, and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated:

 

[____________________], as Trustee

 

By:    
  Authorized Signatory”  

 

SECTION 2.02. Execution and Authentication. Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall be valid nevertheless.

 

A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

The Trustee shall authenticate Securities for original issue upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer of the Company.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the Securities of such series to be issued in the form of Global Securities and not yet canceled, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the depositary for such Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such depositary or pursuant to such depositary’s instructions, and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered form, this Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to the nominee of the depositary or by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary or by the depositary or any such nominee to a successor depositary or a nominee of such successor depositary.”

 

Each depositary designated pursuant to Section 2.01 must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it services as depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act.

 

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SECTION 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities of a particular series may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and an office or agency where Securities may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The registrar for a particular series of Securities shall keep a register of the Securities of that series and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional Paying Agents for each series of Securities. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent and the term “Registrar” includes any additional registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or registrar without prior notice to any Holder.

 

The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA and implement the terms of this Indenture which relate to such Agent. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address of any Agent who is not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any Affiliate of the Company may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

The Company hereby initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent for each series of Securities unless another Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time the Securities of that series are first issued.

 

SECTION 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Assets in Trust. The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all assets held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities (whether such money has been paid to it by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities) and shall notify the Trustee of any failure by the Company (or any other obligor on the Securities) in making any such payment. While any such failure continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money so paid over to the Trustee. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent.

 

SECTION 2.05. Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders, separately by series, and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee on or before each interest payment date for the Securities and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders, separately by series, relating to such interest payment date or request, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 2.06. Registration of Transfer and Exchange. When Securities of a series are presented to the registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register their transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations, the registrar or co-registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transaction are met. To permit registrations of transfer and exchanges, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the registrar’s or co-registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with registration, transfer or exchange of Securities other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.10, 3.06 or 9.05 not involving any transfer.

 

The registrar or co-registrar shall not be required to register the transfer or exchange of (i) any Security of a particular series selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security of that series being redeemed in part, or (ii) any Security of a particular series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Securities of that series for redemption under Section 3.02 and ending at the close of business on the date of selection.

 

Any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Security shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interest in such Global Security may be effected only through a book entry system maintained by the holder of such Global Security (or its agent), and that ownership of a beneficial interest in the Security shall be required to be reflected in a book entry system.

 

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SECTION 2.07. Replacement Securities. If a mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee or if the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security of the same series if the requirements of the Trustee and the Company are met; provided that, if any such Security has been called for redemption in accordance with the terms thereof, the Trustee may pay the Redemption Price thereof on the Redemption Date without authenticating or replacing such Security. The Trustee or the Company may, in either case, require the Holder to provide an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of each of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee or any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced or if the Redemption Price therefor is paid pursuant to this Section. The Company may charge the Holder who has lost a Security for its expenses in replacing a Security.

 

Every replacement Security is an obligation of the Company and shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series.

 

SECTION 2.08. Outstanding Securities. The Securities of any series outstanding at any time are all the Securities of that series authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding.

 

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding and interest ceases to accrue unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

 

If all principal of and interest on any of the Securities are considered paid under Section 4.01, such Securities shall cease to be outstanding and interest on them shall cease to accrue.

 

Except as provided in Section 2.09, a Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds such Security.

 

For each series of Original Issue Discount Securities, the principal amount of such Securities that shall be deemed to be outstanding and used to determine whether the necessary Holders have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, shall be the principal amount of such Securities that could be declared to be due and payable upon acceleration upon an Event of Default as of the date of such determination. When requested by the Trustee, the Company will advise the Trustee of such amount, showing its computations in reasonable detail.

 

SECTION 2.09. Treasury Securities. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of any series have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company shall be considered as though they are not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which such Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

 

SECTION 2.10. Temporary Securities. Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and execute and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities. Holders of temporary Securities shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 2.11. Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or repurchase. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, repurchase, redemption, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such Securities (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all cancelled Securities shall be promptly delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

SECTION 2.12. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice shall state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any such notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers.

