As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 20, 2022

 

Registration No. 333-262504

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

Pre-effective Amendment No. 3

To

FORM F-3

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE

SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

DOGNESS (INTERNATIONAL) CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

British Virgin Islands   N/A   Not Applicable
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
 

(Translation of Registrant’s

Name into English)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

No. 16 N. Dongke Road

Tongsha Industrial Zone

Dongguan, Guangdong 523217

+86-769-8875-3300

(Address, including zip code, and telephone

number, including area code, of registrant’s

principal executive offices)

 

CT Corporation System

111 Eighth Avenue

New York, New York 10011

(800) 624-0909

(Name, address including zip code, and

telephone number, including area code, of agent

for service)

 

With a copy to:

 

Anthony W. Basch, Esq.

Chenxi Lu, Esq.

Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.

Two James Center

1021 East Cary Street, Suite 1400

Richmond, Virginia 23219

Fax: 804-771-5777

 

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

 

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, check the following box. ☒

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. 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.C. 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 an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933. Emerging growth company ☒

 

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 

The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

 

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 this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission acting pursuant to said Section 8(a) may determine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prospectus

 

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

 

Subject to completion, dated May 20, 2022

 

 

DOGNESS (INTERNATIONAL) CORPORATION

 

$250,000,000

 

Class A Common Shares, Share Purchase Contracts, Share Purchase Units,

Warrants, Debt Securities, Rights and Units

 

We may offer and sell, from time to time in one or more offerings on terms we may determine at the time of offering, any combination of Class A Common Shares, warrants, debt securities, rights, share purchase contracts, share purchase units or units (collectively, the “Securities”) having an aggregate initial offering price of up to $250,000,000.

 

We will provide the specific terms of these Securities in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information in this prospectus. Before you invest, we urge you to read carefully this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

These Securities may be offered and sold in the same offering or in separate offerings; to or through underwriters, dealers, and agents; or directly to purchasers. The names of any underwriters, dealers, or agents involved in the sale of our Securities, their compensation and any over-allotment options held by them will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. For a more complete description of the plan of distribution of these securities, see the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 54 of this prospectus.

 

Our Class A Common Shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “DOGZ”. On February 2, 2022, the closing sale price of our Class A Common Shares as reported by the NASDAQ Global Market was $3.63. We have not offered any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3 during the prior 12 calendar month period that ends on and includes the date of this prospectus. We will provide information in any applicable prospectus supplement regarding any listing of securities other than our Class A Common Shares on any securities exchange.

 

We are not a Chinese operating company but a British Virgin Islands holding company with operations conducted by our subsidiaries established in Delaware, People’s Republic of China (“PRC” or “China”), Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (“HKSAR” or “Hong Kong”) and British Virgin Islands. Therefore, investing in our securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus involves unique and a high degree of risk. You should carefully read and consider the risk factors beginning on page 19 of this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement before you make your investment decision.

 

The Securities offered in this offering are of the off-shore holding company Dogness (International) Corporation (the “Company”), which owns equity interests, directly or indirectly, of the operating subsidiaries. Unless otherwise stated, “PRC Subsidiaries” refer to our subsidiaries incorporated in mainland China, including Dogness Intelligent Technology (Dongguan) Co., Ltd., a PRC company (“Dongguan Dogness”), Dongguan Jiasheng Enterprise Co., Ltd., a PRC company (“Dongguan Jiasheng”), Zhangzhou Meijia Metal Product Co., Ltd, a PRC company (“Meijia”), and Dogness Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd., a PRC company (“Intelligence Guangzhou”); “Hong Kong Subsidiaries” refer to our subsidiaries incorporated in Hong Kong, including Jiasheng Enterprise (Hongkong) Co., Limited, a Hong Kong company (“HK Jiasheng”) and Dogness (Hongkong) Pet’s Products Co., Limited, a Hong Kong company (“HK Dogness”). We will also refer to all of our subsidiaries, “Subsidiaries”. See Prospectus Summary – Our Corporate Structure, for further information regarding name, place of incorporation, and equity ownership.

 

 

 

 

We are subject to legal and operational risks associated with being based in and having the majority of the company’s operations in PRC and Hong Kong. The Chinese government may intervene or influence the operation of our Hong Kong and PRC operating entities and exercise significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of their business and may intervene in or influence their operations at any time with little advance notice, or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our Class A Common Shares. Further, any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer Securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.

 

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, adopting new measures to impose filing requirements on China-based companies for their initial public offerings or listings in overseas stock markets and extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement.

  

On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly released the Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law, or the Opinions. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-concept overseas listed companies, and cybersecurity and data privacy protection requirements, etc. The Opinions and any related implementing rules to be enacted may subject us to compliance requirement in the future.

 

On December 24, 2021, China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) issued the Administrative Provisions of the State Council Regarding the Overseas Issuance and Listing of Securities by Domestic Enterprises (the “Draft Administrative Provisions”) and the Measures for the Overseas Issuance of Securities and Listing Record-Filings by Domestic Enterprises (Draft for Comments) (the “Draft Filing Measures”), collectively, the “Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings”, which were published for public comments till January 23,2022. According to the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, among other things, after making initial applications with overseas stock markets for initial public offerings or listings, all China-based companies shall file with the CSRC within three working days. The required filing materials with the CSRC include (without limitation): (i) record-filing reports and related undertakings, (ii) compliance certificates, filing or approval documents from the primary regulators of applicants’ businesses (if applicable), (iii) security assessment opinions issued by related departments (if applicable), (iv) PRC legal opinions, and (v) prospectus. In addition, overseas offerings and listings may be prohibited for such China-based companies when any of the following applies: (1) if the intended securities offerings and listings are specifically prohibited by the laws, regulations or provision of the PRC; (2) if the intended securities offerings and listings may constitute a threat to, or endanger national security as reviewed and determined by competent authorities under the State Council in accordance with laws; (3) if there are material ownership disputes over applicants’ equity interests, major assets, core technologies, or the others; (4) if, in the past three years, applicants’ domestic enterprises, controlling shareholders or de facto controllers have committed corruption, bribery, embezzlement, misappropriation of property, or other criminal offenses disruptive to the order of the socialist market economy, or are currently under judicial investigation for suspicion of criminal offenses, or are under investigation for suspicion of major violations; (5) if, in the past three years, any directors, supervisors, or senior executives of applicants have been subject to administrative punishments for severe violations, or are currently under judicial investigation for suspicion of criminal offenses, or are under investigation for suspicion of major violations; (6) other circumstances as prescribed by the State Council. The Draft Administrative Provisions further stipulate that a fine between RMB 1 million and RMB 10 million may be imposed if an applicant fails to fulfill the filing requirements with the CSRC or conducts an overseas offering or listing in violation of the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, and in cases of severe violations, a parallel order to suspend relevant businesses or halt operations for rectification may be issued, and relevant business permits or operational license revoked. The Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, if enacted, may subject us or our Subsidiaries to additional compliance requirements in the future.

 

As of the date of this prospectus, the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings have not been promulgated, and neither us nor any of our Subsidiaries has been required to obtain permission from the government of China for any of our U.S. offerings. While the final version of the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings are expected to be adopted in 2022, we believe that none of the situation that would clearly prohibit overseas offering and listings applies to us. In reaching this conclusion, we are relying on an opinion of our PRC counsel and that there is uncertainty inherent in relying on an opinion of counsel in connection with whether we or our Subsidiaries are required to obtain permissions from the Chinese government that is required to approve of our operations and/or offering. In the event that we or any of our Subsidiaries are subject to the compliance requirements, we cannot assure you that any of us will be able to receive clearance of such filing requirements in a timely manner, or at all. Any failure of us or our Subsidiaries to fully comply with new regulatory requirements may significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Class A Common Shares, cause significant disruption to our business operations, severely damage our reputation, materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our Class A Common Shares to significantly decline in value or become worthless. See “Risk Factor — Draft rules for China-based companies seeking for securities offerings in foreign stock markets was released by the CSRC for public consultation. While such rules have not yet come into effect, the Chinese government may exert more oversight and control over overseas public offerings conducted by China-based issuers, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Class A Common Shares to investors and could cause the value of our Class A Common Shares to significantly decline or become worthless.”

  

 

 

 

We or our Subsidiaries may also be subject to PRC laws relating to the use, sharing, retention, security and transfer of confidential and private information, such as personal information and other data. On November 14, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”) released the Regulations on the Network Data Security Management (Draft for Comments), or the Data Security Management Regulations Draft, to solicit public opinion and comments till December 13, 2021, which has not been promulgated as of the date of this prospectus.. Pursuant to the Data Security Management Regulations Draft, data processors holding more than one million users/users’ individual information shall be subject to cybersecurity review before listing abroad. Data processing activities refers to activities such as the collection, retention, use, processing, transmission, provision, disclosure, or deletion of data. According to the latest amended Cybersecurity Review Measures, which was promulgated on November 16, 2021 and became effective on February 15, 2022, an online platform operator holding more than one million users/users’ individual information shall be subject to cybersecurity review before listing abroad. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been informed by any PRC governmental authority of any requirement that we or our Subsidiaries file for approval for this offering. We don’t believe that we or any of our Subsidiaries will be subject to either the amended Cybersecurity Review Measures or the Data Security Management Regulations Draft since none of us hold more than one million users/users’ individual information. However, it is uncertain how the above mentioned new laws or regulations will be enacted, interpreted or implemented, and whether it will affect us. Since the 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 Subsidiaries’ daily business operation, their ability to accept foreign investments, and our ability to continue to list or offer securities on an U.S. exchange. See Risk Factor — The Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities and may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and the value of our Class A Common Shares.”

 

On February 7, 2021, the Anti-Monopoly Committee of the State Council promulgated the Anti-monopoly Guidelines for the Platform Economy Sector, or the Anti-monopoly Guideline, aiming to improve anti-monopoly administration on online platforms. The Anti-monopoly Guideline, operating as the compliance guidance under the then-existing PRC anti-monopoly regulatory regime for platform economy operators, specifically prohibits certain acts of the platform economy operators that may have the effect of eliminating or limiting market competition, such as concentration of undertakings. The PRC anti-monopoly regulatory regime started with the Anti-Monopoly Law promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China (“SCNPC”) on August 30, 2007 and effective on August 1, 2008, which requires that transactions which are deemed concentrations and involve parties with specified turnover thresholds must be cleared by the Ministry of Commerce of China (“MOFCOM”) before they can be completed. In addition, on February 3, 2011, the General Office of the State Council promulgated a Notice on Establishing the Security Review System for Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or Circular 6, which officially established a security review system for mergers and acquisitions of domestic enterprises by foreign investors. Further, on August 25, 2011, MOFCOM promulgated the Regulations on Implementation of Security Review System for the Merger and Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the MOFCOM Security Review Regulations, which became effective on September 1, 2011, to implement Circular 6. Under Circular 6, a security review is required for mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors having “national defense and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions by which foreign investors may acquire the “de facto control” of domestic enterprises with “national security” concerns. Under the MOFCOM Security Review Regulations, MOFCOM will focus on the substance and actual impact of the transaction when deciding whether a specific merger or acquisition is subject to security review. If MOFCOM decides that a specific merger or acquisition is subject to security review, it will submit it to the Inter-Ministerial Panel, an authority established under the Circular 6 led by the NDRC, and MOFCOM under the leadership of the State Council, to carry out the security review. The regulations prohibit foreign investors from bypassing the security review by structuring transactions through trusts, indirect investments, leases, loans, control through contractual arrangements or offshore transactions.

 

As a holding company, we may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries, including those based in the PRC, for our cash and financing requirements. If any of our PRC Subsidiaries incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing such debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. Under British Virgin Islands law, we may only pay dividends from surplus (the excess, if any, at the time of the determination of the total assets of our company over the sum of our liabilities, as shown in our books of account, plus our capital), and we must be solvent before and after the dividend payment in the sense that we will be able to satisfy our liabilities as they become due in the ordinary course of business; and the realizable value of assets of our company will not be less than the sum of our total liabilities, other than deferred taxes as shown on our books of account, and our capital. If we determine to pay dividends on any of our Common Shares in the future, as a holding company, we will be dependent on receipt of funds from our Hong Kong Subsidiaries, HK Jiasheng and HK Dogness. Current PRC regulations permit the PRC Subsidiaries to pay dividends to HK Dogness only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, the PRC government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of the PRC. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from our profits, if any. As of the date of this prospectus, none of the subsidiaries has made any dividends or distributions to us and we have not made any dividends or distributions to our shareholders. We anticipate that we will retain any earnings to support operations and to finance the growth and development of our business. Therefore, we do not expect or intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. We have installed cash management policies or procedures in place that dictate how funds are transferred, under an umbrella of corporate policies and financial reporting policies. Even though our policies do not specifically address the limitations, as discussed above, on the amount of funds the Company can transfer out of China, if we decide to transfer cash out of China in the future, all relevant transfers will be conducted in compliance with such limitations. See “Prospectus Summary – Dividend Distributions and Cash Transfer among Dogness and the Subsidiaries”, “Prospectus Summary – Selected Condensed Consolidated Financial Schedule of Dogness (International) Corporation and its Subsidiaries” and the consolidated financial statements, “Risk Factor — China’s economic, political and social conditions, as well as changes in any government policies, laws and regulations, could have a material adverse effect on our business”, “Risk Factor – We may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries, including those based in the PRC, for our cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.”, Risk Factor — PRC regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of this Offering to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business”, “Risk Factor — Governmental control of currency conversion may limit our ability to use our revenues effectively and the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to obtain financing” , and “Risk Factor — We must remit the offering proceeds to China before they may be used to benefit our business in China, the process of which may be time-consuming, and we cannot assure that we can finish all necessary governmental registration processes in a timely manner.”

 

Moreover, the transfer of funds among our PRC Subsidiaries are subject to the Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Private Lending Cases (2020 Revision, the “Provisions on Private Lending Cases”), which was implemented on August 20, 2020 to regulate the financing activities between natural persons, legal persons and unincorporated organizations. As advised by our PRC counsel, the Provisions on Private Lending Cases does not prohibit using cash generated from one subsidiary to fund the operations of another subsidiary in China. As of the date of this prospectus, no cash generated from one subsidiary has been used to fund another subsidiary’s operations; for that reason, our cash management policies do not specifically address this type of transfers between subsidiaries. We do not anticipate any occasions where cash generated from one subsidiary needs to be transferred to another subsidiary and will comply with PRC laws discussed above should we decide to conduct such a transfer. We do not anticipate any difficulties or limitations on our ability to transfer cash between subsidiaries. See “Prospectus Summary – Dividend Distributions and Cash Transfer among Dogness and the Subsidiaries”, “Prospectus Summary – Selected Condensed Consolidated Financial Schedule of Dogness (International) Corporation and its Subsidiaries” and the consolidated financial statements

 

 

 

 

Cash flow between Dogness and the Subsidiaries primarily consists of transfers from Dogness to these Subsidiaries for short-term working capital loan, which is mainly used in payment of operating expenses and investments. To date, there are no other assets transferred between Dogness and the subsidiaries except for the below cash transfers:

 

  For the year ended June 30, 2019, cash transferred from Dogness to HK Dogness was $98 for payments of miscellaneous charge. The source of fund was the cash retained in our Company after IPO. In addition, HK Dogness repaid $44 back to Dogness for the year ended June 30, 2019.
     
  For the year ended June 30, 2020, cash transferred from Dogness to HK Dogness was $103,333 for short-term working capital loan. The source of funds was the cash retained.
     
  For the year ended June 30, 2021, Dogness transferred $505,850 to the Delaware subsidiary, Dogness Group LLC, for short term working capital loan purpose and transferred $2,581,533 to HK Dogness for short term working capital loan purpose. The source of funds was the registered direct public offering we completed on January 20,2021 with net proceeds of $6.6 million. For the year ended June 30, 2021, Dogness also received cash repayment transferred from HK Dogness in the amount of $304.
     
  For the six months ended December 31, 2021, Dogness transferred $1,355,982 ($30,000 + $1,325,982) to Dogness Group LLC. The source of funds was the equity financing we completed in July 2021 and the exercise of warrants in November and December 2021.

 

In the future, cash proceeds raised from overseas financing activities may be transferred by Dogness to the Subsidiaries via capital contribution or shareholder loans, as the case may be. See “Prospectus Summary – Selected Condensed Consolidated Financial Schedule of Dogness (International) Corporation and its Subsidiaries” and “Prospectus Summary – Dividend Distributions and Cash Transfer among Dogness and the Subsidiaries” and the consolidated financial statements included in our annual reports on Form 20-F and any interim financial statements we may file.

 

Our Class A Common Shares may be prohibited to trade on a national exchange or “over-the-counter” markets under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCA Act”) if Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) is unable to inspect our auditors for three consecutive years beginning in 2021. Our auditor is currently subject to PCAOB inspections and PCAOB is able to inspect our auditor. Furthermore, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“AHFCAA”), which, if signed into law, would amend the HFCA Act and require the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three consecutive years. Pursuant to the HFCA Act, the PCAOB issued a Determination Report on December 16, 2021 which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in: (1) mainland China of the PRC, and (2) Hong Kong. In addition, the PCAOB’s report identified the specific registered public accounting firms which are subject to these determinations. Our auditor, Prager Metis CPAs, LLC, is located at Hackensack New Jersey, and has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis with the last inspection in August 2020. Our auditor is not headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong and was not identified in this report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the future, if there is any regulatory change or step taken by PRC regulators that does not permit Prager Metis CPAs, LLC to provide audit documentations located in China or Hong Kong to the PCAOB for inspection or investigation, or the PACOB expands the scope of the Determination so that we are subject to the HFCA Act, as the same may be amended, you may be deprived of the benefits of such inspection which could result in limitation or restriction to our access to the U.S. capital markets and trading of our securities, including trading on the national exchange and trading on “over-the-counter” markets, may be prohibited under the HFCA Act. See “Risk Factors — Recent joint statement by the SEC and PCAOB, proposed rule changes submitted by Nasdaq, and an act passed by the US Senate all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the PCAOB. These developments could add uncertainties to our offering.” for more information.

 

Please see “Risk Factor” starting on page 19 of this prospectus for additional information.

 

This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. The information contained or incorporated in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, or such prospectus supplement, as applicable, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of our securities.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, British Virgin Islands, 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.

 

The date of this prospectus is               , 2022

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents 

 

About this Prospectus 1
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 1
Prospectus Summary 1
Risk Factors 18
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 52
Capitalization and Indebtedness 52
Use of Proceeds 53
Plan of Distribution 53
Market for our Shares 55
Dilution 55
Expenses of the issue 55
Description of Share Capital and Other Securities 55
Legal Matters 68
Experts 69
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities Under United States Federal Securities Laws and Other Matters 69
Where You Can Find More Information 70
Information Incorporated by Reference 70

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus is not an offer to sell securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, as well as information we have previously filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the date on the front of those documents only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

i

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using a shelf registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer from time to time, in one or more offerings, securities having an aggregate initial offering price of up to $250,000,000 (or its equivalent in foreign or composite currencies). This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered. Each time we offer securities under this shelf registration statement, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that describes the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read carefully both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described below under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information,” before making an investment decision. We have incorporated exhibits into this registration statement. You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus is not an offer to sell securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, as well as information we have previously filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the date on the front of those documents only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

We may sell securities through underwriters or dealers, through agents, directly to purchasers or through a combination of these methods. We and our agents reserve the sole right to accept or reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of securities. The prospectus supplement, which we will provide to you each time we offer securities, will set forth the names of any underwriters, agents or others involved in the sale of securities and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them. See the information described below under the heading “Plan of Distribution.”

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus, each prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and each prospectus supplement contain certain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words “anticipate,” “expect,” “believe,” “goal,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Any statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and management that are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions are considered forward-looking statements. You are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

 

Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the SEC, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein after we distribute this prospectus, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise.

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights information that we present more fully in the rest of this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before buying Class A Common Shares in this offering. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the “Risk Factors” section and the financial statements and the notes to those statements.

 

1
 

 

Our Company - Overview

 

We are not a Chinese operating company but a British Virgin Islands holding company with operations conducted by our Subsidiaries established in Delaware, PRC, British Virgin Islands, and Hong Kong.

 

PRC laws and regulations governing business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain, and therefore, these risks may result in a material change in the operations of our PRC Subsidiaries and Hong Kong Subsidiaries, significant depreciation of the value of our Class A Common Shares, or a complete hindrance of our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. The Chinese government may intervene or influence the operations of our PRC operating entities at any time and may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in the operations of our PRC operating entities and/or the value of our Class A Common Shares. Further, any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. 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, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. See “Prospectus Summary — Permission Required from the PRC Authorities for the Company’s Operation and to Issue Our Class A Common Shares to Foreign Investors”; “Risk Factor — Draft rules for China-based companies seeking for securities offerings in foreign stock markets was released by the CSRC for public consultation. While such rules have not yet come into effect, the Chinese government may exert more oversight and control over overseas public offerings conducted by China-based issuers, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Class A Common Shares to investors and could cause the value of our Class A Common Shares to significantly decline or become worthless”; “Risk Factor — Our failure to obtain prior approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) for the listing and trading of our Class A Common Shares on a foreign stock exchange could delay this offering or could have a material adverse effect upon our business, operating results, reputation and trading price of our Class A Common Shares”.

 

Trading in our Class A Common Shares may be prohibited on national exchanges or “over-the-counter” markets under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCA Act”) if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) is unable to inspect our auditors for three consecutive years beginning in 2021, and as a result, an exchange may determine to delist our securities. Furthermore, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“AHFCAA”), which, if signed into law, would amend the HFCA Act and require the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three consecutive years. Pursuant to the HFCA Act, the PCAOB issued a Determination Report on December 16, 2021 which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in: (1) mainland China of the PRC, and (2) Hong Kong. In addition, the PCAOB’s report identified the specific registered public accounting firms which are subject to these determinations.

 

Our auditor is currently subject to PCAOB inspections and the PCAOB is thus able to inspect our auditor. Our auditor, Prager Metis CPAs, LLC, is located at Hackensack New Jersey, and has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis with the last inspection in August 2020. Our auditor is not headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong and was not identified in this report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the future, if there is any regulatory change or step taken by PRC regulators that does not permit Prager Metis CPAs, LLC to provide audit documentations located in China or Hong Kong to the PCAOB for inspection or investigation, or the PACOB expands the scope of the Determination so that we are subject to the HFCA Act, as the same may be amended, you may be deprived of the benefits of such inspection which could result in limitation or restriction to our access to the U.S. capital markets and trading of our securities, including trading on the national exchange and trading on “over-the-counter” markets, may be prohibited under the HFCA Act. See “Risk Factors — Recent joint statement by the SEC and PCAOB, proposed rule changes submitted by Nasdaq, and an act passed by the US Senate all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the PCAOB. These developments could add uncertainties to our offering.” for more information.

 

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History and Development of the Company

 

Dogness (International) Corporation, is a company limited by shares established under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) on July 11, 2016 as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, is primarily engaged in the design, manufacturing and sales of various types of pet leashes, pet collars, pet harnesses, intelligent pet products and retractable leashes with products being sold all over the world mainly through distributions by large retailers.

 

A reorganization of the legal structure was completed on January 9, 2017. Reorganization involved the incorporation of Dogness, a BVI holding company; and Dogness Intelligent Technology (Dongguan) Co., Ltd. (“Dongguan Dogness”), a holding company established under the laws of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”); and the transfer of HK Dogness, HK Jiasheng and Dongguan Jiasheng Enterprise Co., Ltd. (“Dongguan Jiasheng”; collectively, the “Transferred Entities”) from the Controlling Shareholder to Dogness and Dongguan Dogness. Prior to the reorganization, the Transferred Entities’ equity interests were 100% controlled by our founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Silong Chen (the “Controlling Shareholder”).

 

On November 24, 2016, the Controlling Shareholder transferred his 100% ownership interest in Dongguan Jiasheng to Dongguan Dogness, which is 100% owned by HK Dogness and considered a wholly foreign-owned entity (“WFOE”) in PRC. On January 9, 2017, the Controlling Shareholder transferred his 100% equity interests in HK Dogness and HK Jiasheng to Dogness. After the reorganization, Dogness ultimately owns 100% of the equity interests of the entities mentioned above.

 

Dongguan Jiasheng Enterprise Co., Ltd. (“Dongguan Jiasheng”) was established on May 15, 2009 under the laws of the PRC, with registered capital of RMB 10 million (approximately $1.5 million) contributed by individual shareholder Mr. Silong Chen. Dongguan Jiasheng is the main operating entity and is engaged in the research and development, manufacturing and distribution of various types of gift suspenders, pet belts ribbon, lace, elastic belt, computer jacquard ribbon and high-grade textile lace.

 

Since the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries were effectively controlled by the same Controlling Shareholder before and after the reorganization, they are considered under common control. The above-mentioned transactions were accounted for as a recapitalization. The consolidation of the Company and its subsidiaries has been accounted for at historical cost and prepared on the basis as if the aforementioned transactions had become effective as of the beginning of the first period presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2018, the Company formed a Delaware limited liability company, Dogness Group LLC, with its operation focusing primarily on promoting the Company’s pet products sales in the United States. In February 2018, Dogness Overseas Ltd, which is wholly owned by the Company, was established in the British Virgin Islands as a holding company. Dogness Overseas Ltd owns all of the interests in Dogness Group LLC.

 

On March 16, 2018 (the “Acquisition Date”), the Company entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire 100% of the equity interests in Zhangzhou Meijia Metal Product Co., Ltd (“Meijia”) from its original shareholder, Long Kai (Shenzhen) Industrial Co., Ltd (“Longkai”), for a total cash consideration of approximately $11.0 million (or RMB 71.0 million). After the acquisition, Mejia became the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary. Meijia owns the land use right to a land parcel of 19,144.54 square meters and a factory and office buildings of an aggregate of 18,912.38 square meters. This Acquisition enables the Company to build its own facility instead of leasing manufacturing facilities and expand its production capacity sustainably to meet increased customer demand. Total budgeted capital expenditure to bring Meijia manufacturing facility into use was originally estimated to be completed at a cost of RMB 110 million ($17.0 million). The actual costs have been adjusted based on additional works required for waterproofing, sewage pipeline and hazardous waste leakage prevention. Meijia plant has reached its designed production capacity by June 2021.

 

On July 6, 2018, Dogness Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. (“Intelligence Guangzhou”) was incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China with a total registered capital of RMB 80 million (approximately $12.4 million). One of the Company’s subsidiaries, Dongguan Jiasheng, owns 58% of Intelligence Guangzhou, with the remaining 42% of ownership interest owned by two unrelated entities. As of the date hereof, Dongguan Jiasheng has not made the capital contribution. Intelligence Guangzhou has had immaterial operation since its inception.

 

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On February 5, 2019, in order to expand into the Japanese market and expedite the development of new smart pet products, the Company invested $142,000 for 51% ownership interest in Dogness Japan Co. Ltd. (“Dogness Japan”), with the remaining 49% ownership interest owned by an unrelated individual. Due to the negative impact of COVID-19 and because no material revenue was generated since its inception, on November 28, 2020, the Board approved to the sale of the Company’s 51% ownership interest to the remaining shareholder of Dogness Japan.

 

Dogness Pet Culture (Dongguan) Co., Ltd. (“Dogness Culture”) was incorporated on December 14, 2018 with registered capital of RMB 10 million (approximately $1.5 million). The capital was not paid and there were no active business operations. On January 15, 2020, the Company’s subsidiary, Dongguan Dogness, entered into an agreement with the original shareholder of Dogness Culture, who is related to Mr. Silong Chen, our Chief Executive Officer, to acquire 51.2% ownership interest of Dogness Culture for a nominal fee. The remaining equity interest of 48.8% was also transferred to other two third parties for a nominal fee. Dongguan Dogness thereafter contributed cash consideration of RMB 5.12 million (approximately $0.79 million) on April 16, 2020 along with other two shareholders’ capital contributions of RMB 4.88 million (approximately $0.76 million). Dogness Culture will mainly focus on developing and expanding pet food market in China in the near future.

 

Our Corporate Structure  

 

 

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  Dogness (International) Corporation, a British Virgin Islands business company (“Dogness” when individually referenced), which is the parent holding company issuing securities hereby);
     
  Dogness Overseas Ltd (“Dogness Overseas”), a British Virgin Islands business company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dogness.
     
  Dogness Group LLC (“Dogness Group”), a Delaware limited company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dogness Overseas; and
     
  Jiasheng Enterprise (Hongkong) Co., Limited, a Hong Kong company (“HK Jiasheng” when individually referenced), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dogness;
     
  Dogness (Hongkong) Pet’s Products Co., Limited, a Hong Kong company (“HK Dogness” when individually referenced), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dogness;
     
  Dogness Intelligent Technology (Dongguan) Co., Ltd., a PRC company (“Dongguan Dogness”), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of HK Dogness;
     
  Dongguan Jiasheng Enterprise Co., Ltd., a PRC company (“Dongguan Jiasheng”), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dongguan Dogness;
     
  Zhangzhou Meijia Metal Product Co., Ltd, a PRC company (“Meijia”), which is a Wholly owned subsidiary of Dongguan Dogness;
     
  Dogness Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. (“Intelligence Guangzhou”), a PRC company, and Dongguan Jiasheng owns 58% of the equity of Intelligence Guangzhou ; and
     
  Dogness Pet Culture (Dongguan) Co., Ltd. (“Dogness Culture”), a PRC company, and Dongguan Dogness owns 51.2% of the equity of Dogness Culture.

 

Permission Required from the PRC Authorities for the Company’s Operation and to Issue Our Class A Common Shares to Foreign Investors

 

As of the date of this prospectus, we and our Subsidiaries have obtained all permits and licenses that are required by Chinese authorities for our Subsidiaries to operate in China and for us to offer the securities being registered to foreign investors. Below is a list of the required permits and licenses:

 

Business Licenses
Food Distribution License
Pollutant Discharge Permit
License for the Discharge of Sewage into Drainage Pipelines
Veterinary Drugs Distribution Permit

 

 

As of the  date of this prospectus, all our Subsidiaries in the PRC have obtained the required business licenses from the State Administration for Market Regulation for their operations, and all such licenses are currently in effect. Further, Meijia obtained a Food Distribution License from the Zhangpu County Administration for Market Regulation on December 23, 2019, with a term of five years till December 22, 2024, for its catering services provided to its workers at the cafeteria, and a Pollutant Discharge Permit for the operation of the Meijia plant from the Zhangpu Ecological Environment Bureau of Zhangzhou City on June 20, 2019, with a term of three years till June 19, 2022. Dongguan Jiasheng obtained a License for the Discharge of Sewage into Drainage Pipelines from the Ecological Environment Bureau of Dongguan City on May 21, 2021, effective till May 20, 2026, for its manufacture. Dogness Culture obtained a Veterinary Drugs Distribution Permit from the Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Dongguan City on April 27, 2021, effective till April 27, 2026, for its importing and distributing pet drugs.

 

Pursuant to the Food Safety Law of the PRC and the Administrative Measures for Food Distribution Licensing, a permit is required for vendors engaging in the sale of food and catering services. Meijia provides catering services to its workers at its cafeteria and has obtained the Food Distribution License. In the event that Meijia could not maintain or renew such license but continues to engage in catering services, it would be subject to the confiscation of the illegal income, the illegally distributed food, and the tools, equipment, raw materials and other items that are used in the illegal distribution activities, as well as a fine of no less than RMB 50,000 but no more than RMB 100,000 if the illegally distributed food worth no more than RMB 10,000, or a fine of no less than ten times but no more than twenty times of the value of the goods if such value is no less than RMB 10,000.

 

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Pursuant to the Environmental Protection Law of the PRC and the Regulation on the Permit Administration of Pollutant Discharge, a business operator which is subject to the permit administration of pollutant discharge, such as Meijia, shall obtain a pollutant discharge permit. If Meijia fails to maintain or renew such permit and continues to discharge pollutant, it would be subject to an order of rectification, restriction on production, or suspension of production for rectification, and a fine of no less than RMB 2 million and no more than RMB 10 million; in case of serious violation, upon the approval of the competent people’s government, it may be ordered to suspend or cease its business.

 

Pursuant to the Regulations on Urban Drainage and Sewage Treatment and the Administrative Measures for the Licensing of Discharge of Urban Sewage into the Drainage Pipelines, any person or entity engaging in industry, construction, catering, medical services and other activities (the “drainage entity”) that discharges sewage into municipal drainage facilities shall apply to the competent authority for a license authorizing the sewage being discharged into drainage pipelines (the “Sewage Discharge License”), the violation of which could subject the drainage entity to (i) an order to cease the illegal act and take measures to remedy within the prescribed time, (ii) an obligation to apply for the Sewage Discharge License, and (iii) potentially, a fine of no more than RMB 500,000. Further, if the drainage entity does not discharge sewage in accordance with the requirements specified by the Sewage Discharge License, it shall be ordered to cease the illegal act and rectify within the prescribed time, and may be subject to a fine of no more than RMB 50,000; in case of serious violations, its Sewage Discharge License shall be revoked, and it shall be subject to a fine of more than RMB 50,000 but less than RMB 500,000, and the public can be informed of its violations. In the event of violations that cause damages, the drainage entity shall bear the compensation liability, and if a violation constitutes a criminal act, the drainage entity shall bear the relevant criminal liability. Dongguan Jiasheng has obtained the Sewage Discharge License and it is currently effective.

 

Pursuant to the Regulations on the Administration of Veterinary Drugs, an enterprise that engages in the distribution of veterinary drugs shall obtain a veterinary drugs distribution permit, violation of which may subject the enterprise to penalties including, suspension of operation, confiscation of the raw materials, auxiliary materials and packing materials used in the distribution of the veterinary drugs and the illegal income related, and a fine worth no less than twice but no more than five times of the value of the illegally distributed veterinary drugs. If the value of such goods cannot be verified, the enterprise shall be subject to a fine of more than RMB 100,000 but less than RMB 200,000. In case of serious violation, the enterprise shall be subject to the revocation of the veterinary drug distribution permit and may be subject to criminal liability. Dogness Culture has obtained a Veterinary Drugs Distribution which is currently in effect.

 

As of the date of this prospectus, except for the potential uncertainties disclosed below, we and our Subsidiaries have not received any requirements to obtain permissions from any PRC authorities, including the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) and the Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”), to operate in China or to issue our Class A Common Shares to foreign investors. In reaching this conclusion, we relied on an opinion of our PRC counsel, and a consent from the PRC counsel has been filed with this registration statement as Exhibit 23.4.

 

On August 8, 2006, six Chinese regulatory agencies, including the Ministry of Commerce of China (“MOFCOM”), jointly issued the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors (the “M&A Rules”), which became effective on September 8, 2006 and amended on June 22, 2009. The M&A Rules contain provisions that require that an offshore special purpose vehicle (“SPV”) formed for listing purposes and controlled directly or indirectly by Chinese companies or individuals shall obtain the approval of CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such SPV’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. On September 21, 2006, CSRC published procedures specifying documents and materials required to be submitted to it by an SPV seeking CSRC approval of overseas listings. However, the application of the M&A Rules remains unclear with no consensus currently existing among leading Chinese law firms regarding the scope and applicability of the CSRC approval requirement. We have not chosen to voluntarily request approval under the M&A Rules. Based on the understanding of the current PRC law, rules and regulations, given that Dogness was not established by a merger with or an acquisition of any PRC domestic companies as defined under the M&A Rules, we believe that, as of the date of this prospectus, CSRC’s approval under the M&A Rules is not required for the listing and trading of our Common Shares on Nasdaq in the context of this offering. However, our PRC legal counsel has further advised us that there remains some uncertainty as to how the M&A Rules will be interpreted or implemented, and our understanding summarized above is subject to any new laws, rules and regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations in any form relating to the M&A Rules. We cannot assure you that relevant Chinese government agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion.

 

On February 7, 2021, the Anti-Monopoly Committee of the State Council promulgated the Anti-Monopoly Guidelines for the Platform Economy Sector, or the Anti-Monopoly Guideline, aiming to improve anti-monopoly administration on online platforms. The Anti-Monopoly Guideline, operating as the compliance guidance under the then-existing PRC anti-monopoly regulatory regime for platform economy operators, specifically prohibits certain acts of the platform economy operators that may have the effect of eliminating or limiting market competition, such as concentration of undertakings. The Anti-Monopoly Guideline requires that the Ministry of Commerce, or MOC, shall be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain thresholds are triggered. In addition, the security review rules issued by the MOC that became effective in September, 2011 specify that mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise “national defense and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise “national security” concerns are subject to strict review by the MOC, and the rules prohibit any activities attempting to bypass a security review, including by structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement. In the future, we may grow our business by acquiring complementary businesses. Complying with the requirements of the above-mentioned regulations and other relevant rules to complete such transactions could be time consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the MOC or its local counterparts, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.

 

On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly released the Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law, or the Opinions. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-concept overseas listed companies, and cybersecurity and data privacy protection requirements, etc. Given the current PRC regulatory environment, it is uncertain when and whether we or our PRC subsidiaries, will be required to obtain permission from the PRC government to list on U.S. exchanges in the future, and even when such permission is obtained, whether it will be denied or rescinded. We have been closely monitoring regulatory developments in China regarding any necessary approvals from the CSRC or other PRC governmental authorities required for overseas listings, including this offering. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanctions or regulatory objection to this offering from the CSRC or other PRC governmental authorities. However, there remains significant uncertainty as to the enactment, interpretation and implementation of regulatory requirements related to overseas securities offerings and other capital markets activities.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, on December 24, 2021, CSRC issued the Administrative Provisions of the State Council Regarding the Overseas Issuance of Securities and Listing by Domestic Enterprises (the “Draft Administrative Provisions”) and the Measures for the Overseas Issuance of Securities and Listing Record-Filings by Domestic Enterprises (Draft for Comments) (the “Draft Filing Measures”), collectively, the “Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings”, which were published for public comments till January 23, 2022. According to the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, among other things, after making initial applications with overseas stock markets for initial public offerings or listings, all China-based companies shall file with CSRC within three working days. The required filing materials with CSRC include (without limitation): (i) record-filing reports and related undertakings, (ii) compliance certificates, filing or approval documents from the primary regulator of the applicants’ businesses (if applicable), (iii) security assessment opinions issued by related departments (if applicable), (iv) PRC legal opinions, and (v) prospectus. In addition, overseas offerings and listings may be prohibited for such China-based companies when any of the following applies: (1) if the intended securities offerings and listings are specifically prohibited by the laws, regulations or provision of the PRC; (2) if the intended securities offerings and listings may constitute a threat to, or endanger national security as reviewed and determined by competent authorities under the State Council in accordance with laws; (3) if there are material ownership disputes over applicants’ equity interests, major assets, core technologies, or the others; (4) if, in the past three years, applicants’ domestic enterprises or controlling shareholders, de facto controllers have committed corruption, bribery, embezzlement, misappropriation of property, or other criminal offenses disruptive to the order of the socialist market economy, or are currently under judicial investigation for suspicion of criminal offenses, or are under investigation for suspicion of major violations; (5) if, in the past three years, any directors, supervisors, or senior executives of applicants have been subject to administrative punishments for severe violations, or are currently under judicial investigation for suspicion of criminal offenses, or are under investigation for suspicion of major violations; (6) other circumstances as prescribed by the State Council. The Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings further require all overseas-listed China-based companies to file with CSRC for certain matters, including follow-on offerings, after their initial public offering. The Draft Administrative Provisions stipulate that a fine between RMB 1 million and RMB 10 million may be imposed if an applicant fails to fulfill the filing requirements with CSRC or conducts an overseas offering or listing in violation of the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, and in cases of severe violations, a parallel order to suspend relevant businesses or halt operations for rectification may be issued, and relevant business permits or operational license revoked.

 

As of the date of this prospectus, the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings have not been promulgated, and neither us nor any of our Subsidiaries has been required to obtain permission from, or make filings with, CSRC or any Chinese governmental agencies for any of our U.S. offerings. While the final version of the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings is expected to be adopted in 2022, we believe that none of the six situations that would clearly prohibit overseas offering and listings apply to us. In reaching this conclusion, we are relying on an opinion of our PRC counsel and that there is uncertainty inherent in relying on an opinion of counsel in connection with whether we or our Subsidiaries are required to obtain permissions from the Chinese government that is required to approve of our operations and/or offering. Further, the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, if enacted, may subject us or our Subsidiaries to additional compliance requirements for our follow-on offerings in the future. In the event that we or any of our Subsidiaries are subject to the compliance requirements, we cannot assure you that any of us will be able to receive clearance of such filing requirements in a timely manner, or at all. Any failure of us or our Subsidiaries to fully comply with new regulatory requirements may significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Class A Common Shares, cause significant disruption to our business operations, severely damage our reputation, materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our Class A Common Shares to significantly decline in value or become worthless. See “Risk Factor — Draft rules for China-based companies seeking for securities offerings in foreign stock markets was released by the CSRC for public consultation. While such rules have not yet come into effect, the Chinese government may exert more oversight and control over overseas public offerings conducted by China-based issuers, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Class A Common Shares to investors and could cause the value of our Class A Common Shares to significantly decline or become worthless.”; “Risk Factor — Our failure to obtain prior approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) for the listing and trading of our Class A Common Shares on a foreign stock exchange could delay this offering or could have a material adverse effect upon our business, operating results, reputation and trading price of our Class A Common Shares”.

 

We or our Subsidiaries may also be subject to PRC laws relating to the use, sharing, retention, security and transfer of confidential and private information, such as personal information and other data. On November 14, 2021, the CAC released the Regulations on the Network Data Security Management (Draft for Comments), or the Data Security Management Regulations Draft, to solicit public opinion and comments till December 13, 2021, which has not been promulgated as of the date of this prospectus. Pursuant to the Data Security Management Regulations Draft, data processor holding more than one million users’ personal information shall be subject to cybersecurity review before listing abroad. Data processing activities refers to activities such as the collection, retention, use, processing, transmission, provision, disclosure, or deletion of data. According to the latest amended Cybersecurity Review Measures, which was promulgated on November 16, 2021 and became effective on February 15, 2022, an online platform operator holding more than one million users’ personal information shall be subject to cybersecurity review before listing abroad.

 

We, through our Subsidiaries, are primarily engaged in the design, manufacturing and sales of various types of pet leashes, pet collars, pet harnesses, intelligent pet products and retractable leashes. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been informed by any PRC governmental authority, including the CAC, of any requirement that we or our Subsidiaries file for approval for this offering. We don’t believe that we or any of our Subsidiaries will be subject to either the amended Cybersecurity Review Measures or the Data Security Management Regulations Draft since none of us are online platform operators or data processors with more than one million users’ personal information. In reaching this conclusion, we replied on an opinion of our PRC counsel, who has also advised us that, since the above-mentioned laws and regulations are either newly adopted or have not be formally promulgated, it is uncertain how they will be enacted, interpreted or implemented, and whether it will affect us. Since the 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 Subsidiaries’ daily business operation, their ability to accept foreign investments, and our ability to list or offer securities on an U.S. exchange.

 

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In addition, according to the Personal Information Protection Law issued by Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the PRC on August 20, 2021, where the purpose of the activity is to provide a product or service to that natural person located within China, such activity shall comply with the Personal Information Protection Law. Further, the Data Security Law, which took effect in September 2021, provides that where any data handling activity carried out outside of the territory of China harms the national security, public interests, or the legitimate rights and interests of citizens or organizations of China, legal liability shall be investigated in accordance with such law. As of the date hereof, we are of the view that we and our Subsidiaries are in compliance with the applicable PRC laws and regulations governing the data privacy and personal information in all material respects, including the data privacy and personal information requirements of the Cyberspace Administration of China, and we and our Subsidiaries have not received any complaints from any third party, or been investigated or punished by any PRC competent authority in relation to data privacy and personal information protection. In reaching this conclusion, we and our Subsidiaries have adopted corresponding internal control measures to ensure the security of our information system and confidentiality of our customers’ personal information, including, but not limited to the followings:

 

  We and our Subsidiaries provide training to our employees to ensure that they are aware of our internal policies in relation to data protection.
     
  We and our Subsidiaries have specific network administrator responsible for installing the network firewall, remoting backup storage of important databases, business data, and documents, and promoting information security awareness among our employees.

 

For the data and personal information collected from the customers, we set out our data privacy policy and obtain the prior consent of the customers as required by the applicable laws and regulations before collecting their data and personal information. We collect personal information in accordance with the principle of legality, propriety and necessity, and do not collect personal information irrelevant to the service we provide to the customers. We have not shared, transferred or publicly disclosed user data without prior consent or authorization from the customers, unless otherwise permitted by relevant laws and regulations. However, the Personal Information Protection Law and the Data Security Law are relatively new, there remains uncertainty as to how the laws will be interpreted or implemented and whether the PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, may adopt new laws, regulations, rules, or detailed implementation and interpretation related to the two laws. We may be required to comply with laws and regulations in the PRC relating to data privacy and personal information, and failure to comply with such laws and regulations may potentially lead to regulatory or civil liability.

 

In conclusion, we and our Subsidiaries have received all required permissions from the Chinese authorities and no permission has been denied. In reaching this conclusion, we relied on an opinion of our PRC counsel, and a consent from the PRC counsel has been filed with this registration statement as Exhibit 23.4. But given the current regulatory environment in the PRC, we are still subject to the uncertainty of interpretation and enforcement of the rules and regulations in the PRC, which can change quickly due to any future actions of the Chinese authorities with little advance notice. The Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, Data Security Management Regulations Draft, Cybersecurity Review Measures, Personal Information Protection Law and Data Security Law are relatively new, there are substantial uncertainties regarding their interpretation and application, the PRC regulatory authorities may take a view that is contrary to the analysis above. We are not sure whether the PRC regulatory authorities will adopt other rules and restrictions in the future. See “Risk Factor — Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could have a material adverse effect on us” and “Risk Factor — China Securities Regulatory Commission and other Chinese government agencies may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers, especially those in the technology filed. Additional compliance procedures may be required in connection with this offering, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval. If we are required to obtain PRC governmental permission to commence the sale of our securities, we will not commence the offering until we obtain such permissions. As a result, we face uncertainty about future actions by the PRC government that could significantly affect our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.”

 

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Dividend Distributions and Cash Transfer among Dogness and the Subsidiaries

 

As a holding company, we may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries, including those based in the PRC, for our cash and financing requirements. . If any of our PRC Subsidiaries incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing such debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. To date, none of the Subsidiaries has made any dividends or distributions to Dogness, and Dogness has not made any dividends or distributions to our shareholders. We anticipate that we will retain any earnings to support operations and to finance the growth and development of our business. Therefore, we do not expect to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Under British Virgin Islands law, we may only pay dividends from surplus (the excess, if any, at the time of the determination of the total assets of our company over the sum of our liabilities, as shown in our books of account, plus our capital), and we must be solvent before and after the dividend payment in the sense that we will be able to satisfy our liabilities as they become due in the ordinary course of business; and the realizable value of assets of our company will not be less than the sum of our total liabilities, other than deferred taxes as shown on our books of account, and our capital. If we determine to pay dividends on any of our Common Shares in the future, as a holding company, we will be dependent on receipt of funds from our Hong Kong subsidiaries, HK Jiasheng and HK Dogness. Current PRC regulations permit the PRC Subsidiaries to pay dividends to HK Dogness only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our subsidiaries in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. Each of such entity in China is also required to further set aside a portion of its after-tax profits to fund the employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at the discretion of its board of directors. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation.

 

The PRC government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currencies out of the PRC. We receive a majority of our revenues in Renminbi, which currently is not a freely convertible currency. Restrictions on currency conversion imposed by the PRC government may limit our ability to use revenues generated in Renminbi to fund our expenditures denominated in foreign currencies or our business activities outside China. Under China’s existing foreign exchange regulations, Renminbi may be freely converted into foreign currency for payments relating to current account transactions, which include among other things dividend payments and payments for the import of goods and services, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Our PRC subsidiaries are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from the related government agencies, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Our PRC subsidiaries may also retain foreign currency in their respective current account bank accounts for use in payment of international current account transactions. However, we cannot assure you that the PRC government will not at its discretion take measures in the future to restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions.

 

Conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies, and of foreign currencies into Renminbi, for payments relating to capital account transactions, which principally includes investments and loans, generally requires the approval of China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) or other relevant PRC governmental authorities. Any foreign loans procured by our PRC Subsidiaries is required to be registered with SAFE or its local branches or satisfy relevant requirements, and our PRC Subsidiaries may not procure loans which exceed the difference between their respective total project investment amount and registered capital or 2 times (which may be varied year by year due to the change of PRC’s national macro-control policy) of the net worth of our PRC Subsidiary. According to the relevant PRC regulations on foreign-invested enterprises in China, capital contributions to our PRC Subsidiaries are subject to the approval of or filing with State Administration for Market Regulation in its local branches, the Ministry of Commerce in its local branches and registration with a local bank authorized by SAFE. For these capital account transactions, we must take the steps legally required under the PRC laws, for example, we will open a special foreign exchange account, remit the offering proceeds into such special foreign exchange account, and apply for settlement of the foreign exchange. The timing of the process is difficult to estimate because the efficiencies of different SAFE branches can vary materially. In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations on loans to, and direct investment in, PRC entities by offshore holding companies, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans by us to our PRC Subsidiary or with respect to future capital contributions by us to our PRC Subsidiaries. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds from this offering and to capitalize or otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity, our ability to fund and expand our business and our Common Shares. On the other hand, restrictions on the convertibility of the Renminbi for capital account transactions could affect the ability of our PRC Subsidiaries to make investments overseas or to obtain foreign currency through debt or equity financing, including by means of loans or capital contributions from us. We cannot assure you that the registration process will not delay or prevent the conversion of Renminbi for use outside of China. Currently, we have installed cash management policies or procedures in place that dictate how funds are transferred, under an umbrella of corporate policies and financial reporting policies. Even though our policies do not specifically address the limitations, as discussed above, on the amount of funds the Company can transfer out of China, if we decide to transfer cash out of China in the future, all relevant transfers will be conducted in compliance with such limitations. Please see “Risk Factor — China’s economic, political and social conditions, as well as changes in any government policies, laws and regulations, could have a material adverse effect on our business”; “ Risk Factor – We may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries, including those based in the PRC, for our cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business”; “Risk Factor — PRC regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of this Offering to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business”; “Risk Factor — Governmental control of currency conversion may limit our ability to use our revenues effectively and the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to obtain financing”; and Risk Factor – We must remit the offering proceeds to China before they may be used to benefit our business in China, the process of which may be time-consuming, and we cannot assure that we can finish all necessary governmental registration processes in a timely manner.

 

In addition, the transfer of funds among our PRC Subsidiaries are subject to the Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Private Lending Cases (2020 Revision, the “Provisions on Private Lending Cases”), which was implemented on August 20, 2020 to regulate the financing activities between natural persons, legal persons and unincorporated organizations. As advised by our PRC counsel, the Provisions on Private Lending Cases does not prohibit using cash generated from one subsidiary to fund the operations of another subsidiary in China. As of the date of this prospectus, no cash generated from one subsidiary has been used to fund another subsidiary’s operations, expect for the financing obtained by the Company be transferred to operating entities for their operations. We have not been notified of any other restriction which could limit our PRC Subsidiaries’ ability to transfer cash between subsidiaries in China, and do not anticipate any difficulties or limitations in our ability to transfer cash between subsidiaries. As of the date of this prospectus, no cash generated from one subsidiary has been used to fund another subsidiary’s operations; for that reason, our cash management policies do not specifically address this type of transfers between subsidiaries. We do not anticipate any occasions where cash generated from one subsidiary needs to be transferred to another subsidiary and will comply with PRC laws discussed above should we decide to conduct such a transfer. See “Prospectus Summary – Selected Condensed Consolidated Financial Schedule of Dogness (International) Corporation and its Subsidiaries” and the consolidated financial statements.

 

Cash flow between Dogness and the Subsidiaries primarily consists of transfers from Dogness to these Subsidiaries for short-term working capital loan, which is mainly used in payment of operating expenses and investments. To date, there are no other assets transferred between Dogness and the Subsidiaries except for the below cash transfers:

 

  For the year ended June 30, 2019, cash transferred from Dogness to HK Dogness was $98 for payments of miscellaneous charge. The source of fund was the cash retained in our Company after IPO. In addition, our HK Dogness repaid $44 back to Dogness for the year ended June 30, 2019.
     
  For the year ended June 30, 2020, cash transferred from Dogness to HK Dogness was $103,333 for short-term working capital loan. The source of funds was the cash retained.
     
  For the year ended June 30, 2021, Dogness transferred $505,850 to the Delaware subsidiary, Dogness Group LLC, for short term working capital loan purpose and transferred $2,581,533 to HK Dogness for short term working capital loan purpose. The source of funds was the registered direct public offering we completed on January 20,2021 with net proceeds of $6.6 million. For the year ended June 30, 2021, Dogness also received cash repayment transferred from HK Dogness in the amount of $304.
     
  For the six months ended December 31, 2021, Dogness transferred $1,355,982 ($30,000 + $1,325,982) to Dogness Group LLC. The source of funds was the equity financing we completed in July 2021 and the exercise of warrants in November and December 2021.

 

In the future, cash proceeds raised from overseas financing activities may be transferred by Dogness to the Subsidiaries via capital contribution or shareholder loans, as the case may be.

 

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Summary of risk factors

 

Investing in our Class A Common Shares involves significant risks. You should carefully consider all of the information in this prospectus before making an investment in our Class A Common Shares. Below please find a summary of the principal risks we face, organized under relevant headings. These risks are discussed more fully in the section titled “Risk factors.”

 

Risks related to our business. See “Risk Factor — Risks Related to Our Business”

 

Risks and uncertainties related to our business include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

  The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on our operations since January 2020 and could materially adversely affect our business and financial results for the remaining months of the 2020 calendar year.
  We may incur liability for unpaid taxes, including interest and penalties.
  If our largest customers reduce their orders with us, such revenues would be very difficult to replace.
  Our smart products have only recently entered distribution and are not as well-known as those of our competitors.
  Price increases in raw materials and sourced products could harm the Company’s financial results.
  Our reliance on third party logistics providers may put us at risk of service failures for our customers.
  The loss of any of our key customers could reduce our revenues and our profitability.
  If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights, it could harm our business and competitive position.
  Outstanding bank loans may reduce our available funds.

 

Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure and Operation. See “Risk Factor — Our Corporate Structure and Operation”

 

We are also subject to risks and uncertainties related to our corporate structure, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

  Our dual class structure concentrate a majority of voting power in our Chief Executive Officer, who is the only owner of our Class B Common Shares.
  We are a “foreign private issuer,” and our disclosure obligations differ from those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. As a result, we may not provide you the same information as U.S. domestic reporting companies or we may provide information at different times, which may make it more difficult for you to evaluate our performance and prospects.
  As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to rely on exemptions from certain Nasdaq corporate governance standards applicable to U.S. issuers, including the requirement that a majority of an issuer’s directors consist of independent directors. If we opt to rely on such exemptions in the future, such decision might afford less protection to holders of our Class A Common Shares.
  Our failure to obtain prior approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) for the listing and trading of our Class A Common Shares on a foreign stock exchange could delay this offering or could have a material adverse effect upon our business, operating results, reputation and trading price of our Class A Common Shares.

 

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Class A Common Shares. See “Risk Factor – Risks Related to Ownership of Our Class A Common Shares”

 

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Class A Common Shares include, but not limited to, the following:

 

  We are an “emerging growth company,” and we cannot be certain whether the reduced reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our Class A Common Shares less attractive to investors.
  Because we have elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards for an “emerging growth company” our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with these accounting standards as of the public company effective dates.

 

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  If we are unable to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in the future, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our Class A Common Shares may decline.
  Recent joint statement by the SEC and PCAOB, proposed rule changes submitted by Nasdaq, and an act passed by the US Senate all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the PCAOB. These developments could add uncertainties to our offering.
  The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the PCAOB. These developments could add uncertainties to our offering.

 

Risks Related to Doing Business in China. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China”

 

We are based in China and have the majority of our operations in China, so we face risks and uncertainties related to doing business in China in general, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

  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. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory provisions and contractual terms, it may be difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy. See “Risk Factor — Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could have a material adverse effect on us.”
     
  China’s social and political conditions may change and become unstable. Any sudden changes to China’s political system or the occurrence of widespread social unrest could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. See “Risk Factor — China’s economic, political and social conditions, as well as changes in any government policies, laws and regulations may be quick with little advance notice and, could have a material adverse effect on our business and the value of our Class A Common Shares.”
     
  The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to securities regulation, data protection, cybersecurity and mergers and acquisitions and other matters. See “Risk Factor — The Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities and may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and the value of our Class A Common Shares.”
     
  China Securities Regulatory Commission and other Chinese government agencies may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers, especially those in the technology filed. See “Risk Factor — China Securities Regulatory Commission and other Chinese government agencies may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers, especially those in the technology filed. Additional compliance procedures may be required in connection with this offering, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval. If we are required to obtain PRC governmental permission to commence the sale of our securities, we will not commence the offering until we obtain such permissions. As a result, we face uncertainty about future actions by the PRC government that could significantly affect our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.”
     
  The proceeds of this offering may be sent back to the PRC, and the process for sending such proceeds back to the PRC may be time-consuming after the closing of this offering. We may be unable to use these proceeds to grow our business until our PRC subsidiaries receive such proceeds in the PRC. See “Risk Factor — We must remit the offering proceeds to China before they may be used to benefit our business in China, the process of which may be time-consuming, and we cannot assure that we can finish all necessary governmental registration processes in a timely manner.”

 

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  Our business involves collecting and retaining certain internal and customer data. We also maintain information about various aspects of our operations as well as regarding our employees. The integrity and protection of our customer, employee and company data is critical to our business. Our customers and employees expect that we will adequately protect their personal information. We are required by applicable laws to keep strictly confidential the personal information that we collect, and to take adequate security measures to safeguard such information. See “Risk Factor — We may be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information provided by our customers.”
     
  Failure by any such shareholders or beneficial owners to comply with Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Special Purpose Vehicles could subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, limit our PRC subsidiary’s ability to make distributions or pay dividends or affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and prospects. See “Risk Factor — PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident shareholders to personal liability and limit our ability to acquire PRC companies or to inject capital into our PRC subsidiary, limit our PRC subsidiary ability to distribute profits to us, or otherwise materially and adversely affect us.”

 

Business Overview

 

We believe technology can bring pets and their caregivers closer together. At Dogness, we combine our research and development expertise with customer feedback to make products that improve pets’ lives. We create and manufacture fun, useful and high-quality products for everyone to experience. We believe that high technology pet products must be accessible and reliable to capture pet lovers’ imagination and to enhance their pets’ lives.

 

Dogness has been making the highest quality collars, harnesses, and traditional and retractable leashes since 2003, featuring stylish design and rugged engineering. Beginning with smart collars and harnesses in 2016, based on the belief that internet-connected products could improve the lives of pets and their caregivers, Dogness developed a suite of smart products, moving past these first products into smart feeders, fountains, treat dispensers and robots to interact with pets.

 

Dogness focuses on connected pet care, to link pets and pet caregivers and ultimately to integrate the “Smart Pet Ecosystem” into a single cohesive platform that integrates smart technology into pets’ lives. The Smart Pet Ecosystem has four major areas: smart pet technology, pet care, leashes and collars, and pet health and wellness.

 

Smart Pet Technology

 

Through a single platform, the Dogness mobile app, our smart products allow pet owners to remotely see, hear, speak, feed, play, and interact with their pets in different ways. We accomplish all of this with a tool the owner likely already has, a smart phone. The Dogness app is available for both Android and iOS and communicates with the smart product anywhere the phone and smart product both have Wi-Fi or cellular service. If your dog will listen to you from across the room, you can tell her to roll over from around the world.

 

Dogness Smart Wearables: Our smart wearable collars and harnesses feature integrated electronics, which allows us to pair high quality collars with a lightweight smart component and LED lights. We have focused on the important details for dog owners, allowing owners to locate their pets, direct their pets’ movements, communicate with their dogs, provide tailored instantaneous feedback to problem barking and keep track of exercise and other biodata.

 

Dogness Smart iPet Robot: Pet owners will be able to see their pets through a camera, hear their pets through a built-in microphone, interact with their pets by feeding them treats, and play with their pets through an interactive laser pointer. Pet owners have full control over the 360-degree mobility of the robot through the Dogness app and can securely take and save pictures and videos of their dogs.

 

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Dogness Mini Treat Robot: Space-conscious pet owners can see their pets through a stationary tilting camera that securely records photo and video, hear their pets through a built-in microphone, interact with their pets by feeding them treats, and play with them through an interactive laser pointer.

 

Dogness Smart CAM Feeder: Pet owners can now ensure that their pets are well-fed and on-schedule. Able to hold around 6.5 pounds of dry food, the smart feeder helps pet owners ensure the health of their pets, even when away from home. Pet owners can see their pets’ eating habits night and day through a built-in camera with night vision and call their pets to the feeder through a voice recording that can be programmed to be played at meal times.

 

Dogness Smart Fountain: The smart fountain ensures that pets stay hydrated with a source of clean filtered water from a patented filtering technology. Additional features include an oxygenating, free-falling, recirculating water stream for optimal freshness, the ability to increase or decrease the flow of water, a replaceable carbon water filter and a nano filter to maintain water freshness, a submersible pump for quiet operation, dishwasher-safe material, and an easily assembled and disassembled design.

 

Dogness Smart Fountain Mini and Smart Fountain Plus: In addition to our Smart Fountain, we have developed the Smart Fountain Mini (1L capacity) and Smart Fountain Plus (3.2L capacity) for additional options for pet owners. The Smart Fountain Mini enables our products to be used in smaller spaces, while the Smart Fountain Plus ensures an even larger reservoir for pets. Both fountains maintain a constant flow of water, so pets can drink water that is as fresh as from the faucet. The Smart Fountains have a three-stage filtering system, which ensures the water flowing out is filtered, fresh and clean.

 

Dogness Smart CAM Treater: Allows pet owners to see their pets night and day through a 160-degree full HD camera with night vision, hear their pets through a built-in microphone, interact with their pets by speaking to them through a built-in speaker, and play with their pets by tossing them treats.

 

Dogness App Feeder and App Feeder Mini: Pet owners can ensure that their pets are well-fed and on-schedule. Able to hold around 6.5 pounds of dry food, the App feeder enables pet owners to set up their pet’s feeding schedule from the App via their mobile phone, even when away from home. App Feeder Mini holds around 2.0 pounds of dry food and is suitable for cats and small dogs.

 

Dogness Smart Vacuumed Pet Food Storage Containers. Dogness proprietary vacuum food storage container was designed to use an intelligent, constant pressure vacuum locking method, which significantly upgrades and modernizes conventional food storage, by completely isolating mildew and moisture in the air, keeping pet food fresh and crispy for longer, and bringing a higher quality to pets’ healthy lives.

 

Dogness C6 GPS Tracker “Discover”: Pet owners can have peace of mind knowing where their pets are anytime when they open the GPS Tracker App on their mobile phones. The Trackers are 4G compatible and allow the owners to keep track of the location of their pets. They can also set up virtual fences and the GPS Tracker App will alert the pet parents if their pets are beyond the fences. The Trackers also monitor and provide the pets’ activity level statistics.

 

Pet Care

 

Our pet care products currently focus on high quality pet shampoos. We launched these shampoo products in August 2018.

 

We have two lines of shampoos, which are focused on and tailored to Chinese online and offline consumption. Our One on One Service line is focused on consumer purchasers and consists of dog and cat shampoo products that feature natural plant and amino acid composition. In addition to universal-purpose products, we have also developed seven breed-tailored shampoo products for golden retrievers, poodles, huskies, bulldogs, border collies and corgis. Our Professional Bathing & Spa line is focused on professional purchasers, like dog and cat groomers. These products consist of bathing products, hair conditioners and essential oil products.

 

Leashes and Collars

 

Traditional Product Lines: We produce collars, harnesses and leashes in seven main series (Classic, Elegance, Luxury, LED, Holiday, Special Function, and Cat series). Given the choices available to customers, we currently manufacture between 500 and 600 traditional products and can add additional options to meet customer preferences. Our traditional product lines use leather, nylon, Teflon-coated fabrics and other materials to suit consumer preferences. Not only do we produce these products; we also design fabric patterns and invent improved components such as a comfort curved buckle for collars and locking closing mechanism for leashes.