 

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SECTION 2.13. Defaulted Interest. If the Company fails to make a payment of interest on any series of Securities, it shall pay such defaulted interest plus (to the extent lawful) any interest payable on the defaulted interest, in any lawful manner. It may elect to pay such defaulted interest, plus any such interest payable on it, to the Persons who are Holders of such Securities on which the interest is due on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each such Security. The Company shall fix any such record date and payment date for such payment. At least 15 days before any such record date, the Company shall mail to Holders affected thereby a notice that states the record date, payment date, and amount of such interest to be paid.

 

SECTION 2.14. Special Record Dates. The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, set a record date for the purpose of determining the identity of Holders entitled to consent to any supplement, amendment or waiver permitted by this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, the Holders of Securities of that series outstanding on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to consent to such supplement, amendment or waiver or revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date unless consents from Holders of the principal amount of Securities of that series required hereunder for such amendment or waiver to be effective shall have also been given and not revoked within such 90-day period.

 

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

 

SECTION 3.01. Notices to Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem Securities of any series pursuant to any optional redemption provisions thereof, it shall notify the Trustee of the intended Redemption Date and the principal amount of Securities of that series to be redeemed.

 

The Company shall give each notice provided for in this Section and an Officers’ Certificate at least 45 days before the Redemption Date (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee).

 

SECTION 3.02. Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed. If fewer than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities of that series to be redeemed from the outstanding Securities of that series to be redeemed by a method that complies with the requirements of any exchange on which the Securities of that series are listed, or, if the Securities of that series are not listed on an exchange, on a pro rata basis or by lot, which in any case shall be in accordance with a method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate.

 

Except as otherwise provided as to any particular series of Securities, Securities and portions thereof that the Trustee selects shall be in amounts equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of the series to be redeemed or any integral multiple thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly in writing of the Securities or portions of Securities to be called for redemption.

 

SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption. At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed at the address of such Holder appearing in the register.

 

The notice shall identify the Securities of the series to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date;

 

(2) the redemption price fixed in accordance with the terms of the Securities of the series to be redeemed, plus accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption (the “Redemption Price”);

 

(3) if any Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued;

 

(4) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

 

(5) that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price;

 

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(6) that, unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, interest on Securities called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date; and

 

(7) the CUSIP number, if any, of the Securities to be redeemed.

 

At the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense. The notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security shall not affect the validity of the proceeding for the redemption of any other Security.

 

SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the Redemption Date at the Redemption Price. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the Redemption Price.

 

SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price. On or before the Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent (or if the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, the Company or such Subsidiary shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price on all Securities to be redeemed on that date other than Securities or portions thereof called for redemption on that date which have been delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money not required for that purpose.

 

SECTION 3.06. Securities Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Securities. The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of and interest on the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in this Indenture and the Securities. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or an Affiliate, holds as of 11:00 a.m. New York time on that date immediately available funds designated for and sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due. To the extent lawful, the Company shall pay interest on overdue principal and overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum borne by the applicable series of Securities.

 

SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or in [_______________], an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee or registrar) where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of [___________], the City of [___________], or [___________], for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03.

 

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SECTION 4.03. SEC Reports. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to deliver to the Trustee any materials for which the Company has sought and received confidential treatment by the SEC. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314 (a).

 

SECTION 4.04. Compliance Certificate. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officers’ Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company, they would normally have knowledge of any failure by the Company to comply with all conditions, or default by the Company with respect to any covenants, under this Indenture, and further stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such failure or default and, if so, specifying each such failure or default and the nature thereof. For purposes of this Section, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided for in this Indenture. The certificate need not comply with Section 10.04.

 

SECTION 4.05. Taxes. The Company shall pay prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except as contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

 

SECTION 4.06. Corporate Existence. Subject to Article V hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its corporate existence and (ii) the material rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise if the Board of Directors or management of the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer in the best interests of the Company, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

 

ARTICLE V

 

MERGER, ETC.

 

SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge, etc. (a) The Company shall not consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, any Person unless: (i) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition has been made, is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (ii) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition has been made, assumes by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture; and (iii) immediately after such transaction, and giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may merge with another Person or acquire by purchase or otherwise all or any part of the property or assets of any other corporation or Person in a transaction in which the surviving entity is the Company.

 

(b) In connection with any consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer or lease contemplated by this Section 5.01, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer or lease and the supplemental indenture in respect thereof comply with Article V and the TIA and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

SECTION 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Company herein. In the event of any such sale or conveyance, but not any such lease, the Company or any successor corporation which thereafter shall have become such in the manner described in this Article V shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and may be dissolved, wound up or liquidated.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. An “Event of Default” occurs with respect to Securities of any particular series, unless in the establishing Board Resolutions, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto, it is provided that such series shall not have the benefit of any such Event of Default, when any of the following occurs:

 

(i) the Company defaults in the payment of interest on any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days;

 

(ii) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of any Security of that series when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise;

 

(iii) the Company fails to comply with any of its other agreements or covenants in, or provisions of, the Securities of that series or this Indenture and the Default continues for the period and after the notice specified below;

 

(iv) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law: (A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding, (B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding, (C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

 

(v) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that: (A) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding, (B) appoints a Custodian for the Company or for all or substantially all of the Company’s property, or (C) orders the liquidation of the Company;

 

and in case of (v) the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days.

 

The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the U.S. Code or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, Trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

A Default under clause (iii) of this Section 6.01 is not an Event of Default with respect to a particular series of Securities until the Trustee notifies the Company in writing, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series notify the Company and the Trustee, in writing, of the Default, and the Company does not cure the Default within 30 days after receipt of the notice. The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default”.

 

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (iv) or (v) of Section 6.01) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company may declare due and payable 100% of the principal amount (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, such lesser amount as may be provided for in such Securities) of the Securities of that series plus any accrued interest to the date of payment. Upon a declaration of acceleration, such principal (or such lesser amount) and accrued interest to the date of payment shall be due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (iv) or (v) of Section 6.01 occurs, all unpaid principal and accrued interest on the Securities shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

 

The Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Securities of that series by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if (i) all existing Events of Default other than the nonpayment of principal (or such lesser amount) of or interest on the Securities of that series which have become due solely because of the acceleration, have been cured or waived and (ii) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to any series of Securities, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities of that series or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities of that series or this Indenture.

 

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The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon the Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. Subject to Sections 6.07 and 9.02, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any series by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences with respect to that series, except a Default in the nonpayment of the principal of or interest on any Security of that series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration) . When a Default or Event of Default is waived, it is cured and ceases.

 

SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority. The Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture, that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability. The Trustee may take any other action which it deems proper which is not inconsistent with any such direction.

 

SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits. A Holder of Securities of any series may not pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities of that series unless: (i) the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to such series; (ii) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy; (iii) such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability, cost or expense; (iv) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity; and (v) during such 60-day period the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

 

A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.

 

SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders To Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Security to receive payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Security on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Security, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder.

 

SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or (ii) occurs and is continuing with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as Trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal (or such portion of the principal as may be specified as due upon acceleration at that time in the terms of that series of Securities) and accrued interest, if any, remaining unpaid on the outstanding Securities of that series, together with (to the extent lawful) interest on overdue principal and interest, and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and, to the extent lawful, expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.

 

SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to participate as a member, voting or otherwise, of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and any custodian in any such judicial proceedings is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

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SECTION 6.10. Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

 

FIRST: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

SECOND: to Holders of any particular series of Securities for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities of such series for principal and interest, if any, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Securities of such series for principal and interest, respectively; and

 

THIRD: to the Company or any other obligors on the Securities of that series, as their interests may appear, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

 

The Trustee, upon prior written notice to the Company, may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10. The Trustee shall notify the Company in writing reasonably in advance of any such record date and payment date.