 

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Retractable Leashes: In addition to our newest smart products, we have devoted significant effort to designing and manufacturing some of the finest retractable leashes available. Retractable leashes balance freedom for the dog with control for the owner. If used well, a retractable leash promotes good communication between the two, as the dog has exactly as much room to roam as the owner permits, and this amount can be adjusted to suit the environment and circumstances. Dogness also offers an updated retractable leash to enhance the pet walking experience. The new leash allows pet owners to attach Dogness accessories to their retractable leashes, which currently include an LED light for better visibility in low light settings; a convenience box to store items such as doggie bags, treats, or keys; and a Bluetooth speaker to listen to music or answer calls.

 

Other Products: In addition to collars, leashes and harnesses, we also produce lanyards for use by humans and ornaments that attach to collars. As to the lanyards, we produce such lanyards using our fabric weaving machines. Because we have our production in-house, we can design lanyards that match a customer’s need, in terms of color, size, quantity and pattern. Our hanging ornament series uses high-quality electroplating techniques to create fashionable accents for pet collars. We make a variety of patterns in bright and vibrant colors, as well as custom bells for cat collars.

 

Upcoming New Products

 

Dogness expects to launch additional seven (7) new products with 24 SKUs, including convenient indoor pet toilets, air purifiers, smart pet travel bags and other products.

 

Pet Health and Wellness

 

One of our new research areas is pet-focused health and wellness products. One of our subsidiaries is currently serving as a distributor of a few premium pet food brands from overseas. While we do not currently offer our own branded products for sale in this category, we are currently developing supplements and nutrition products in consultation with veterinarians and pharmacists and anticipate introducing these products in the future.

 

Operations

 

Dogness has marketing and sales networks all over the world and has businesses in Dallas, Dongguan, Hong Kong and Zhangzhou. Senior management, R&D and production, marketing, customer service and finance operate from Dogness’ headquarters in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, which also serves as the manufacturing base for smart products and dog leashes. Dogness Group LLC in Dallas, Texas, USA serves as the sales and service center for all international markets and R&D center for pet health and wellness. The company’s factory in Zhangzhou, Fujian serves as a material production base, responsible for sample dyeing, ribbon dyeing and electroplating. One of Dogness’ competitive advantages comes from integrating the whole industrial chain, including retraction ropes, textiles, printing and dyeing, mold development, and hardware and plastics. In addition, Dogness’ subsidiary in the United States has R&D and design centers for pet smart products, forming a complete supply chain system with manufacturing bases in China. We benefit from vertically integrated manufacturing operations, which allow us to design, machine and assemble the vast majority of our products in house, so we can easily incorporate improvements in design.

 

Intellectual Property

 

We use a combination of trade secret, copyright, trademark, patent and other rights to protect our intellectual property and our brand. We have completed registration of 105 patents with the China State Intellectual Property Office. In addition, we have registered 21 patents in Germany, 26 in Japan, 20 in the United States, 8 in Canada, 3 in Australia, and 8 in the European Union. As of the date hereof, we have successfully obtained 191 patents (including 105 in China), which includes 28 invention patents, 60 utility patents, and 103 appearance patents.

 

We have completed registration of 188 trademarks, with the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry & Commerce of the PRC. In addition, we have registered our key trademark for Dogness in Japan, Australia, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the United States. Our trademarks will expire at various dates through November 12, 2030. In addition, we have completed the registration of copyrights for our 2 artworks with the Copyright Bureau of Guangdong. We have registered all of intellectual property rights under Dongguan Jiasheng, Dongguan Dogness, Dogness Culture, Dogness Group, and HK Dogness.

 

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Selected Condensed Consolidated Financial Schedule of Dogness (International) Corporation and its Subsidiaries

 

The following tables present selected condensed consolidated financial data of Dogness and its subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2021, 2020 and 2019, and balance sheet data as of June 30, 2021 and 2020, which have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for those years.

 

SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

   For the Year Ended June 30, 2021 
   Dogness   Non-PRC/Hong Kong Subsidiaries   PRC/Hong Kong Subsidiaries   Eliminations   Consolidated
Total
 
                     
Revenues  $-   $2,038,212   $23,313,301   $(1,031,392)  $24,320,121 
Income for equity method investment  $1,762,371   $-   $(6,891)  $(1,755,480)  $- 
Net income (loss)  $1,512,364   $(103,471)  $1,513,704   $(1,623,569)  $1,299,028 
Comprehensive income (loss)  $6,340,044   $(102,204)  $2,428,725   $(2,488,222)  $6,178,343 

 

   For the Year Ended June 30, 2020 
   Dogness   Non-PRC/Hong Kong Subsidiaries   PRC and Hong Kong Subsidiaries   Eliminations   Consolidated
Total
 
                     
Revenues  $-   $1,166,629   $18,140,068   $(135,339)  $19,171,358 
Income for equity method investment  $(8,045,293)  $-   $(84,117)  $8,129,410   $- 
Net loss  $(8,441,559)  $(747,192)  $(7,436,264)  $8,088,090   $(8,536,925)
Comprehensive loss  $(10,335,224)  $(746,350)  $(7,862,546)  $8,510,261   $(10,433,859)

 

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   For the Year Ended June 30, 2019 
   Dogness   Non-PRC/Hong Kong Subsidiaries   PRC/Hong Kong Subsidiaries   Eliminations   Consolidated
Total
 
                     
Revenues  $-   $378,340   $26,706,401   $(868,226)  $26,216,515 
Income for equity method investment  $2,096,088   $-   $(19,363)  $(2,076,725)  $- 
Net income (loss)  $1,421,781   $(778,613)  $3,127,727   $(2,367,717)  $1,403,178 
Comprehensive income (loss)  $(587,768)  $(780,722)  $2,647,547   $(1,886,049)  $(606,992)

 

SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

   As of June 30, 2021 
   Dogness   Non-PRC/Hong Kong Subsidiaries   PRC/Hong Kong Subsidiaries   Eliminations   Consolidated
Total
 
Cash  $3,500,048   $42,472   $1,393,234   $-   $4,935,754 
Total current assets  $3,924,251   $1,270,332   $9,323,937   $(252,389)  $14,266,131 
Investments in subsidiaries  $60,455,357   $-   $   $(60,455,357)  $- 
Total non-current assets  $60,455,357   $2,401,022   $77,199,022   $(60,476,124)  $79,579,277 
Total assets  $64,379,608   $3,671,354   $86,522,959   $(60,728,513)  $93,845,408 
Total liabilities  $5,215   $1,385,548   $75,497,310   $(47,945,070)  $28,943,003 
Total shareholders’ equity  $64,374,393   $2,285,806   $11,025,649   $(12,783,443)  $64,902,405 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $64,379,608   $3,671,354   $86,522,959   $(60,728,513)  $93,845,408 

 

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   As of June 30, 2020 
   Dogness (BVI)   Non-PRC/Hong Kong Subsidiaries   PRC/Hong Kong Subsidiaries   Eliminations   Consolidated
Total
 
Cash  $-   $144,663   $1,122,210   $-   $1,266,873 
Total current assets  $51,916   $1,149,684   $27,421,767   $(16,995,909)  $11,627,458 
Investments in subsidiaries  $51,042,389   $-   $38,163   $(51,080,552)  $- 
Total non-current assets  $51,042,389   $2,589,626   $49,509,716   $(51,217,928)  $51,923,803 
Total assets  $51,094,305   $3,739,310   $76,931,483   $(68,213,837)  $63,551,261 
Total liabilities  $201,046   $1,288,714   $68,236,438   $(57,682,865)  $12,043,333 
Total shareholders’ equity  $50,893,259   $2,450,596   $8,695,045   $(10,530,972)  $51,507,928 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $51,094,305   $3,739,310   $76,931,483   $(68,213,837)  $63,551,261 

 

SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

   For the Year Ended June 30, 2021 
   Dogness   Non-PRC/Hong Kong Subsidiaries   PRC /Hong Kong Subsidiaries   Eliminations   Consolidated
Total
 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  $(3,199,506)  $144,395   $6,807,343   $-   $3,752,232 
Net cash used in investing activities  $-   $-   $(11,245,631)  $-   $(11,245,631)
Net cash provided by (used in) activities  $6,611,432   $(195,555)  $4,635,694   $-   $11,051,571 

 

   For the Year Ended June 30, 2020 
   Dogness   Non-PRC/Hong Kong Subsidiaries   PRC/Hong Kong Subsidiaries   Eliminations   Consolidated
Total
 
Net cash used in operating activities  $(157,344)  $(1,040,198)  $(1,014,729)  $-   $(2,212,271)
Net cash used in investing activities  $-   $(30,625)  $(2,427,296)  $-   $(2,457,921)
Net cash provided by financing activities  $-   $973,300   $2,068,284   $-   $3,041,584 

 

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   For the Year Ended June 30, 2019 
   Dogness   Non-PRC/Hong Kong Subsidiaries   PRC/Hong Kong Subsidiaries   Eliminations   Consolidated
Total
 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  $7,892   $(1,392,302)  $115,459   $-   $(1,268,951)
Net cash used in investing activities  $-   $(738,612)  $(741,736)  $(142,290)  $(1,622,638)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  $-   $279,000   $(1,784,829)  $(142,290)  $(1,648,119)

 

General Description Of The Securities We May Offer

 

We may offer our Class A Common Shares, share purchase contracts, share purchase units, warrants, debt securities, rights or units, with a total value of up to $250,000,000 from time to time under this prospectus at prices and on terms to be determined by our board of directors and based on market conditions at the time of any offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:

 

  Designation or classification;
     
  Aggregate offering price;
     
   Rates and times of payment of dividends, if any;
     
  Redemption, conversion, exercise and exchange terms, if any;
     
  Restrictive covenants, if any;
     
  Voting or other rights, if any;
     
  Conversion prices, if any; and
     
  Material U.S. federal income tax considerations.

 

The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference. However, no prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on October 29, 2021, or included in any Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus or Reports on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC after the date of this prospectus, together with all of the other information appearing in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, in light of your particular investment objectives and financial circumstances. Please see “Where You Can Find More Information” on how you can view our SEC reports and other filings. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of our securities could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. When we offer and sell any securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement, we may include additional risk factors that you should carefully consider.

 

The risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that we do not presently know about or that we currently believe are not material may also adversely affect our business. If any of the risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. The value of our securities could decline and you may lose some or all of your investment if one or more of these risks and uncertainties develop into actual events. Keep these risk factors in mind when you read forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

We face risks related to health epidemics that could impact our sales and operating results.

 

Our business could be adversely affected by the effects of a widespread outbreak of contagious disease, including the recent outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Any outbreak of contagious diseases, and other adverse public health developments, particularly in China, could have a material and adverse effect on the business operations of us and our Subsidiaries. These could include disruptions or restrictions on our ability to resume the general shipping agency services, as well as temporary closures of our facilities and ports or the facilities of our customers and third-party service providers. Any disruption or delay of our customers or third-party service providers would likely impact our operating results and the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern. In addition, a significant outbreak of contagious diseases in the human population could result in a widespread health crisis that could adversely affect the economies and financial markets of China and many other countries, resulting in an economic downturn that could affect demand for our services and significantly impact our operating results.

 

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on our operations since January 2020 and could materially adversely affect our business and financial results for the remaining months of the 2020 calendar year.

 

Our ability to manufacture and/or sell our products may be impaired by damage or disruption to our manufacturing, warehousing or distribution capabilities, or to the capabilities of our suppliers, logistics service providers or distributors as a result of the impact from the COVID-19. This damage or disruption could result from events or factors that are impossible to predict or are beyond our control, such as raw material scarcity, pandemics, government shutdowns, disruptions in logistics, supplier capacity constraints, adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, fire, terrorism or other events.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has spread rapidly across the globe, resulted in adverse economic conditions and business disruptions. In reaction to this outbreak, governments worldwide have imposed varying degrees of preventative and protective actions, such as temporary travel bans, forced business closures, and stay-at-home orders, all in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus. Since this outbreak, business activities in China and many other countries including U.S. have been disrupted by a series of emergency quarantine measures taken by the government. The Chinese government has employed measures including city lockdowns, quarantines, travel restrictions, suspension of business activities and school closures. Due to difficulties resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak, including, but not limited to, the temporary closure of the factory and operations beginning in early February until late March 2020, limited support from the employees, delayed access to raw material supplies and inability to deliver products to customers on a timely basis, our business was negatively impacted. While the spread of the disease has gradually returned under control in China, COVID-19 could still adversely affect the business operation our PRC Subsidiaries and Hong Kong Subsidiaries and our financial results in the future. As a result, there is a possibility that the Company’s revenues and operating cash flows may be significantly lower than expected for fiscal year 2022.

 

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We and our Subsidiaries may incur liability for unpaid taxes, including interest and penalties.

 

In the normal course of business, we and our Subsidiaries may be subject to challenges from various PRC taxing authorities regarding the amounts of taxes due. PRC taxing authorities may take the position that we or our Subsidiaries owe more taxes than it has paid. We recorded tax liabilities of $4.4 million, $2.8 million and $2.9 million as of June 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, for the possible underpayment of income and business taxes. It is possible that the tax liability of for past taxes may be higher than those amounts, if the PRC authorities determine that penalties are applicable or that the correct amount has not been paid. Although the Company’s management believes it may be able to negotiate with local PRC taxing authorities a reduction to any amounts that such authorities may believe are due and a reduction to any interest or penalties thereon, we have no guarantee that we will be able to negotiate such a reduction. To the extent we are able to negotiate such amounts, national-level taxing authorities may take the position that localities are without power to reduce such liabilities, and such PRC taxing authorities may attempt to collect unpaid taxes, interest and penalties in amounts greatly exceeding management’s estimates.

 

If our largest customers reduce their orders with us, such revenues would be very difficult to replace.

 

Although we have also sold our products through distributors and trading companies, some of our largest customers are Petco and Pet Valu, which are by far the largest pet specialty chains in North America. Petco has around 1600 stores in the US and Pet Valu has around 600 stores in Canada. There is not another brick-and-mortar customer that presents the opportunity that these customers present to us. As a result, if we were to lose these accounts or if these customers purchased less of our products in the future, it would be difficult to replace those lost revenues.

 

Our smart products have only recently entered distribution.

 

While we are optimistic that our smart products such as collars, harnesses, feeders and robots will be important products for our company in the future, we only recently begun to sell them and thus do not know whether they will prove popular with consumers. We have exhibited these products at expos in multiple countries and have begun to receive orders, but our revenues for all smart products was approximately $7.8 million, $4.3 million and $2.1 million during the years ended June 30, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. As a result, we do not have an accurate gauge of how well accepted they will be by consumers. If consumers do not appreciate our smart products, we may not sell enough products to grow our market share in this new industry.

 

Our smart products are not as well-known as those of our competitors.

 

There are a variety of competitors providing smart collars, smart feeders and smart treaters for dogs and cats that are more well-known than our products. We are aware of more than a dozen competitors to our smart products, some of which have been on the market for several years. Because smart collars are still a relatively new industry, we do not believe that there is a single leader. Nevertheless, we face competition from more well-known products like the Whistle GPS Pet Tracker and Tractive, as well as products from more well-established, better capitalized companies in the United States such as Garmin, which produces varieties of dog training and tracking devices. Similarly, companies such as PetSafe, Petzi, Petcube, Arf Pets, and Furbo market food and treat dispensers with functionalities that in some cases are similar to our products. If we are unable to achieve recognition for our technology or if consumers opt to use products from companies they recognize more than our company, our smart collar and harness products may not be well accepted.

 

 20 

 

 

Our smart collars and harnesses are currently between generations.

 

We debuted our C2 and H2 smart collars and harnesses in 2016. These products were designed to operate over 2G telephone technology. While this platform was sufficient to meet the needs of the products, 2G speeds lag far behind currently available 4G and now 5G technology. As a result, our C2 and H2 products have thus far obtained a very limited customer base. For this reason, we have been researching and developing our next generation of smart collars and harnesses to operate with today’s higher internet speeds in mind. Before we are able to bring these products to market, we anticipate that our sales of smart collars and harnesses, along with subscriptions for ongoing cellular services for those products, will be nominal. If and when we are able to introduce our next generation of smart collars and harnesses, we are unable to predict the extent to which consumers will be drawn to such new products.

 

Our smart collars rely on third-party cellular telephone companies and application developers for functionality.

 

One of the features of our smart collars is the ability to communicate between the owner’s cell phone and the collar, even when the two are too far away to communicate directly. We achieve this by having a SIM card in the smart collar so that, so long as the collar has a cell phone signal, it will communicate with the telephone. We cooperate with cell phone companies in our target markets to provide cellular service to these SIM cards. If this cooperation were to end or if the cellular service we receive is not reliable or more expensive than we anticipate, the market for our products could be harmed.

 

In addition, the Dogness smartphone App on which our smart collars rely are still under development and test by a company, Dogness Network Technology Co., Ltd (“Dogness Network”), in which we have a minority interest. Our company owns 10% of Dogness Network. Dogness Network plans to derive its revenues from subscriptions for services provided through the Dogness smartphone App in the near future, and we will purchase such products from Dogness Network and resell to our customers. We may benefit only by virtue of our 10% interest in Dogness Network. In fiscal year 2021, subscription revenues were approximately $1.8 million from about 68,100 users. If Dogness Network were to stop supporting the application or impair its functionality, our smart collars and harnesses could become unusable or have decreased value to end users.

 

To the extent we were unable to cooperate with such third parties in the future, we would need to locate and cooperate with other service providers, and we cannot guarantee that we would be able to do so under terms that are satisfactory to us, if at all.

 

Our software platform may not interface with applications consumers want to be integrated.

 

In the connected home, consumers are increasingly aware of the interconnection among applications and devices, such as speakers that can turn on lights or adjust the temperature. Some customers purchase products based on how they will interact with other services and products that the customers already use. If we are unable to anticipate and accommodate these desires, customers may choose other products that do interact with their preferred services. Although we may incorporate such functionality in future generations of our products, not all of our current products integrate into Apple’s, Google’s or Amazon’s smart home platforms. Our Dogness CAM feeder, App feeder, and App mini feeder work with Amazon Alexa.

 

We are also dependent on third party application stores that may prevent us from timely updating our current products or uploading new products. In addition, our products interoperate with servers, mobile devices and software applications predominantly through the use of protocols, many of which are created and maintained by third parties. We therefore depend on the interoperability of our products with such third-party services, mobile devices and mobile operating systems, as well as cloud-enabled hardware, software, networking, browsers, database technologies and protocols that we do not control. Any changes in such technologies that degrade the functionality of our products or give preferential treatment to competitive services could adversely affect adoption and usage of our platform. Also, we may not be successful in developing or maintaining relationships with key participants in the mobile industry or in developing products that operate effectively with a range of operating systems, networks, devices, browsers, protocols and standards. In addition, we may face different fraud, security and regulatory risks from transactions sent from mobile devices than we do from personal computers. If we are unable to effectively anticipate and manage these risks, or if it is difficult for our customers to access and use our platform, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be harmed.

 

 21 

 

 

Price increases in raw materials and sourced products could harm the Company’s financial results.

 

Our primary raw materials are plastic, leather, nylon, polyester, chemical fiber blended fabric, metal, GPPS and HIPS, most of which are extracted from crude oil. These raw materials are subject to price volatility and inflationary pressures. Our success is dependent, in part, on our continued ability to reduce our exposure to increases in those costs through a variety of programs, including sales price adjustments based on adjustments in such raw material costs, while maintaining and improving margins and market share. We also rely on third-party manufacturers as a source for a minor portion of components for our products. These manufacturers are also subject to price volatility and labor cost and other inflationary pressures, which may, in turn, result in an increase in the amount we pay for sourced products. Raw material and sourced product price increases may more than offset our productivity gains and price increases and may adversely impact our financial results.

 

Our plan to vertically integrate our production may not provide the benefits we foresee.

 

Over the last several years, we have increasingly produced our products in-house. We have made this strategic decision because of our belief that it will facilitate our control over the costs of components in our products. The price of components is extremely important where the per-unit sales price is as low as it is in our industry. Thus, we believe it is important to control costs as much as possible.

 

That being said, when we produce components in-house that we previously purchased from a third-party supplier, we may not benefit from the economies of scale that a dedicated third-party supplier could see. Moreover, we invest in infrastructure for such production, such as buying machines and leasing additional facility space; in the event new technology is developed to produce components of our products more cheaply than we can with our existing infrastructure, we could find that our operating results are negatively impacted, compared with what we would see if we were purchasing from third parties. In such case, our products could be more expensive than those of our competitors that purchase from third-party suppliers, which could make our products less attractive to customers.

 

Our reliance on third party logistics providers may put us at risk of service failures for our customers.

 

We rely on third parties to ship our products from China to our customers. We compete based on price, quality and reliability, so a failure to deliver our products on time to our large customers could harm our reputation. To the extent we are unable to meet their demand for products or do not deliver products on time, we stand a substantial risk of losing key accounts. Because we rely on third parties for logistics services, we may be unable to avoid supply chain failures, even if we are able to meet our manufacturing obligations to customers.

 

If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights, it could harm our business and competitive position.

 

We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, domain name and trade secret laws and non-disclosure agreements and other methods to protect our intellectual property rights. Our PRC subsidiaries own 117 patents and 179 trademarks in China and 85 patents and 14 trademarks outside China, all of which have been properly registered with regulatory agencies such as the State Intellectual Property Office and Trademark Office of China’s State Administration for Industry and Commerce (“SAIC”). This intellectual property has allowed our products to earn market share in the pet products industry.

 

The process of seeking patent protection can be lengthy and expensive, our patent applications may fail to result in patents being issued, and our existing and future patents may be insufficient to provide us with meaningful protection or commercial advantage. Our patents and patent applications may also be challenged, invalidated or circumvented.

 

We also rely on trade secret rights to protect our business through non-disclosure provisions in employment agreements with employees. If our employees breach their non-disclosure obligations, we may not have adequate remedies in China, and our trade secrets may become known to our competitors.

 

In accordance with Chinese intellectual property laws and regulations, we will have to renew our trademarks once the terms expire. However, patents are not renewable. Some of our patents, particularly utility mode and design patents, have only 10 years of protection and will end in the near future. Once these patents expire, our products may lose some market share if they are copied by our competitors. Then, our business revenue might suffer some loss as well.

 

 22 

 

 

Implementation of PRC intellectual property-related laws has historically been lacking, primarily because of ambiguities in the PRC laws and enforcement difficulties. Accordingly, intellectual property rights and confidentiality protections in China may not be as effective as in the United States or other western countries. Furthermore, policing unauthorized use of proprietary technology is difficult and expensive, and we may need to resort to litigation to enforce or defend patents issued to us or to determine the enforceability, scope and validity of our proprietary rights or those of others. Such litigation and an adverse determination in any such litigation, if any, could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention, which could harm our business and competitive position.

 

Our Chinese patents and registered marks may not be protected outside of China due to territorial limitations on enforceability.

 

In general, patent and trademark rights have territorial limitations in law and are valid only within the countries in which they are registered.

 

At present, Chinese enterprises may register their trademarks overseas through two methods. One is to file an application for trademark registration in each single country or region in which protection is desired, while the other is to apply via the Madrid system for international trademark registration. By the second way, under the provisions of the Madrid Agreement concerning the International Registration of Marks (the “Madrid Agreement”) or the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement concerning the International Registration of Marks (the “Madrid Protocol”), applicants may designate their marks in one or more member countries via the Madrid system for international registration.

 

As of the date of the filing, we have registered 179 trademarks in China. We have also registered our key trademarks in Japan, Australia, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the United States.

 

Similar with trademarks, Chinese enterprises may also register their patents overseas through two methods. One is to file an application for patent registration in each single country or region, and the other is to file international application with the China Intellectual Property Office or the International Bureau of World Intellectual Property Organization under the Patent Cooperation Treaty. However, such international application may relate to invention or utility model patents, but does not include industrial design patents.

 

Currently, most of our patents and trademarks are registered in China. If we do not register them in other jurisdictions, they may not be protected outside of China. As a result, our business and competitive position could be harmed.

 

We may be exposed to intellectual property infringement and other claims by third parties which, if successful, could disrupt our business and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to use and develop our technology and know-how without infringing third party intellectual property rights. If we sell our branded products internationally, and as litigation becomes more common in China, we face a higher risk of being the subject of claims for intellectual property infringement, invalidity or indemnification relating to other parties’ proprietary rights. Our current or potential competitors, many of which have substantial resources and have made substantial investments in competing technologies, may have or may obtain patents that will prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make, use or sell our branded products in either China or other countries, including the United States and other countries in Asia. The validity and scope of claims relating to patents in our industry involve complex scientific, legal and factual questions and analysis and, as a result, may be highly uncertain. In addition, the defense of intellectual property suits, including patent infringement suits, and related legal and administrative proceedings can be both costly and time consuming and may significantly divert the efforts and resources of our technical and management personnel. Furthermore, an adverse determination in any such litigation or proceedings to which we may become a party could cause us to:

 

  pay damage awards;
  seek licenses from third parties;
  pay ongoing royalties;
  redesign our branded products; or
  be restricted by injunctions,

 

 23 

 

 

each of which could effectively prevent us from pursuing some or all of our business and result in our customers or potential customers deferring or limiting their purchase or use of our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Outstanding bank loans may reduce our available funds.

 

As of June 30, 2021, we had approximately $8.0 million in outstanding bank loans, with expected repayment of approximately $1.5 million in one year, $1.4 million in two years and $3.3 million in three years. The loans are guaranteed by the fixed assets of the Company’s subsidiaries and are also personally guaranteed by our Chief Executive Officer and certain of his family members. While we believe we have sufficient capital resources to repay these bank loans with support from Mr. Silong Chen, our Chief Executive Officer, there can be no guarantee that we will be able to pay all amounts when due or to refinance the amounts on terms that are acceptable to us or at all. If we are unable to make our payments when due or to refinance such amounts, our property could be foreclosed and our business could be negatively affected.

 

While we do not believe they will impact our liquidity, the terms of the debt agreements impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions could also have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations by significantly limiting or prohibiting us from engaging in certain transactions, including but not limited to: incurring or guaranteeing additional indebtedness; transferring or selling assets currently held by us; and transferring ownership interests in certain of our subsidiaries. The failure to comply with any of these covenants could cause a default under our other debt agreements. Any of these defaults, if not waived, could result in the acceleration of all of our debt, in which case the debt would become immediately due and payable. If this occurs, we may not be able to repay our debt or borrow sufficient funds to refinance it on favorable terms, if any.

 

If the village cooperative from which we rent our factory in Dongguan fails to provide ownership certificates or construction approvals on demand, our ability to use our facilities may be impaired.

 

Our PRC Subsidiaries lease our production facility from Dongguan Dongcheng District Tongsha Huanggongkeng Co-op (“Huanggongkeng”). We understand that, as is not uncommon in our area, Huanggongkeng did not obtain prior government approval before constructing the facilities and thus may be unable to provide evidence of government approval. If the local authority were to request proof of such approval, operations at our facility could be interrupted until Huanggongkeng was able to provide evidence of such approvals. If Huanggongkeng were unable to rectify this issue, we could find our operations halted indefinitely.

 

If the value of our property decreases, we may not be able to refinance our current debt.

 

All of our current debt is secured by either mortgages on real and other business property or guarantees by some of our shareholders. If the value of our real property decreases, we may find that banks are unwilling to loan money to us secured by our business property. A drop in property value could also prevent us from being able to refinance that loan when it becomes due on acceptable terms or at all.

 

Our new facilities in Zhangzhou and Dongguan may be more expensive than anticipated to complete.

 

In March 2018, we purchased all of the equity interests in Zhangzhou Meijia Metal Product Co., Ltd (“Meijia”), for a total cash consideration of approximately $11.0 million (RMB 71.0 million) (“Acquisition Cost”), which has been fully paid upon consummation of the Meijia acquisition transaction. Because Meijia had no substantial operations and its property consisted of a land use right and factory and office buildings, we accounted for the acquisition as a purchase of assets. After the acquisition, we started building our own facilities and office spaces to expand the production capacity in order to fulfill increased customer orders. Total budgeted capital expenditure to bring Meijia manufacturing facility into use was originally estimated to be completed at a cost of RMB110 million ($17.0 million). The actual costs have been adjusted based on additional works required for waterproofing, sewage pipeline and hazardous waste leakage prevention. As a result, total actual costs incurred as of June 30, 2021, amounted to RMB118.5 million ($18.4 million). Meijia plant started test operations in August 2019, and has started normal production since December 2019 upon passing the final inspection conducted by the local government. Meijia plant has reached its fully production capacity as of June 30, 2021.

 

 24 

 

 

In addition to our Zhangzhou facility, we are also building new manufacturing and operating facilities, which include warehouse, workshops, office building, security gate, employee apartment building, electrical transformer station and exhibition hall, etc. The total budget is approximately RMB 230.8 million ($35.8 million). As of June 30, 2021, the Company had substantially completed this project and transferred most of the related CIP to fixed assets. As of June 30, 2021, the Company has made total payments of approximately RMB 161.3 million ($25.0 million) in connection to this project, which resulted in future minimum capital expenditure payments of RMB 69.5 million ($10.8 million).

 

The Company’s subsidiary Dogness Culture is also working on a project to decorate a pet themed retail store. Total budget is RMB 2.2 million ($0.3 million). As of June 30, 2021, the Company has spent RMB 1.5 million ($0.2 million). This project was fully completed by June 30, 2021.

 

As a result of the above, the Company’s future capital expenditure payable on Dongguan Jiasheng and on the pet store under Dogness Culture amounted to approximately $10.9 million as of June 30, 2021. Subsequently, the capital expenditure payable increased to approximately $15.2 million due to increased costs related to the construction and decoration projects. From July 2021 to December 2021, the Company made payment of RMB 56.9 million ($8.9 million) on the above-mentioned construction projects. As a result, the Company’s future capital expenditure payable on CIP has been lowered down from approximately $15.2 million to approximately $6.3 million as of December 31, 2021.

 

We may find in the course of development that construction costs come in above budget, that we exceed projected timelines, and that we face other challenges and inconveniences that make our development plans less successful than we expect. If these were to occur, we could find the costs and effort of development distract our management from our business development strategies and that our financial results are negatively affected as a result.

 

We may require additional financing in the future and our operations could be curtailed if we are unable to obtain required additional financing when needed.

 

We may need to obtain additional debt or equity financing to fund future capital expenditures and initiatives. Additional debt financing may include conditions that would restrict our freedom to operate our business, such as conditions that:

 

● limit our ability to pay dividends or require us to seek consent for the payment of dividends;

● increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;

● require us to dedicate a portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our debt, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund capital expenditures, working capital and other general corporate purposes; and

● limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and our industry.

 

We cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain any additional financing on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all.

 

The loss of any of our key customers could reduce our revenues and our profitability.

 

Our key customers are principally retail pet specialty stores and mass merchandisers. For the year ended June 30, 2021, sales to our three largest customers amounted in the aggregate to approximately 32.0%, 9.1% and 6.9% of our total revenue. For the year ended June 30, 2020, sales to our three largest customers amounted in the aggregate to approximately 27.6%, 6.5% and 4.4% of our total revenue. For the year ended June 30, 2019, sales to our three largest customers accounted for 28.1%, 13.5% and 5.6% of the Company’s total revenue. There can be no assurance that we will maintain or improve the relationships with these customers, or that we will be able to continue to supply these customers at current levels or at all. Any failure to pay by these customers could have a material negative effect on our company’s business. In addition, having a relatively small number of customers may cause our quarterly results to be inconsistent, depending upon when these customers pay for outstanding invoices. During the years ended June 30, 2021, 2020 and 2019, we had one, one and two customers that accounted for 10% or more of our revenues.

 

Our bank accounts are not fully insured or protected against loss.

 

We maintain our cash with various banks and trust companies located in mainland China. Our cash accounts in the PRC are not insured or otherwise protected. Should any bank or trust company holding our cash deposits become insolvent, or if we are otherwise unable to withdraw funds, we would lose the cash on deposit with that particular bank or trust company.

 

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We are substantially dependent upon our senior management and key research and development personnel.

 

We are highly dependent on our senior management to manage our business and operations and our key research and development personnel for the development of new products and the enhancement of our existing products and technologies. In particular, we rely substantially on our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Silong Chen.