 

SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default: (1) the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture or the TIA, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee and (2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not, on their face, they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct except that: (1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01, (2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer or other officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts and (3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05.

 

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (e) of this Section 7.01.

 

(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability, cost or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable fees of counsel).

 

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(f) The Trustee shall not be obligated to pay interest on any money or other assets received by it unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Company. Assets held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee. Subject to Section 7.01:

 

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document. The Trustee shall receive and retain financial reports and statements of the Company as provided herein, but shall have no duty to review or analyze such reports or statements to determine compliance under covenants or other obligations of the Company.

 

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

 

(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

 

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers, unless the Trustee’s conduct constitutes willful misconduct or negligence.

 

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Securities shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

 

(f) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Trust Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.

 

(g) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

 

(h) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby.

 

(i) Whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may request, and in the absence of bad faith or willful misconduct on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel.

 

(j) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting for the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such times to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

 

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.

 

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

 

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SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.

 

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after the occurrence thereof. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of any such Security, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.

 

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders. The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required by TIA Section 3.13 at the times and in the manner provided by the TIA, which shall initially be not less than every twelve months commencing on and may be dated as of a date up to 75 days prior to such transmission.

 

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the SEC, if required, and each stock exchange, if any, on which the Securities are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Securities of any series are listed on any stock exchange.

 

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall be liable for paying to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall be liable for reimbursing the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, costs of preparing and reviewing reports, certificates and other documents, costs of preparation and mailing of notices to Securityholders and reasonable costs of counsel retained by the Trustee in connection with the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel or otherwise, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all loss, liability, damages, claims or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part in connection with the administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expense of enforcing this Indenture (including this Section 7.07) and of defending itself against any claims (whether asserted by any Securityholder, the Company or otherwise). Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim, and the Trustee shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Company’s expense in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel, provided that the Company shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes the Trustee’s defense, and, in the reasonable judgment of outside counsel to the Trustee, there is no conflict of interest between the Company and the Trustee in connection with such defense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense which is finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have been incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

 

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities. Such lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. The Trustee’s right to receive payment of any amounts due under this Section 7.07 shall not be subordinate to any other liability or Indebtedness of the Company.

 

The Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ payment obligations pursuant to this Section shall survive the discharge of this Indenture. When the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in clause (iv) or clause (v) of Section 6.01 with respect to the Company, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee. A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.

 

The Trustee may resign and be discharged from the trust hereby created with respect to one or more or all series of Securities by so notifying the Company in writing. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any series may remove the Trustee with respect to that series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to one or more or all series of Securities if: (i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 or TIA Section 310; (ii) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law; (iii) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or (iv) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

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If, as to any series of Securities, the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee for that series of Securities. The Trustee shall be entitled to payment of its fees and reimbursement of its expenses while acting as Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of then outstanding Securities of that series may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

 

Any Holder of Securities of that series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee if the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10.

 

A successor Trustee as to any series of Securities shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The Company shall mail a notice of the successor Trustee’s succession to the Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses, losses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; provided, however, that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees to be co-Trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust hereunder separate and apart from any trust hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.

 

Upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. Subject to Section 7.10, if the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or national banking association, the successor entity without any further act shall be the successor Trustee as to that series of Securities.

 

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. Each series of Securities shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a) (1), (2) and (5). The Trustee as to any series of Securities shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 310(b).

 

SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company. The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311 (b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

SECTION 8.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

(a) either

 

(i) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(ii) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

 

(1) have become due and payable, or

 

(2) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year, or

 

(3) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or

 

(4) are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.03, as applicable;

 

and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;

 

(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.07, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section or if money or obligations shall have been deposited with or received by the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.03, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 8.02 and Section 8.05 shall survive.

 

SECTION 8.02. Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.

 

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8.05, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.01, all money and U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.03 and 8.04.

 

(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.03 or 8.04 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.

 

(c) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any U.S. Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.03 or 8.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations held under this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 8.03. Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series. Unless this Section 8.03 is otherwise specified to be inapplicable to Securities of any series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of any such series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon the request of the Company, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:

 

(i) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (x) payment of the principal of an each installment of principal of or interest on the outstanding Securities of such series on the stated maturity of such principal of or interest and (y) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such series;

 

(ii) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities of such series under Sections 2.03, 2.06 and 2.07; and

 

(iii) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the duties of the Trustee under Section 8.02 and the duty of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued on registration of transfer of exchange;

 

provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(a) the Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as Security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, cash in U.S. Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments) of and interest, if any, on all the Securities of such series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due;

 

(b) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture;

 

(c) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred on the date of such deposit and 91 days shall have passed after the deposit has been made, and, during such 91 day period, no Default specified in Section 6.0l(iv) or (v) with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of such period;

 

(d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

 

(e) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company;

 

(f) such deposit shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), or such trust shall be qualified under such Act or exempt from regulation thereunder; and

 

(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

 

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SECTION 8.04. Covenant Defeasance. Unless this Section 8.04 is otherwise inapplicable to Securities of any series, on and after the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, the Company may omit to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.03, 4.04 and 4.05 as well as any additional covenants contained in a supplemental indenture hereto for a particular series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.01 (and the failure to comply with any such provisions shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 6.01) and the occurrence of any event described in clause (e) of Section 6.01 shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(a) With reference to this Section 8.04, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.03) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as Security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, cash in U.S. Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay principal and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund in respect of the Securities of such series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due;

 

(b) Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture;

 

(c) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred on the date of such deposit and 91 days shall have passed after the deposit has been made, and, during such 91 day period, no Default specified in Section 6.01(iv) or (v) with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of such period;

 

(d) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not Occurred;

 

(e) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and

 

(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

 

SECTION 8.05. Repayment to Company. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such payment shall have become due. After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.

 

20

 

 

ARTICLE IX

 

AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders. The Company and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Securities without the consent of any Holder: (i) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or make any change required to qualify the indenture under the TIA, provided that such change does not adversely affect the rights hereunder of any Holder in any material respect; (ii) to comply with Section 5.01; (iii) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to certificated Securities; (iv) to make any change that does not adversely affect in any material respect the rights hereunder of any Holder; (v) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided, however, that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no outstanding Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provisions; or (vi) to establish additional series of Securities as permitted by Section 2.01.

 

SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders. The Company and the Trustee as to any series of Securities may amend this Indenture or the Securities of that series or waive compliance in any particular instance with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities of that series, in each case with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of that series.

 

Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section may not: (i) reduce the principal amount of Securities, whose Holders must consent to an amendment or waiver; (ii) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Security; (iii) change the date on which any Security may be subject to redemption or repurchase, or reduce the redemption or repurchase price therefor; (iv) make any Security payable in currency other than that stated in the Security; or (v) make any change in Section 6.04, 6.07 or this sentence.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

An amendment or waiver under this Section which waives, changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

The Company will mail supplemental indentures to Holders upon request. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

 

SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security; provided, however, that unless a record date shall have been established pursuant to Section 2.14, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective. An amendment or waiver becomes effective on receipt by the Trustee of consents from the Holders of the requisite percentage principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any series, and thereafter shall bind every Holder of Securities of that series.

 

SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Securities. If an amendment or waiver changes the terms of a Security: (a) the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver such Security to the Trustee, the Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder and the Trustee may place an appropriate notation on any Security thereafter authenticated; or (b) if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms.

 

21

 

 

SECTION 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendment, etc. The Trustee shall sign any amendment authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may, but need not sign it. In signing or refusing to sign such amendment, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and shall be fully protected in relying upon an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03).

 

ARTICLE X

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 10.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the TIA which are required to be part of this Indenture, and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

 

SECTION 10.02. Notices. Any notice or communication to the Company or the Trustee is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail to the address set forth below:

 

If to the Company:

 

Shineco, Inc.

Room3310, North Tower, Zhengda Center

No. 20, Jinhe East Road, Chaoyang District

People’s Republic of China 100020

 

(+86) 10-59246103

 

with a copy to:

 

Pryor Cashman LLP

7 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

Attention: Elizabeth F. Chen, Esq.