 

While we provide the legally required personal insurance for the benefit of our employees, we do not maintain key person life insurance on any of our senior management or key personnel. The loss of any one of them would have a material adverse effect on our business and operations. Competition for senior management and our other key personnel is intense, and the pool of suitable candidates is limited. We may be unable to quickly locate a suitable replacement for any senior management or key personnel that we lose. In addition, if any member of our senior management or key personnel joins a competitor or forms a competing company, they may compete with us for customers, business partners and other key professionals and staff members of our company. Although each of our senior management and key personnel has signed a confidentiality and non-competition agreement in connection with his employment with us, we cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully enforce these provisions in the event of a dispute between us and any member of our senior management or key personnel.

 

In our efforts to develop new products, we compete for qualified personnel with technology companies and research institutions. Although we have our own research and development team, we also rely heavily on our cooperation with another software development company, which has been helping us develop our high-tech products. This relationship has become an important part of our company’s business development. If this relationship becomes unstable or is terminated in the future, we may be unable to meet our business and financial goals.

 

Failure to manage our growth could strain our management, operational and other resources, which could materially and adversely affect our business and prospects.

 

Our growth strategy includes increasing market penetration of our existing products, developing new products and increasing the number and size of customers we serve. Pursuing these strategies has resulted in, and will continue to result in, substantial demands on management resources. In particular, the management of our growth will require, among other things:

 

  continued enhancement of our research and development capabilities;
  stringent cost controls and sufficient liquidity;
  strengthening of financial and management controls;
  increased marketing, sales and support activities; and
  hiring and training of new personnel.

 

If we are not able to manage our growth successfully, our business and prospects would be materially and adversely affected.

 

Because we rely on Hong Kong entities to fulfill orders from many of our customers, we may be exposed to claims of value-added tax underreporting.

 

Many of our international customers order our products by placing an order with our Hong Kong Subsidiaries. Our Hong Kong Subsidiaries then procure the products from our PRC Subsidiaries. When these products are sold from our PRC Subsidiaries to our Hong Kong Subsidiaries, the price paid is set at what we believe to be a fair value. Further, we have informed the applicable tax bureaus of the pricing of products. Nevertheless, the tax bureau in the future may claim that we have engaged in transfer pricing to avoid payment of value-added tax (“VAT”) because the price our Hong Kong Subsidiary charges to the customer may be higher than the price our PRC Subsidiaries charge to our Hong Kong Subsidiaries. Under PRC law, the VAT is refundable on export, so we believe there is limited risk in the event that we were called upon to pay VAT on such transfers from China to Hong Kong, but a failure to report proper VAT payable could expose us to penalties and interest for failing to pay it on time.

 

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We may be subject to penalties under relevant PRC laws and regulations due to failure to make full social security and housing fund contributions for some of our employees.

 

In the past, contributions by some of our PRC Subsidiaries for some of their employees to the social security and housing funds may not have been in compliance with relevant PRC regulations. Pursuant to the Regulation on the Administration of Housing Accumulation Funds, as amended in 2002, the relevant housing fund authority may order an enterprise to pay outstanding contributions within a prescribed time limit. Pursuant to the PRC Social Insurance Law promulgated in 2010, the social security authority may order an enterprise to pay the outstanding contributions within a prescribed time limit, and may impose penalties if there is a failure to do so. To the extent the relevant authorities determine we have underpaid, some of our PRC Subsidiaries may be required to pay outstanding contributions and penalties to the extent they did not make full contributions to the social security housing funds.

 

Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure and Operation

 

Our dual class structure concentrate a majority of voting power in our Chief Executive Officer, who is the only owner of our Class B Common Shares.

 

Our Class B Common Shares have three votes per share, and our Class A Common Shares have one vote per share. Our directors, executive officers, and their affiliates, hold in the aggregate approximately 57.0% of the voting power of our capital stock as of June 30, 2021. Because of the three-to-one voting ratio between our Class B and Class A Common Shares, the holder of our Class B Common Shares collectively control a majority of the combined voting power of our Common Shares and therefore is able to control all matters submitted to our shareholders for approval. The sole owner of such Class B Common Shares is our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Silong Chen, who owns 9,069,000 Class B Common Shares through Fine victory holding company Limited. This concentrated control may limit or preclude your ability to influence corporate matters for the foreseeable future, including the election of directors, amendments of our organizational documents, and any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets, or other major corporate transaction requiring shareholder approval. In addition, this may prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or offers for our capital stock that you may feel are in your best interest as one of our shareholders.

 

Future transfers by holders of Class B Common Shares will generally result in those shares converting to Class A Common Shares, subject to limited exceptions, such as certain transfers effected for estate planning purposes. The conversion of Class B Common Shares to Class A Common Shares will have the effect, over time, of increasing the relative voting power of those holders of Class B Common Shares who retain their shares in the long term.

 

The obligation to disclose information publicly may put us at a disadvantage to competitors that are private companies.

 

As a publicly listed company in the United States, we are required to file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission upon the occurrence of matters that are material to our company and shareholders. In some cases, we will need to disclose material agreements or results of financial operations that we would not be required to disclose if we were a private company. Our competitors may have access to this information, which would otherwise be confidential. This may give them advantages in competing with our company. Similarly, as a U.S.-listed public company, we will be governed by U.S. laws that our non-publicly traded competitors are not required to follow. To the extent compliance with U.S. laws increases our expenses or decreases our competitiveness against such companies, our public listing could affect our results of operations.

 

We are a “foreign private issuer,” and our disclosure obligations differ from those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. As a result, we may not provide you the same information as U.S. domestic reporting companies or we may provide information at different times, which may make it more difficult for you to evaluate our performance and prospects.

 

We are a foreign private issuer and, as a result, we are not subject to the same requirements as U.S. domestic issuers. Under the Exchange Act, we will be subject to reporting obligations that, to some extent, are more lenient and less frequent than those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. For example, we are not required to issue quarterly reports or proxy statements. We are not required to disclose detailed individual executive compensation information. Furthermore, our directors and executive officers will not be required to report equity holdings under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and will not be subject to the insider short-swing profit disclosure and recovery regime.

 

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As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the requirements of Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure) which, generally, are meant to ensure that select groups of investors are not privy to specific information about an issuer before other investors. However, we are still subject to the anti-fraud and anti-manipulation rules of the SEC, such as Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act. Since many of the disclosure obligations imposed on us as a foreign private issuer differ from those imposed on U.S. domestic reporting companies, you should not expect to receive the same information about us and at the same time as the information provided by U.S. domestic reporting companies.

 

As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to rely on exemptions from certain Nasdaq corporate governance standards applicable to U.S. issuers, including the requirement that a majority of an issuer’s directors consist of independent directors. If we opt to rely on such exemptions in the future, such decision might afford less protection to holders of our Class A Common Shares.

 

Section 5605(b)(1) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules requires listed companies to have, among other things, a majority of its board members to be independent, and Section 5605(d) and 5605(e) require listed companies to have independent director oversight of executive compensation and nomination of directors. As a foreign private issuer, however, we are permitted to follow home country practice in lieu of the above requirements. Our Board of Directors could make such a decision to depart from such requirements by ordinary resolution.

 

The corporate governance practice in our home country, the British Virgin Islands, does not require a majority of our board to consist of independent directors or the implementation of a nominating and corporate governance committee. Since a majority of our board of directors would not consist of independent directors if we relied on the foreign private issuer exemption, fewer board members would be exercising independent judgment and the level of board oversight on the management of our company might decrease as a result. In addition, we could opt to follow British Virgin Islands law instead of the Nasdaq requirements that mandate that we obtain shareholder approval for certain dilutive events, such as an issuance that will result in a change of control, certain transactions other than a public offering involving issuances of 20% or greater interests in the company and certain acquisitions of the shares or assets of another company. For a description of the material corporate governance differences between the Nasdaq requirements and British Virgin Islands law, see “Description of Share Capital — Differences in Corporate Law”.

 

An insufficient amount of insurance could expose us to significant costs and business disruption.

 

While we have purchased insurance, including export transportation, product liability and account receivable insurance, to cover certain assets and property of our business, the amounts and scope of coverage could leave our business inadequately protected from loss. For example, our subsidiaries do not have coverage of business interruption insurance. If we were to incur substantial losses or liabilities due to fire, explosions, floods, other natural disasters or accidents or business interruption, our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

 

Our failure to obtain prior approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) for the listing and trading of our Class A Common Shares on a foreign stock exchange could delay this offering or could have a material adverse effect upon our business, operating results, reputation and trading price of our Class A Common Shares.

 

On August 8, 2006, six Chinese regulatory agencies, including the MOFCOM, jointly issued the M&A Rules, which became effective on September 8, 2006 and amended on June 22, 2009. The M&A Rules contains provisions that require that an offshore SPV formed for listing purposes and controlled directly or indirectly by Chinese companies or individuals shall obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such SPV’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. On September 21, 2006, the CSRC published procedures specifying documents and materials required to be submitted to it by an SPV seeking CSRC approval of overseas listings. However, the application of the M&A Rule remains unclear with no consensus currently existing among leading Chinese law firms regarding the scope and applicability of the CSRC approval requirement. We have not chosen to voluntarily request approval under the M&A Rules. Based on the understanding of the current PRC law, rules and regulations, we believe that the CSRC’s approval may not be required for the listing and trading of our common shares on Nasdaq in the context of this offering, given that Dogness was not established by a merger with or an acquisition of any PRC domestic companies as defined under the M&A Rules.

 

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If the CSRC requires that we obtain its approval prior to the completion of this offering, the offering will be delayed until we obtain CSRC approval, which may take several months. There is also the possibility that we may not be able to obtain such approval. If prior CSRC approval was required, we may face regulatory actions or other sanctions from the CSRC or other Chinese regulatory authorities. These authorities may impose fines and penalties upon our operations in China, limit our operating privileges in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from this offering into China, or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our Class A Common Shares. The CSRC or other Chinese regulatory agencies may also take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to terminate this offering prior to closing.

 

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Class A Common Shares

 

We are an “emerging growth company,” and we cannot be certain whether the reduced reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our Class A Common Shares less attractive to investors.

 

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or the JOBS Act. For as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although we could lose that status sooner if our revenues reach $1.07 billion, if we issue $1.07 billion or more in non-convertible debt in a three year period, or if the market value of our Class A Common Shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any December 31 before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following June 30. We cannot predict if investors will find our Class A Common Shares less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our Class A Common Shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A Common Shares and our share price may be more volatile. Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can also delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies.

 

Because we have elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards for an “emerging growth company” our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with these accounting standards as of the public company effective dates.

 

We have elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards under Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act. This election allows us to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies. As a result of this election, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with these accounting standards as of the public company effective dates. Consequently, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates. Because our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates, investors may have difficulty evaluating or comparing our business, performance or prospects in comparison to other public companies, which may have a negative impact on the value and liquidity of our Class A Common Shares. We cannot predict if investors will find our Class A Common Shares less attractive because we plan to rely on this exemption. If some investors find our Class A Common Shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A Common Shares and our share price may be more volatile.

 

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If we are unable to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in the future, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our Class A Common Shares may decline.

 

Prior to our initial public offering in 2017, we were a private company with limited accounting personnel and other resources with which to address our internal controls and procedures. Our independent registered public accounting firm has not conducted an audit of our internal control over financial reporting. However, in preparing our consolidated financial statements in connection with this annual report, we and our independent registered public accounting firm identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in the standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board of the United States, or PCAOB, and other control deficiencies. One material weakness identified relates to (i) a lack of full-time accounting and financial reporting personnel with appropriate knowledge of U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting and compliance requirements; (ii) a lack of an effective review process by management, which led to material audit adjustments for the year ended June 30, 2020 and (iii) lack of risk assessment in accordance with the requirement of COSO 2013 framework. Following the identification of the material weaknesses and control deficiencies, we have taken and plan to continue to take remedial measures, including (i) engaging a Chief Financial Officer who holds a Ph.D in accounting and a CPA license in the United States and hiring external financial consultants with experience in U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting obligations (ii) hiring more qualified accounting personnel with relevant U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting experience and qualifications to strengthen the financial reporting function and to set up a financial and system control framework; (iii) implementing regular and continuous U.S. GAAP accounting and financial reporting training programs for our accounting and financial reporting personnel; (iv) setting up an internal audit function as well as engaging an external consulting firm to assist us with assessment of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance requirements and improvement of overall internal control;. However, the implementation of these measures may not fully address the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. Our failure to correct the material weaknesses or our failure to discover and address any other material weaknesses or control deficiencies could result in inaccuracies in our financial statements and could also impair our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements and related regulatory filings on a timely basis. Moreover, ineffective internal control over financial reporting significantly hinders our ability to prevent fraud.

 

As a public company, we will be required to maintain internal control over financial reporting and to report any material weaknesses in such internal control. In addition, we are required to furnish a report by management on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. As of the date hereof, management has concluded that such controls are ineffective.

 

In addition, our independent registered public accounting firm will be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting beginning with our annual report on Form 20-F following the date on which we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” which may be up to five full years following the date of our initial public offering. If we identify material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, if we are unable to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting when required, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our Class A Common Shares could be negatively affected, and we could become subject to investigations by the stock exchange on which our securities are listed, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources.

 

Recent joint statement by the SEC and PCAOB, proposed rule changes submitted by Nasdaq, and an act passed by the US Senate all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the PCAOB. These developments could add uncertainties to our offering.

 

In May 2013, the PCAOB announced that it had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on Enforcement Cooperation with the CSRC, and the PRC Ministry of Finance, which establishes a cooperative framework between the parties for the production and exchange of audit documents relevant to investigations undertaken by the PCAOB, the CSRC or the PRC Ministry of Finance in the United States and the PRC, respectively. The PCAOB continues to be in discussions with the CSRC, and the PRC Ministry of Finance to permit joint inspections in the PRC of audit firms that are registered with PCAOB and audit Chinese companies that trade on U.S. exchanges.

 

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On December 7, 2018, the SEC and the PCAOB issued a joint statement highlighting continued challenges faced by the U.S. regulators in their oversight of financial statement audits of U.S.-listed companies with significant operations in China. The joint statement reflects a heightened interest in an issue that has vexed U.S. regulators in recent years.

 

On April 21, 2020, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton and PCAOB Chairman William D. Duhnke III, along with other senior SEC staff, released a joint statement highlighting the risks associated with investing in companies based in or have substantial operations in emerging markets including China. The joint statement emphasized the risks associated with lack of access for the PCAOB to inspect auditors and audit work papers in China and higher risks of fraud in emerging markets.

 

On June 4, 2020, the U.S. President issued a memorandum ordering the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets, or the PWG, to submit a report to the President within 60 days of the memorandum that includes recommendations for actions that can be taken by the executive branch and by the SEC or PCAOB on Chinese companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges and their audit firms, in an effort to protect investors in the U.S.

 

On August 6, 2020, the PWG released a report recommending that the SEC take steps to implement the five recommendations outlined in the report. In particular, to address companies from jurisdictions that do not provide the PCAOB with sufficient access to fulfill its statutory mandate, or NCJs, the PWG recommends enhanced listing standards on U.S. stock exchanges. This would require, as a condition to initial and continued exchange listing, PCAOB access to work papers of the principal audit firm for the audit of the listed company. Companies unable to satisfy this standard as a result of governmental restrictions on access to audit work papers and practices in NCJs may satisfy this standard by providing a co-audit from an audit firm with comparable resources and experience where the PCAOB determines it has sufficient access to audit work papers and practices to conduct an appropriate inspection of the co-audit firm. There is currently no legal process under which such a co-audit may be performed in China. The report permits the new listing standards to provide for a transition period until January 1, 2022 for listed companies, but would apply immediately to new listings once the necessary rulemakings and/or standard-setting are effective. The measures in the PWG Report are presumably subject to the standard SEC rulemaking process before becoming effective. On August 10, 2020, the SEC announced that SEC Chairman had directed the SEC staff to prepare proposals in response to the PWG Report, and that the SEC was soliciting public comments and information with respect to these proposals. After we are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, if we fail to meet the new listing standards before the deadline specified thereunder due to factors beyond our control, we could face possible de-listing from the NASDAQ Capital Market, deregistration from the SEC and/or other risks, which may materially and adversely affect, or effectively terminate, our Class A Common Shares trading in the United States.

 

On March 24, 2021, the SEC announced that it had adopted interim final amendments to implement congressionally mandated submission and disclosure requirements of the Act. The interim final amendments will apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report on Forms 10-K, 20-F, 40-F or N-CSR with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that the PCAOB has determined it is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in that jurisdiction. The SEC will implement a process for identifying such a registrant and any such identified registrant will be required to submit documentation to the SEC establishing that it is not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in that foreign jurisdiction, and will also require disclosure in the registrant’s annual report regarding the audit arrangements of, and governmental influence on, such a registrant.

 

Furthermore, the HFCA Act, which requires that the PCAOB be permitted to inspect the issuer’s public accounting firm within three years, may result in the delisting of our Company in the future if the PCAOB is unable to inspect our accounting firm at such future time.

 

In addition, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“AHFCAA”), which, if signed into law, would amend the HFCA Act and require the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three consecutive years.

 

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On November 5, 2021, the SEC approved the PCAOB’s Rule 6100, Board Determinations Under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. Rule 6100 provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCA Act, whether it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a Determination Report which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in: (1) mainland China, and (2) Hong Kong. The lack of access to the PCAOB inspection in China prevents the PCAOB from fully evaluating audits and quality control procedures of the auditors based in China. As a result, the investors may be deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of these accounting firms’ audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause existing and potential investors in our stock to lose confidence in our audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements.

 

Our auditor, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this prospectus, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Our auditor, Prager Metis CPAs, LLC, is located at Hackensack New Jersey, and has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis with the last inspection in August 2020. In the event that, in the future, either there is any regulatory change or step taken by PRC regulators that does not permit Prager Metis CPAs, LLC to provide audit documentations located in China or Hong Kong to the PCAOB for inspection or investigation, or the PACOB expands the scope of the determinations so that our PRC operating entities will be subject to the HFCA Act, as the same may be amended, you may be deprived of the benefits of such inspection which could result in limitation or restriction to our access to the U.S. capital markets and trading of our securities, including “over-the-counter” trading, may be prohibited, under the HFCA Act. The recent developments would add uncertainties to our offering and we cannot assure you whether the national securities exchange we apply to for listing or regulatory authorities would apply additional and more stringent criteria to us after considering the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures and quality control procedures, adequacy of personnel and training, or sufficiency of resources, geographic reach, or experience as it relates to our audit.

 

The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the PCAOB. These developments could add uncertainties to our offering.

 

On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“HFCA Act”) requiring a foreign company to certify it is not owned or controlled by a foreign government if the PCAOB is unable to audit specified reports because the company uses a foreign auditor not subject to PCAOB inspection. If the PCAOB is unable to inspect the company’s auditors for three consecutive years, the issuer’s securities are prohibited to trade on a national exchange. On December 2, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the HFCA Act. On December 18, 2020, the HFCA Act was signed into law. On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCA Act. A company will be required to comply with these rules if the SEC identifies it as having a “non-inspection” year under a process to be subsequently established by the SEC. The SEC is assessing how to implement other requirements of the HFCA Act, including the listing and trading prohibition requirements described above. Furthermore, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the AHFCAA, which, if signed into law, would amend the HFCA Act and require the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three consecutive years. On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a final rule implementing the HFCAA, which provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCA Act, whether the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction. Furthermore, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the AHFCAA, which, if signed into law, would amend the HFCA Act and require the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three consecutive years. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a Determination Report which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in: (1) mainland China, and (2) Hong Kong.

 

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Our auditor, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this prospectus, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Our auditor, Prager Metis CPAs, LLC, is located at Hackensack New Jersey, and has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis with the last inspection in August 2020. The recent developments would add uncertainties to our offering and we cannot assure you whether the national securities exchange we apply to for listing or regulatory authorities would apply additional and more stringent criteria to us after considering the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures and quality control procedures, adequacy of personnel and training, or sufficiency of resources, geographic reach, or experience as it relates to our audit. Furthermore, the HFCA Act, which requires that the PCAOB be permitted to inspect the issuer’s public accounting firm within three years, may result in the delisting of our Company in the future if the PCAOB is unable to inspect our accounting firm at such future time.

 

Our management team has limited experience in managing a U.S. public company and complying with laws applicable to such company, the failure of which may adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations.

 

Our current management team has limited experience in managing a U.S. publicly traded company, interacting with public company investors and complying with the increasingly complex laws pertaining to U.S. public companies. Prior to the completion of our initial public offering, we mainly operated our businesses as a private company in the PRC. As a result of our IPO, our company became subject to significant regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under the federal securities laws and the scrutiny of securities analysts and investors, and our management currently has no experience in complying with such laws, regulations and obligations. Our management team may not successfully or efficiently manage our transition to becoming a U.S. public company. These new obligations and constituents will require significant attention from our senior management and could divert their attention away from the day-to-day management of our business, which could adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations.

 

The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources and divert management’s attention.

 

As a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, the listing requirements of the securities exchange on which we list, and other applicable securities rules and regulations. Despite recent reforms made possible by the JOBS Act, compliance with these rules and regulations will nonetheless increase our legal and financial compliance costs, make some activities more difficult, time-consuming or costly and increase demand on our systems and resources, particularly after we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual and current reports with respect to our business and operating results. In addition, as long as we are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, we are also required to file semi-annual financial statements.

 

We expect these new rules and regulations to increase our legal, accounting and financial compliance costs and to make certain corporate activities more time-consuming and costly. In addition, we will incur additional costs associated with our public company reporting requirements. While it is impossible to determine the amounts of such expenses in advance, we expect that we will incur expenses of between $500,000 and $1 million per year that we did not experience prior to commencement of our initial public offering.

 

As a result of disclosure of information in filings required of a public company, our business and financial condition will become more visible, which we believe may result in threatened or actual litigation, including by competitors and other third parties. If such claims are successful, our business and operating results could be harmed, and even if the claims do not result in litigation or are resolved in our favor, these claims, and the time and resources necessary to resolve them, could divert the resources of our management and adversely affect our business, brand and reputation and results of operations.

 

We also expect that being a public company and these rules and regulations will make it more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain coverage. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors, particularly to serve on our audit committee and compensation committee, and qualified executive officers.

 

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The market price of our Class A Common Shares may be volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance.

 

If you purchase our Class A Common Shares, you may not be able to resell those shares at or above your purchase price. The market price of our Class A Common Shares may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:

 

● actual or anticipated fluctuations in our revenue and other operating results;

● the financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in these projections or our failure to meet these projections;

● actions of securities analysts who initiate or maintain coverage of us, changes in financial estimates by any securities analysts who follow our company, or our failure to meet these estimates or the expectations of investors;

● announcements by us or our competitors of significant products or features, technical innovations, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, or capital commitments;

● price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market, including as a result of trends in the economy as a whole;

● lawsuits threatened or filed against us; and

● other events or factors, including those resulting from war or incidents of terrorism, or responses to these events.

 

In addition, the stock markets have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many companies. Stock prices of many companies have fluctuated in a manner unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. In the past, stockholders have filed securities class action litigation following periods of market volatility. If we were to become involved in securities litigation, it could subject us to substantial costs, divert resources and the attention of management from our business, and adversely affect our business.

 

We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future.

 

We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the operation and expansion of our business, and we do not expect to declare or pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. As a result, you may only receive a return on your investment in our Class A Common Shares if the market price of our Class A Common Shares increases.

 

There may not be an active, liquid trading market for our Class A Common Shares.

 

Prior to our initial public offering, there was no public market for our Class A Common Shares. An active trading market for our Class A Common Shares may not be sustained. You may not be able to sell your shares at the market price, if at all, if trading in our shares is not active. The initial public offering price was determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters based upon a number of factors which are described in the “Plan of Distribution” section. The initial public offering price may not be indicative of prices that will prevail in the trading market.

 

We are subject to liability risks stemming from our foreign status, which could make it more difficult for investors to sue or enforce judgments against our company.

 

Most of our operations and assets are located in the PRC. In addition, most of our executive officers and directors are non-residents of the U.S., and much of the assets of such persons are located outside the U.S. As a result, it could be difficult for investors to effect service of process in the U.S., or to enforce a judgment obtained in the U.S. against us or any of these persons.

 

In addition, British Virgin Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States. The circumstances in which any such action may be brought, and the procedures and defenses that may be available in respect to any such action, may result in the rights of shareholders of a British Virgin Islands company being more limited than those of shareholders of a company organized in the United States. Accordingly, shareholders may have fewer alternatives available to them if they believe that corporate wrongdoing has occurred. The British Virgin Islands courts are also unlikely to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts in the United States based on certain liability provisions of U.S. securities law; and to impose liabilities against us, in original actions brought in the British Virgin Islands, based on certain liability provisions of U.S. securities laws that are penal in nature. There is no statutory recognition in the British Virgin Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, although the courts of the British Virgin Islands will generally recognize and enforce the non-penal judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits. This means that even if shareholders were to sue us successfully, they may not be able to recover anything to make up for the losses suffered.

 

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Lastly, under the law of the British Virgin Islands, there is little statutory law for the protection of minority shareholders. The principal protection under statutory law is that shareholders may bring an action to enforce the constituent documents of the corporation, our Memorandum and Articles of Association. Shareholders are entitled to have the affairs of the company conducted in accordance with the general law and the Articles and Memorandum.

 

There are common law rights for the protection of shareholders that may be invoked, largely dependent on English company law, since the common law of the British Virgin Islands for business companies is limited. Under the general rule pursuant to English company law known as the rule in Foss v. Harbottle, a court will generally refuse to interfere with the management of a company at the insistence of a minority of its shareholders who express dissatisfaction with the conduct of the company’s affairs by the majority or the board of directors. However, every shareholder is entitled to have the affairs of the company conducted properly according to law and the constituent documents of the corporation. As such, if those who control the company have persistently disregarded the requirements of company law or the provisions of the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, then the courts will grant relief. Generally, the areas in which the courts will intervene are the following: (1) an act complained of which is outside the scope of the authorized business or is illegal or not capable of ratification by the majority; (2) acts that constitute fraud on the minority where the wrongdoers control the company; (3) acts that infringe on the personal rights of the shareholders, such as the right to vote; and (4) where the company has not complied with provisions requiring approval of a special or extraordinary majority of shareholders, which are more limited than the rights afforded minority shareholders under the laws of many states in the United States.

 

Our board of directors may decline to register transfers of Class A Common Shares in certain circumstances.

 

Our board of directors may, in its sole discretion, decline to register any transfer of any Class A Common Share which is not fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our directors may also decline to register any transfer of any share unless (i) the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; (ii) the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares; (iii) the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required; (iv) in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the share is to be transferred does not exceed four; (v) the shares conceded are free of any lien in favor of us; or (vi) a fee of such maximum sum as Nasdaq may determine to be payable, or such lesser sum as our board of directors may from time to time require, is paid to us in respect thereof.

 

If our directors refuse to register a transfer they shall, within one month after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal. The registration of transfers may, on 14 days’ notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers or by electronic means, be suspended and the register closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine, provided, however, that the registration of transfers shall not be suspended nor the register closed for more than 30 days in any year.

 

You may be unable to present proposals before general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by shareholders.

 

British Virgin Islands law provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our Articles of Association allow our shareholders holding shares representing in aggregate not less than 30% of our voting share capital in issue, to requisition an extraordinary general meeting of our shareholders, in which case our directors are obliged to call such meeting and to put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting.

 

Although our Articles of Association do not provide our shareholders with any right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by such shareholders, any shareholder may submit a proposal to our Board of Directors for consideration of inclusion in a proxy statement. Advance notice of at least seven (7) calendar days is required for the convening of our annual general shareholders’ meeting and any other general meeting of our shareholders. A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of at least one shareholder present in person or by proxy, representing not less than one-half of the total issued voting power of our company. In the event we do not have quorum at the time set for the meeting, we are required to adjourn the meeting until the following week, at which time quorum will be satisfied if shares representing at least one-third of the total issued voting power of our company are present in person or by proxy. Because our Class A Common Shares are entitled to one (1) vote and our Class B Common Shares are entitled to three (3) votes, the presence of holders of the Class B Common Shares will have a significant impact on whether any meeting of shareholders has quorum.

 

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Risks Related to Doing Business in China

 

Adverse changes in political, economic and other policies of the Chinese government could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China, which could materially and adversely affect the growth of our business and our competitive position.

 

The majority of our business operations are conducted in China. Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects are affected significantly by economic, political and legal developments in China. China’s economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including with respect to the amount of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange, and allocation of resources. The PRC government exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through strategical allocation of resources, controlling the payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy, and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth in the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. The growth of the Chinese economy may not continue at a rate experienced in the past, and the impact of COVID-19 on the Chinese economy may continue. Any prolonged slowdown in the Chinese economy may reduce the demand for our services and materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations. Furthermore, any adverse change in the economic conditions in China, in policies of the PRC government or in laws and regulations in China could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China and market demand for our outsourcing services. Such developments could adversely affect our businesses, lead to reduction in demand for our services and adversely affect our competitive position.

 

Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. We conduct our business primarily through our subsidiaries established in China.

 

These subsidiaries are generally subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investment in China. However, since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties, which may limit legal protections available to us. Recently, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the “Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law,” or the Opinions, which was made available to the public on July 6, 2021. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-concept overseas listed companies, and cybersecurity and data privacy protection requirements, etc. The Opinions and any related implementing rules to be enacted may subject us to compliance requirement in the future. In addition, some regulatory requirements issued by certain PRC government authorities may not be consistently applied by other government authorities (including local government authorities), thus making strict compliance with all regulatory requirements impractical, or in some circumstances impossible. For example, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce the legal protection that we enjoy either by law or contract. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to predict the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy than in more developed legal systems. These uncertainties may impede our ability to enforce the contracts we have entered into with our business partners, customers and suppliers. In addition, such uncertainties, including any inability to enforce our contracts, together with any development or interpretation of PRC law that is adverse to us, could materially and adversely affect our business and operations. Furthermore, intellectual property rights and confidentiality protections in China may not be as effective as in the United States or other more developed countries. We cannot predict the effect of future developments in the PRC legal system, including the promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, or the preemption of local regulations by national laws. These uncertainties could limit the legal protections available to us and other foreign investors, including you. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources and management attention.

 

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China’s economic, political and social conditions, as well as changes in any government policies, laws and regulations may be quick with little advance notice and, could have a material adverse effect on our business and the value of our Class A Common Shares.

 

Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects are subject, to a significant extent, to economic, political and legal developments in China. For example, as a result of recent proposed changes in the cybersecurity regulations in China that would require certain Chinese technology firms to undergo a cybersecurity review before being allowed to list on foreign exchanges, this may have a material adverse effect on our business and the value of our Class A Ordinary Share.

 

China’s economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the amount of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth in the past two to three decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. Demand for target services and products depends, in large part, on economic conditions in China. Any slowdown in China’s economic growth may cause our potential customers to delay or cancel their plans to purchase our services and products, which in turn could reduce our net revenues.

 

Although China’s economy has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more market oriented economy since the late 1970s, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The PRC government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through allocating resources, controlling the incurrence and payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. Changes in any of these policies, laws and regulations may be quick with little advance notice and could adversely affect the economy in China and could have a material adverse effect on our business and the value of our Class A Common Shares.

 

The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage foreign investment and sustainable economic growth and to guide the allocation of financial and other resources. However, we cannot assure you that the PRC government will not repeal or alter these measures or introduce new measures that will have a negative effect on us, or more specifically, we cannot assure you that the PRC government will not initiate possible governmental actions or scrutiny to us, which could substantially affect our operation and the value of our Common Shares may depreciate quickly. China’s social and political conditions may change and become unstable. Any sudden changes to China’s political system or the occurrence of widespread social unrest could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

The Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities and may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and the value of our Class A Common Shares.

 

The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to securities regulation, data protection, cybersecurity and mergers and acquisitions and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations.

 

Government actions in the future could significantly affect economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to materially change our operating activities or divest ourselves of any interests we hold in Chinese assets. Our business may be subject to various government and regulatory interference in the provinces in which we operate. We may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply. Our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to our business or industry.

 

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Given recent statements by the Chinese government indicating an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, any such action could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless.

 

Among other things, China’s M&A Rules and the Anti-Monopoly Law established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex. Such regulation requires, among other things, that State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor acquires control of a PRC domestic enterprise or a foreign company with substantial PRC operations, if certain thresholds are triggered. Moreover, the Anti-Monopoly Law requires that transactions which involve the national security, the examination on the national security shall also be conducted according to the relevant provisions of the State. In addition, PRC Measures for the Security Review of Foreign Investment which became effective in January 2021 require acquisitions by foreign investors of PRC companies engaged in military-related or certain other industries that are crucial to national security be subject to security review before consummation of any such acquisition. We may pursue potential strategic acquisitions in China that are complementary to our business and operations. Complying with the requirements of these regulations to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval or clearance from the MOFCOM, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.