 

If to the Trustee:

 

[____________________]

_____________________

_____________________

_____________________

Attention: ____________

 

With a copy to:

 

_____________________

_____________________

_____________________

Attention: ____________

 

The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in such notice or communication shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

 

22

 

 

If a notice or communication is mailed or sent in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notice to the Trustee shall only be effective upon receipt thereof by the Trustee.

 

If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

SECTION 10.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312 (c)

 

SECTION 10.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee: (1) an Officers’ Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 10.05) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 10.05) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied with.

 

SECTION 10.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate (other than certificates provided pursuant to Section 4.04) or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include: (i) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (iii) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact, an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’ Certificate or certificate of public officials.

 

SECTION 10.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or for a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

SECTION 10.07. Legal Holidays. A “Legal Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are not required or authorized to be open. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

 

SECTION 10.08. Duplicate Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.

 

SECTION 10.09. Governing Law. The internal laws of the State of [___________] shall govern this Indenture and the Securities, without regard to the conflicts of Law rules thereof.

 

SECTION 10.10. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or any subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

SECTION 10.11. Successors. All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

 

SECTION 10.12. Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

SECTION 10.13. Counterpart Originals. This Indenture may be signed in one or more counterparts. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

 

  Shineco, Inc.
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:                                                                    
     
  Dated:  
     
  [___________________________________]
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  Dated:  

 

23

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

November 19, 2021

 

Board of Directors

Shineco, Inc.

Room 3310, North Tower, Zhengda Center

No. 20, Jinhe East Road, Chaoyang District

People’s Republic of China 100020

 

  Re: Securities Being Registered under Registration Statement on Form S-3

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have represented Shineco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with its filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (as amended or supplemented, the “Registration Statement”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the offer and sale by the Company from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of up to $100,000,000 of any combination of (i) common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company, (ii) preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) debt securities of the Company (“Debt Securities”), (iv) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities or Units (as defined below) (“Warrants”), (v) units comprised of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants and other securities in any combination (“Units”), or (vi) rights to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (the “Rights”). The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, Units and Rights are sometimes referred to collectively herein as the “Securities.” Securities may be issued in an unspecified number (with respect to Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Units and Rights) or in an unspecified principal amount (with respect to Debt Securities). The Registration Statement provides that the Securities may be offered separately or together, in separate series, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more prospectus supplements (each a “Prospectus Supplement”) to the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement.

 

We have examined the Registration Statement, as well as the original, or photostatic or certified copies, of such records of the Company, certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials and such other documents as we have deemed relevant and necessary as the basis for the opinions set forth below, including without limitation the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Charter”), the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) and certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company. In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the completeness and authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies, the completeness and authenticity of the originals of such copies, and the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, factual matters, representations and warranties contained in such documents.

 

 
 

 

 

Shineco, Inc.

November 19, 2021

Page 2

 

The opinions set forth below are limited to the laws of the State of New York, and the federal laws of the United States of America, and we express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction, domestic or foreign. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we express no opinion with respect to (i) state securities or “blue sky” laws, or (ii) state or federal antifraud laws, rules or regulations. We express no opinion herein with respect to the matters covered in such opinion, and to the extent elements of such matters are necessary to the conclusions expressed herein, we have, with your consent, relied upon such opinion.

 

For purposes of the opinions set forth below, without limiting any other exceptions or qualifications set forth herein, we have assumed that: (a) after the issuance of any Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, the total number of issued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, together with the total number of shares of such stock issuable upon the exercise, exchange, conversion or settlement, as the case may be, of any exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security (including without limitation any Unit or Right), as the case may be, then outstanding, will not exceed the total number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, under the Company’s Charter, (b) with respect to each Authorization (as defined below) and each other action taken by the Company, such Authorization or other action is taken in accordance with all applicable law and with the Charter and the Bylaws of the Company, in each case as in effect at the time such Authorization or other action is taken, (c) the Company has the legal power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Securities, (d) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto, shall have become effective under the Securities Act and will remain effective at the time of issuance of any Securities thereunder, (e) a Prospectus Supplement describing each class or series of Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, to the extent required by applicable law and the relevant rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), will be timely filed with the commission, (f) all Securities will be issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, and (g) the Company is and will remain duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under Delaware law.