 

Recently, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law, or the Opinions, which was made available to the public on July 6, 2021. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems, will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-concept overseas listed companies. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, or sanctions from PRC government authorities in connection with the Opinions.

 

On June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, or the SCNPC, promulgated the PRC Data Security Law, which took effect in September 2021. The PRC Data Security Law imposes data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals carrying out data activities, and introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system based on the importance of data in economic and social development, and the degree of harm it will cause to national security, public interests, or legitimate rights and interests of individuals or organizations when such data is tampered with, destroyed, leaked, illegally acquired or used. The PRC Data Security Law also provides for a national security review procedure for data activities that may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data an information.

 

In early July 2021, regulatory authorities in China launched cybersecurity investigations with regard to several China-based companies that are listed in the United States. The Chinese cybersecurity regulator announced on July 2 that it had begun an investigation of Didi Global Inc. (NYSE: DIDI) and two days later ordered that the company’s app be removed from smartphone app stores. On July 5, 2021, the Chinese cybersecurity regulator launched the same investigation on two other Internet platforms, China’s Full Truck Alliance of Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YMM) and Boss of KANZHUN LIMITED (Nasdaq: BZ). On July 24, 2021, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly released the Guidelines for Further Easing the Burden of Excessive Homework and Off-campus Tutoring for Students at the Stage of Compulsory Education, pursuant to which foreign investment in such firms via mergers and acquisitions, franchise development, and variable interest entities are banned from this sector.

 

On November 14, 2021, the CAC released the Regulations on the Network Data Security Management (Draft for Comments), or the Data Security Management Regulations Draft, to solicit public opinion and comments. Pursuant to the Data Security Management Regulations Draft, data processor holding more than one million users/users’ individual information shall be subject to cybersecurity review before listing abroad. Data processing activities refers to activities such as the collection, retention, use, processing, transmission, provision, disclosure, or deletion of data. According to the latest amended Cybersecurity Review Measures, which was promulgated on December 28, 2021, and will become effective on February 15, 2022 and replace the Cybersecurity Review Measures promulgated on April 13, 2020, an online platform operator holding more than one million users/users’ individual information shall be subject to cybersecurity review before listing abroad. Since the Cybersecurity Review Measures is new, the implementation and interpretation thereof is not yet clear. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been informed by any PRC governmental authority of any requirement that we file for approval for this offering.

 

On August 17, 2021, the State Council promulgated the Regulations on the Protection of the Security of Critical Information Infrastructure, or the Regulations, which took effect on September 1, 2021. The Regulations supplement and specify the provisions on the security of critical information infrastructure as stated in the Cybersecurity Review Measures. The Regulations provide, among others, that protection department of certain industry or sector shall notify the operator of the critical information infrastructure in time after the identification of certain critical information infrastructure.

 

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On August 20, 2021, the SCNPC promulgated the Personal Information Protection Law of the PRC, or the Personal Information Protection Law, which took effect in November 2021. As the first systematic and comprehensive law specifically for the protection of personal information in the PRC, the Personal Information Protection Law provides, among others, that (i) an individual’s consent shall be obtained to use sensitive personal information, such as biometric characteristics and individual location tracking, (ii) personal information operators using sensitive personal information shall notify individuals of the necessity of such use and impact on the individual’s rights, and (iii) where personal information operators reject an individual’s request to exercise his or her rights, the individual may file a lawsuit with a People’s Court. Given that the above mentioned newly promulgated laws, regulations and policies were recently promulgated or issued, and have not yet taken effect (as applicable), their interpretation, application and enforcement are subject to substantial uncertainties. See “Risk Factor — We may be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information provided by our customers” and “Risk Factors — Our failure to obtain prior approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) for the listing and trading of our Class A Common Shares on a foreign stock exchange could delay this offering or could have a material adverse effect upon our business, operating results, reputation and trading price of our Class A Common Shares.

 

Draft rules for China-based companies seeking for securities offerings in foreign stock markets was released by the CSRC for public consultation. While such rules have not yet come into effect, the Chinese government may exert more oversight and control over overseas public offerings conducted by China-based issuers, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Class A Common Shares to investors and could cause the value of our Class A Common Shares to significantly decline or become worthless.

 

On December 24, 2021, CSRC and relevant departments of the State Council published the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, which aim to regulate overseas securities offerings and listings by China-based companies, are available for public consultation. The Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listing aim to lay out the filing regulation arrangement for both direct and indirect overseas listing and clarify the determination criteria for indirect overseas listing in overseas markers.

 

The Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listing, among other things, stipulate that, after making initial applications with overseas stock markets for initial public offerings or listings, all China-based companies shall file with CSRC within three working days, and make filings for certain matters, including follow-on offerings, after their initial public offerings or listings. The required filing materials with the CSRC include (without limitation): (i) record-filing reports and related undertakings, (ii) compliance certificates, filing or approval documents from the primary regulator of the applicants’ businesses (if applicable), (iii) security assessment opinions issued by related departments (if applicable), (iv) PRC legal opinions, and (v) prospectus. In addition, overseas offerings and listings may be prohibited for such China-based companies when any of the following applies: (1) if the intended securities offerings and listings are specifically prohibited by the laws, regulations or provision of the PRC; (2) if the intended securities offerings and listings may constitute a threat to, or endanger national security as reviewed and determined by competent authorities under the State Council in accordance with laws; (3) if there are material ownership disputes over applicants’ equity interests, major assets, core technologies, etc.; (4) if, in the past three years, applicants’ domestic enterprises, controlling shareholders or de facto controllers have committed corruption, bribery, embezzlement, misappropriation of property, or other criminal offenses disruptive to the order of the socialist market economy, or are currently under judicial investigation for suspicion of criminal offenses, or are under investigation for suspicion of major violations; (5) if, in the past three years, any directors, supervisors, or senior executives of applicants have been subject to administrative punishments for severe violations, or are currently under judicial investigation for suspicion of criminal offenses, or are under investigation for suspicion of major violations; (6) other circumstances as prescribed by the State Council. The Draft Administrative Provisions stipulate that a fine between RMB 1 million and RMB 10 million may be imposed if an applicant fails to fulfill the filing requirements with the CSRC or conducts an overseas offering or listing in violation of the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, and in cases of severe violations, a parallel order to suspend relevant businesses or halt operations for rectification may be issued, and relevant business permits or operational license revoked.

 

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As of the date of this prospectus, the Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings have not been promulgated, and neither we nor any of our PRC Subsidiaries have been required to obtain permission from, or make filings with, CSRC or any Chinese governmental agencies for any of our U.S. offerings. The Draft Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, if enacted, however, may subject us to additional compliance requirements in the future, and though we believe that none of six situations that would clearly prohibit overseas listing and offering apply to us, we cannot assure you that we will be able to receive clearance of such filing requirements in a timely manner, or at all. If CSRC or any Chinese governmental agencies requires that we obtain its approval prior to the completion of this offering, the offering will be delayed until we have obtained such approval, which may take several months. There is also the possibility that we may not be able to obtain or maintain such approval or that we inadvertently concluded that such approval was not required. If prior governmental agencies approval was required while we inadvertently concluded that such approval was not required or if applicable laws and regulations or the interpretation of such were modified to require us to obtain such approval in the future, we may face regulatory actions or other sanctions from CSRC or other Chinese governmental agencies. These authorities may impose fines and penalties upon our operations in China, limit our operating privileges in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from this offering into China, or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our Class A Common Shares. CSRC or other Chinese governmental agencies may also take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to terminate this offering prior to closing. Any failure of us to fully comply with new regulatory requirements may significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer the Class A Common Shares, cause significant disruption to our business operations, severely damage our reputation, materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations, and cause the Class A Common Shares to significantly decline in value or become worthless.

 

The holding company may be subject to approval or other requirement from PRC authorities in connection with this offering, and, if required, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such approval or satisfy such requirement. If we failed to obtain such approval or satisfy such requirement, we may not be able to continue listing on U.S. exchange, continue to offer securities to investors, or materially affect the interest of the investors and the value of our Class A Common Shares may decrease or become worthless.

 

As of the date of this prospectus, we or our Subsidiaries have not received any requirement to obtain permission or approval from CSRC or Cyberspace Administration of China. However, recently, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the “Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law,” or the Opinions, which was made available to the public on July 6, 2021. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-concept overseas listed companies, and cybersecurity and data privacy protection requirements and similar matters. The Opinions and any related implementing rules to be enacted may subject us to compliance requirement in the future.

 

Given the current regulatory environment in the PRC, we are still subject to the uncertainty of interpretation and enforcement of the rules and regulations in the PRC, which can change quickly with little advance notice, and any future actions of the PRC authorities. It is uncertain when and whether the Company will be required to obtain permission from the PRC government to list on U.S. exchanges (including retroactively), and even if such permission is obtained, whether it will be denied or rescinded. As a result, our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to our business or industry.

 

PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain and any changes in such laws and regulations may impair our ability to operate profitably.

 

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 and the enforcement and performance of our arrangements with customers in certain circumstances. The laws and regulations are sometimes vague and may be subject to future changes, and their official interpretation and enforcement may involve substantial uncertainty. The effectiveness and interpretation of newly enacted laws or regulations, including amendments to existing laws and regulations, may be delayed, and our business may be affected if we rely on laws and regulations which are subsequently adopted or interpreted in a manner different from our understanding of these laws and regulations. New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively. We cannot predict what effect the interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations may have on our business.

 

The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, prior court decisions under the civil law system may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. Since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and the enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties.

 

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In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past three decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, 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. In particular, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory provisions and contractual terms, it may be difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy. These uncertainties may affect our judgment on the relevance of legal requirements and our ability to enforce our contractual rights or tort claims. In addition, the regulatory uncertainties may be exploited through unmerited or frivolous legal actions or threats in attempts to extract payments or benefits from us.

 

Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all and may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of any of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. In addition, any administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.

 

From time to time, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published in a timely manner or at all) that may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such uncertainties, including uncertainty over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights, and any failure to respond to changes in the regulatory environment in China could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.

 

Recently, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the “Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law,” or the Opinions, which was made available to the public on July 6, 2021. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-concept overseas listed companies, and cybersecurity and data privacy protection requirements and similar matters. The Opinions and any related implementing rules to be enacted may subject us to compliance requirement in the future.

 

Regulation and censorship of information distribution over the Internet in China may adversely affect our business, and we may be liable for information displayed on, retrieved from or linked to our website.

 

China has enacted laws and regulations governing Internet access and the distribution of products, services, news, information, audio-video programs and other content through the Internet. The PRC government has prohibited the distribution of information through the Internet that it deems to be in violation of PRC laws and regulations. If any of the content on our online platform is deemed to violate any content restrictions by the PRC government, we would not be able to continue to display such content and could become subject to penalties, including confiscation of income, fines, suspension of business and revocation of required licenses, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We may also be subject to potential liability for any unlawful actions of our customers or customers of our website or for content we distribute that is deemed inappropriate. It may be difficult to determine the type of content that may result in liability to us, and if we are found to be liable, we may be prevented from operating our website in China.

 

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China Securities Regulatory Commission and other Chinese government agencies may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers, especially those in the technology filed. Additional compliance procedures may be required in connection with this offering, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval. If we are required to obtain PRC governmental permissions to commence the sale of the securities, we will not commence the offering until we obtain such permissions. As a result, we face uncertainty about future actions by the PRC government that could significantly affect our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.

 

On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued a document to crack down on illegal activities in the securities market and promote the high-quality development of the capital market, which, among other things, requires the relevant governmental authorities to strengthen cross-border oversight of law-enforcement and judicial cooperation, to enhance supervision over China-based companies listed overseas, and to establish and improve the system of extraterritorial application of the PRC securities laws. Since this document is relatively new, uncertainties still exist in relation to 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 future business, results of operations, and the value of our securities.

 

Further, Chinese government continues to exert more oversight and control over Chinese technology firms. On July 2, 2021, Chinese cybersecurity regulator announced, that it had begun an investigation of Didi Global Inc. (NYSE: DIDI) and two days later ordered that the company’s application be removed from smartphone application stores. On July 5, 2021, the Chinese cybersecurity regulator launched the same investigation on two other Internet platforms, China’s Full Truck Alliance of Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YMM) and Boss of KANZHUN LIMITED (Nasdaq: BZ).

 

Therefore, China Securities Regulatory Commission and other Chinese government agencies may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers, especially those in the technology filed. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not received any requirement to obtain approval of CSRC to list on U.S. exchanges. Further, however, given the current regulatory environment in the PRC, we are still subject to the uncertainty of interpretation and enforcement of the rules and regulations in the PRC, which can change quickly with little advance notice, and any future actions of the PRC authorities, additional compliance procedures may be required in connection with this offering and our business operations. If such compliance procedures were required in the future in connection with this offering and our business operations, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval. If we are unable to obtain such permission we may be forced to abandon this offering. As a result, we face uncertainty about future actions by the PRC government that could significantly affect our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our Class A Common Shares to significantly decline or be worthless.

 

We may be subject to PRC laws relating to the use, sharing, retention, security and transfer of confidential and private information, such as personal information and other data. These laws continue to develop, and the PRC government may adopt other rules and restrictions in the future. Non-compliance could result in penalties or other significant legal liabilities.

 

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The Cybersecurity Law, which was adopted by the National People’s Congress on November 7, 2016 and came into force on June 1, 2017, and the Cybersecurity Review Measures, or the “Review Measures,” which were promulgated on April 13, 2020, amended on December 28, 2021 and will become effective on February 15, 2022, provide that personal information and important data collected and generated by a critical information infrastructure operator in the course of its operations in China must be stored in China, and if a critical information infrastructure operator purchases internet products and services that affect or may affect national security, it should be subject to cybersecurity review by the CAC. In addition, a cybersecurity review is required where critical information infrastructure operators, or the “CIIOs,” purchase network-related products and services, which products and services affect or may affect national security. Due to the lack of further interpretations, the exact scope of what constitute a “CIIO” remains unclear. Further, the PRC government authorities may have wide discretion in the interpretation and enforcement of these laws. In addition, Review Measures stipulates that an online platform operator holding more than one million users/users’ individual information shall be subject to cybersecurity review before listing abroad. Cybersecurity Review Measures does not provide a definition of “online platform operator”, therefore, we cannot assure you that we will not be deemed as an “online platform operator”. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not received any notice from any authorities identifying us as a CIIO or requiring us to undertake a cybersecurity review by the CAC. Further, as of the date of this prospectus, we have not been subject to any penalties, fines, suspensions, investigations from any competent authorities for violation of the regulations or policies that have been issued by the CAC. On June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress promulgated the Data Security Law which took effect on September 1, 2021. The Data Security Law requires that data shall not be collected by theft or other illegal means, and it also provides that a data classification and hierarchical protection system shall be established. The data classification and hierarchical protection system protects data according to its importance in economic and social development, and the damages it may cause to national security, public interests, or the legitimate rights and interests of individuals and organizations if the data is falsified, damaged, disclosed, illegally obtained or illegally used, which protection system is expected to be built by the state for data security in the near future. On November 14, 2021, CAC published the Regulations on the Network Data Security Management (Draft for Comments), or the Data Security Management Regulations Draft to solicit public opinion and comments. Under the Data Security Management Regulations Draft, which provides that an overseas initial public offering to be conducted by a data processor processing the personal information of more than one million individuals shall apply for a cybersecurity review. Data processor means an individual or organization that independently makes decisions on the purpose and manner of processing in data processing activities, and data processing activities refers to activities such as the collection, retention, use, processing, transmission, provision, disclosure, or deletion of data. We may be deemed as a data processor under the Data Security Management Regulations Draft. However, the Data Security Management Regulations Draft has not been formally adopted. It is uncertain when the final regulation will be issued and take effect, how it will be enacted, interpreted or implemented, and whether it will affect us. There remains uncertainty as to how the Review Measures and the Data Security Management Regulations Draft will be interpreted or implemented and whether the PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, may adopt new laws, regulations, rules, or detailed implementation and interpretation related to the Review Measures and the Data Security Regulations Draft. If any such new laws, regulations, rules, or implementation and interpretation come into effect, we expect to take all reasonable measures and actions to comply. We cannot assure you that PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, would take the same view as we do, and there is no assurance that we can fully or timely comply with such laws should they be deemed applicable to our operations. Any cybersecurity review could also result in negative publicity with respect to our Company and diversion of our managerial and financial resources. There is no certainty as to how such review or prescribed actions would impact our operations and we cannot guarantee that any clearance can be obtained or any actions that may be required for our listing on the Nasdaq capital market and the offering as well can be taken in a timely manner, or at all.

 

In addition, according to the Personal Information Protection Law, where the purpose of the activity is to provide a product or service to that natural person located within China, such activity shall comply with the Personal Information Protection Law. Further, the Data Security Law provides that where any data handling activity carried out outside of the territory of China harms the national security, public interests, or the legitimate rights and interests of citizens or organizations of China, legal liability shall be investigated in accordance with such law. However, the Personal Information Protection Law and the Data Security Law are relatively new, there remains uncertainty as to how the laws will be interpreted or implemented and whether the PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, may adopt new laws, regulations, rules, or detailed implementation and interpretation related to the two laws.

 

The regulatory requirements with respect to cybersecurity and data privacy are constantly evolving and can be subject to varying interpretations, and significant changes, resulting in uncertainties about the scope of our responsibilities in that regard. Failure to comply with the cybersecurity and data privacy requirements in a timely manner, or at all, may subject us to government enforcement actions and investigations, fines, penalties, suspension, or disruption of our operations, among other things.

 

We may be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information provided by our customers.

 

Our business can potentially involve collecting and retaining certain internal and customer data. We also maintain information about various aspects of our operations as well as regarding our employees. The integrity and protection of our customer, employee and company data is critical to our business. Our customers and employees expect that we will adequately protect their personal information. We are required by applicable laws to keep strictly confidential the personal information that we collect, and to take adequate security measures to safeguard such information.

 

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The PRC Criminal Law, as amended by its Amendment 7 (effective on February 28, 2009) and Amendment 9 (effective on November 1, 2015), prohibits institutions, companies, and their employees from selling or otherwise illegally disclosing a citizen’s personal information obtained in performing duties or providing services or obtaining such information through theft or other illegal ways. On November 7, 2016, the SCNPC issued the Cyber Security Law of the PRC, or Cyber Security Law, which became effective on June 1, 2017. Pursuant to the Cyber Security Law, network operators must not, without users’ consent, collect their personal information, and may only collect users’ personal information necessary to provide their services. Providers are also obliged to provide security maintenance for their products and services and shall comply with provisions regarding the protection of personal information as stipulated under the relevant laws and regulations.

 

The Civil Code of the PRC (issued by the PRC National People’s Congress on May 28, 2020 and effective from January 1, 2021) provides legal basis for privacy and personal information infringement claims under the Chinese civil laws. PRC regulators, including the CAC, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or MIIT, and the Ministry of Public Security, have been increasingly focused on regulation in data security and data protection.

 

The PRC regulatory requirements regarding cybersecurity are evolving. For instance, various regulatory bodies in China, including the CAC, the Ministry of Public Security and the State Administration for Market Regulation, or the SAMR (formerly known as State Administration for Industry and Commerce, or the SAIC), have enforced data privacy and protection laws and regulations with varying and evolving standards and interpretations. In April 2020, the Chinese government promulgated Cybersecurity Review Measures, which came into effect on June 1, 2020, was amended on December 28, 2021, and will become effective on February 15, 2022. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, (i) operators of critical information infrastructure must pass a cybersecurity review when purchasing network products and services which do or may affect national security; (ii) online platform operators who are engaged in data processing are also subject to the regulatory scope; (iii) the CSRC is included as one of the regulatory authorities for purposes of jointly establishing the state cybersecurity review working mechanism; (iv) online platform operators holding more than one million users/users’ individual information and seeking a listing outside China shall file for cybersecurity review; (v) the risks of core data, material data or large amounts of personal information being stolen, leaked, destroyed, damaged, illegally used or illegally transmitted to overseas parties and the risks of critical information infrastructure, core data, material data or large amounts of personal information being influenced, controlled or used maliciously shall be collectively taken into consideration during the cybersecurity review process.

 

Certain internet platforms in China have been reportedly subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny in relation to cybersecurity matters. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been informed by any PRC governmental authority of any requirement that we file for a cybersecurity review. However, if we are deemed to be a critical information infrastructure operator or a company that is engaged in data processing and holds personal information of more than one million users, we could be subject to PRC cybersecurity review.

 

As of the date hereof, we are of the view that we are in compliance with the applicable PRC laws and regulations governing the data privacy and personal information in all material respects, including the data privacy and personal information requirements of the Cyberspace Administration of China, and we have not received any complaints from any third party, or been investigated or punished by any PRC competent authority in relation to data privacy and personal information protection. However, as there remains significant uncertainty in the interpretation and enforcement of relevant PRC cybersecurity laws and regulations, we could be subject to cybersecurity review, and if so, we may not be able to pass such review in relation to this offering. In addition, we could become subject to enhanced cybersecurity review or investigations launched by PRC regulators in the future. Any failure or delay in the completion of the cybersecurity review procedures or any other non-compliance with the related laws and regulations may result in fines or other penalties, including suspension of business, website closure, removal of our app from the relevant app stores, and revocation of prerequisite licenses, as well as reputational damage or legal proceedings or actions against us, which may have material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

On June 10, 2021, the SCNPC promulgated the PRC Data Security Law, which took effect in September 2021. The PRC Data Security Law imposes data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals carrying out data activities, and introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system based on the importance of data in economic and social development, and the degree of harm it will cause to national security, public interests, or legitimate rights and interests of individuals or organizations when such data is tampered with, destroyed, leaked, illegally acquired or used. The PRC Data Security Law also provides for a national security review procedure for data activities that may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data an information.

 

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As uncertainties remain regarding the interpretation and implementation of these laws and regulations, we cannot assure you that we will comply with such regulations in all respects and we may be ordered to rectify or terminate any actions that are deemed illegal by regulatory authorities. We may also become subject to fines and/or other sanctions which may have material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.

 

While we take various measures to comply with all applicable data privacy and protection laws and regulations, our current security measures and those of our third-party service providers may not always be adequate for the protection of our customer, employee or company data. We may be a target for computer hackers, foreign governments or cyber terrorists in the future.

 

Unauthorized access to our proprietary internal and customer data may be obtained through break-ins, sabotage, breach of our secure network by an unauthorized party, computer viruses, computer denial-of-service attacks, employee theft or misuse, breach of the security of the networks of our third-party service providers, or other misconduct. Because the techniques used by computer programmers who may attempt to penetrate and sabotage our proprietary internal and customer data change frequently and may not be recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques.

 

Unauthorized access to our proprietary internal and customer data may also be obtained through inadequate use of security controls. Any of such incidents may harm our reputation and adversely affect our business and results of operations. In addition, we may be subject to negative publicity about our security and privacy policies, systems, or measurements. Any failure to prevent or mitigate security breaches, cyber-attacks or other unauthorized access to our systems or disclosure of our customers’ data, including their personal information, could result in loss or misuse of such data, interruptions to our service system, diminished customer experience, loss of customer confidence and trust, impairment of our technology infrastructure, and harm our reputation and business, resulting in significant legal and financial exposure and potential lawsuits.

 

We must remit the offering proceeds to China before they may be used to benefit our business in China, the process of which may be time-consuming, and we cannot assure that we can finish all necessary governmental registration processes in a timely manner.

 

The proceeds of this offering may be sent back to the PRC, and the process for sending such proceeds back to the PRC may be time-consuming after the closing of this offering. We may be unable to use these proceeds to grow our business until our PRC subsidiaries receive such proceeds in the PRC. Any transfer of funds by us to our PRC subsidiaries, either as a shareholder loan or as an increase in registered capital, are subject to approval by or registration or filing with relevant governmental authorities in China. Any foreign loans procured by our PRC subsidiaries is required to be registered with China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) or its local branches or satisfy relevant requirements, and our PRC subsidiaries may not procure loans which exceed the difference between their respective total project investment amount and registered capital or 2 times (which may be varied year by year due to the change of PRC’s national macro-control policy) of the net worth of our PRC subsidiary. According to the relevant PRC regulations on foreign-invested enterprises in China, capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries are subject to the approval of or filing with State Administration for Market Regulation in its local branches, the Ministry of Commerce in its local branches and registration with a local bank authorized by SAFE.

 

To remit the proceeds of the offering, we must take the steps legally required under the PRC laws, for example, we will open a special foreign exchange account for capital account transactions, remit the offering proceeds into such special foreign exchange account and apply for settlement of the foreign exchange. The timing of the process is difficult to estimate because the efficiencies of different SAFE branches can vary materially.

 

In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations on loans to, and direct investment in, PRC entities by offshore holding companies, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans by us to our PRC subsidiary or with respect to future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiary. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds from this offering and to capitalize or otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity, our ability to fund and expand our business and our Common Shares.

 

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U.S. regulators’ ability to conduct investigations or enforce rules in China is limited.

 

The majority of our operations conducted outside of the U.S. As a result, it may not be possible for the U.S. regulators to conduct investigations or inspections, or to effect service of process within the U.S. or elsewhere outside China on us, our subsidiaries, officers, directors and shareholders, and others, including with respect to matters arising under U.S. federal or state securities laws. China does not have treaties providing for reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts with the U.S. and many other countries. As a result, recognition and enforcement in China of these judgments in relation to any matter, including U.S. securities laws and the laws of the Cayman Islands, may be difficult or impossible.

 

You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing original actions in China against us or Hong Kong or other foreign laws, and the ability of U.S. authorities to bring actions in China may also be limited.

 

We are an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Island, we conduct a significant portion of our operations in China and the majority of our assets are located in China. In addition, all of our directors, officers or senior management other than Yunhao Chen, are located in China. As a result, it may be more difficult for our Shareholders to enforce liabilities and enforce judgments on those individuals. Our PRC legal counsel has advised us that China does not have treaties providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts with the Cayman Islands and many other countries and regions. Therefore, recognition and enforcement in China of judgments of a court in any of these non-PRC jurisdictions in relation to any matter not subject to a binding arbitration provision may be difficult or impossible.

 

On July 14, 2006, Hong Kong and the PRC entered into the Arrangement on Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters by the Courts of the PRC and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Pursuant to Choice of Court Agreements Between Parties Concerned, or the 2006 Arrangement, pursuant to which a party with a final court judgment rendered by a Hong Kong court requiring payment of money in a civil and commercial case pursuant to a choice of court agreement in writing may apply for recognition and enforcement of the judgment in the PRC. Similarly, a party with a final judgment rendered by a PRC court requiring payment of money in a civil and commercial case pursuant to a choice of court agreement in writing may apply for recognition and enforcement of the judgment in Hong Kong. A choice of court agreement in writing is defined as any agreement in writing entered into between parties after the effective date of the 2006 Arrangement in which a Hong Kong court or a PRC court is expressly designated as the court having sole jurisdiction for the dispute. Therefore, it is not possible to enforce a judgment rendered by a Hong Kong court in the PRC if the parties in dispute have not agreed to enter into a choice of court agreement in writing. The 2006 Arrangement became effective on August 1, 2008.

 

Subsequently on January 18, 2019, Hong Kong and the PRC entered into the Arrangement on Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters between the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, or the Arrangement, pursuant to which, among other things, the scope of application was widened to cover both monetary and non-monetary judgments in most civil and commercial matters, including effective judgments on civil compensation in criminal cases. In addition, the requirement of a choice of court agreement in writing has been removed. It is no longer necessary for parties to agree to enter into a choice of court agreement in writing, as long as it can be shown that there is a connection between the dispute and the requesting place, such as place of the defendant’s residence, place of the defendant’s business or place of performance of the contract or tort. The 2019 Arrangement shall apply to judgments in civil and commercial matters made on or after its effective date by the courts of both sides. The 2006 Arrangement shall be terminated on the same day when the 2019 Arrangement comes into effect. If a “written choice of court agreement” has been signed by parties according to the 2006 Arrangement prior to the effective date of the 2019 Arrangement, the 2006 Arrangement shall still apply. Although the 2019 Arrangement has been signed, its effective date has yet to be announced. Therefore, there are still uncertainties about the outcomes and effectiveness of enforcement or recognition of judgments under the 2019 Arrangement.

 

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Furthermore, shareholder claims that are common in the U.S., including securities law class actions and fraud claims, generally are difficult to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect to foreign entities. Although the local authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities regulatory authorities of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, such regulatory cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the U.S. have not been efficient in the absence of mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. According to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. Accordingly, without the consent of the competent PRC securities regulators and relevant authorities, no organization or individual may provide the documents and materials relating to securities business activities to overseas parties.

 

We face uncertainty regarding the PRC tax reporting obligations and consequences for certain indirect transfers of the stock of our operating company.

 

Pursuant to the Notice on Strengthening Administration of Enterprise Income Tax for Share Transfers by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises issued by the PRC State Administration of Taxation (“SAT”) on December 10, 2009, or Circular 698, where a foreign investor transfers the equity interests of a PRC resident enterprise indirectly by way of the sale of equity interests of an overseas holding company, or an Indirect Transfer, and such overseas holding company is located in a tax jurisdiction that: (i) has an effective tax rate less than 12.5% or (ii) does not tax foreign income of its residents, the foreign investor should report such Indirect Transfer to the competent tax authority of the PRC resident enterprise.

 

On February 3, 2015, the SAT issued the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Several Issues Concerning the Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Property Transfer by Non-Resident Enterprises, or SAT Bulletin 7. SAT Bulletin 7 supersedes the rules with respect to the Indirect Transfer under SAT Circular 698. SAT Bulletin 7 has introduced a new tax regime that is significantly different from the previous one under SAT Circular 698. SAT Bulletin 7 extends the PRC’s tax jurisdiction to not only Indirect Transfers set forth under SAT Circular 698 but also transactions involving transfer of other taxable assets through offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company. In addition, SAT Bulletin 7 provides clearer criteria than SAT Circular 698 for assessment of reasonable commercial purposes and has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. SAT Bulletin 7 also brings challenges to both foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of taxable assets. Where a non-resident enterprise transfers taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, which is an Indirect Transfer, the non-resident enterprise, being the transferor, or the transferee, or the PRC entity that directly owns the taxable assets, may report such Indirect Transfer to the relevant tax authority. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such Indirect Transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. Both the transferor and the transferee may be subject to penalties under PRC tax laws if the transferee fails to withhold the taxes and the transferor fails to pay the taxes.

 

On October 17, 2017, the SAT issued the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Matters Concerning Withholding of Income Tax of Non-resident Enterprises at Source, or SAT Bulletin 37, which, among others, repealed the SAT Circular 698 on December 1, 2017. SAT Bulletin 37 further details and clarifies the tax withholding methods in respect of income of non-resident enterprises under SAT Circular 698. And certain rules stipulated in SAT Bulletin 7 are replaced by SAT Bulletin 37. Where the non-resident enterprise fails to declare the tax payable pursuant to Article 39 of the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, the tax authority may order it to pay the tax due within required time limits, and the non-resident enterprise shall declare and pay the tax payable within such time limits specified by the tax authority; however, if the non-resident enterprise voluntarily declares and pays the tax payable before the tax authority orders it to do so within required time limits, it shall be deemed that such enterprise has paid the tax in time.

 

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We face uncertainties as to the reporting and other implications of certain past and future transactions where PRC taxable assets are involved, such as offshore restructuring. Our company may be subject to filing obligations or taxed if our company is transferor in such transactions, and may be subject to withholding obligations if our company is transferee in such transactions, under SAT Bulletin 7 and SAT Bulletin 37. For transfer of shares in our company by investors who are non-PRC resident enterprises, our PRC subsidiary may be requested to assist in the filing under SAT Bulletin 7 and SAT Bulletin 37. As a result, we may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with SAT Bulletin 7 and SAT Bulletin 37 or to request the relevant transferors from whom we purchase taxable assets to comply with these circulars, or to establish that our company should not be taxed under these circulars, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident shareholders to personal liability and limit our ability to acquire PRC companies or to inject capital into our PRC subsidiary, limit our PRC subsidiary ability to distribute profits to us, or otherwise materially and adversely affect us.

 

In July 2014, SAFE has promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, to replace the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents’ Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Offshore Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 75, which ceased to be effective upon the promulgation of SAFE Circular 37. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents (including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities as well as foreign individuals that are deemed as PRC residents for foreign exchange administration purpose) to register with SAFE or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to the SAFE registrations in the event of any changes with respect to the basic information of the offshore special purpose vehicle, such as change of a PRC individual shareholder, name and operation term, or any significant changes with respect to the offshore special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contribution, share transfer or exchange, or mergers or divisions. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we make in the future.

 

If any PRC shareholder who makes direct or indirect investments in offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPV, fails to make the required registration or to update the previously filed registration, the subsidiaries of such SPV in China may be prohibited from distributing its profits or the proceeds from any capital reduction, share transfer or liquidation to the SPV, and the SPV may also be prohibited from making additional capital contribution into its subsidiary in China. On February 28, 2015, the SAFE promulgated a Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13, which became effective on June 1, 2015. Under SAFE Notice 13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investment and outbound overseas direct investment, including those required under the SAFE Circular 37, will be filed with qualified banks instead of the SAFE. The qualified banks will directly examine the applications and accept registrations under the supervision of the SAFE.

 

Of our current shareholders, five pre-IPO shareholders are individual Chinese residents to whom Notice 37 applies. The remaining pre-IPO shareholders are enterprises and Hong Kong residents, to whom Notice 37 does not apply; provided, however, that to the extent the shareholders of such enterprises are themselves Chinese residents, Notice 37 would apply to such individuals. As of the date hereof, none of the shareholders who are Chinese residents who hold such shares directly or through a Hong Kong enterprise has submitted registration under Notice 37. Although such individuals have promised to complete registration at the time they pay the company’s capital contribution prior to completion of this offering, there can be no assurance such registration will be completed in a timely manner. We have requested PRC residents whom we know hold direct or indirect interests in our company to make the necessary applications, filings and amendments as required under Notice 37 and other related rules. However, we cannot assure you that the registration will be duly and timely completed with the local SAFE branch or qualified banks. In addition, we may not be informed of the identities of all of the PRC residents holding direct or indirect interests in our company. As a result, we cannot assure you that all of our shareholders or beneficial owners who are PRC residents or entities have complied with, and will in the future make or obtain any applicable registrations or approvals required by, SAFE regulations. Failure by such shareholders or beneficial owners to comply with SAFE regulations, or failure by us to amend the foreign exchange registrations of our PRC subsidiary, could subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, limit our subsidiaries’ ability to make distributions or pay dividends or affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and prospects.

 

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Furthermore, as the interpretation and implementation of these foreign exchange regulations has been constantly evolving, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant governmental authorities. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if we decide to acquire a PRC domestic company, we cannot assure you that we or the owners of such company, as the case may be, will be able to obtain the necessary approvals or complete the necessary filings and registrations required by the foreign exchange regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.

 

We may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries, including those based in the PRC, for our cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.

 

As a holding company, we rely principally on dividends and other distributions on equity from our subsidiaries, including those based in China, for our cash requirements, including for services of any debt we may incur.

 

Our PRC Subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends is based upon their distributable earnings. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC Subsidiaries to pay dividends to their respective shareholders only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our PRC Subsidiaries, as a Foreign Invested Enterprise, or FIE, is required to draw 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a common reserve, and it may stop drawing its after-tax profits if the aggregate balance of the common reserve has already accounted for over 50 percent of its registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. In addition, if our PRC Subsidiaries 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 limitation on the ability of our PRC Subsidiaries to distribute dividends or other payments to their respective shareholders could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends or otherwise fund and conduct our business. Currently, we have installed cash management policies or procedures in place that dictate how funds are transferred, under an umbrella of corporate policies and financial reporting policies. Even though our policies do not specifically address the limitations, as discussed above, on the amount of funds the Company can transfer out of China, if we decide to transfer cash out of China in the future, all relevant transfers will be conducted in compliance with such limitations. As of the date of this prospectus, none of the PRC Subsidiaries has made any dividends or distributions to Dogness.

 

PRC regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of this Offering to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

 

We are an offshore holding company conducting our operations in China through our subsidiaries established in China and Hong Kong. We may make loans to our PRC subsidiaries subject to the approval from governmental authorities and limitation of amount, or we may make additional capital contributions to our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China.

 

Any loans to our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China, which are treated as foreign-invested enterprises under PRC law, are subject to PRC regulations and foreign exchange loan registrations. For example, loans by us to our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China to finance their activities must be registered with the local counterpart of SAFE. In addition, a foreign invested enterprise shall use its capital pursuant to the principle of authenticity and self-use within its business scope. The capital of a foreign invested enterprise shall not be used for the following purposes: (i) directly or indirectly used for payment beyond the business scope of the enterprises or the payment prohibited by relevant laws and regulations; (ii) directly or indirectly used for investment in securities or investments other than banks’ principal-secured products unless otherwise provided by relevant laws and regulations; (iii) the granting of loans to non-affiliated enterprises, except where it is expressly permitted in the business license; and (iv) paying the expenses related to the purchase of real estate that is not for self-use (except for the foreign-invested real estate enterprises).

 

SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, effective June 2015, in replacement of the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, the Notice from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Exchange Businesses, and the Circular on Further Clarification and Regulation of the Issues Concerning the Administration of Certain Capital Account Foreign Exchange Businesses. According to SAFE Circular 19, the flow and use of the RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company is regulated such that RMB capital may not be used for the issuance of RMB entrusted loans, the repayment of inter-enterprise loans or the repayment of banks loans that have been transferred to a third party. Although SAFE Circular 19 allows RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise to be used for equity investments within China, it also reiterates the principle that RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope. SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account, or SAFE Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, which reiterates some of the rules set forth in SAFE Circular 19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to issue loans to non-associated enterprises. Violations of SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 could result in administrative penalties. SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to transfer any foreign currency we hold, including the net proceeds from this offering, to our PRC subsidiaries, which may adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business in China. On October 23, 2019, the SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Promoting the Convenience of Cross-border Trade and Investment, or the SAFE Circular 28, which, among other things, allows all foreign-invested companies to use Renminbi converted from foreign currency-denominated capital for equity investments in China, as long as the equity investment is genuine, does not violate applicable laws, and complies with the negative list on foreign investment. However, since the SAFE Circular 28 is newly promulgated, it is unclear how SAFE and competent banks will carry this out in practice.

 

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In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations on loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans to our PRC subsidiaries or future capital contributions by us to our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China. As a result, uncertainties exist as to our ability to provide prompt financial support to our PRC subsidiaries when needed. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds we expect to receive from this offering and to capitalize or otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

 

Governmental control of currency conversion may limit our ability to use our revenues effectively and the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to obtain financing.

 

The PRC government imposes control on the convertibility of the RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. We receive a majority of our revenues in Renminbi, which currently is not a freely convertible currency. Restrictions on currency conversion imposed by the PRC government may limit our ability to use revenues generated in Renminbi to fund our expenditures denominated in foreign currencies or our business activities outside China. Under China’s existing foreign exchange regulations, Renminbi may be freely converted into foreign currency for payments relating to current account transactions, which include among other things dividend payments and payments for the import of goods and services, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Our PRC subsidiaries are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Our PRC subsidiaries may also retain foreign currency in their respective current account bank accounts for use in payment of international current account transactions. However, we cannot assure you that the PRC government will not at its discretion take measures in the future to restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions.

 

Conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies, and of foreign currencies into Renminbi, for payments relating to capital account transactions, which principally includes investments and loans, generally requires the approval of SAFE and other relevant PRC governmental authorities. Restrictions on the convertibility of the Renminbi for capital account transactions could affect the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make investments overseas or to obtain foreign currency through debt or equity financing, including by means of loans or capital contributions from us. We cannot assure you that the registration process will not delay or prevent our conversion of Renminbi for use outside of China.

 

We may be classified as a “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes; such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders.

 

The Enterprise Income Tax Law provides that enterprises established outside of China whose “de facto management bodies” are located in China are considered PRC tax resident enterprises and will generally be subject to the uniform 25% PRC enterprise income tax rate on their global income. In 2009, the SAT issued the Circular of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Concerning the Identification of Chinese-Controlled Overseas Registered Enterprises as Resident Enterprises in Accordance with the Actual Standards of Organizational Management, known as SAT Circular 82, which was partially amended by Announcement on Issues concerning the Determination of Resident Enterprises Based on the Standards of Actual Management Institutions issued by SAT on January 29, 2014, and further partially amended by Decision on Issuing the Lists of Invalid and Abolished Tax Departmental Rules and Taxation Normative Documents issued by SAT on December 29, 2017. SAT Circular 82, as amended, provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a Chinese-controlled offshore-incorporated enterprise is located in China, which include all of the following conditions: (i) the location where senior management members responsible for an enterprise’s daily operations discharge their duties; (ii) the location where financial and human resource decisions are made or approved by organizations or persons; (iii) the location where the major assets and corporate documents are kept; and (iv) the location where more than half (inclusive) of all directors with voting rights or senior management have their habitual residence. SAT Circular 82 further clarifies that the identification of the “de facto management body” must follow the substance over form principle. In addition, SAT issued SAT Bulletin 45 on July 27, 2011, effective from September 1, 2011 and partially amended on April 17, 2015, June 28, 2016, and June 15, 2018, respectively, providing more guidance on the implementation of SAT Circular 82. SAT Bulletin 45 clarifies matters including resident status determination, post-determination administration and competent tax authorities. Although both SAT Circular 82 and SAT Bulletin 45 only apply to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreign individuals, the determining criteria set forth in SAT Circular 82 and SAT Bulletin 45 may reflect SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of offshore enterprises, regardless of whether they are controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups or by PRC or foreign individuals.

 

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Currently, there are no detailed rules or precedents governing the procedures and specific criteria for determining de facto management bodies which are applicable to our company or our overseas subsidiaries. We do not believe that Dogness meets all of the conditions required for PRC resident enterprise. The Company is a company incorporated outside the PRC. As a holding company, its key assets are its ownership interests in its subsidiaries, and its key assets are located, and its records (including the resolutions of its board of directors and the resolutions of its shareholders) are maintained, outside the PRC. For the same reasons, we believe our other entities outside of China are not PRC resident enterprises either. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.” There can be no assurance that the PRC government will ultimately take a view that is consistent with ours.

 

However, if the PRC tax authorities determine that Dogness is a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we may be required to withhold a 10% withholding tax from dividends we pay to our shareholders that are non-resident enterprises. Such 10% tax rate could be reduced by applicable tax treaties or similar arrangements between China and the jurisdiction of our shareholders. For example, for shareholders eligible for the benefits of the tax treaty between China and Hong Kong, the tax rate is reduced to 5% for dividends if relevant conditions are met. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders may be subject to a 10% PRC tax on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of Common Shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within the PRC. It is unclear whether our non-PRC individual shareholders would be subject to any PRC tax on dividends or gains obtained by such non-PRC individual shareholders in the event we are determined to be a PRC resident enterprise. If any PRC tax were to apply to such dividends or gains, it would generally apply at a rate of 20% unless a reduced rate is available under an applicable tax treaty. However, it is also unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of the Company would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that the Company is treated as a PRC resident enterprise.

 

Provided that our British Virgin Islands holding company, Dogness, is not deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise, our shareholders who are not PRC residents will not be subject to PRC income tax on dividends distributed by us or gains realized from the sale or other disposition of our shares. However, under Circular 7, where a non-resident enterprise conducts an “indirect transfer” by transferring taxable assets, including, in particular, equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise, being the transferor, or the transferee or the PRC entity which directly owned such taxable assets may report to the relevant tax authority such indirect transfer. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee would be obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. We and our non-PRC resident investors may be at risk of being required to file a return and being taxed under Circular 7, and we may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with Bulletin 37, or to establish that we should not be taxed under Circular 7 and Bulletin 37.

 

In addition to the uncertainty in how the new resident enterprise classification could apply, it is also possible that the rules may change in the future, possibly with retroactive effect. If we are required under the Enterprise Income Tax law to withhold PRC income tax on our dividends payable to our foreign shareholders, or if you are required to pay PRC income tax on the transfer of our shares under the circumstances mentioned above, the value of your investment in our shares may be materially and adversely affected. These rates may be reduced by an applicable tax treaty, but it is unclear whether, if we are considered a PRC resident enterprise, holders of our shares would be able to claim the benefit of income tax treaties or agreements entered into between China and other countries or areas. Any such tax may reduce the returns on your investment in our shares.

 

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Any failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration requirements for employee stock incentive plans may subject the PRC plan participants or us to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions.

 

In February 2012, SAFE promulgated the Notices on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed Companies, replacing earlier rules promulgated in March 2007. Pursuant to these rules, PRC citizens and non-PRC citizens who reside in China for a continuous period of not less than one year who participate in any stock incentive plan of an overseas publicly listed company, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with SAFE through a domestic qualified agent, which could be the PRC subsidiary of such overseas-listed company, and complete certain other procedures. In addition, an overseas-entrusted institution must be retained to handle matters in connection with the exercise or sale of stock options and the purchase or sale of shares and interests. We and our executive officers and other employees who are PRC citizens or who have resided in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year and who are granted options or other awards under our equity incentive plan will be subject to these regulations when our company becomes an overseas listed company upon the completion of this offering. Failure to complete the SAFE registrations may subject them to fines and legal sanctions and may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital into our PRC subsidiary and limit our PRC subsidiary’ ability to distribute dividends to us. We also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt additional incentive plans for our directors, executive officers and employees under PRC law. .”

 

In addition, SAT has issued certain circulars concerning employee share options and restricted shares. Under these circulars, our employees working in China who exercise share options or are granted restricted shares will be subject to PRC individual income tax. Our PRC subsidiaries have obligations to file documents related to employee share options or restricted shares with relevant tax authorities and to withhold individual income taxes of those employees who exercise their share options. If our employees fail to pay or we fail to withhold their income taxes according to relevant laws and regulations, we may face sanctions imposed by the tax authorities or other PRC government authorities.

 

Failure to make adequate contributions to various mandatory social security plans as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.

 

Under the PRC Social Insurance Law and the Administrative Measures on Housing fund, We are required to participate in various government sponsored employee benefit plans, including certain social insurance, housing funds and other welfare-oriented payment obligations, and contribute to the plans in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of our employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time at locations where we operate our businesses. The requirement of employee benefit plans has not been implemented consistently by the local governments in China given the different levels of economic development in different locations. If the local governments deem our contribution to be not sufficient, we may be subject to late contribution fees or fines in relation to any underpaid employee benefits, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

 

Currently, certain of our affiliated entities are making contributions to the plans based on the basic salary of our employees which may not be adequate in strict compliance with the relevant regulations. As of the prospectus date, the accumulated impact in this regard was immaterial to our financial condition and results of operations. We have not received any order or notice from the local authorities nor any claims or complaints from our current and former employees regarding our current practice in this regard. As the interpretation of implementation of labor-related laws and regulations are still involving, we cannot assure you that our practice in this regard will not be violate any labor-related laws and regulations regarding including those relating to the obligations to make social insurance payments and contribute to the housing funds and other welfare-oriented payments. If we deemed to have violated relevant labor laws and regulations, we could be required to provide additional compensation to our employees and subject to penalties, and our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.

 

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Enforcement of stricter labor laws and regulations may increase our labor costs as a result.

 

China’s overall economy and the average wage have increased in recent years and are expected to continue to grow. The average wage level for our employees has also increased in recent years. We expect that our labor costs, including wages and employee benefits, will continue to increase. Unless we are able to pass on these increased labor costs to our customers who pay for our services, our profitability and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. The PRC Labor Contract Law and its implementing rules impose requirements concerning contracts entered into between an employer and its employees and establishes time limits for probationary periods and for how long an employee can be placed in a fixed-term labor contract. We cannot assure you that our employment policies and practices do not, or will not, violate the Labor Contract Law or its implementing rules and that we will not be subject to related penalties, fines or legal fees. If we are subject to large penalties or fees related to the Labor Contract Law or its implementing rules, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected In addition, according to the Labor Contract Law and its implementing rules, if we intend to enforce the non-compete provision with an employee in a labor contract or non-competition agreement, we have to compensate the employee on a monthly basis during the term of the restriction period after the termination or ending of the labor contract, which may cause extra expenses to us. Furthermore, the Labor Contract Law and its implementation rules require certain terminations to be based upon seniority rather than merit, which significantly affects the cost of reducing workforce for employers. In the event we decide to significantly change or decrease our workforce in the PRC, the Labor Contract Law could adversely affect our ability to enact such changes in a manner that is most advantageous to our circumstances or in a timely and cost effective manner, thus our results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

If the chops of our PRC subsidiaries are not kept safely, are stolen or are used by unauthorized persons or for unauthorized purposes, the corporate governance of these entities could be severely and adversely compromised.

 

In China, a company chop or seal serves as the legal representation of the company towards third parties even when unaccompanied by a signature. Each legally registered company in China is required to maintain a company chop, which must be registered with the local Public Security Bureau. In addition to this mandatory company chop, companies may have several other chops which can be used for specific purposes. The chops of our PRC subsidiaries are generally held securely by personnel designated or approved by us in accordance with our internal control procedures. To the extent those chops are not kept safely, are stolen or are used by unauthorized persons or for unauthorized purposes, the corporate governance of these entities could be severely and adversely compromised and those corporate entities may be bound to abide by the terms of any documents so chopped, even if they were chopped by an individual who lacked the requisite power and authority to do so. In addition, if the chops are misused by unauthorized persons, we could experience disruption to our normal business operations. We may have to take corporate or legal action, which could involve significant time and resources to resolve while distracting management from our operations.

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the five (5) most recently completed fiscal years and any required interim periods will each be specified in a prospectus supplement or in a document we file with the SEC and incorporate by reference pertaining to the issuance, if any, by us of debt securities in the future.

 

CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS

 

The table below sets forth our capitalization as of June 30, 2021.

 

Short-term debt (including current maturities of long term loans and debt)  $1,500,862 
Long-term loans  $6,557,608 
Total shareholders’ equity  $64,902,405 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $93,845,408 

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Except as otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered pursuant to this prospectus for general corporate purposes, including for our research and development needs for current and future products, expansion of marketing efforts, and possible acquisitions of complementary assets or businesses. When a particular series of securities is offered, the prospectus supplement relating to that offering will set forth our intended use of the net proceeds received from the sale of those securities.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities described in this prospectus through underwriters or dealers, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers or through a combination of these methods. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

 

  the name or names of any underwriters, if any, and if required, any dealers or agents, and the amount of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them, if any;
     
  the public offering price or purchase price of the securities from us and the net proceeds to us from the sale of the securities;
     
  any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;
     
  any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers; and
     
  any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed.

 

We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at:

 

  a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
     
  market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
     
  varying prices determined at the time of sale related to such prevailing market prices; or
     
  negotiated prices.

 

Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.

 

If we use underwriters in the sale, the underwriters will either acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or sell the Shares on a “best efforts, minimum/maximum basis” when the underwriters agree to do their best to sell the securities to the public. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time.

 

If we use a dealer in the sale of the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, the securities will be sold directly to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.

 

Our Class A Common Shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market. Unless otherwise specified in the related prospectus supplement, all securities we offer, other than Common Shares, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriter may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We may apply to list any series of warrants or other securities that we offer on an exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. Therefore, there may not be liquidity or a trading market for any series of securities.

 

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We may sell the securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we may pay the agent in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of the securities for whom they act as agents in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities, and any institutional investors or others that purchase securities directly and then resell the securities, may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.

 

We may provide agents and underwriters with indemnification against particular civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to such liabilities. Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

 

In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties (including the writing of options), or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with such a transaction, the third parties may, pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or in a post-effective amendment.

 

To facilitate an offering of a series of securities, persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involves the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than have been sold to them by us. In those circumstances, such persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by purchasing in the open market or by exercising the over-allotment option granted to those persons. In addition, those persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to underwriters or dealers participating in any such offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. We make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above, if implemented, may have on the price of our securities.

 

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MARKET FOR OUR SHARES

 

Our Common Shares have been listed on the NASDAQ Global Market since December 18, 2017 under the symbol “DOGZ.” The table below shows, for the periods indicated, the high and low market prices for our shares.

 

   Market Price Per Share 
   High   Low 
         
2020  $   $ 
Fourth quarter  $3.42   $1.04 
           
2021  $   $ 
First quarter  $4.85   $1.48 
Second quarter  $2.54   $1.30 
July  $2.43   $1.63 
August  $2.46   $2.86 
September  $2.92   $2.28 
October  $4.75   $2.83 
November  $5.71   $3.21 
December  $8.43   $4.05 
   $   $ 
2022 (through February 1, 2022)  $   $ 
 January   8.98    2.50 
February (through February 2, 2022)  $3.65   $3.50 

 

DILUTION

 

If required, we will set forth in a prospectus supplement the following information regarding any material dilution of the equity interests of investors purchasing securities in an offering under this prospectus:

 

  the net tangible book value per share of our equity securities before and after the offering;
  the amount of the increase in such net tangible book value per share attributable to the cash payments made by purchasers in the offering; and
  the amount of the immediate dilution from the public offering price which will be absorbed by such purchasers.

 

EXPENSES RELATING TO THIS OFFERING

 

Set forth below is an itemization of the total expenses, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, that we expect to incur in connection with this offering. With the exception of the SEC registration fee, all amounts are estimates.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee  $23,175 
Legal Fees and Expenses   * 
Accounting Fees and Expenses   * 
Miscellaneous Expenses   * 
Total Expenses  $*

 

*To be determined

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL AND OTHER SECURITIES

 

Dogness was incorporated on July 11, 2016 under the BVI Companies Act, 2004 as a company limited by shares. Our company has 100,0000,000 authorized shares of US$0.002 par value each, consisting of (a) 90,931,000 authorized Class A Common Shares, of which 24,602,643 Class A Common Shares are issued and outstanding as of February 3, 2022, (b) 9,069,000 authorized Class B Common Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding. Mr. Chen, through Fine victory holding company Limited, is the only holder of Class B Common Shares. Our Class B Common Shares have three votes per share, and our Class A Common Shares have one vote per share; however, Class A and Class B Common Shares have identical economic rights.

 

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Common Shares

 

General

 

All of our outstanding Common Shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Our Common Shares are issued in registered form and are issued when registered in our register of members. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the British Virgin Islands may freely hold and vote their Common Shares. Our Memorandum and Articles of Association do not permit us to issue bearer shares. As of February 3, 2022, the Company had an aggregate of 33,671,643 Common Shares outstanding, consisting of 24,602,643 Class A Common Shares and 9,069,000 Class B Common Shares.

 

Listing

 

Our Common Shares are listed on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “DOGZ.”

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our Class A Common Shares is TranShare Corporation, Bayside Center 117755 North US Highway 19, Suite # 140, Clearwater FL 33764.

 

Distributions

 

The holders of our Common Shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors subject to the BVI Business Companies Act.

 

Voting rights

 

Any action required or permitted to be taken by the shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the shareholders entitled to vote on such action and may be effected by a resolution in writing. At each general meeting, each Class A Holder who is present in person or by proxy (or, in the case of a shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorized representative) will have one vote for each Class A Common Share which such shareholder holds and each Class B Holder who is present in person or by proxy (or, in the case of a shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorized representative) will have three votes for each Class B Common Share which such shareholder holds.

 

Election of directors

 

Delaware law permits cumulative voting for the election of directors only if expressly authorized in the certificate of incorporation. The laws of the British Virgin Islands, however, do not specifically prohibit or restrict the creation of cumulative voting rights for the election of our directors. Cumulative voting is not a concept that is accepted as a common practice in the British Virgin Islands, and we have made no provisions in our Memorandum and Articles of Association to allow cumulative voting for elections of directors.

 

Warrants

 

On December 18, 2017, we completed an initial public offering of 10,913,631 Class A Common Shares. The offering was completed at an issuance price of $5.00 per share. Prior to the offering, the Company had 15,000,000 issued and outstanding shares, and after the offering, the Company had 25,913,631 issued and outstanding shares. The Company issued to the placement agent in the initial public offering, warrants to purchase up to a total of 545,681 Common Shares for an exercise price of $6.25 per share. The placement agent’s warrants have a term of three years.

 

On July 15, 2021, the Company and certain institutional investors entered into a securities purchase agreement in connection with an offering, pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell to investors an aggregate of 2,178,120 Class A Common Shares. The common share purchase price was $1.82 per share. After payment of expenses, the Company received approximately $3.4 million in net proceeds from the sale of the common shares. Additionally, the Company also issued warrants to purchase 174,249 common shares to the placement agent exercisable at $1.82 per share.

 

On January 15, 2021, the Company and certain institutional investors entered into a securities purchase agreement in connection with an offering (the “Offering”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell to investors an aggregate of 3,455,130 Class A Common Shares and investor warrants to initially purchase an aggregate of 1,727,565 Class A Common Shares. The common share purchase price was $2.15 per Class A Common Share; and the investor warrants are initially exercisable at $2.70 per share. The aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of the Class A Common Shares, before deducting fees to the Placement Agent and other estimated offering expenses payable by the Company was approximately $7.4 million. This amount did not include any proceeds from warrant exercises.

 

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Description of Warrants

 

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and the related warrant agreements and warrant certificates. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we indicate in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any warrants offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. However, no prospectus supplement shall fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness. Specific warrant agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus or as an exhibit to a report filed under the Exchange Act.

 

General

 

We may issue warrants that entitle the holder to purchase Class A Common Shares, debt securities or any combination thereof. We may issue warrants independently or together with Class A Common Shares, debt securities or any combination thereof, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities.

 

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants, including:

 

  the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered;
     
  the currency for which the warrants may be purchased, if not United States dollars;
     
  if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;
     
  if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;
     
  in the case of warrants to purchase Class A Common Shares, the number of Class A Common Shares purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;
     
  in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at, and currency, if not United States dollars, in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;
     
  the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreement and the warrants;
     
  the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;
     
  any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;
     
  the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;
     
  the manner in which the warrant agreement and warrants may be modified;

 

  federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants;
     
  the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; and
     
  any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants.

 

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Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including:

 

  in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture; or
     
  in the case of warrants to purchase our Class A Common Shares, the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.

 

Exercise of Warrants

 

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

 

Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the warrant agent in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent.

 

Upon receipt of the required payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.

 

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants

 

Each warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.

 

Warrant Agreement Will Not Be Qualified Under Trust Indenture Act

 

No warrant agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no warrant agent will be required to qualify as a trustee, under the Trust Indenture Act. Therefore, holders of warrants issued under a warrant agreement will not have the protection of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to their warrants.

 

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Modification of the Warrant Agreement

 

The warrant agreements may permit us and the warrant agent, if any, without the consent of the warrant holders, to supplement or amend the agreement in the following circumstances:

 

  to cure any ambiguity;
     
  to correct or supplement any provision which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions; or
     
  to add new provisions regarding matters or questions that we and the warrant agent may deem necessary or desirable and which do not adversely affect the interests of the warrant holders.

 

Description of Debt Securities

 

As used in this prospectus, debt securities means the debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness that we may issue from time to time. The debt securities may be either secured or unsecured and will either be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt securities will be issued under one or more separate indentures between us and a trustee to be specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement. Senior debt securities will be issued under a new senior indenture. Subordinated debt securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture. Together, the senior indentures and the subordinated indentures are sometimes referred to in this prospectus as the indentures. This prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplement, will describe the terms of a particular series of debt securities.

 

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 unsecured obligations of the Company. The senior debt securities will rank equally with any of our other senior and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to any senior indebtedness.

 

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we may issue and provide that we may issue debt securities from time to time at par or at a discount, and in the case of the new indentures, if any, in one or more series, with the same or various maturities. 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.

 

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 the debt securities and whether they are subordinated debt securities or senior debt securities;
     
  any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;
     
  the ability to issue additional debt securities of the same series;
     
  the price or prices at which we will sell the debt securities;
     
  the maturity date or dates of the debt securities on which principal will be payable;
     
  the rate or rates of interest, if any, which may be fixed or variable, at which the debt securities will bear interest, or the method of determining such rate or rates, if any;
     
  the date or dates from which any interest will accrue or the method by which such date or dates will be determined;

 

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  the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such 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 indenture;
     
  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, 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 denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000;
     
  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 an event of default (as described below), if other than the full principal amount;
     
  the currency, currencies or currency unit in which we will pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities, if not United States dollars;
     
  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 shares, sell our assets or other restrictions;
     
  the application, if any, of the terms of the indenture relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance (which terms are described below) to the debt securities;
     
  whether the subordination provisions summarized below or different 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 Class A Common Shares or other securities or property;
     
  whether any of the debt securities will be issued in global form and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which global debt securities may be exchanged for certificated debt securities;
     
  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;

 

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  the depository for global or certificated debt securities;
     
  any special tax implications of the debt securities;
     
  any foreign 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 trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars, or other agents with respect to the debt securities;
     
  any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the indentures, as amended or supplemented;
     
  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 of the series 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 securities of the series 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; and
     
  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 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).

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not be listed on any securities exchange and will be issued in fully-registered form without coupons.

 

Debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any such debt securities. The debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement relating to any of the particular debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to specific debt securities will also describe any special considerations and certain additional tax considerations applicable to such debt securities.

 

Subordination

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of subordinated debt securities will describe the specific subordination provisions. However, unless otherwise noted in the prospectus supplement, subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to any existing senior indebtedness.

 

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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, under the subordinated indenture, “senior indebtedness” means all amounts due on obligations in connection with any of the following, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the subordinated indenture, or thereafter incurred or created:

 

  the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest due on our indebtedness for borrowed money and indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);
     
  all of our capital lease obligations or attributable debt (as defined in the indentures) in respect of sale and leaseback transactions;
     
  all obligations representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services, which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of placing such property in service or taking delivery and title thereto, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable or any similar obligation to trade creditors;
     
  all of our obligations in respect of interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements; other agreements or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate risk; and other agreements or arrangements designed to protect against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or commodity prices;
     
  all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons for the payment of which we are responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and
     
  all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of ours (whether or not such obligation is assumed by us).

 

However, senior indebtedness does not include:

 

  any indebtedness which expressly provides that such indebtedness shall not be senior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities, or that such indebtedness shall be subordinated to any other of our indebtedness, unless such indebtedness expressly provides that such indebtedness shall be senior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities;
     
  any of our obligations to our subsidiaries or of a subsidiary guarantor to us or any other of our other subsidiaries;
     
  any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by us or any subsidiary guarantor,
     
  any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities);
     
  any obligations with respect to any capital stock;
     
  any indebtedness incurred in violation of the indenture, provided that indebtedness under our credit facilities will not cease to be senior indebtedness under this bullet point if the lenders of such indebtedness obtained an officer’s certificate as of the date of incurrence of such indebtedness to the effect that such indebtedness was permitted to be incurred by the indenture; and
     
  any of our indebtedness in respect of the subordinated debt securities.

 

Senior indebtedness shall continue to be senior indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such senior indebtedness.

 

Unless otherwise noted in an accompanying prospectus supplement, if we default in the payment of any principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any senior indebtedness when it becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration or otherwise, then, unless and until such default is cured or waived or ceases to exist, we will make no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property, securities, by set-off or otherwise) in respect of the principal of or interest on the subordinated debt securities or in respect of any redemption, retirement, purchase or other requisition of any of the subordinated debt securities.

 

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In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of any subordinated debt securities, the holders of all senior debt securities outstanding at the time of such acceleration, subject to any security interest, will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due on the senior debt securities before the holders of the subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the subordinated debt securities.

 

If any of the following events occurs, we will pay in full all senior indebtedness before we make any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities, whether in cash, securities or other property, to any holder of subordinated debt securities:

 

  any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of Dogness (International) Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy,
     
  insolvency or receivership;
     
  any general assignment by us for the benefit of creditors; or
     
  any other marshaling of our assets or liabilities.

 

In such event, any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities, whether in cash, securities or other property, which would otherwise (but for the subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the subordinated debt securities, will be paid or delivered directly to the holders of senior indebtedness in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all senior indebtedness has been paid in full. If any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities is received by the trustee of any subordinated debt securities in contravention of any of the terms of the subordinated indenture and before all the senior indebtedness has been paid in full, such payment or distribution will be received in trust for the benefit of, and paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the senior indebtedness at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for application to the payment of all senior indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all such senior indebtedness in full.