 

For purposes of the opinions set forth below, we refer to the following as the “Future Authorization and Issuance” of Securities:

 

with respect to any of the Securities, (a) the due authorization by the Company of the amount, terms and issuance of such Securities (the “Authorization”) and (b) the due issuance of such Securities in accordance with the Authorization therefor upon the receipt by the Company of the consideration (which, in the case of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, is not less than the par value of such shares) to be paid therefor in accordance with the Authorization;

 

with respect to Preferred Stock, (a) the due establishment of the terms of such Preferred Stock by the Company in conformity with the Charter and applicable law and (b) the due execution, acknowledgement and filing with the Delaware Secretary of State, and the effectiveness of, a certificate of designations to the Charter setting forth the terms of such Preferred Stock in accordance with the Charter and applicable law;

 

with respect to Debt Securities, (a) the due authorization, execution and delivery of the indenture or a supplemental indenture relating to such Securities by the Company and the trustee thereunder and/or (b) the establishment of the terms of such Securities by the Company in conformity with the applicable indenture or supplemental indenture and applicable law, and (c) the due execution, authentication and issuance of such Securities in accordance with the applicable indenture or supplemental indenture and applicable law; and

 

 
 

 

 

Shineco, Inc.

November 19, 2021

Page 3

 

● with respect to Warrants, Units or Rights, (a) the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company and the other parties thereto of any agreement under which such Securities are to be issued and (b) the establishment of the terms of such Securities, and the due execution and delivery of such Securities, in conformity with any applicable agreement under which such Securities are to be issued and applicable law.

 

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the additional qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:

 

1. Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of shares of Common Stock, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

2. Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of shares of Preferred Stock, such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

3. Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of Debt Securities, such Debt Securities will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

4. Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of Warrants, such Warrants will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

5. Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of Units, such Units will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

6. Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of Rights, such Rights will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

The foregoing opinions are subject to: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; (ii) general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and (iii) the unenforceability under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of, or contribution to, a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy.

 

We express no opinion concerning the enforceability of: (i) any waiver of rights or defenses with respect to stay, extension or usury laws; or (ii) provisions relating to choice of law, choice of venue, jurisdiction or waivers of jury trial, and we express no opinion with respect to whether acceleration of Debt Securities may affect the collectability of any portion of the stated principal amount thereof which might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon.

 

This opinion letter is rendered as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any undertaking to adviser you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or any subsequent changes in applicable law that may come to our attention, and we have assumed that no change in the facts stated or assumed herein or in applicable law after the date hereof will affect adversely our ability to render an opinion letter after the date hereof (i) containing the same legal conclusions set forth herein and (ii) subject only to such (or fewer) assumptions, limitations and qualifications as are contained herein.

 

We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving our consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ PRYOR CASHMAN LLP

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

中正達會計師事務所
Centurion ZD CPA & Co.
Certified Public Accountants (Practising)
   
Unit 1304, 13/F, Two Harbourfront, 22 Tak Fung Street, Hunghom, Hong Kong.
香港 紅磡 德豐街22號 海濱廣場二期 13樓1304室
Tel 電話: (852) 2126 2388 Fax 傳真: (852) 2122 9078
Email 電郵: info@czdcpa.com

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Shineco, Inc. (“the Company”) of our report dated September 30, 2021 included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K (No. 001-37776) dated September 30, 2021 relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedules of the Company as of June 30, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity and cash flows for the two year period ended June 30, 2021 and 2020.

 

We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in such registration statement.

 

/s/ Centurion ZD CPA & Co.  
   
Centurion ZD CPA & Co.  
Hong Kong, China  
   
November 19, 2021