 

The subordinated indenture does not limit the issuance of additional senior indebtedness.

 

Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

 

Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, the following shall constitute “events of default” under the indentures with respect to each series of debt securities:

 

  we default for 30 consecutive days in the payment when due of interest on the debt securities;
     
  we default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on the debt securities;
     
  our failure to observe or perform any other of our covenants or agreements with respect to such debt securities for 60 days after we receive notice of such failure;
     
  certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Dogness (International) Corporation; or
     
  any other event of default provided with respect to securities of that series.

 

Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, if an event of default with respect to any debt securities of any series outstanding under either of the indentures shall occur and be continuing, the trustee under such indenture or the holders of at least 25% (or at least 10%, in respect of a remedy (other than acceleration) for certain events of default relating to the payment of dividends) in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series outstanding may declare, by notice as provided in the applicable indenture, the principal amount (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the debt securities of that series) of all the debt securities of that series outstanding to be due and payable immediately; provided that, in the case of an event of default involving certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, acceleration is automatic; and, provided further, that after such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived. Upon the acceleration of the maturity of original issue discount securities, an amount less than the principal amount thereof will become due and payable. Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of maturity thereof.

 

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Any past default under either indenture with respect to debt securities of any series, and any event of default arising therefrom, may be waived by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all debt securities of such series outstanding under such indenture, except in the case of (1) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt securities of such series or (2) certain events of default relating to the payment of dividends.

 

The trustee is required within 90 days after the occurrence of a default (which is known to the trustee and is continuing), with respect to the debt securities of any series (without regard to any grace period or notice requirements), to give to the holders of the debt securities of such series notice of such default.

 

The trustee, subject to its duties during default to act with the required standard of care, may require indemnification by the holders of the debt securities of any series with respect to which a default has occurred before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the indentures at the request of the holders of the debt securities of such series. Subject to such right of indemnification and to certain other limitations, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series under either indenture 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 the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with the applicable indenture and the trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

 

No holder of a debt security of any series may institute any action against us under either of the indentures (except actions for payment of overdue principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt security or for the conversion or exchange of such debt security in accordance with its terms) unless (1) the holder has given to the trustee written notice of an event of default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the debt securities of such series specifying an event of default, as required under the applicable indenture, (2) the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding under such indenture shall have requested the trustee to institute such action and offered to the trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; (3) the trustee shall not have instituted such action within 60 days of such request and (4) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the trustee during such 60-day period by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series. We are required to furnish annually to the trustee statements as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under each indenture.

 

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

We may discharge or defease our obligations under the indenture as set forth below, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of debt securities issued under either the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture which have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation by irrevocably depositing with the trustee money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such debt securities not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of debt securities which have become due and payable) or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and we or, if applicable, any guarantor, have paid all other sums payable under the applicable indenture.

 

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If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect either (1) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the debt securities of or within any series (except in all cases as otherwise provided in the relevant indenture) (“legal defeasance”) or (2) to be released from our obligations with respect to certain covenants applicable to the debt securities of or within any series (“covenant defeasance”), upon the deposit with the relevant indenture trustee, in trust for such purpose, of money and/or government obligations which through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon. As a condition to legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of legal defeasance under clause (i) above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable federal income tax law occurring after the date of the relevant indenture. In addition, in the case of either legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, we shall have delivered to the trustee (1) if applicable, an officer’s certificate to the effect that the relevant debt securities exchange(s) have informed us that neither such debt securities nor any other debt securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit and (2) an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance have been complied with.

 

We may exercise our defeasance option with respect to such debt securities notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option.

 

Modification and Waiver

 

Under the indentures, unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, we and the applicable trustee may supplement the indentures for certain purposes which would not materially adversely affect the interests or rights of the holders of debt securities of a series without the consent of those holders. We and the applicable trustee may also modify the indentures or any supplemental indenture in a manner that affects the interests or rights of the holders of debt securities with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series issued under the indenture. However, the indentures require the consent of each holder of debt securities that would be affected by any modification which would:

 

  reduce the principal amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
     
  reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or, except as provided in any prospectus supplement, alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the debt securities;
     
  reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any debt security;
     
  waive a default or event of default in the payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on, the debt securities (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
     
  make any debt security payable in money other than that stated in the debt securities;
     
  make any change in the provisions of the applicable indenture relating to waivers of past defaults or the rights of holders of the debt securities to receive payments of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the debt securities;
     
  waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security (except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement);
     
  except in connection with an offer by us to purchase all debt securities, (1) waive certain events of default relating to the payment of dividends or (2) amend certain covenants relating to the payment of dividends and the purchase or redemption of certain equity interests;
     
  make any change to the subordination or ranking provisions of the indenture or the related definitions that adversely affect the rights of any holder; or
     
  make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions.

 

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The indentures permit the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series issued under the indenture which is affected by the modification or amendment to waive our compliance with certain covenants contained in the indentures.

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on a debt security on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name a debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest.

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal, interest and premium on the debt securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as we may designate for such purpose from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at our option, payment of any interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address appears in the security register.

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, a paying agent designated by us will act as paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. All paying agents initially designated by us for the debt securities of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

 

All moneys paid by us to a paying agent for the payment of the principal, interest or premium on any debt security which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, interest or premium has become due and payable will be repaid to us upon request, and the holder of such debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.

 

Denominations, Registrations and Transfer

 

Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, debt securities will be represented by one or more global certificates registered in the name of a nominee for The Depository Trust Company, or DTC. In such case, each holder’s beneficial interest in the global securities will be shown on the records of DTC and transfers of beneficial interests will only be effected through DTC’s records.

 

A holder of debt securities may only exchange a beneficial interest in a global security for certificated securities registered in the holder’s name if:

 

  we deliver to the trustee notice from DTC that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as depository or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 120 days after the date of such notice from DTC;
     
  we in our sole discretion determine that the debt securities (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for definitive debt securities and deliver a written notice to such effect to the trustee; or
     
  there has occurred and is continuing a default or event of default with respect to the debt securities.

 

If debt securities are issued in certificated form, they will only be issued in the minimum denomination specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement and integral multiples of such denomination. Transfers and exchanges of such debt securities will only be permitted in such minimum denomination. Transfers of debt securities in certificated form may be registered at the trustee’s corporate office or at the offices of any paying agent or trustee appointed by us under the indentures. Exchanges of debt securities for an equal aggregate principal amount of debt securities in different denominations may also be made at such locations.

 

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Governing Law

 

The indentures and debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws, except to the extent the Trust Indenture Act is applicable or as otherwise agreed to by the parties thereto.

 

Trustee

 

The trustee or trustees under the indentures will be named in any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Conversion or Exchange Rights

 

The prospectus supplement will describe the terms, if any, on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our Class A Common Shares or other debt securities. These terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. These provisions may allow or require the number of shares of our Class A Common Shares or other securities to be received by the holders of such series of debt securities to be adjusted. Any such conversion or exchange will comply with applicable British Virgin Islands law and our Memorandum and Articles of Association.

 

Description of Units

 

We may issue units comprising one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date or occurrence.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:

 

  the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
     
  any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; and
     
  whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any units. The preceding description and any description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the unit agreement and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depository arrangements relating to such units.

 

Description of Share Purchase Contracts and Share Purchase Units

 

We may issue share purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to the holders, a specified number of Class A Common Shares or other securities registered hereunder at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this prospectus as “share purchase contracts.” The price per share of the securities and the number of shares of the securities may be fixed at the time the share purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the share purchase contracts.

 

The share purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a share purchase contract and debt securities, warrants, other securities registered hereunder or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the securities under the share purchase contracts, which we refer to herein as “share purchase units.” The share purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the share purchase contracts in a specified manner. The share purchase contracts also may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the share purchase units or vice versa, and those payments may be unsecured or refunded on some basis.

 

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The share purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements, relating to the share purchase contracts or share purchase units, will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of share purchase contracts or share purchase units. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of share purchase contracts or share purchase units will describe the terms of those share purchase contracts or share purchase units, including the following:

 

  if applicable, a discussion of material tax considerations; and
     
  any other information we think is important about the share purchase contracts or the share purchase units.

 

Description of Rights

 

We may issue rights to purchase Class A Common Shares that we may offer to our security holders. 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 a bank or trust company, 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 number of Class A Common Shares purchasable upon exercise of the rights;
     
  the exercise price;
     
  the conditions to completion of the rights offering;
     
  the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the rights will expire; and
     
  applicable tax considerations.

 

Each right would entitle the holder of the rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of debt securities or Class A Common Shares 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.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities registered and certain legal matters as to British Virgin Islands law in connection with this offering will be passed upon for us by Campbells, British Virgin Islands counsel to our Company. Additional legal matters may be passed on for us, or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of our Company appearing in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 have been audited by Friedman LLP; for the year ended June 30, 2021 has been audited by Prager Metis CPAs, LLC, independent registered public accounting firms, as set forth in the reports thereon included therein and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firms as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES UNDER UNITED STATES FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS AND OTHER MATTERS

 

We are incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands with limited liability. We are incorporated in the British Virgin Islands because of certain benefits associated with being a British Virgin Islands business company, such as political and economic stability, an effective judicial system, a favorable tax system, the absence of exchange control or currency restrictions and the availability of professional and support services. However, the British Virgin Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides protections for investors to a lesser extent. In addition, British Virgin Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States.

 

Substantially all of our assets are located outside the United States. In addition, a majority of our directors and officers are nationals and/or residents of countries other than the United States, and all or a substantial portion of such persons’ assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or such persons or to enforce against them or against us, judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof.

 

In addition, all of our directors, officers or senior management other than Yunhao Chen, are located in China. As a result, it may be more difficult for our Shareholders to enforce liabilities and enforce judgments on those individuals.

 

We have appointed CT Corporation System as our agent to receive service of process with respect to any action brought against us in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York under the federal securities laws of the United States or of any State of the United States or any action brought against us in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the County of New York under the securities laws of the State of New York.

 

Jincheng Tongda & Neal Law Firm, our counsel as to Chinese law, has advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of China would (1) recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof, or (2) be competent to hear original actions brought in each respective jurisdiction, against us or such persons predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof.

 

Jincheng Tongda & Neal Law Firm has advised us that the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the Chinese Civil Procedure Law. Chinese courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the Chinese Civil Procedure Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or in reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other agreements with the British Virgin Islands or the United States that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. Notwithstanding the absence of a bilateral agreement with the United States, a provincial intermediate court in China has recognized and enforced a US court judgment. As a result of the absence of treaties and recent changes in court rulings, it is uncertain whether a Chinese court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in either of these two countries.

 

We have been advised by Campbells, our counsel as to British Virgin Islands law, that although there is no statutory enforcement in the British Virgin Islands of judgments obtained in U.S. federal or state courts, the courts of the British Virgin Islands will recognize such a foreign judgment and treat it as a cause of action in itself which may be sued upon as a debt at common law so that no retrial of the issues would be necessary if fresh proceedings are brought in the British Virgin Islands to enforce that judgment, provided however that such judgment: (i) is not in respect of penalties, fines, taxes or similar fiscal or revenue obligations of the Company; (ii) is final and for a liquidated sum; (iii) was not obtained in a fraudulent manner; (iv) is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to the public policy in the British Virgin Islands; (v) is not contrary to the principles of natural justice; and (vi) provided that the U.S. federal or state courts had jurisdiction in the matter and the Company either submitted to such jurisdiction or was resident or carrying on business within such jurisdiction and was duly served with process. Non-money judgments from a foreign court are not directly enforceable in the British Virgin Islands. However, it is possible for a non-money judgment from a foreign court to be indirectly enforced by means of a claimant bringing an identical action in the courts of the British Virgin Islands in respect of which a non-money judgment has been made by a foreign court. In appropriate circumstances, the courts of the British Virgin Islands may give effect to issues and causes of action determined by the foreign court, such that those matters need not be retried.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We are a reporting company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement. You may read and copy the registration statement and any document we file with the SEC at the public reference room maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public through the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

 

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with them. The information we incorporate by reference into this prospectus is an important part of this prospectus. Any statement in a document we have filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus and which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be considered to be modified or superseded to the extent a statement contained in this prospectus or any other subsequently filed document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. The modified or superseded statement will not be considered to be a part of this prospectus, except as modified or superseded.

 

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information contained in the following documents that we have filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which is considered to be a part of this prospectus:

 

  our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended June 30, 2021, filed on October 29, 2021;
     
  our Reports on Form 6-K filed on December 15, 2022;
     
  the description of the Common Shares, $0.002 par value per share, contained in the Registrant’s registration statement on Form F-1 filed with the Commission on September 20, 2017 (File Number 333-220547) and declared effective by the Commission on December 07, 2017, and any amendment or report filed with the Commission for purposes of updating such description.

 

In addition, we may incorporate by reference into this prospectus our reports on Form 6-K filed after the date of this prospectus (and before the time that all of the securities offered by this prospectus have been sold or de-registered) if we identify in the report that it is being incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

Certain statements in and portions of this prospectus update and replace information in the above listed documents incorporated by reference. Likewise, statements in or portions of a future document incorporated by reference in this prospectus may update and replace statements in and portions of this prospectus or the above listed documents.

 

We also incorporate by reference all additional documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are filed (i) after the filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to effectiveness of that registration statement or (ii) after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the termination of the offering of securities offered pursuant to this prospectus. We are not, however, incorporating, in each case, any documents or information that we are deemed to “furnish” and not file in accordance with SEC rules.

 

You may obtain a copy of these filings by accessing them pursuant to the directions described above in the section titled “Where You Can Find More Information.” You may also obtain a copy of these filings, without charge, by writing or calling us at:

 

Dogness (International) Corporation

 

No. 16 N. Dongke Road

Tongsha Industrial Zone

Dongguan, Guangdong 523217

People’s Republic of China

 

Attention: Investor Relations

 

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$250,000,000

 

 

DOGNESS (INTERNATIONAL) CORPORATION

 

Class A Common Shares

 

Share Purchase Contracts

 

Share Purchase Units

 

Warrants

 

Debt Securities

 

Rights

 

Units

 

PROSPECTUS

 

_______________, 2022

 

No dealer, salesperson, or other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation not contained in this prospectus, and, if given or made, such information and representation should not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall under any circumstances create an implication that there has been no change in the facts set forth in this prospectus or in our affairs since the date hereof.

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

British Virgin Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the British Virgin Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime.

 

Under our memorandum and articles of association, we may indemnify our directors, officers and liquidators against all expenses, including legal fees, and against all judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and reasonably incurred in connection with civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings to which they are party or are threatened to be made a party by reason of their acting as our director, officer or liquidator. To be entitled to indemnification, these persons must have acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interest of the company and, in the case of criminal proceedings, they must have had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. Such limitation of liability does not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission. These provisions will not limit the liability of directors under United States federal securities laws.

 

We may indemnify any of our directors or anyone serving at our request as a director of another entity against all expenses, including legal fees, and against all judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and reasonably incurred in connection with legal, administrative or investigative proceedings. We may only indemnify a director if he or she acted honestly and in good faith with the view to our best interests and, in the case of criminal proceedings, the director had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. The decision of our board of directors as to whether the director acted honestly and in good faith with a view to our best interests and as to whether the director had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful, is in the absence of fraud sufficient for the purposes of indemnification, unless a question of law is involved. The termination of any proceedings by any judgment, order, settlement, conviction or the entry of no plea does not, by itself, create a presumption that a director did not act honestly and in good faith and with a view to our best interests or that the director had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. If a director to be indemnified has been successful in defense of any proceedings referred to above, the director is entitled to be indemnified against all expenses, including legal fees, and against all judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and reasonably incurred by the director or officer in connection with the proceedings.

 

We may purchase and maintain insurance in relation to any of our directors or officers against any liability asserted against the directors or officers and incurred by the directors or officers in that capacity, whether or not we have or would have had the power to indemnify the directors or officers against the liability as provided in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

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Item 9. Exhibits

 

A list of exhibits filed with this registration statement on Form F-3 is set forth on the Exhibit Index and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 10. 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 a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(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, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if 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 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) 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) To file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the Prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the Prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act or Item 8.A. of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic 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 this registration statement.

 

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

 

(i) 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

 

 II-2 

 

 

(ii) 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.

 

(6) 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, 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) 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) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes 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 SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than a payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

 II-3 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on May 20, 2022.

 

  DOGNESS (INTERNATIONAL) CORPORATION
     
  By: /s/ Silong Chen
  Name: Silong Chen
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)
     
  By: /s/ Yunhao Chen
  Name: Yunhao Chen
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)

 

Power of Attorney

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Silong Chen and Yunhao Chen, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any and all related registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

SIGNATURE   TITLE   DATE
         
/s/ Silong Chen   Chief Executive Officer and Director   May 20, 2022
Silong Chen   (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ Changqing Shi   Director   May 20, 2022
Changqing Shi        
         
/s/ Yunhao Chen   Director and Authorized Representative in the United States   May 20, 2022
Yunhao Chen        
         
/s/ Qingshen Liu   Director   May 20, 2022
Qingshen Liu        
         
/s/ Zhiqiang Shao   Director   May 20 , 2022
Zhiqiang Shao        

 

 II-4 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

  Description of Exhibit
     
1.1*   Form of Underwriting Agreement.
     
3.1   First Amended and Restated Articles of Association of Dogness (International) Corporation (Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s registration statement on Form F-1/A, File no. 333-220547, filed on October 10, 2017)
     
4.1   Specimen Share Certificate (Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s registration statement on Form F-1, File no. 333-220547, filed on September 20, 2017)
     
4.2**   Form of Debt Indenture
     
4.3*   Form of Note
     
4.4*   Form of Common Share Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate
     
4.5*   Form of Debt Securities Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate
     
4.6*   Form of Unit Agreement (including unit certificate)
     
4.7*   Form of Rights Agreement (including rights certificate)
     
4.8*   Form of Share Purchase Contract
     
4.9*   Form of Share Purchase Unit
     
5.1**   Opinion of British Virgin Islands Counsel
     
5.2**   Indenture Opinion of U.S. Counsel
     
8.1*   Opinion of U.S. Counsel regarding U.S. tax matters
     
8.2*   Opinion of British Virgin Islands Counsel regarding British Virgin Islands tax maters
     
8.3*   Opinion of PRC Counsel regarding PRC tax matters
     
23.1***   Consent of Prager Metis CPAs, LLC
     
23.2**   Consent of Campbells, British Virgin Islands Counsel
     
23.3**   Consent of Kaufman & Canoles, P.C., U.S. Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.2)
     
23.4***   Consent of Jincheng Tongda & Neal Law Firm
     
23.5***   Consent of Friedman LLC
     
24.1   Power of Attorney (contained on signature page)
     
25.1*   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, of a trustee acceptable to the registrant, as trustee under any new indenture.
     
107**   Calculation Filing Fee

 

*   To the extent applicable, to be filed by an amendment or as an exhibit to a document filed under the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference herein.
**   Filed previously.
***   Filed herewith

 

 II-5 

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

Dogness (International) Corporation

 

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of [ ]

 

 

 

[ ]

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 5
     
  Section 1.1 Definitions. 5
  Section 1.2 Other Definitions. 8
  Section 1.3 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. 8
  Section 1.4 Rules of Construction. 8
         
ARTICLE II TERMS OF THE SECURITIES 9
     
  Section 2.1 Issuable in Series. 9
  Section 2.2 Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities. 9
  Section 2.3 Execution and Authentication. 11
  Section 2.4 Registrar and Paying Agent. 11
  Section 2.5 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. 12
  Section 2.6 Security Holder Lists. 12
  Section 2.7 Transfer and Exchange. 12
  Section 2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. 12
  Section 2.9 Outstanding Securities. 13
  Section 2.10 Treasury Securities. 13
  Section 2.11 Temporary Securities. 14
  Section 2.12 Cancellation. 14
  Section 2.13 Defaulted Interest. 14
  Section 2.14 Global Securities. 14
  Section 2.15 CUSIP Numbers. 15
         
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION 15
     
  Section 3.1 Notice to Trustee. 15
  Section 3.2 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed. 15
  Section 3.3 Notice of Redemption. 16
  Section 3.4 Effect of Notice of Redemption. 16
  Section 3.5 Deposit of Redemption Price. 16
  Section 3.6 Securities Redeemed in Part. 16
         
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS 16
     
  Section 4.1 Payment of Principal and Interest. 16
  Section 4.2 SEC Reports. 16
  Section 4.3 Compliance Certificate. 17
  Section 4.4 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. 17
  Section 4.5 Corporate Existence. 17
         
ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS 17
   
  Section 5.1 When Company May Merge, Etc. 17
  Section 5.2 Successor Corporation Substituted. 18
         
ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES 18
     
  Section 6.1 Events of Default. 18
  Section 6.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. 19
  Section 6.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. 19
  Section 6.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. 20
  Section 6.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities. 20
  Section 6.6 Application of Money Collected. 20
  Section 6.7 Limitation on Suits. 20
  Section 6.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest. 21
  Section 6.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies. 21

 

2

 

 

  Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative. 21
  Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver. 21
  Section 6.12 Control by Holders. 22
  Section 6.13 Waiver of Past Defaults. 22
  Section 6.14 Undertaking for Costs. 22
       
ARTICLE VII   TRUSTEE 22
       
  Section 7.1 Duties of Trustee. 22
  Section 7.2 Rights of Trustee. 23
  Section 7.3 Force Majeure. 24
  Section 7.4 Individual Rights of Trustee. 24
  Section 7.5 Trustee’s Disclaimer. 24
  Section 7.6 Notice of Defaults. 25
  Section 7.7 Reports by Trustee to Holders. 25
  Section 7.8 Compensation and Indemnity. 25
  Section 7.9 Replacement of Trustee. 25
  Section 7.10 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. 26
  Section 7.11 Eligibility; Disqualification. 26
  Section 7.12 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. 26
       
ARTICLE VIII   SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE 26
       
  Section 8.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. 26
  Section 8.2 Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification. 27
  Section 8.3 Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series. 28
  Section 8.4 Covenant Defeasance. 29
  Section 8.5 Repayment to Company. 29
       
ARTICLE IX   SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES, AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS 30
       
  Section 9.1 Without Consent of Holders. 30
  Section 9.2 With Consent of Holders. 30
  Section 9.3 Limitations. 30
  Section 9.4 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. 31
  Section 9.5 Revocation and Effect of Consents. 31
  Section 9.6 Notation on or Exchange of Securities. 31
  Section 9.7 Trustee Protected. 31
       
ARTICLE X   MISCELLANEOUS 31
     
  Section 10.1 Trust Indenture Act Controls. 31
  Section 10.2 Notices. 32
  Section 10.3 Communication by Holders with Other Holders. 32
  Section 10.4 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. 32
  Section 10.5 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. 32
  Section 10.6 Rules by Trustee and Agents. 33
  Section 10.7 Legal Holidays. 33
  Section 10.8 No Recourse Against Others. 33
  Section 10.9 Counterparts. 33
  Section 10.10 Governing Laws. 33
  Section 10.11 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. 33
  Section 10.12 Successors. 33
  Section 10.13 Severability. 33
  Section 10.14 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. 33
  Section 10.15 Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU. 34
  Section 10.16 Judgment Currency. 34
       
ARTICLE XI     SINKING FUNDS 35
       
  Section 11.1 Applicability of Article. 35
  Section 11.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. 35
  Section 11.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. 35

 

3

 

 

Dogness (International) Corporation Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture, dated as of [ ]

 

Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.

 

§ 310(a)(1) 7.11
(a)(2) 7.11
(a)(3) Not Applicable
(a)(4) Not Applicable
(a)(5) 7.11
(b) 7.11
§ 311(a) 7.12
(b) 7.12
§ 312(a) 2.6
(b) 10.3
(c) 10.3
§ 313(a) 7.7
(b)(1) 7.7
(b)(2) 7.7
(c) 7.7
(d) 7.7
§ 314(a) 4.2, 10.5
(b) Not Applicable
(c)(1) 10.4
(c)(2) 10.4
(c)(3) Not Applicable
(d) Not Applicable
(e) 10.5
(f) Not Applicable
§ 315(a) 7.1
(b) 7.6
(c) 7.1
(d) 7.1
(e) 6.14
§ 316(a) 2.10
(a)(1)(A) 6.12
(a)(1)(B) 6.13
(b) 6.8
§ 317(a)(1) 6.3
(a)(2) 6.4
(b) 2.5
§ 318(a) 10.1

 

4

 

 

Indenture dated as of [ ] between Dogness (International) Corporation, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Company”), and [ ] (“Trustee”).

 

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.1 Definitions.

 

Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified herein or therein and which are owing to such Holders.

 

Affiliate” of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.

 

Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent.

 

Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.

 

Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Business Day” means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close or a day the Corporate Trust Office is closed.

 

Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock.

 

Company” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it and thereafter means the successor.

 

Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by two Officers, one of whom must be the Company’s principal executive officer or principal financial and accounting officer.

 

Company Request” means a written request signed in the name of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer and by its Co-Chief Financial Officers and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered.

 

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

 

5

 

 

Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depositary for such Series by the Company, which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such Series.

 

Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.

 

Dollars” and “$” means the currency of The United States of America.

 

ECU” means the European Currency Unit as determined by the Commission of the European Union.

 

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

 

Foreign Currency” means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of The United States of America.

 

Foreign Government Obligations” means, with respect to Securities of any Series that are denominated in a Foreign Currency, (i) direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

 

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 in effect as of the date of determination.

 

“Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.

 

Holder” or “Security Holder” means a person in whose name a Security is registered.

 

Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.

 

interest” with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

 

Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Technology Officer, any Co-Chief Financial Officers, or the Chief Risk Officer of the Company.

 

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers, one of whom must be the Company’s principal executive officer or principal financial officer.

 

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

 

6

 

 

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

 

principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.

 

Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject and who shall in each case have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.

 

Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or interest is due and payable.

 

Subsidiary” of any specified person means any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof.

 

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

 

Trustee” means the person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.

 

U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of The United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit 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 the case of (i) and (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

7

 

 

Section 1.2 Other Definitions.

 

TERM  DEFINED IN SECTION
Bankruptcy Law  6.1
Custodian  6.1
Event of Default  6.1
Journal  10.15
Judgment Currency  10.16
Legal Holiday  10.7
mandatory sinking fund payment  11.1
Market Exchange Rate  10.15
New York Banking Day  10.16
Notice Agent  2.4
optional sinking fund payment  11.1
Paying Agent  2.4
Registrar  2.4
Required Currency  10.16
successor person  5.1

 

Section 1.3 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:

 

Commission” means the SEC.

 

indenture securities” means the Securities.

 

indenture security holder” means a Security Holder.

 

indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

 

indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

 

obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.

 

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.

 

Section 1.4 Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

 

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

 

(d) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; and

 

(e) provisions apply to successive events and transactions.

 

8

 

 

ARTICLE II

TERMS OF THE SECURITIES

 

Section 2.1 Issuable in Series.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is [ ]. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

Section 2.2 Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.

 

At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.24) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate, and associated supplemental indenture:

 

2.2.1 the title of the Series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series);

 

2.2.2 the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;

 

2.2.3 any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6);

 

2.2.4 the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;

 

2.2.5 the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;

 

2.2.6 the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;

 

2.2.7 if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

 

2.2.8 the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the Series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

9

 

 

2.2.9 the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;

 

2.2.10 if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;

 

2.2.11 the forms of the Securities of the Series and whether the Securities will be issuable as Global Securities;

 

2.2.12 if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;

 

2.2.13 the currency of denomination of the Securities of the Series, which may be Dollars or any Foreign Currency, including, but not limited to, the ECU, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency other than the ECU, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;

 

2.2.14 the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be made;

 

2.2.15 if payments of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;

 

2.2.16 the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;

 

2.2.17 the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;

 

2.2.18 any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.2;

 

2.2.19 any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Articles IV or V which applies to Securities of the Series;

 

2.2.20 whether the Securities of the Series are subject to subordination and the terms of such subordination;

 

2.2.21 any material income tax considerations applicable;

 

2.2.22 any other terms of the Securities of the Series (which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series);

 

2.2.23 any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein; and

 

2.2.24 if the Securities of the Series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable.

 

All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate referred to above.

 

10

 

 

Section 2.3 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 nevertheless be valid.

 

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

 

The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, except as provided in Section 2.8.

 

Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4.

 

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or vice-presidents shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. 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.

 

Section 2.4 Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”), where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, conversion or exchange (“Registrar”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be delivered (“Notice Agent”). The Trustee or Notice Agent, as applicable, shall deliver such notices and demands to the Company in accordance with Section 10.2 hereof. The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or delivered at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

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The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars, additional paying agents or notice agents 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 obligations to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent and Notice Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.2 for Securities of any Series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar, additional paying agent or notice agent. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar; the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent; and the term “Notice Agent” includes any additional notice agent.

 

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

 

The Company hereby appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary with respect to the Securities.

 

Section 2.5 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Security Holders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. 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. 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 Security Holders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.

 

Section 2.6 Security 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 Security Holders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date 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 Security Holders of each Series of Securities.

 

Section 2.7 Transfer and Exchange.

 

Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities upon receipt of a Company Order. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).

 

Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days immediately preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.

 

Section 2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

 

Section 2.9 Outstanding Securities.

 

The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.

 

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

 

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

 

A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.

 

Section 2.10 Treasury Securities.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, Securities of a Series owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

 

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Section 2.11 Temporary Securities.

 

Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. 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, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.

 

Section 2.12 Cancellation.

 

The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. Upon receipt of written instruction from the Company, the Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company, unless the Company otherwise directs. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 2.13 Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Security Holders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 10 days before the record date, the Company shall mail to the Trustee and to each Security Holder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.

 

Section 2.14 Global Securities.

 

2.14.1 Terms of Securities. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.

 

2.14.2 Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Security or its nominee only if (i) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event or (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.

 

Except as provided in this Section 2.14.2, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary, by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.

 

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

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2.14.3 Legend. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. This Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, 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 a successor Depositary.”

 

2.14.4 Acts of Holders. The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.

 

2.14.5 Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.

 

2.14.6 Consents, Declaration and Directions. Except as provided in Section 2.14.5, the Company, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Section 2.15 CUSIP Numbers.

 

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

 

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

 

Section 3.1 Notice to Trustee.

 

The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the Trustee notice at least 45 days before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee).

 

Section 3.2 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.

 

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities of the Series to be redeemed in any manner that the Trustee deems fair and appropriate and in accordance with its customary practices or the selection shall be in accordance with DTC procedures, as applicable. The Trustee shall make the selection from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $1,000. Securities of the Series and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.2.10, the minimum principal denomination for each Series and integral multiples thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.

 

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Section 3.3 Notice of Redemption.

 

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.

 

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

 

(a) the redemption date;

 

(b) the redemption price;

 

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

 

(d) that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

 

(e) that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

(f) the CUSIP number, if any; and

 

(g) any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.

 

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption prepared by the Company, in the Company’s name and at its expense.

 

Section 3.4 Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.3, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.

 

Section 3.5 Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On or before the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.

 

Section 3.6 Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

 

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

 

Section 4.1 Payment of Principal and Interest.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.

 

Section 4.2 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. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA § 314(a).

 

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Section 4.3 Compliance Certificate.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year (which on the date hereof ends on December 31) of the Company, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his/her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he may have knowledge).

 

The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

Section 4.4 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

Section 4.5 Corporate Existence.

 

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

 

ARTICLE V

SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.1 When Company May Merge, Etc.

 

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any person (a “successor person”) unless:

 

(a) the Company is the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than the Company) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes the Company’s obligations on the Securities and under this Indenture and

 

(b) immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and any supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding the above, any Subsidiary of the Company may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to the Company. Neither an Officers’ Certificate nor an Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection therewith.

 

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Section 5.2 Successor Corporation Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, 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 person has been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company in the case of a sale, conveyance or other disposition (other than a lease) shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

 

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.1 Events of Default.

 

Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:

 

(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such period of 30 days); or

 

(b) default in the payment of principal of any Security of that Series at its Maturity; or

 

(c) default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of Series of Securities other than that Series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(d) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(i) commences a voluntary case,

 

(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

 

(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

 

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or

 

(v) generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or

 

(e) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,

 

(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or

 

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company,

 

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or

 

(f) 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, in accordance with Section 2.2.18.

 

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

 

Section 6.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(d) or (e)) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Securities of that Series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company covenants that if

 

(a) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

 

(b) default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Maturity thereof, or

 

(c) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security,

 

then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, if an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such Series by pursuing any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

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Section 6.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

 

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same,

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding 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 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 7.8.

 

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.

 

Section 6.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 6.6 Application of Money Collected.

 

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.8; and

 

Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and

 

Third: To the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

Section 6.7 Limitation on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Security of any Series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

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(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series;

 

(b) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series;

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

 

Section 6.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 6.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

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Section 6.12 Control by Holders.

 

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to 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 the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that

 

(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,

 

(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and

 

(c) subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

Section 6.13 Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.14 Undertaking for Costs.

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, 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, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).

 

ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.1 Duties of Trustee.

 

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise 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 man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(i) The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others.

 

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(ii) 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 Officers’ Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officers’ Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officers’ Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

(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:

 

(i) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section.

 

(ii) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.

 

(iii) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series.

 

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

 

(e) The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

 

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(h) The Paying Agent, the Registrar, the Notice Agent, any agent and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the protections, immunities and standard of care as are set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section with respect to the Trustee.

 

Section 7.2 Rights of Trustee.

 

(a) The Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document 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.

 

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel, or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. No such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel shall be at the expense of the Trustee. Any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate.

 

(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. No Depositary shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depositary.

 

(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, provided that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall not be liable for any special, punitive or consequential damages, even if they were reasonably foreseeable.

 

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder, and the Trustee may conclusively rely on any such advice or Opinion of Counsel.

 

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(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

(g) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.

 

(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default (other than a payment default under Section 6.1 or 6.2) unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice of any event which is in fact such a default at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities generally or the Securities of a particular Series and this Indenture.

 

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

 

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

 

(k) The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to or monitor the performance of the Issuer with respect to the covenants contained in Article IV.

 

(l) The Trustee shall not be required to give any note, bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers under this Indenture.

 

(m) Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Trustee to submit to the jurisdiction or venue of a non-U.S. court.

 

Section 7.3 Force Majeure.

 

(a) The Trustee shall have no liability for delays or inability to perform its duties hereunder due to forces majeures, events beyond its control, such as (but not exclusively) civil unrest, earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters, floods, utility failures, transmission interruptions, power failures, wars, governmental declarations or Acts of God; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

(b) Delivery of reports or information by the Company shall not be deemed to confer actual or constructive knowledge or notice on the Trustee with respect to a Default or Event of Default, or otherwise.

 

Section 7.4 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. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.11 and 7.12.

 

Section 7.5 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 authentication.

 

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Section 7.6 Notice of Defaults.

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail (or deliver notice subject to the applicable procedures of the Depositary or relevant clearing system) to each Security Holder of the Securities of that Series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has written notice of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, or in the payment of any sinking fund installment, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its corporate trust committee or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Security Holders of that Series.

 

Section 7.7 Reports by Trustee to Holders.

 

Within 60 days after May 15 in each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Security Holders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such May 15, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA § 313.

 

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

 

Section 7.8 Compensation and Indemnity.

 

The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon 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 reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee against any loss, liability or expense (including the cost of defending itself) incurred by it except as set forth in the next paragraph in the performance of the Trustee duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity; provided, however, that failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve it of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense; provided, however, the Trustee may conduct its own defense if there is a conflict of interest between the interests of the Company and those of the Trustee. The Trustee may have one separate counsel (in addition to local counsel, if applicable) and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and Agents or agents of the Trustee.

 

The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder, Agent or agent of the Trustee to the extent it is attributed to its own negligence or willful conduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable order.

 

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities of that Series.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation and removal of the Trustee.

 

Section 7.9 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.

 

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The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:

 

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.11;

 

(b) 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;

 

(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

 

If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee upon payment of its fees and expenses then unpaid shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.8, 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 with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Security Holder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.9, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.8 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.

 

Section 7.10 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

 

Section 7.11 Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $150,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).

 

Section 7.12 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated.

 

ARTICLE VIII

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.1), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

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(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) have been called for redemption or 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 8.3, as applicable;

 

and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has irrevocably 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 7.8, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2 and 8.5 shall survive.

 

Section 8.2 Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.

 

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4, 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 8.3 or 8.4.

 

(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 or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.3 or 8.4 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 Company Request any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.3 or 8.4 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 Foreign Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held under this Indenture.

 

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Section 8.3 Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series.

 

Unless this Section 8.3 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.2.22, 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 Series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) 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, at Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:

 

(a) the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) 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;

 

(b) the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.5; and

 

(c) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder;

 

provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(d) the Company shall have deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) 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 (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign 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 of and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments are due;

 

(e) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(f) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date;

 

(g) 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;

 

(h) 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; and

 

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

 

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Section 8.4 Covenant Defeasance.

 

Unless this Section 8.4 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2.22 to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company may omit to comply with respect to the Securities of any Series with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, and 5.1 as well as any additional covenants specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.22 (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to such Series under Section 6.1) and the occurrence of any event specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.18 and designated as an Event of Default 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 8.4, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) 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 (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign 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 and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments are due;

 

(b) Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(c) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

 

(d) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect 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 covenant 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 covenant 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 covenant defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

 

Section 8.5 Repayment to Company.

 

The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years. After that, Security Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.

 

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ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES, AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

Section 9.1 Without Consent of Holders.

 

The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Security Holder:

 

(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

(b) to comply with Article V;

 

(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;

 

(d) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Security Holder;

 

(e) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture;

 

(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; or

 

(g) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.

 

Section 9.2 With Consent of Holders.

 

The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Security Holders of each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby, a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver. Any failure by the Company to mail or publish 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 9.3 Limitations.

 

Without the consent of each Security Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:

 

(a) reduce the principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(b) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any Security;

 

(c) reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;

 

(d) reduce the principal amount of Discount Securities payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

(e) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

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(f) make the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security payable in any currency other than that stated in the Security;

 

(g) make any change in Sections 6.8, 6.13 or 9.3 (this sentence); or

 

(h) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security, provided that such redemption is made at the Company’s option.

 

Section 9.4 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every amendment or waiver to this Indenture or the issuance of and establishment of the form and terms and conditions of Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

 

Section 9.5 Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

Until an amendment is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a 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. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.

 

Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Security Holder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (h) of Section 9.3. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.

 

Section 9.6 Notation on or Exchange of Securities.

 

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon receipt of a Company Order new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.

 

Section 9.7 Trustee Protected.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights.

 

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 10.1 Trust Indenture Act Controls.

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.

 

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Section 10.2 Notices.

 

Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company or the Trustee, is duly given if in writing, in the English language, referencing this Indenture and the applicable securities or series of securities, and delivered in person, or mailed by first-class mail:

 

if to the Company:

 

No. 16 N. Dongke Road

Tongsha Industrial Zone

Dongguan, Guangdong 523217

 

if to the Trustee:

[ ]

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 Security Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar or delivered subject to the applicable procedures of Depositary or relevant clearing system. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Security Holder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Security Holders of that or any other Series.

 

If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Security Holder receives it.

 

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

 

Section 10.3 Communication by Holders with Other Holders.

 

Security Holders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Security Holders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

 

Section 10.4 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:

 

(a) an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

 

(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

 

Section 10.5 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:

 

(a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

(b) 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;

 

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(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he 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

 

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

Section 10.6 Rules by Trustee and Agents.

 

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Security Holders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

Section 10.7 Legal Holidays.

 

Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, a “Legal Holiday” is any day that is not a Business Day. 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 10.8 No Recourse Against Others.

 

A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Security Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

 

Section 10.9 Counterparts.

 

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

Section 10.10 Governing Laws.

 

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF.

 

Section 10.11 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 10.12 Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

 

Section 10.13 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 10.14 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

 

The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

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Section 10.15 Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU.

 

Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all Series or all Series affected by a particular action at the time outstanding and, at such time, there are outstanding Securities of any Series which are denominated in a coin or currency other than Dollars (including ECUs), then the principal amount of Securities of such Series which shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate at such time. For purposes of this Section 10.15, “Market Exchange Rate” shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in New York City for cable transfers of that currency as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; provided, however, in the case of ECUs, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the rate of exchange determined by the Commission of the European Union (or any successor thereto) as published in the Official Journal of the European Union (such publication or any successor publication, the “Journal”). If such Market Exchange Rate is not available for any reason with respect to such currency, the Trustee shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, in the case of ECUs, the rate of exchange as published in the Journal, as of the most recent available date, or quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question or, in the case of ECUs, in Luxembourg or such other quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange as the Trustee, upon consultation with the Company, shall deem appropriate. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a Series denominated in currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

 

All decisions and determinations of the Trustee regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, to the extent permitted by law, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company and all Holders.

 

Section 10.16 Judgment Currency.

 

The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

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ARTICLE XI

SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 11.1 Applicability of Article.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment” and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 11.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.

 

Section 11.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

 

The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been repurchased by the Company or redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Trustee, together with an Officers’ Certificate with respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.2, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company.

 

Section 11.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

 

Not less than 45 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.3. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

  Dogness (International) Corporation
                  
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  
   
  [ ], as Trustee
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 

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Exhibit 5.1

 

 

    ________
    Campbells LLP
By email   Floor 4, Willow House, Cricket Square
    Grand Cayman KY1-9010
    Cayman Islands
     
Dogness (International) Corporation   D +1 345 914 5845
Tongsha Industrial Estate, East District   T +1 345 949 2648
Dongguan, Guangdong 523217   E dmagee@campbellslegal.com
People’s Republic of China    
    campbellslegal.com
    Our Ref: RBS/DPM/17011-28996
    Your Ref:
    ________
    CAYMAN | BVI | HONG KONG

 

9 February 2022

 

Dear Sirs

 

Dogness (International) Corporation (the “Company”)

 

We have acted as British Virgin Islands counsel to the Company in connection with the Registration Statement on Form F-3/A to be filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder relating to the registration of the Securities (as defined below) (the “Registration Statement”). The Registration Statement includes a prospectus (the “Prospectus”) and provides that the Prospectus will be supplemented in the future by one or more prospectus supplements (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”). The Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, as supplemented from time to time by one or more Prospectus Supplements, will provide for the registration by the Company of:

 

1. Class A common shares with a par value of $0.002 per share (the “Common Shares”);
   
2. senior debt securities, in one or more series, of the Company (the “Senior Debt Securities”) to be issued pursuant to an indenture between the Company and a trustee to be named in such indenture (the “Senior Indenture”);
   
3. subordinated debt securities, in one or more series, of the Company (the “Subordinated Debt Securities”), to be issued pursuant to an indenture between the Company and a trustee to be named in such indenture (the “Subordinated Indenture”) (such Subordinated Debt Securities together with the Senior Debt Securities, the “Debt Securities”);

 

The Cayman Islands firm known as “Campbells” converted from a firm to a Cayman Islands limited liability partnership known as “Campbells LLP” on 25 February 2021. 

 

 

 

 

4. warrants to purchase Common Shares, Debt Securities, or any combination thereof (the “Warrants”), to be issued under a warrant agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and a bank or trust company as Warrant agent, and such warrants may be issued independently or together with Common Shares, Debt Securities, or any combination thereof, and the Warrants may be attached to or separate from such securities;
   
5. share purchase contracts obligating the holders to purchase from the Company a specified number of securities registered under the Registration Statement (the “Purchase Contracts”) between the Company and a purchase contract agent identified in the applicable agreement;
   
6. share purchase units, each representing ownership of securities registered under the Registration Statement or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, securing a holder’s obligation to purchase securities under such Purchase Contracts (to the extent constituting securities under the Securities Act issued by the Company, the “Purchase Units”);
   
7. rights to purchase Common Shares or Debt Securities of the Company (the “Rights”) issued pursuant to one or more rights agreements between the Company and a bank or trust company, as rights agent (the “Rights Agreements”); and
   
8. units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in the Registration Statement in any combination (the “Units”) which may be issued under unit agreements (the “Unit Agreement”), by and between the Company and a bank or trust company as unit agent;

 

each on terms to be determined at the time of offering thereof and a form of each of which will be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement at such time. The securities referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (viii) are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Securities are being registered for offering and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The aggregate public offering price of the Registered Shares being registered in this offering will be US$250,000,000.00.

 

For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined the Corporate Documents (as defined in Schedule 1). We have not examined any other documents, official or corporate records or external or internal registers and have not undertaken or been instructed to undertake any further enquiry or due diligence.

 

In giving this opinion we have relied upon the assumptions set out in Schedule 2 which we have not verified.

 

Based solely upon the foregoing examinations and assumptions and having regard to legal considerations which we deem relevant, and subject to the qualifications set out in Schedule 3, we are of the opinion that under the laws of the British Virgin Islands:

 

1. With respect to any Common Shares issued under the Registration Statement, provided that (i) the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto have all become effective under the Securities Act and the Prospectus and any and all Prospectus Supplement(s) required by applicable laws have been delivered and filed as required by such laws; (ii) the issuance of the Common Shares has been duly authorized by the Company by all necessary corporate action; (iii) the issuance of such Common Shares at such time does not violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and such issuance is in conformity with the M&A (as defined in Schedule 1), and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; (v) the taking by the Company of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance of any Common Shares, then upon the receipt of full payment, issuance and delivery in accordance with the terms of the offering described in the Registration Statement and registration in the register of members (shareholders) of the Company be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

 

 

 

2.With respect to any series of the Debt Securities issued under the Senior Indenture or the Subordinated Indenture, as applicable, and offered under the Registration Statement, provided that (i) the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto have all become effective under the Securities Act and the Prospectus and any and all Prospectus Supplement(s) required by applicable laws have been delivered and filed as required by such laws; (ii) the issuance and terms of the Debt Securities have been duly authorized by the Company by all necessary corporate action; (iii) the Senior Indenture or the Subordinated Indenture, as applicable, has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and a trustee by all necessary corporate action; (iv) the terms of the Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Senior Indenture or the Subordinated Indenture and as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s), as applicable, so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, so as to be in conformity with the M&A, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; (v) the qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), of such Senior or Subordinated Indenture, as then and theretofore amended or supplemented has been effected; and (vi) the Debt Securities have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by a trustee pursuant to the Senior Indenture or the Subordinated Indenture, as applicable, and delivered against payment therefor, then the Debt Securities, when issued and sold in accordance with the Senior Indenture or the Subordinated Indenture, as applicable, the Registration Statement, and a duly authorized, executed and delivered purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, or upon exercise of any Warrants under a Warrant Agreement, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

3.With respect to the Warrants issued under the Warrant Agreement and offered under the Registration Statement, provided that (i) the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto have all become effective under the Securities Act and the Prospectus and any and all Prospectus Supplement(s) required by applicable laws have been delivered and filed as required by such laws; (ii) the issuance and terms of the Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company by all necessary corporate action; (iii) the Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the warrant agent by all necessary corporate action; (iv) the terms of the Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Warrant Agreement and as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s), so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, so as to be in conformity with the M&A, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; (v) the taking by the Company of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance of any Common Shares that are receivable upon exercise of Warrants, the issuance and terms of any series of any Debt Securities that are receivable upon exercise of Warrants, and the execution and delivery of the applicable Senior or Subordinated Indenture and any applicable supplemental indenture, or the applicable documentation; and (vi) the Warrants have been delivered against payment therefor, then the Warrants, when issued and sold in accordance with the Warrant Agreement, the Registration Statement, and a duly authorized, executed and delivered purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

 

 

 

4.With respect to the Purchase Contracts and Purchase Units, provided that (i) the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto have all become effective under the Securities Act and the Prospectus and any and all Prospectus Supplement(s) required by applicable laws have been delivered and filed as required by such laws; (ii) issuance and terms of the Purchase Contracts or Purchase Units have been duly authorized by the Company by all necessary corporate action; (iii) the applicable purchase contract agreement and any related pledge agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto; (iv) the terms of the Purchase Contracts and Purchase Units and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable purchase contract agreement and any related pledge agreement and as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s) and do not violate any applicable law or the M&A or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; (v) the Purchase Contracts and Purchase Units have been issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement; and (vi) payment of the consideration therefor has been provided, the Purchase Contracts and Purchase Units will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

5.With respect to the Rights, provided that (i) the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto have all become effective under the Securities Act and the Prospectus and any and all Prospectus Supplement(s) required by applicable laws have been delivered and filed as required by such laws; (ii) issuance and terms of the Rights have been duly authorized by the Company by all necessary corporate action; (iii) the applicable Rights Agreements relating to the Rights have been duly authorized, executed and delivered; (iv) the terms of the Rights and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Rights Agreement and as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s) and do not violate any applicable law or the M&A or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; (v) the Rights have been duly executed and countersigned in accordance with the applicable Rights Agreement and issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement; and (vi) payment of the consideration therefor has been provided, the Rights will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

6.With respect to the Units, provided that (i) the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto have all become effective under the Securities Act and the Prospectus and any and all Prospectus Supplement(s) required by applicable laws have been delivered and filed as required by such laws; (ii) issuance and terms of the Units have been duly authorized by the Company by all necessary corporate action; (iii) the applicable Unit Agreements relating to the Units have been duly authorized, executed and delivered; (iv) the terms of the Units and any underlying securities and their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Unit Agreement and as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s) and do not violate any applicable law or the M&A or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; (v) the Units have been duly executed, issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the applicable Unit Agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, and, if applicable, a duly authorized, executed and delivered purchase, underwriting or similar agreement; and (vi) issuance and delivery of the applicable Units in each case upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Company and otherwise in accordance with the Registration Statement and the provisions of the applicable underlying agreements, such Units will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

 

 

 

Our opinions in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 above are subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfer or conveyance), reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law), including, without limitation, (a) the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or any other equitable remedy and (b) concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and we express no opinion herein with respect to provisions relating to severability or separability.

 

It is understood that this opinion is to be used only in connection with the offer and sale of the Common Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, Purchase Contracts, Purchase Units, Rights and Units while the Registration Statement is in effect.

 

We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus constituting a part thereof. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under section 7 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Yours faithfully

 

/s/ Campbells  

 

Campbells LLP

 

 

 

 


Schedule 1

 

List of Documents and Records Examined

 

1)Copies of the Certificate of Incorporation (“COI”) and Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company (“M&A”) obtained from the Registry of Corporate Affairs on 7 February 2022;

 

2)Copies of the public records of the Company on file and available for inspection at the Registry of Corporate Affairs, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands on 7 February 2022;

 

3)A copy of the Company’s registered agent’s certificate, provided by the Company’s registered agent on 4 February 2022;

 

4)A copy of the unanimous written consent of the board of directors of the Company dated 6 February 2022 approving and authorising the registration of the Securities to be effected by the filing of the Registration Statement;

 

5)A copy of the certificate of Good Standing dated 4 February 2022 in respect of the Company issued by the Registrar of Corporate Affairs (the “Certificate of Good Standing”);

 

(1 – 5 above are the “Corporate Documents”) and

 

6)A copy of the Registration Statement.

 

The Corporate Documents and the Registration Statement are collectively referred to in this opinion as the “Documents”.

 

 

 

 

Schedule 2

 

Assumptions

 

1 The Company will duly execute and deliver the Documents in the form of the drafts provided to us for review.

 

2 On the date of this opinion, the Company’s assets are greater than or equal to its liabilities, and the Company is able to pay its debts as they fall due, and issuing the securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement will not cause the Company’s assets to be less than its liabilities, nor cause the Company to become unable to pay its debts as they fall due.

 

3 All original Documents are authentic, all signatures, initials and seals are genuine, all copies of Documents are true and correct copies.

 

4 All matters required by law to be recorded in the Corporate Documents are so recorded, and that all corporate certificates, documents and records which we have reviewed are accurate and complete, and that all facts expressed in or implied thereby are accurate and complete as at the date of this opinion.

 

5 The directors and shareholders of each Company have not taken any steps to appoint a liquidator of and no receiver has been appointed over any of the Companies’ property or assets.

 

6 Save for the Documents provided to us, there are no resolutions, agreements, documents or arrangements which materially affect, amend or vary the transactions envisaged in the Documents.

 

7.At the time of the issuance of the Securities, the Company will validly exist and be in good standing, will have the necessary corporate power and due authorization and the terms of any such Securities will not violate the M&A, any applicable law or result in a default or breach of any agreement binding upon Company, and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or other governmental body having jurisdiction over it.

 

8.Appropriate action will be taken prior to the offer and sale of the Common Shares, the Debt Securities and the Warrants to register and qualify such Securities under all applicable state securities “blue sky” laws.

 

9.In the case of any Securities issuable upon the conversion, exchange, redemption, repurchase or exercise of other Securities, those Securities will be available for issuance upon such conversion, exchange, redemption, repurchase or exercise.

 

 

 

 

Schedule 3

 

Qualifications

 

1 Records reviewed by us may not be complete for various reasons. In particular you should note that:

 

  (a) failure to file notice of appointment of a receiver with the Registry of Corporate Affairs does not invalidate the receivership but merely gives rise to penalties on the part of the receiver;

 

  (b) a liquidator of a British Virgin Islands company has 14 days after their appointment within which they must file notice of their appointment at the Registry of Corporate Affairs; and

 

  (c) although amendments to the Memorandum and Articles of Association of a company are normally effective from the date of registration with the Registry of Corporate Affairs, it is possible for a British Virgin Islands court to order that they be treated as being effective from an earlier date, and searches would not reveal the amendments until the court order was subsequently filed,

 

and accordingly our searches would not indicate such issues.

 

2 We express no opinion in relation to provisions making reference to foreign statues in the Documents.

 

3

This opinion is given only as to, and based on, circumstances and matters of fact existing and known to us on the date of this opinion. This opinion only relates to the laws of the British Virgin Islands which are in force on the date of this opinion.

 

4 To maintain the Company in good standing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, annual licence fees must be paid to the Registrar of Corporate Affairs , and an annual filing must be submitted to the International Tax Authority of the British Virgin Islands in accordance with the Economic Substance (Companies and Limited Partnerships) Act 2018 (as amended).

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.2

 

 

Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.

Two James Center

1021 East Cary Street, Suite 1400

Richmond, VA 23219

 

Mailing Address

Post Office Box 27828

Richmond, VA 23261

 

T (804) 771.5700

F (888) 360.9092

 

kaufCAN.com

 

February 8, 2022

 

Via Electronic Mail

Dogness (International) Corporation

No. 16 N. Dongke Road

Tongsha Industrial Zone

Dongguan, Guangdong 523217

 

Re: Registration Statement on Form F-3 of Dogness (International) Corporation

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as U.S. securities counsel to Dogness (International) Corporation, a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (the “Company”), in connection with a Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”) on Form F-3, as amended, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), of up to $250,000,000 of (i) Class A common shares, $0.002, of the Company (the “Class A Common Shares”), (ii) preferred shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Shares”), (iii) warrants to purchase debt securities, Class A Common Shares, or other securities registered under the Registration Statement (the “Warrants”), (iv) one or more series of debt securities of the Company (the “Debt Securities”), (v) units comprised of one or more of Class A Common Shares, Preferred shares, Warrants and Debt Securities (the “Units”), and collectively with the Class A Common Shares, Preferred Shares, Warrants and Debt Securities, the “Securities”).

 

In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Registration Statement, of such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates and statements of public officials, certificates of officers or representatives of the Company, and such other documents, certificates and records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth herein.

 

In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the 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 and the authenticity of all originals of such latter documents. In making our examination of the documents executed by the parties, we have assumed that such parties had the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and the validity and binding effect thereof. Except as expressly set forth herein, we have not undertaken any independent investigation to determine the existence or absence of facts material to the opinions expressed herein and no inference as to our knowledge concerning such facts should be drawn from the fact that such representation has been relied upon by us in connection with the preparation and delivery of this opinion. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein which were not independently established or verified, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations made by officers and other representatives of the Company and others, in each case as we have deemed relevant and appropriate. We have not independently verified the facts so relied on.

 

The opinions expressed in this opinion letter are limited to the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York. We are not opining on, and we assume no responsibility for, the applicability to or effect on any of the matters covered herein of (a) any other laws; (b) the laws of any other jurisdiction; or (c) the laws of any county, municipality or other political subdivision or local governmental agency or authority.

 

 
 

 

Dogness (International) Corporation

February 8, 2022

Page 2

 

We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact that may occur after the date of this opinion letter that might affect the opinion expressed herein. We express no opinion as to compliance with any other federal or state law, rule or regulation relating to securities, or to the sale or issuance thereof.

 

You are separately receiving an opinion from Campbells with respect to the corporate proceedings relating to the due issuance of the Class A Common Shares, Preferred Shares, Warrants and Units and in rendering this opinion, we rely on such opinion as to the validity of such issuances under the law of the British Virgin Islands.

 

Based on the foregoing, and having regard to legal considerations which we deem relevant, and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that with respect to Debt Securities, when (a) an applicable indenture, if any, or any necessary amendment or supplement thereto or other agreement in respect thereof, if any, has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the trustee thereunder, (b) any applicable indenture, if required, has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, if qualification is required thereunder, (c) the specific terms and the issuance and sale of any particular Debt Security have been duly established in accordance with the applicable indenture, if any, or any necessary amendment thereto or other agreement in respect thereof, if any, and authorized by all necessary action of the Company, and (d) any such Debt Security has been duly executed, issued, authenticated (if required) and delivered by or on behalf of the Company as contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable prospectus supplement either (i) against payment therefor in accordance with the provisions of the applicable indenture and/or any other agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and the provisions of the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Company and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable prospectus supplement or (ii) upon conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise of any other Debt Security in accordance with the terms of such Debt Security or the instrument governing such Debt Security as approved by the Company, for the consideration approved by the Company, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except: (a) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including but not limited to principles limiting the availability of specific performance and injunctive relief, and concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing; (b) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (c) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

 

We express no opinion as to the enforceability of (i) provisions that relate to choice of law, forum selection or submission to jurisdiction (including, without limitation, any express or implied waiver of any objection to venue in any court or of any objection that a court is an inconvenient forum) to the extent that the validity, binding effect or enforceability of any such provision is to be determined by any court other than a state court of the State of New York, (ii) waivers by the Company of any statutory or constitutional rights or remedies, or (iii) terms which excuse any person or entity from liability for, or require the Company to indemnify such person or entity against, such person’s or entity’s negligence or willful misconduct. We draw your attention to the fact that, under certain circumstances, the enforceability of terms to the effect that provisions may not be waived or modified except in writing may be limited.

 

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, the discussion of this opinion in the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby 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 promulgated thereunder, nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in the Securities Act.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.
  Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

 

  CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
   

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-262504) of our report dated October 29,2021, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Dogness (International) Corporation for the year ended June 30, 2021, which was included in the Company’s annual report in the Form 20-F filed on October 29, 2021. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

 

/s/ Prager Metis CPAs, LLC

 

Hackensack, New Jersey

May 20, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.2

 

 

By Email

 

Dogness (International) Corporation

Tongsha Industrial Estate, East District
Dongguan, Guangdong 523217
People’s Republic of China

Campbells LLP

Floor 4, Willow House, Cricket Square

Grand Cayman KY1-9010

Cayman Islands

D +1 345 914 5845

T +1 345 949 2648

E dmagee@campbellslegal.com

campbellslegal.com

Our Ref: DPM/tkj/17011-28996 Your Ref:

   
3 February 2022 CAYMAN BVI HONG KONG

 

Dear Sirs

 

Dogness (International) Corporation (the “Company”)

Consent Letter – Form F-3

 

We are qualified lawyers of the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”). We act as the BVI counsel to the Company, a Company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands in connection with the filing on Form F-3 to register up to $250,000,000 of securities of the Company in a shelf registration statement.

 

We hereby consent to the reference to our name in such registration statement.

 

This Consent is rendered solely to you for the filing on Form F-3 and may not be used for any other purpose. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Campbells LLP

 

The Cayman Islands firm known as “Campbells” converted from a firm to a Cayman Islands limited liability partnership known as “Campbells LLP” on 25 February 2021.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.4

 

 

Jincheng Tongda & Neal Law Firm

Address: 42th Floor, Central Tower, No. 5 Xiancun Road

 Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou, PRC

Tel: 86-20-3856 5666

E-mail: chenyan@jtn.com

 

May 20th, 2022

 

Re: Consent Letter on Dogness (International) Corporation – Form F-3

 

We are qualified lawyers of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC” or “China”, for the purpose of this consent only, the PRC shall not include the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan).

 

We act as the PRC counsel to Dogness (International) Corporation (the “Company”), a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands in connection with the filing on Form F-3 to register up to $250,000,000 of securities of the Company in a shelf registration statement.

 

We hereby consent to the reference to our name in such registration statement.

 

This Consent is rendered solely to you for the filing on Form F-3 and may not be used for any other purpose. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

/s/ Jincheng Tongda & Neal Law Firm  
Jincheng Tongda & Neal Law Firm  

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.5

 

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the amendment No.3 to the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-262504) of our report dated October 30, 2020 relating to the consolidated balance sheet of Dogness (International) Corporation as of June 30, 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended June 30, 2020, as included in the Company’s 2021 Form 20-F annual report filed October 29, 2021.We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statements.

 

/s/ Friedman LLP  
   
New York, New York  
May 20, 2022  

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 107

 

CALCULATION OF FILING FEE TABLES

 

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO

FORM F-3

(Form Type)

 

DOGNESS (INTERNATIONAL) CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Not Applicable

(Translation of Registrant’s Name into English)

 

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

 
   Security Type  Security Class Title   Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule   Amount Registered   Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit (3)(4)   Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(3)   Fee Rate   Amount of Registration Fee   Carry Forward Form Type   Carry Forward File Number   Carry Forward Initial effective date   Filing Fee Previously Paid In Connection with Unsold Securities to be Carried Forward 
Newly Registered Securities  

Fees to Be Paid

  -   -    -    -    -    -         -                 
Fees Previously
Paid
  Equity   Class A Common Shares, par value $0.002    -    (1)(2)   -    -                         
   Other   Share Purchase Contracts and Share Purchase Units(6)    -    (1)(2)(5)   -    -                         
   Debt   Debt Securities    -    (1)(2)(6)   -    -                         
   Other   Warrants    -    (1)(2)(7)   -    -                         
   Other   Rights    -    (1)(2)(8)   -    -                               
   Other   Units    -    (1)(2)(9)   -    -                               
   Unallocated (Universal) Shelf   -    Rule 457(o)    -    -   $250,000,000   $92.7   $23,175                     
Carry Forward Securities  
Carry Forward
Securities
  -   -    -    -    -    -         -    -    -    -    - 
   Total Offering Amounts         $250,000,000                               
   Total Fees Previously Paid                $23,175                     
   Total Fee Offsets                $0                     
   Net Fee Due                $0                     

 

(1) There are being registered hereunder such indeterminate number of (i) Class A Common Shares, (ii) share purchase contracts and share purchase units, (iii) debt securities, (iv) warrants, (v) rights and (iv) units, as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $250,000,000 or such lesser aggregate amount permitted under General Instruction I.B.5 to Form F-3 under the Securities Act. Such indeterminate amounts may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices, in U.S. Dollars. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. This registration statement also includes such presently indeterminate number of securities as may be issuable from time to time upon conversion or upon exercise of, or in exchange for, any such convertible or exchangeable securities registered hereunder or pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of any such securities.
   
(2) Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, the securities offered hereby shall be deemed to cover additional securities to be offered to prevent dilution resulting from share splits, share dividends or similar transactions.
   
(3) The proposed maximum per unit and aggregate offering prices per security will be determined, from time to time, by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder.
   
(4) The amount to be registered, proposed maximum aggregate offering price per unit and proposed maximum aggregate offering price are not specified as to each class of security pursuant to General Instruction II.C of Form F-3 under the Securities Act. The proposed maximum aggregate offering price is estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933.
   
(5) Share purchase contracts to purchase Class A Common Shares or other securities registered hereunder. Share purchase contracts may be issued separately or as share purchase units. Share purchase units may consist of a share purchase contract and debt securities, warrants, other securities registered hereunder or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the securities under the share purchase contracts.
   
(6) May include senior or subordinated debt.
   
(7) Warrants may entitle the holder to purchase our Class A Common Shares, debt securities or any combination thereof. Warrants may be issued independently or together with Class A Common Shares, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from such securities.
   
(8) Rights evidencing the right to purchase Class A Common Shares, or debt securities.
   
(9) Each unit may consist of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination.