As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2022.
Registration No. 333-255891
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 6
to
FORM F-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Golden Sun Education Group Limited
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Cayman Islands | 8200 | Not Applicable | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Profit Huiyin Square North Building,
Huashan 2018, Unit 1001,
Xuhui District, Shanghai, China
+86-0577-56765303
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Cogency Global Inc.
122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10168
800-221-0102
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies of all communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:
Ying Li, Esq. Lisa Forcht, Esq. Hunter Taubman
Fischer & Li LLC |
David B. Manno, Esq. Huan Lou, Esq. Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 31st Floor New York, NY 10036 (212) 930-9700 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: Promptly after the effective date of this registration statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act ☐
The 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, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to such Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell the securities until the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting any offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or sale is not permitted. |
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED April 1, 2022
4,400,000 Class A Ordinary Shares
Golden Sun Education Group Limited
This is an initial public offering of our Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0005 per share (“Class A Ordinary Shares”). We are offering on a firm commitment basis our Class A Ordinary Shares. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A Ordinary Shares. We expect the initial public offering price to be in the range of $4 to $5 per Class A Ordinary Share. We have reserved the symbol “GSUN” for purposes of listing our Class A Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market and applied to list our Class A Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market. It is a condition to the closing of this offering that the Class A Ordinary Shares qualify for listing on a national securities exchange.
Our outstanding share capital consists of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0005 per share (“Class B Ordinary Shares”). Holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. In respect of matters requiring the votes of shareholders, each Class A Ordinary Share is entitled to one vote, and each Class B Ordinary Share is entitled to five votes and is convertible into one Class A Ordinary Share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A Ordinary Shares are not convertible into Class B Ordinary Shares under any circumstances. The Class B holders will be able to exercise approximately 60% of the total votes of our issued and outstanding share capital immediately following the completion of this offering, assuming the sale of 4,400,000 Class A Ordinary Shares, and excluding the effects of the exercise of the Underwriter Warrants and the over-allotment option.
Investing in our Class A Ordinary Shares involves a high degree of risk, including the risk of losing your entire investment. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 16 to read about factors you should consider before buying our Class A Ordinary Shares.
We are not a Chinese operating company, but rather a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct a substantial majority of our operations through our operating entities established in the People’s Republic of China (or the “PRC”). The Class A Ordinary Shares offered in this prospectus are shares of the Cayman Islands holding company. Holders of our Class A Ordinary Shares do not directly own any equity interests in our Chinese operating subsidiaries, but will instead own shares of a Cayman Islands holding company. Unless otherwise stated, as used in this prospectus and in the context of describing our operations and consolidated financial information, “we,” “us,” “Company,” or “our,” refers to Golden Sun Education Group Limited, a Cayman Island holding company. For a description of our corporate structure, see “Corporate History and Structure.” See also “Risk Factors – Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure.”
We are subject to legal and operational risks associated with being based in and having the majority of the our operations in China. These risks may result in a material change in our operations, or a complete hindrance of our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors, and could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become 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, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas using variable interest entity structure, and adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews. 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 an announcement 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. On July 10, 2021, the PRC State Internet Information Office issued the Measures of Cybersecurity Review (Revised Draft for Comments, not yet effective), which requires cyberspace operators with personal information of more than 1 million users who want to list abroad to file a cybersecurity review with the Office of Cybersecurity Review. As confirmed by our PRC counsel, since we currently do not have over one million users’ personal information and do not anticipate that we will be collecting over one million users’ personal information in the foreseeable future, we will not be subject to the cybersecurity review with the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the “CAC,” when the Measures of Cybersecurity Review becomes effective, and for the same reason, we will not be subject to the network data security review by the CAC if the Draft Regulations on the Network Data Security Administration (Draft for Comments) (the “Security Administration Draft”) are enacted as proposed. As of the date of this prospectus, the above PRC government actions have not impacted the Company’s ability to conduct its business, accept foreign investments, or list on a U.S. or other foreign exchange.
In addition, since 2021, the Chinese government has strengthened its anti-monopoly supervision, mainly in three aspects: (1) establishing the National Anti-Monopoly Bureau; (2) revising and promulgating anti-monopoly laws and regulations, including: the Anti-Monopoly Law (draft Amendment published on October 23, 2021 for public opinions), the anti-monopoly guidelines for various industries, and the detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Fair Competition Review System; and (3) expanding the anti-monopoly law enforcement targeting Internet companies and large enterprises. As of the date of this prospectus, the Chinese government's recent statements and regulatory actions related to anti-monopoly concerns have not impacted our ability to conduct business, accept foreign investments, or list on a U.S. or other foreign exchange because neither the Company nor its PRC operating entities engage in monopolistic behaviors that are subject to these statements or regulatory actions.
Furthermore, the Chinese education sector is going through a series of reforms and new laws and guidelines have been recently promulgated and released to regulate our industry. On September 1, 2021, the revised Implementation Rules for the Law for Promoting Private Education of the PRC (the “Implementing Regulation”), which regulates the establishment, organization and operation of private schools, teachers and educators, assets and financial management of schools, became effective. The revised Implementing Regulation prohibits private schools that provide compulsory education to be controlled by means of agreements or to enter into any transactions with any related parties. As of the date of this prospectus, the Company does not operate any private schools that provide compulsory education; however, before September 2021, the Company had controlled and received the economic benefits from two private schools, or the two former variable interest entities (VIEs), that provided compulsory education through a series of contractual arrangements (the “VIE Agreements”), to provide contractual exposure to foreign investment in Chinese-based companies where Chinese law prohibits direct foreign investment in the Chinese operating companies, which practice is prohibited by the revised Implementation Regulation. Under United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”), the Company was deemed to have a controlling financial interest in, and be the primary beneficiary of, the VIEs for accounting purposes, because pursuant to the VIE Agreements, the operations of the VIEs were solely for the benefit of the Company, and the Company was deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIEs for accounting purposes and must consolidate the VIE. In order to be compliant with the revised Implementing Regulation, in September 2021, the Company completed a reorganization to divest its operations of its two private schools (the “Reorganization”) and no longer uses a VIE structure. See “Prospectus Summary – Recent Development – The Reorganization” for more details of the Reorganization. The Reorganization has materially and adversely impacted our operations and future prospects, as these two private schools had represented a significant portion of our business and operations, which accounted for 32% and 45% of our total revenue for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
On July 24, 2021, the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council jointly issued and released the Guideline to Significantly Reduce The Excessive Burden of Homework and After-school Tutoring for Students in Primary and Middle Schools the (“Guideline”). The Guideline contains various requirements and restrictions related to after school tutoring services that teach academic subjects in compulsory education (“Academic AST Institutions”), including the requirement to register as non-profit schools, a prohibition on foreign ownership, a prohibition for listed companies on raising capital to invest in Academic AST Institutions, limitations as to when tutoring services on academic subjects may be provided, and fee standards. On July 28, 2021, to further clarify the scope of academic subjects in China’s compulsory education system, the PRC Ministry of Education issued a notice (the “Notice”). The Notice specifies that academic subjects include the following courses provided in accordance with the learning content of the national curriculum standards: Morality and Law, Chinese Language, History, Geography, Mathematics, foreign languages (English, Japanese, and Russian), Physics, Chemistry and Biology. In accordance with the Guideline and the Notice, the Company currently assesses that its tutorial centers do not provide academic subjects in China’s compulsory education system and therefore are not subject to the above requirements and restrictions on Academic AST Institutions pursuant to the Guideline. (See “Regulations - Regulations Related to Private Education – 9. Guideline to Significantly Reduce the Excessive Burden of Homework and After-school Tutoring for Students in Primary and Middle Schools”). As of the date of this prospectus, the Guideline has not impacted the Company’s ability to conduct its business, accept foreign investments, or list on a U.S. or other foreign exchange; however, the Guideline may be expanded in the future to cover any aspect of our business or operations, which could materially and adversely impact our business and financial outlook. See “Risk Factors - Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC” and “Risk Factors - Risks Relating to Our Business.”
Our Class A Ordinary Shares may be prohibited to trade on a national exchange or over-the-counter in the United States under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditors for three consecutive years beginning in 2021. As a result, an exchange may determine to delist our securities. On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which, if signed into law, would decrease the number of non-inspection years for foreign companies to comply with PCAOB audits from three to two, thus reducing the time period before their securities may be prohibited from trading or delisted. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report on its determinations that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and in Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of the PRC, because of positions taken by PRC authorities in those jurisdictions (the “Determination”). Our auditor, Friedman LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this prospectus, is a PCAOB-registered public accounting firm headquartered in New York. Our auditor is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess auditor’s compliance with the applicable professional standards, and has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis. As such, as of the date of this prospectus, our auditor is not subject to the Determinations and our offering is not affected by the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and related regulations. However, there is a risk that our auditor cannot be inspected by the PCAOB in the future. The lack of inspection could cause trading in our securities to be prohibited under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, and, as a result, Nasdaq may determine to delist our securities, which may cause the value of our securities to decline or become worthless. See “Risk Factors - Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC - The newly enacted Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act passed by the U.S. Senate, all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the PCAOB. These developments could add uncertainties to our offering and listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, and Nasdaq may determine to delist our securities if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor.”
Cash dividends, if any, on our Class A Ordinary Shares will be paid in U.S. dollars. We intend to keep any future earnings to finance the expansion of our business, and we do not anticipate that any cash dividends will be paid in the foreseeable future. As of the date of this prospectus, (1) no cash transfers nor transfers of other assets have occurred among the Company, its subsidiaries, and the former VIEs, (2) no dividends nor distributions have been made by a subsidiary or the former VIEs, and (3) the Company has not paid any dividends nor made any distributions to U.S. investors. For further details, please refer to “PROSPECTUS SUMMARY - Selected Condensed Consolidated Financial Schedule of Golden Sun Cayman and Its Subsidiaries and VIEs”, as well as the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this registration statement. Under the Cayman Islands law, a Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend on its shares out of either profit or share premium amount, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in the company being unable to pay its debts as they become due in the ordinary course of business. Under our current corporate structure, to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, Golden Sun Cayman Education Group Limited (“Golden Sun Cayman”) may rely on dividend payments from its PRC operating subsidiaries, Wenzhou Golden Sun Education Development Co., Ltd. (“Golden Sun Wenzhou”) and its subsidiaries, which may make distribution of such payments to Hongkong Jintaiyang International Education Holding Group (“Golden Sun Hong Kong”) and then to Golden Sun Cayman as dividends.
Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payment of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our PRC subsidiaries are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, subject to the condition that the remittance of such dividends outside of the PRC complies with certain procedures under PRC foreign exchange regulations, such as the overseas investment registrations by our shareholders or the ultimate shareholders of our corporate shareholders who are PRC residents. Approval from, or registration with, appropriate government authorities is, however, required where the RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to the Company only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. We are an “emerging growth company” as defined under the federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. Please read the disclosures beginning on page 10 of this prospectus for more information.
Following the completion of this offering, our largest shareholder, Mr. Xueyuan Weng, who is also the CEO and the chairman of the board of directors of the Company, will beneficially own approximately 60% of the aggregate voting power of our issued and outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option, or approximately 59% assuming full exercise of the over-allotment option. Mr. Weng will have the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted to our shareholders for approval, including the election of our directors and the approval of change in control transactions, with the exception of any special resolutions, as such term is defined in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company, that require passage by a majority of not less than two-thirds of shareholders who are eligible to vote. As such, we will be deemed a “controlled company” under Nasdaq Marketplace Rules 5615(c). However, even if we are deemed as a “controlled company,” we do not intend to avail ourselves of the corporate governance exemptions afforded to a “controlled company” under the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. See “Risk Factors” and “Management—Controlled Company.”
Per Class A Ordinary Share | Total Without Over-Allotment Option | Total With Over-Allotment Option | ||||||||||
Initial public offering price | $ | 4.5 | $ | 19,800,000 | $ | 22,770,000 | ||||||
Underwriter’s discounts(1) | $ | 0.42 | $ | 1,833,000 | $ | 2,085,450 | ||||||
Proceeds to our company before expenses(2) | $ | 4.08 | $ | 17,967,000 | $ | 20,684,550 |
(1) | See “Underwriting” in this prospectus for more information regarding our arrangements with the Underwriter. |
(2) | The total estimated expenses related to this offering are set forth in “Underwriting—Discounts and Expenses.” |
This offering is being conducted on a firm commitment basis. The Underwriter is obligated to take and pay for all of the Class A Ordinary Shares if any such Class A Ordinary Shares are taken. We have granted the Underwriter an option for a period of 45 days after the closing of this offering to purchase up to 15% of the total number of the Class A Ordinary Shares to be offered by us pursuant to this offering (excluding Class A Ordinary Shares subject to this option), solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts. If the Underwriter exercises the option in full, the total underwriting discounts payable will be $2,085,450 based on an assumed offering price of $4.5 per Class A Ordinary Share, and the total gross proceeds to us, before underwriting discounts and expenses, will be $20,684,550.
We have agreed to issue to the Underwriter share purchase warrants, exercisable from the date of commencement of sales of this offering for a period of five years after such date, to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares equal to 7.5% of the total number of Class A Ordinary Shares sold in this offering, exercisable at a per share price equal to 130% of the public offering price (the “Underwriter’s Warrants”). The registration statement of which this prospectus is a part also covers the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise thereof.
The Underwriter expects to deliver the Class A Ordinary Shares against payment as set forth under “Underwriting,” on or about [●], 2022.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc.
Prospectus dated [●], 2022.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
About this Prospectus
We and the Underwriter have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses prepared by us or on our behalf or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the Class A Ordinary Shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or where the person making the offer or sale is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is not permitted to make such offer or sale. For the avoidance of doubt, no offer or invitation to subscribe for Class A Ordinary Shares is made to the public in the Cayman Islands. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of the date on the front cover of the prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects may have changed since that date.
Conventions that Apply to this Prospectus
Unless otherwise indicated or the context requires otherwise, references in this prospectus to:
● | “Affiliated Entities” are to our subsidiaries, Golden Sun Shanghai (prior to the Reorganization) and Golden Sun Hong Kong, and their respective subsidiaries and schools, and to our VIEs (prior to the Reorganization); |
● | “China” or the “PRC” are to the People’s Republic of China, excluding Taiwan and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau for the purposes of this prospectus only; |
● | “Chongwen Middle School” are to Wenzhou City Longwan District Chongwen Middle School, which we controlled prior to the Reorganization via an entrustment agreement among Chongwen Middle School, Golden Sun Shanghai and Mr. Xueyuan Weng, as well as an Concerted Action Agreement among two of Chongwen Middle School’s sponsors and the representative of its employees; |
● | “Class A Ordinary Shares” are to our Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0005 per share; |
● | “Class B Ordinary Shares” are to our Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0005 per share; |
● | “compulsory education” are to the nine years of education mandated by the PRC, consisting of six years of primary education and three years of secondary education; |
● | “Double First Class University Plan” are to “The World First Class University” and “First Class Academic Discipline Construction” combined, a tertiary education development initiative designed by the PRC government in 2015 aiming to comprehensively develop elite Chinese universities and their individual faculty departments into world-class institutions by the end of 2050; |
● | “Gaokao” are to China’s standardized college entrance examination; |
● | “Golden Sun Cayman” are to Golden Sun Education Group Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands; |
● | “Golden Sun Hong Kong” are to the wholly owned subsidiary of Golden Sun Cayman, Hongkong Jintaiyang International Education Holding Group, a Hong Kong private limited company; |
● | “Golden Sun Shanghai” are to Shanghai Golden Sun Education Group Co., Limited, a Hong Kong private limited company, which was Golden Sun Cayman’s wholly owned subsidiary prior to the Reorganization; |
● | “Golden Sun Wenzhou” are to the wholly owned subsidiary of Golden Sun Hong Kong, Wenzhou Golden Sun Education Development Co., Ltd., a PRC limited liability company; |
● | “Gongyu Education” are to the wholly owned subsidiary of Golden Sun Wenzhou, Shanghai Golden Sun Gongyu Education Technology Co., Ltd., a PRC limited liability company; |
● | “Group” are to our Company and Affiliated Entities as a whole; |
● | “Hongkou Tutorial” are to a tutorial center operated by Xianjin Technology; previously, “Hongkou Tutorial” were to Shanghai Hongkou Practical Foreign Language Tutorial School, which ceased operation and transferred its existing business to Xianjin Technology in December 2021; |
● | “Hangzhou Jicai” are to Hangzhou Jicai Tutorial School Co., Ltd.; |
● | “Industry Report” are to the industry report of Frost & Sullivan International Limited commissioned by us entitled “Independent Market Study on China’s Non-English foreign Language Training and Zhongkao, Gaokao Training Market Study”, which is included hereto as Exhibit 99.4 of this registration statement; |
● | “Jicai Tutorial” are to Hangzhou Jicai and Shanghai Jicai, collectively, which schools are operated under one brand and under one management team, but each of Hangzhou Jicai and Shanghai Jicai are registered as separate legal entities in two different cities; |
ii
● | “Key Universities” are to universities in China that are included in Project 211, Project 985 and Double First Class University Plan and that receive a high level of support from the Chinese government; |
● | “Lilong Logistics” are to the wholly owned subsidiary of Golden Sun Wenzhou, Wenzhou Lilong Logistics Services Co., Ltd., a PRC limited liability company; |
● | “MOE” are to the Ministry of Education of the PRC; |
● | “partner-schools” are to high schools that Qingshang Education partners with to provide students on-site non-English foreign languages services; |
● | “Project 211” are to a project initiated in 1995 by the MOE with the intent of raising the research standards of high-level universities and cultivating strategies for socio-economic development; |
● | “Project 985” are to a project first announced in 1998 to promote the development and reputation of the Chinese higher education system by founding world-class universities in the 21st century, involving both national and local PRC governments allocating large amounts of funding to certain universities; |
● | “Ouhai Art School” are to Wenzhou City Ouhai District Art School, which we controlled prior to the Reorganization via a series of contractual arrangements between Ouhai’s shareholders and Golden Sun Wenzhou; |
● | “Qinshang Education” are to the wholly owned subsidiary of Golden Sun Wenzhou, Zhouzhi Culture, Shanghai Qinshang Education Technology Co., Ltd., a PRC limited liability company; |
● | “secondary schools” are to middle and high schools; |
● | “Shanghai Jicai” are to Shanghai Yangpu District Jicai Tutorial School; |
● | “shares,” “Shares,” or “Ordinary Shares” are to the ordinary shares of Golden Sun Cayman, par value $0.0005 per share and. conditioned upon and effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, collectively, our Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares; |
● | “U.S. dollars,” “$,” and “dollars” are to the legal currency of the United States; |
● | “VIE” are to variable interest entity; |
● | “VIEs” are to the former variable interest entities, Ouhai Art School and Chongwen Middle School; |
● | “we,” “us,” “our Company,” or the “Company” are to Golden Sun Cayman; |
● | “WFOE” are to wholly foreign-owned enterprise; |
● | “Xianjin Technology” are to Shanghai Xianjin Technology Development Co., Ltd., a PRC limited liability company; |
● | “Yangfushan Tutorial” are to Wenzhou City Ouhai District Yangfushan Culture Tutorial Center; |
● | “Yangtze River Delta” is a triangle-shaped megalopolis comprising areas of Shanghai, southern Jiangsu province and northern Zhejiang province; |
● | “Zhongkao” are to China’s standardized high school entrance examination; and |
● | “Zhouzhi Culture” are to the wholly owned subsidiary of Gongyu Education, Shanghai Zhouzhi Culture Development Co., Ltd., a PRC limited liability company. |
Unless the context indicates otherwise, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise by the Underwriter of its over-allotment option.
Unless expressly indicated herein to the contrary, all references to share amounts in this prospectus give retroactive effect to share consolidations, the last of which was effected on September 30, 2021.
Our business is conducted by our PRC operating subsidiaries, using Renminbi (“RMB”), the currency of China. Our consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars. In this prospectus, we refer to assets, obligations, commitments, and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements in U.S. dollars. These dollar references are based on the exchange rate of RMB to U.S. dollars, determined as of a specific date or for a specific period. Changes in the exchange rate will affect the amount of our obligations and the value of our assets in terms of U.S. dollars which may result in an increase or decrease in the amount of our obligations (expressed in dollars) and the value of our assets, including accounts receivable (expressed in dollars).
iii
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed information and financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. In addition to this summary, we urge you to read the entire prospectus carefully, especially the risks of investing in our Class A Ordinary Shares, discussed under “Risk Factors,” before deciding whether to buy our Class A Ordinary Shares.
We are not a Chinese operating company, but rather a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Our Class A Ordinary Shares offered in this prospectus are shares of our Cayman Islands holding company. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct our operations through our operating entities established in the PRC.
We are a leading provider of Spanish tutorial services in China in 2019, according to the Industry Report. Established in 1997 and headquartered in Shanghai, China, we have over twenty years of experience providing educational services that focus on the development of each of our student’s strengths and potential, and the promotion of life-long skills and interests in learning. Prior to the Reorganization, we operated one premium primary private school and one premium secondary private school through two VIEs, in addition to our current operations that include tutorial centers for children and adults, one educational company that partners with high schools to offer language classes to their students, and one logistics company that provides logistic and consulting services. . Since the Reorganization, we no longer operate primary or secondary private schools and no longer use a VIE structure.
Recent Development
The Reorganization
On September 1, 2021, the revised Implementing Regulation became effective. The revised Implementing Regulation prohibits private schools that provide compulsory education to be controlled by means of agreements or to enter into any transactions with any related parties. Until September 2021, the Company had controlled and received economic benefits from the VIEs, Ouhai Art School and Chongwen Middle School, two private schools that provide compulsory education, through a series of contractual arrangements (the “VIE Agreements”) to provide contractual exposure to foreign investment in Chinese-based companies, where Chinese law prohibits direct foreign investment in Chinese operating companies. In order to become compliant with the revised Implementing Regulation, in September 2021, the Company completed a reorganization to divest its operations of Ouhai Art School and Chongwen Middle School. Through the Reorganization, (1) the Company sold all of its shares in Golden Sun Shanghai (the entity that controls Chongwen Middle School through contractual arrangements); and (2) Golden Sun Wenzhou, one of the Company’s subsidiaries, terminated its VIE Agreements with Ouhai Art School. As a result of the foregoing, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries controls or receives economic benefits from any private schools that provide compulsory education, and, as of the date of this prospectus, we believe the Company and its subsidiaries are compliant with the revised Implementing Regulation. All discussions in this prospectus relating to the Company’s operation of Quhai Art School or Chongwen Middle School are provided for historical context only.
For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the revenues generated by the VIEs accounted for approximately 32% and 45% of our total revenue, respectively. The divestures of the VIEs, which represent a strategic shift that has a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results, triggers discontinued operations accounting in accordance with ASC 205-20-45, and resulted in the VIEs being considered as discontinued operations. The assets and liabilities related to the discontinued operations were retroactively classified as assets/liabilities of discontinued operation in the consolidated financial statements for the periods presented, while results of operations related to the discontinued operations were retroactively reported as income (loss) from discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements for the periods presented. Please refer to the financial statements included in this registration statement for more details.
1
Corporate Structure
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated on September 20, 2018. Exempted companies are Cayman Island companies conducting business mainly outside the Cayman Islands and, as such, are exempted from complying with certain provisions of the Companies Act (2021 Revision).
The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure upon completion of this offering based on a proposed number of 4,400,000 Class A Ordinary Shares being offered, assuming no exercise of the over-allotment, and 13,000,000 Ordinary Shares, including 8,970,000 Class A Ordinary Shares and 4,030,000 Class B Ordinary Shares, issued and outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. For more details on our corporate history, please refer to “Corporate History and Structure.”
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Primary and Secondary Education Services Provided by the VIEs prior to the Reorganization
Prior to the Reorganization, the VIEs, Ouhai Art School and Chongwen Middle School, operated premium primary and secondary private schools in China. Neither we nor our subsidiaries owned any equity interest in the VIEs. Instead, we controlled and received the economic benefits of the VIEs’ business operations through a series of contractual arrangements, also known as VIE Agreements. Under U.S. GAAP, the Company was deemed to have a controlling financial interest in, and be the primary beneficiary of, the VIEs, for accounting purposes, because pursuant to the VIE Agreements, the operations of the VIEs were solely for the benefit of the Company. As such, we consolidated the financial results of the VIEs in the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.
Tutorial Services
Our China-based subsidiary, Golden Sun Wenzhou, and its subsidiaries, operate tutorial centers in China. For fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, 90% and 88% of our total revenue (excluding revenues from discontinued operations) was generated from our tutorial centers, respectively. Each of our centers focuses on different groups of targeted students by offering different tutorial programs.
● | Yangfushan Tutorial offers a Gaokao repeater tutorial program to high school students who retake Gaokao. Yangfushan Tutorial is also entrusted to offer high school program education to students of the Central Radio & Television Secondary Specialized School located in Wenzhou City, China. |
● | Hongkou Tutorial offers various English and other foreign language tutorial programs and Gaokao and Zhongkao repeater tutorial programs to individual students as well as companies and other organizations. |
● | Jicai Tutorial offers non-English foreign language tutorial programs to individual students, companies and other organizations. |
Our programs offered to repeaters are specifically targeting the upcoming Gaokao or Zhongkao. As for foreign language tutoring, we offer English, Spanish, German, French and Japanese courses to students who intend to study abroad, individuals seeking jobs that require certain proficiency in these languages, and companies or organizations whose workers need to have certain proficiency in these languages.
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In addition to tutorial programs offered by our tutorial centers, Qinshang Education, our China-based subsidiary established in December 2019, partners with high schools to provide non-English foreign language (Spanish and French as secondary language) tutoring services to their students. As of March 2022, Qinshang Education worked with 62 partner-schools serving approximately 2,732 students in seven provinces in China. Revenue from Qinshang Education increased by approximately $4.4 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021, compared to the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. For the fiscal years 2021 and 2020, revenue generated by Qingshang Education accounted for 31.73%, and 4.74%, respectively, of our total revenue (excluding revenues from the discontinued operations). We believe that more Gaokao participants may choose non-English foreign language as a subject in Gaokao . Due to our strength and reputation in offering non-English foreign language courses to Gaokao participants, we expect Qinshang Education’s business to continue to grow in the near future
Revenues from providing tutorial programs at our tutorial centers and language training program, primarily consists of tutorial fees and, in some instances, of room and board fees as well.
Logistics and Consulting Services
Additionally, since December 2019, we started generating a small percentage of our revenue from providing logistics and consulting services through one logistics company, Lilong Logistics. As of the date of this prospectus, we have entered into service agreement with six customers. For the fiscal years 2021 and 2020, we generated $1,508,930 and $907,508 in revenue from providing logistic and consulting services.
Our Geographic Coverage
Our tutorial centers span over four locations across Wenzhou city and Hangzhou city in Zhejiang province, and Shanghai city, China. The following map illustrates the geographic locations of our tutorial centers, as well as high partner-schools that Qinshang Education provides on-site non-English foreign languages services, as of the date of this prospectus:
Our tutorial centers | ||
Our partner-schools |
Our Past Performance
The following discussion of our historical performance does not include revenues from the discontinued operations, which were divested as a result of the Reorganization.
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Revenue increased by approximately $7.3 million, or 94%, to approximately $15.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2021 from approximately $7.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2020. The increase in revenue was mainly due to an increase of approximately $6.7 million in tutorial services revenue in fiscal year 2021. Our net income was approximately $2.2 million for the year ended September 30, 2021, representing an increase of approximately $2.1 million from net income of approximately $0.05 million for the year ended September 30, 2020. We had a net income from continuing operation of approximately $1.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2021, and a net loss from continuing operation of approximately $0.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2020. The following table sets forth the breakdown of our revenue and net income for the year ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.
For the Fiscal
Year | For the Fiscal
Year September 30, | |||||||
Tutorial services | $ | 13,518,061 | $ | 6,827,677 | ||||
Logistic and Consulting Services | 1,508,930 | 907,508 | ||||||
Total revenues | 15,026,991 | 7,735,185 | ||||||
Net income (loss) from continuing operation | 1,306,360 | (145,568 | ) | |||||
Net income from discontinued operations | 855,040 | 200,489 | ||||||
Net income | $ | 2,161,400 | $ | 54,921 |
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, our revenue decreased to $7.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2020 from $8.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2019. Our net income amounted to approximately $0.05 million and $3.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. We had a net loss from continuing operation of approximately $0.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2020, and net income from continuing operation of approximately $1.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2019. The following table sets forth the breakdown of our revenue and net income for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.
For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020 | For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2019 | |||||||
Tutorial services | $ | 6,827,677 | $ | 7,927,196 | ||||
Logistic and Consulting Services | 907,508 | 482,868 | ||||||
Total revenues | 7,735,185 | 8,410,064 | ||||||
Net income (loss) from continuing operation | (145,568 | ) | 1,600,362 | |||||
Net income from discontinued operations | 200,489 | 1,908,897 | ||||||
Net income | $ | 54,921 | $ | 3,509,259 |
The PRC Education Industry
The education sector in China is fast evolving, highly fragmented and competitive, and is subject to government regulations. Currently, the Chinese education sector is going through a series of reforms and new laws and guidelines have been recently promulgated and released to regulate our industry.
Pursuant to the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Promotion of Privately-run Schools amended in 2016 and further amended in 2018, private schools are designated as for-profit and not-for-profit, and the main difference between a for-profit school and a not-for-profit school is whether the sponsor can obtain proceeds from school operation. The sponsor of a not-for-profit school shall not receive proceeds from school operation, and the cash surplus of the school shall be reinvested in the school for its operation. The sponsor of a for-profit private school may receive proceeds from school operation, and the cash surplus of the school shall be disposed of in accordance with the Company Law of the PRC (the “Company Law”) and other relevant laws and administrative regulations. Furthermore, the measures for the collection of fees by not-for-profit schools shall be formulated by the people’s government of various provinces, autonomous regions and centrally-administrated municipalities, and the charging criteria of for-profit schools are subject to market and shall be determined by the schools themselves. For the purposes of this law, among all of our operating entities that are established as “schools”, which require special permit and are subject to the regulations of local education bureaus, Hangzhou Jicai is registered as a for-profit school, while Yangfushan Tutorial and Shanghai Jicai are registered as not-for-profit schools. To date, local government regulations of Zhejiang and Shanghai, where our not-for-profit schools are located, have generally allowed school sponsors autonomy in school operations, including autonomy in pricing of tuition fees. Accordingly, local governments in Shanghai and Zhejiang have not directly interfered with the determination of pricing of tuition fees of our not-for-profit schools, and we are able to charge fees based on market conditions. As such, to date, the company’s business, operations and revenue have not been affected by the designation of “for-profit” or “not-for-profit”. For fiscal years 2020 and 2021, excluding revenues from the discontinued operations, we generated $1,389,770 and $6,453,117, or 18% and 43% of total revenues, from our “for-profit” entities, and $6,345,415 and $8,573,874, or 82% and 57% of total revenues, from our “not-for-profit” entities, respectively. However, if local governments start to impose restrictions on the charging criteria for the collection of tuition fees by not-for-profit schools, then the revenue of our not-for-profit schools could be negatively affected. See “Risk Factors – Risks Relating to Our Business – Our business and results of operations mainly depend on the level of tuition fees we are able to charge and our ability to maintain and raise tuition fees.”
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On September 1, 2021, the revised Implementing Regulation became effective. The Implementing Regulation prohibits private schools that provide compulsory education to be controlled by means of agreements or to enter into any transactions with any related parties. Until September 2021, the Company had controlled and received the economic benefits from two private schools that provide compulsory education through the VIE Agreements to provide contractual exposure to foreign investment in Chinese-based companies where Chinese law prohibits direct foreign investment in the Chinese operating companies. Under U.S. GAAP, the Company was deemed to have a controlling financial interest in, and be the primary beneficiary of, the VIEs for accounting purposes, because pursuant to the VIE Agreements, the operations of the VIEs were solely for the benefit of the Company, and the Company was deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIEs for accounting purposes and must consolidate the VIEs. In order to become compliant with the Implementing Regulation, in September 2021, the Company completed the “Reorganization and no longer uses a VIE structure. See “Prospectus Summary – Recent Development - The Reorganization” for more details of the Reorganization. The Reorganization has materially and adversely impacted our operations and future prospects, as these two private schools had represented a significant portion of our business and operations.
On July 24, 2021, the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council jointly issued the Guideline to Significantly Reduce The Excessive Burden of Homework and After-school Tutoring for Students in Primary and Middle Schools the (“Guideline”). The Guideline contains various requirements and restrictions related to after school tutoring services that teach academic subjects in compulsory education (“Academic AST Institutions”), including a requirement to register as a non-profit school, a prohibition on foreign ownership, a prohibition for listed companies on raising capital to invest in Academic AST Institutions, limitations as to when tutoring services on academic subjects may be provided, and fee standards. On July 28, 2021, to further clarify the scope of academic subjects in China’s compulsory education system, the PRC Ministry of Education issued a notice (the “Notice”). The Notice specifies that academic subjects include the following courses provided in accordance with the learning content of the national curriculum standards: Morality and Law, Chinese Language, History, Geography, Mathematics, foreign languages (English, Japanese, and Russian), Physics, Chemistry and Biology. In accordance with the Guideline and the Notice, the Company has determined that its tutorial centers do not presently provide academic subjects in China’s compulsory education system and, therefore, such tutorial centers are not subject to the above requirements and restrictions on Academic AST Institutions. (See “Regulations - Regulations Related to Private Education – 9. Guideline to Significantly Reduce the Excessive Burden of Homework and After-school Tutoring for Students in Primary and Middle Schools”). As of the date of this prospectus, the Guideline has not impacted the Company’s ability to conduct its business, accept foreign investments, or list on a U.S. or other foreign exchange; however, the Guideline may be expanded in the future to cover any aspect of our business or operations, which could materially and adversely impact our business and financial outlook.
For further discussion, please see “Risk Factors - Risks Relating to Our Business - New legislation or changes in the PRC regulatory requirements regarding private education have affected, and may further affect, our business operations and prospects materially and adversely.”
Approvals from the PRC Authorities to Issue Our Ordinary Shares to Foreign Investors
As of the date of this prospectus, our PRC counsel has advised us that we or our PRC subsidiaries (1) are not required to obtain approvals from any PRC authorities to issue our Ordinary Shares to foreign investors, (2) are not subject to approval requirements from the Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”), the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”), or any other entity to approve our operations, and (3) have not been denied such permissions by any PRC authorities. Nevertheless, 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 were 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.
The Cybersecurity Review Measures, which became effective on February 15, 2022, provides that, in addition to critical information infrastructure operators (“CIIOs”) that intend to purchase Internet products and services, data processing operators engaging in data processing activities that affect or may affect national security must be subject to cybersecurity review by the Cybersecurity Review Office of the PRC. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, a cybersecurity review assesses potential national security risks that may be brought about by any procurement, data processing, or overseas listing. The Cybersecurity Review Measures further requires that CIIOs and data processing operators that possess personal data of at least one million users must apply for a review by the Cybersecurity Review Office of the PRC before conducting listings in foreign countries. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not received any notice from any authorities identifying any of our PRC subsidiaries as a CIIOs or requiring us to go through cybersecurity review or network data security review by the CAC. We believe our PRC operations will not be subject to cybersecurity review by the CAC for this offering, because our PRC subsidiaries are not CIIOs or data processing operators with personal information of more than 1 million users. There remains uncertainty, however, as to how the Cybersecurity Review Measures will be interpreted or implemented and whether the PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, may adopt new laws, regulations, rules, or detailed implementation and interpretation related to the Cybersecurity Review Measures. For further details, see “Risk Factors – Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC - Recent greater oversight by the CAC over data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreign exchange, could adversely impact our business and our proposed offering.”
On December 24, 2021, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) released the "Regulations of the State Council on the Administration of the Overseas Issuance and Listing of Securities by Domestic Enterprises (Draft for Comment)" and "Administrative Measures for the Recordation of Overseas Issuance and Listing of Securities by Domestic Enterprises (Draft for Comment)" for public opinion, and if they become law, will require Chinese companies applying to list on overseas exchanges to report and file certain documents with the CSRC within three working days after submitting listing applications and subsequent amendments. Given the current PRC regulatory environment, it is uncertain whether we or our PRC subsidiaries will be required to obtain approvals from the PRC government to offer securities to foreign investors in the future, and whether we would be able to obtain such approvals. If we are unable to obtain such approvals if required in the future, or inadvertently conclude that such approvals are not required then the value of our Ordinary Shares may depreciate significantly or become worthless. See “Risk Factors - Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC - The Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business and may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which actions have recently resulted in a material change in our operations, as we had to divest our operation of Quhai Art School and Chongwen Middle School, and which actions could further impact our operations materially and adversely, and significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares to significantly decline or be worthless.”
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Dividends and Distributions
Under the Cayman Islands law, a Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend on its shares out of either profit or share premium amount, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in the company being unable to pay its debts due in the ordinary course of business. We intend to keep any future earnings to finance the expansion of our business, and we do not anticipate that any cash dividends will be paid in the foreseeable future. As of the date of this prospectus, (1) no cash transfer or transfer of other assets have occurred among the Company, its subsidiaries, and the former VIEs, (2) no dividends or distributions have been made by a subsidiary or the former VIEs, and (3) the Company has not made any dividends or distributions to U.S. investors.
Our PRC operating entities receive substantially all of our revenue in RMB. Under our current corporate structure, to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, Golden Sun Cayman may rely on dividend payments from its PRC operating subsidiaries, Golden Sun Wenzhou and its subsidiaries, which may make distribution of such payments to Golden Sun Hong Kong and then to Golden Sun Cayman as dividends.
Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payment of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our PRC subsidiaries are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, subject to the condition that the remittance of such dividends outside of the PRC complies with certain procedures under PRC foreign exchange regulations, such as the overseas investment registrations by our shareholders or the ultimate shareholders of our corporate shareholders who are PRC residents. Approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is, however, required where the RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions.
Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to the Company 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 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.
Cash dividends, if any, on our Class A Ordinary Shares will be paid in U.S. dollars. If we are considered a PRC tax resident enterprise for tax purposes, any dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10.0%. Pursuant to the Arrangement between Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, or the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, the 10% withholding tax rate may be lowered to 5% if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns no less than 25% of a PRC project. The 5% withholding tax rate, however, does not automatically apply and certain requirements must be satisfied, including without limitation that (a) the Hong Kong project must be the beneficial owner of the relevant dividends; and (b) the Hong Kong project must directly hold no less than 25% share ownership in the PRC project during the 12 consecutive months preceding its receipt of the dividends. In current practice, a Hong Kong project must obtain a tax resident certificate from the Hong Kong tax authority to apply for the 5% lower PRC withholding tax rate. As the Hong Kong tax authority will issue such a tax resident certificate on a case-by-case basis, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority and enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% under the Double Taxation Arrangement with respect to any dividends paid by Golden Sun Wenzhou to its immediate holding company, Golden Sun Hong Kong. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not applied for the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority. Golden Sun Hong Kong intends to apply for the tax resident certificate if and when Golden Sun Wenzhou plans to declare and pay dividends to Golden Sun Hong Kong.
PCAOB’s Determinations on Public Accounting Firms Headquartered in Mainland China and in Hong Kong
On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report on its determinations that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and in Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of the PRC, because of positions taken by PRC authorities in those jurisdictions (the “Determination”). Our auditor, Friedman LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this prospectus, is a PCAOB-registered public accounting firm headquartered in New York. Our auditor is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess auditor’s compliance with the applicable professional standards, and has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis, with the last inspection in June 2018. As such, as of the date of this prospectus, our auditor is not subject to the Determinations and our offering is not affected by the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and related regulations. However, there is a risk that our auditor cannot be inspected by the PCAOB in the future, and if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditors for three consecutive years beginning in 2021, our securities will be prohibited from trading on a national exchange or over-the-counter under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, and, as a result, Nasdaq may determine to delist our securities, which may cause the value of our securities to decline or become worthless. See “Risk Factors - Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC - The newly enacted Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act passed by the U.S. Senate, all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board of the United States. These developments could add uncertainties to our offering and listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, and Nasdaq may determine to delist our securities if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor.”
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Competitive Strengths
We believe that the following competitive strengths have contributed to our success and differentiated us from our competitors:
● | Unique niche in non-English foreign language education with significant market coverage; |
● | Well-positioned in the Gaokao repeater tutoring market in Wenhzou city; |
● | Consistent high-quality education with excellent teachers; and |
● | Strong management team with rich education experience. |
Growth Strategies
Our goal is to continuously promote and improve our position as a premium private education service provider in the Yangtze River Delta Region and a leading non-English foreign language, especially Spanish, tutoring services provider in the PRC. Specifically, we plan to implement the following strategies:
● | Continue to build our brand and reputation; |
● | Significantly expand our network of partner-schools nationwide to offer Spanish as second foreign language program; and |
● | Expand our tutorial centers through various measures and maximize synergies through integration of these entities. |
Summary of Risk Factors
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, investing in our Class A Ordinary Shares involves significant risks. All of our revenues were generated by our PRC operating entities. You should carefully consider all of the information in this prospectus before making an investment in our Class A Ordinary 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 Relating to Our Business
● | We face intense competition in the PRC education sector, which could lead to adverse pricing pressure, reduced operating margins, loss of market share, departure of qualified teachers and increasing capital expenditure. |
● | New legislation or changes in the PRC regulatory requirements regarding private education have affected, and may further affect, our business operations and prospects materially and adversely. |
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● | Our business and results of operations mainly depend on the level of tuition fees we are able to charge and our ability to maintain and raise tuition fees. |
● | We face risks related to health epidemics, natural disasters, or terrorist attacks in China. |
● | Our business is heavily dependent on the reputation of our tutorial services. |
● | We may fail to continue to attract and retain students in our tutorial centers. |
● | If we are not able to continue to secure agreements with some or all of our existing partner-schools, or secure new agreements with additional partner-schools for our non-English foreign language program, our results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected. |
● | We may fail to continue to attract and retain teachers and we may not be able to maintain consistent teaching quality throughout our schools and tutorial centers. |
Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC
● | You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments, or bringing actions in China against us or our management named in the prospectus based on foreign laws. It may also be difficult for you or overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China. |
● | Changes in China’s economic, political, or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations. |
● | PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries, limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits to us, or may otherwise adversely affect us. |
● | The Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business and may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which actions have recently resulted in a material change in our operations, as we had to divest our operation of Quhai Art School and Chongwen Middle School, and which actions could further impact our operations materially and adversely, and significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares to significantly decline or be worthless. |
● | There are uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws and rules and regulations in China, which can change quickly with little advance notice, and there is a risk that the Chinese government may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas, which changes could materially and adversely affect our business and impede hinder our ability to offer or continue our operations, and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless. |
● | There are uncertainties under the PRC Securities Law relating to the procedures and requisite timing for the U.S. securities regulatory agencies to conduct investigations and collect evidence within the territory of the PRC. |
● | The newly enacted Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act passed by the U.S. Senate, all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board of the United States (the “PCAOB”). These developments could add uncertainties to our offering and listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, and Nasdaq may determine to delist our securities if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor. |
● | Recent greater oversight by the CAC over data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreign exchange, could adversely impact our business and proposed offering. |
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Risks Relating to this Offering and the Trading Market
● | There has been no public market for our Class A Ordinary Shares prior to this offering, and you may not be able to resell our Class A Ordinary Shares at or above the price you pay for them, or at all. |
● | You will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of Class A Ordinary Shares purchased. |
● | We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future. |
● | Because we are a foreign private issuer and are exempt from certain Nasdaq corporate governance standards applicable to U.S. issuers, you will have less protection than you would have if we were a domestic issuer. |
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at Profit Huiyin Square North Building, Huashan 2018, Unit 1001, Xuhui District, Shanghai, PRC, and our phone number is +86-0577-56765303. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at Vistra (Cayman) Limited, P.O. Box 31119 Grand Pavilion, Hibiscus Way, 802 West Bay Road, Grand Cayman, KY1 – 1205, Cayman Islands, and the phone number of our registered office is +1-345-769 9372. Our agent for service is Cogency Global Inc. located at 122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10168. We maintain a corporate website at http://www.jtyjyjt.com. The information contained in, or accessible from, our website or any other website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.
Implications of Our Being an “Emerging Growth Company”
As a company with less than $1.07 billion in revenue during our last fiscal year, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the “JOBS Act.” An “emerging growth company” may take advantage of reduced reporting requirements that are otherwise applicable to larger public companies. In particular, as an emerging growth company, we:
● | may present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, or “MD&A;” | |
● | are not required to provide a detailed narrative disclosure discussing our compensation principles, objectives and elements and analyzing how those elements fit with our principles and objectives, which is commonly referred to as “compensation discussion and analysis”; | |
● | are not required to obtain an attestation and report from our auditors on our management’s assessment of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; | |
● | are not required to obtain a non-binding advisory vote from our shareholders on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements (commonly referred to as the “say-on-pay,” “say-on frequency” and “say-on-golden-parachute” votes); | |
● | are exempt from certain executive compensation disclosure provisions requiring a pay-for-performance graph and CEO pay ratio disclosure; |
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● | are eligible to claim longer phase-in periods for the adoption of new or revised financial accounting standards under §107 of the JOBS Act; and | |
● | will not be required to conduct an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting until our second annual report on Form 20-F following the effectiveness of our initial public offering. |
We intend to take advantage of all of these reduced reporting requirements and exemptions, including the longer phase-in periods for the adoption of new or revised financial accounting standards under §107 of the JOBS Act. Our election to use the phase-in periods may make it difficult to compare our financial statements to those of non-emerging growth companies and other emerging growth companies that have opted out of the phase-in periods under §107 of the JOBS Act.
Under the JOBS Act, we may take advantage of the above-described reduced reporting requirements and exemptions until we no longer meet the definition of an emerging growth company. The JOBS Act provides that we would cease to be an “emerging growth company” at the end of the fiscal year in which the fifth anniversary of our initial sale of common equity pursuant to a registration statement declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) occurred, if we have more than $1.07 billion in annual revenue, have more than $700 million in market value of our Ordinary Share held by non-affiliates, or issue more than $1 billion in principal amount of non-convertible debt over a three-year period.
Foreign Private Issuer Status
We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). As such, we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to United States domestic public companies. For example:
● | we are not required to provide as many Exchange Act reports, or as frequently, as a domestic public company; | |
● | for interim reporting, we are permitted to comply solely with our home country requirements, which are less rigorous than the rules that apply to domestic public companies; | |
● | we are not required to provide the same level of disclosure on certain issues, such as executive compensation; | |
● | we are exempt from provisions of Regulation FD aimed at preventing issuers from making selective disclosures of material information; | |
● | we are not required to comply with the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents, or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; and | |
● | we are not required to comply with Section 16 of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their share ownership and trading activities and establishing insider liability for profits realized from any “short-swing” trading transaction. |
Controlled Company
Upon completion of this offering, our CEO, Xueyuan Weng, will beneficially own approximately 60% of the aggregate voting power of our outstanding Ordinary Shares assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option, or 59% assuming full exercise of the over-allotment option. As a result, we will be deemed a “controlled company” for the purpose of the Nasdaq listing rules. As a controlled company, we are permitted to elect to rely on certain exemptions from the obligations to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including:
● | the requirement that our director nominees be selected or recommended solely by independent directors; and | |
● | the requirement that we have a nominating and corporate governance committee and a compensation committee that are composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the purposes and responsibilities of the committees. |
Although we do not intend to rely on the controlled company exemptions under the Nasdaq listing rules, we could elect to rely on these exemptions in the future, and if so, you would not have the same protection afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq.
11
Selected Condensed Consolidated Financial Schedule of Golden Sun Cayman and Its Subsidiaries and VIEs
The following disclosure includes historic references to the VIEs that have since been divested through the Reorganization; past financial performance should not, therefore, be relied upon for future financial forecasts. The following tables present selected condensed consolidated financial data of Golden Sun Cayman and its subsidiaries and VIEs for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, and balance sheet data as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, which have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for those periods. Golden Sun Cayman records its investments in its subsidiaries under the equity method of accounting. Such investments are presented in the selected condensed consolidated balance sheets of Golden Sun Cayman as “Investments in subsidiaries and VIEs” and the profit of the subsidiaries is presented as “Income for equity method investment” in the selected condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.
SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
For the Year Ended September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Golden Sun Cayman | Golden Sun Hong Kong | WFOE | PRC Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Continuing operations | Discontinued Operations (VIEs) | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 340,959 | $ | 15,026,991 | $ | (340,959 | ) | $ | 15,026,991 | $ | (a) | $ | 15,026,991 | |||||||||||||||
Cost of revenues | - | - | 178 | 6,210,494 | - | 6,210,672 | (a) | 6,210,672 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross profit | - | - | 340,781 | 8,816,497 | (340,959 | ) | 8,816,319 | (a) | 8,816,319 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | - | - | 905,144 | 6,027,853 | (68,445 | ) | 6,864,552 | (a) | 6,864,552 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from operations | - | - | (564,363 | ) | 2,788,644 | (272,514 | ) | 1,951,767 | (a) | 1,951,767 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Income from equity method investment | 1,978,553 | - | 1,958,639 | - | (3,937,192 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income from VIEs | - | 716,589 | 138,451 | - | (855,040 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income from continuing operations | - | - | - | - | - | 1,306,360 | - | 1,306,360 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income from discontinued operations | - | - | - | - | - | - | 855,040 | 855,040 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | 1,978,553 | 716,589 | 1,534,478 | 2,141,486 | (5,064,746 | ) | 1,306,360 | 855,040 | 2,161,400 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests | - | - | - | 182,847 | - | 182,847 | - | 182,847 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to the company | 1,978,553 | 716,589 | 1,534,478 | 1,958,639 | (5,064,746 | ) | 1,123,513 | 855,040 | 1,978,553 |
For the Year Ended September 30, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Golden Sun Cayman | Golden Sun Hong Kong | WFOE | PRC Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Continuing operations | Discontinued Operations (VIEs) | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 228,598 | $ | 7,506,587 | $ | - | $ | 7,735,185 | $ | (a) | $ | 7,735,185 | ||||||||||||||||
Cost of revenues | - | - | 134,326 | 3,941,065 | - | 4,075,391 | (a) | 4,075,391 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross profit | - | - | 94,272 | 3,565,522 | - | 3,659,794 | (a) | 3,659,794 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | - | - | 371,043 | 3,233,099 | - | 3,604,142 | (a) | 3,604,142 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from operations | - | - | (276,771 | ) | 332,423 | - | 55,652 | (a) | 55,652 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income for equity method investment | 42,011 | - | 131,796 | - | (173,807 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from VIEs | - | 550,977 | (350,488 | ) | - | (200,489 | ) | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) from continuing operations | - | - | - | - | - | (145,568 | ) | - | (145,568 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income from discontinued operations | - | - | - | - | - | - | 200,489 | 200,489 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | 42,011 | 550,977 | (508,966 | ) | 144,706 | (374,296 | ) | (145,568 | ) | 200,489 | 54,921 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests | - | - | - | 12,910 | - | 12,910 | - | 12,910 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to the company | 42,011 | 550,977 | (508,966 | ) | 131,796 | (374,296 | ) | (158,478 | ) | 200,489 | 42,011 |
(a) | For consolidation purpose, revenues, cost of revenues, gross profit, operating expenses and income from operations for Discontinued Operations (VIEs) omitted, since these numbers were not consolidated into the above mentioned line items in Consolidated Statement Of Income And Comprehensive (Loss) Income, instead, they were included in “Net income from discontinued operations”. |
12
SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Golden
Sun Cayman | Golden
Sun Hong Kong | WFOE | PRC Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Continuing operations | Discontinued Operations (VIEs) | Consolidated Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 17,597 | $ | 1,175,183 | $ | - | $ | 1,192,780 | $ | - | $ | 1,192,780 | ||||||||||||||||
Total current assets | 12,845 | - | 174,612 | 5,476,320 | (135,174 | ) | 5,528,603 | - | 5,528,603 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Investments in subsidiaries and VIEs | (7,566,778 | ) | - | (7,911,298 | ) | - | 15,478,076 | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total non-current assets | (7,566,778 | ) | - | (7,346,205 | ) | 557,669 | 15,462,591 | 1,107,277 | - | 1,107,277 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets | (7,553,933 | ) | - | (7,171,593 | ) | 6,033,989 | 15,327,417 | 6,635,880 | - | 6,635,880 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities | - | - | 1,649,847 | 9,670,674 | 2,955,841 | 14,276,362 | - | 14,276,362 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total deficit | (7,553,933 | ) | - | (8,821,440 | ) | (3,636,685 | ) | 12,371,576 | (7,640,482 | ) | - | (7,640,482 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and deficit | $ | (7,553,933 | ) | $ | - | $ | (7,171,593 | ) | $ | 6,033,989 | $ | 15,327,417 | $ | 6,635,880 | $ | - | $ | 6,635,880 |
As of September, 30, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Golden
Sun Cayman | Golden
Sun Hong Kong | WFOE | PRC Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Continuing operations | Discontinued Operations (VIEs) | Consolidated Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 418 | $ | 1,149,124 | $ | - | $ | 1,149,542 | $ | (b) | $ | 1,149,542 | ||||||||||||||||
Total current assets of discontinued operation | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2,352,590 | 2,352,590 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total current assets | - | - | 161,810 | 2,669,542 | (47,036 | ) | 2,784,316 | 2,352,590 | 5,136,906 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Investments in subsidiaries and VIEs | (7,115,156 | ) | 607,522 | (7,654,154 | ) | - | 14,161,788 | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total non-current assets of discontinued operation | - | - | - | - | - | - | 11,479,473 | 11,479,473 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total non-current assets | (7,115,156 | ) | 607,522 | (7,347,452 | ) | 537,355 | 14,147,088 | 829,357 | 11,479,473 | 12,308,830 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets | (7,115,156 | ) | 607,522 | (7,185,642 | ) | 3,206,897 | 14,100,052 | 3,613,673 | 13,832,063 | 17,445,736 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities of discontinued operation | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12,802,490 | 12,802,490 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities | - | - | 794,143 | 6,735,972 | 4,485,394 | 12,015,509 | 12,802,490 | 24,817,999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total deficit | (7,115,156 | ) | 607,522 | (7,979,785 | ) | (3,529,075 | ) | 9,614,658 | (8,401,836 | ) | 1,029,573 | (7,372,263 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and deficit | $ | (7,115,156 | ) | $ | 607,522 | $ | (7,185,642 | ) | $ | 3,206,897 | $ | 14,100,052 | $ | 3,613,673 | $ | 13,832,063 | $ | 17,445,736 |
(b) | For consolidation purpose, cash balance of $2,060,469 from Discontinued Operations (VIEs) omitted, since the cash balance was not consolidated into the line item in Consolidated Balance Sheets, instead, it was included in “Total current assets of discontinued operation”. |
INTER-COMPANY BALANCES
As of September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Golden
Sun Cayman | Golden
Sun Hong Kong | WFOE | PRC Subsidiaries | Discontinued Operations (VIEs) | Eliminations | Consolidated Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Due from WOFE | $ | - | $ | - | $ | $ | 122,329 | $ | - | $ | (122,329 | ) | $ | - | ||||||||||||||
Due to PRC Subsidiaries | - | - | (122,329 | ) | - | - | 122,329 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (122,329 | ) | $ | 122,329 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - |
As of September 30, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Golden
Sun Cayman | Golden
Sun Hong Kong | WFOE | PRC Subsidiaries | Discontinued Operations (VIEs) | Eliminations | Consolidated Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Due from WFOE | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 14,699 | $ | (14,699 | ) | $ | - | |||||||||||||
Due from VIEs | - | - | 61,735 | - | (61,735 | ) | - | |||||||||||||||||||||
Due to VIEs | - | - | (14,699 | ) | - | - | 14,699 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Due to PRC Subsidiaries | - | - | - | - | (61,735 | ) | 61,735 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (14,699 | ) | $ | 61,735 | $ | (47,036 | ) | $ | - | $ | - |
13
SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Year Ended September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Golden
Sun Cayman | Golden
Sun Hong Kong | WFOE | PRC Subsidiaries | Discontinued Operations (VIEs) | Eliminations | Consolidated Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | - | - | (433,380 | ) | (367,674 | ) | 832,947 | - | 31,893 | |||||||||||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | - | - | (1,817 | ) | (89,328 | ) | (121,471 | ) | - | (212,616 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | - | - | 452,218 | 5,230,447 | (7,686,234 | ) | - | (2,003,569 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Inter-company cash transactions: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Payment for service to WFOE | - | - | - | (39,941 | ) | (290,600 | ) | (330,541 | ) | - | ||||||||||||||||||
AR collection from VIEs | - | - | 290,600 | - | - | 290,600 | - | |||||||||||||||||||||
AR
collection from PRC Subsidiaries | - | - | 39,941 | - | - | 39,941 | - | |||||||||||||||||||||
Loan to PRC Subsidiaries | - | - | - | - | (199,708 | ) | 199,708 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Loan to WFOE | - | - | - | (121,361 | ) | - | 121,361 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Loan from VIEs | - | - | - | 199,708 | - | (199,708 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Loan repayment to VIEs | - | - | (15,362 | ) | - | - | 15,362 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Loan from PRC Subsidiaries | - | 121,361 | - | - | (121,361 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Loan repayment from WFOE | - | - | - | - | 15,362 | (15,362 | ) |
Golden
Sun Cayman | Golden Sun Hong Kong | WFOE | PRC Subsidiaries | Discontinued Operations (VIEs) | Eliminations | Consolidated Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (256,899 | ) | $ | 740,974 | $ | 1,024,501 | $ | - | $ | 1,508,576 | |||||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | - | - | (15,497 | ) | (319,583 | ) | (1,259,430 | ) | 14,270 | (1,580,240 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | - | - | 271,327 | (451,852 | ) | 215,442 | (14,270 | ) | 20,647 | |||||||||||||||||||
Inter-company cash transactions: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loan to VIEs | - | - | - | (59,962 | ) | - | 59,962 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Loan repayment to PRC Subsidiaries | - | - | - | - | (28 | ) | 28 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Loan to WFOE | - | - | - | - | (14,270 | ) | 14,270 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Loan from VIEs | - | - | 14,270 | - | - | (14,270 | ) | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Loan from WFOE | - | - | - | - | 59,962 | (59,962 | ) | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Loan repayment from VIEs | - | - | - | 28 | - | (28 | ) | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Capital contribution to PRC Subsidiaries | - | - | (14,270 | ) | - | - | 14,270 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Capital contribution from WFOE | $ | - | $ | - | $ | $ | 14,270 | $ | - | $ | (14,270 | ) | $ | - |
The roll forward schedule for Investment in subsidiaries and VIEs
Investment in subsidiaries and VIEs as of September 30, 2019 | $ | (6,822,979 | ) | |
Income for equity investments for the year ended September 30, 2020 | 42,011 | |||
Other comprehensive income | (334,188 | ) | ||
Investment in subsidiaries and VIEs as of September 30, 2020 | (7,115,156 | ) | ||
Income for equity investments for the year ended September 30, 2021 | 1,978,553 | |||
Other comprehensive income | (396,536 | ) | ||
Deemed distribution to shareholders | (2,020,794 | ) | ||
Due from related party for disposal of VIEs | (12,845 | ) | ||
Investment in subsidiaries and VIEs as of September 30, 2021 | $ | (7,566,778 | ) |
14
THE OFFERING
Class A Ordinary Shares offered by us | 4,400,000 Class A Ordinary Shares | |
Price per Class A Ordinary Share | We currently estimate that the initial public offering price will be in the range of $4 to $5 per Class A Ordinary Share. | |
Ordinary Shares outstanding prior to completion of this offering | 8,970,000 Class A Ordinary Shares; 4,030,000 Class B Ordinary Shares | |
Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after this offering |
17,400,000 Ordinary Shares including (i) 13,370,000 Class A Ordinary Shares and (ii) 4,030,000 Class B Ordinary Shares, assuming no exercise of the Underwriter’s over-allotment option and excluding 330,000 Class A Ordinary Shares underlying the Underwriter’s Warrants
18,060,000 Ordinary Shares including (i) 14,030,000 Class A Ordinary Shares and (ii) 4,030,000 Class B Ordinary Shares, assuming full exercise of the Underwriter’s over-allotment option and excluding 379,500 Class A Ordinary Shares underlying the Underwriter’s Warrants | |
Voting Rights |
Class A Ordinary Shares are entitled to one (1) vote per share.
Class B Ordinary Shares are entitled to five (5) votes per share.
Class A and Class B shareholders will vote together as a single class, unless otherwise required by law or our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Our CEO, Mr. Xueyuan Weng, is the sole holder of our Class B Ordinary Shares and will hold 59% to 60% of the total votes, depending on whether the Underwriter exercises its over-allotment option or not, for our issued and outstanding share capital following the completion of this offering and will have the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted to our shareholders for approval, including the election of our directors and the approval of change in control transactions, with the exception of any special resolutions, as such term is defined in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company, that are required to be passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of shareholders who are eligible to vote. See the sections titled “Principal Shareholders” and “Description of Share Capital” for additional information. | |
Over-Allotment Option |
We have granted to the Underwriter an option, exercisable within 45 days from the closing of this offering, to purchase up to an additional 15% of the total number of the Class A Ordinary Shares offered by us at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts. | |
Underwriter’s Warrants | We have agreed to issue to the Underwriter share purchase warrants, exercisable from the date of commencement of sales of this offering for a period of five years after such date, to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares equal to 7.5% of the total number of Class A Ordinary Shares sold in this offering, exercisable at a per share price equal to 130% of the public offering price. | |
Listing | We have applied to have our Class A Ordinary Shares listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. | |
Nasdaq Capital Market symbol | “GSUN” reserved | |
Transfer Agent | Transhare Corporation | |
Use of proceeds | We intend to use the proceeds from this offering to invest in (1) research and development for artificial intelligence online courses related to non-English foreign language for Gaokao, and the expansion of the school network for non-English foreign language for Gaokao, (2) the acquisitions of schools and tutorial centers, (3) the recruitment and retention of teachers and management personnel, and (4) for working capital and other general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” on page 50 for more information. | |
Lock-up | Each of our directors and officers and our principal shareholders (5% or more shareholders) has agreed with the Underwriter, subject to certain exceptions, not to sell, transfer, or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of our Ordinary Shares or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our Ordinary Shares for a period of 180 or 365 days, as applicable, beginning on the date of the effectiveness of this offering. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” and “Underwriting” for more information. | |
Risk factors | The Class A Ordinary Shares offered hereby involve a high degree of risk. You should read “Risk Factors,” beginning on page 16 for a discussion of factors to consider before deciding to invest in our Class A Ordinary Shares. |
15
An investment in our Class A Ordinary Shares involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our Class A Ordinary Shares, you should consider carefully the risks described below, together with all of the other information set forth in this prospectus, including the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow could be materially and adversely affected, which could cause the trading price of our Class A Ordinary Shares to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. The risks described below and discussed in other parts of this prospectus are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business. You should only consider investing in our Class A Ordinary Shares if you can bear the risk of loss of your entire investment.
Risks Relating to Our Business
We face intense competition in the PRC education sector, which could lead to adverse pricing pressure, reduced operating margins, loss of market share, departure of qualified teachers and increasing capital expenditure.
The education sector in China is fast evolving, highly fragmented and competitive, and we expect competition in this sector to continue and intensify. Furthermore, education institutions’ performance is highly sensitive to demographic changes in China. Student enrollment in primary and secondary education in China can be substantially affected by PRC government policies on family planning. In Zhejiang province and Shanghai, where most of our operations are located, we face intense competition and pricing pressure. Our competitors may adopt similar or better curricula, student support services and marketing strategies, with more appealing pricing and service packages than what we are able to offer. In addition, some of our competitors may have more resources than we do and may be able to dedicate greater resources than we can to school development and promotion and respond more quickly than we can to changes in student demand, market needs and/or new technologies. As such, we may need to lower our tuition fees, or increase our spending in order to be competitive by retaining or attracting students and qualified teachers or identifying and pursuing new market opportunities. Although we are currently leading in providing non-English foreign language courses in the PRC, according to the Industry Report, we cannot assure you that there will not be new competitors in the field that replicate our business model or offer similar services to our target partnering schools and their students. If we are unable to successfully compete for new students or partners, maintain or increase our fee levels, attract and retain qualified teachers or other key personnel, enhance the quality of our educational services or control the costs of our operations, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
Our business and results of operations mainly depend on the level of tuition fees we are able to charge and our ability to maintain and raise tuition fees.
The amount of tuition fees we are able to charge represents one of the most significant factors affecting our profitability. The majority of our revenues are derived from fees from our tutorial centers. Our fees have been determined based on demand for our educational programs and training courses, the cost of our operations, the geographic markets in which we operate our business, the fees charged by our competitors, our pricing strategy to gain market share and the general economic conditions in China and in the areas in which our tutorial centers are located, subject to applicable approvals by local government according to the nature of the private schools, e.g., for-profit or not-for-profit. Pursuant to the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Promotion of Privately-run Schools amended in 2016 and further amended in 2018, the measures for the collection of fees by not-for-profit schools shall be formulated by local government of various provinces, autonomous regions and centrally-administrated municipalities. The company’s business, operations and revenue have not been affected, because local government regulations of Zhejiang and Shanghai, where our not-for-profit schools are located, have generally allowed school sponsors autonomy in running schools, including autonomy in pricing of tuition fees, and as a result we are able to charge tuition fees based on market conditions; the charging criteria of for-profit private schools are subject to market and shall be determined by the schools themselves. For the purposes of this law, among our operating entities that are established as schools, Hangzhou Jicai is a for-profit private school, while Yangfushan Tutorial and Shanghai Jicai are not-for-profit schools. There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain or raise the fee levels we charge in the future due to various reasons, many beyond our control, such as failure to obtain necessary approvals for fee increases, and even if we are able to maintain or raise fees, we are unsure how our fee rates will impact the number of student applications and enrollment. Our business, financial position and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected if we fail to maintain or raise our fees while attracting sufficient students.
16
We face risks related to health epidemics, natural disasters, or terrorist attacks in China.
China and elsewhere worldwide have recently experienced and, in some parts of the world, including the U.S., are still experiencing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, a disease caused by a novel and highly contagious form of coronavirus. The pandemic resulted in travel restrictions, massive closure of businesses and schools, and quarantine measures imposed by governments across the world. Because substantially all of our operations are conducted in China and our students had to remain home from January to early April, 2020. Although we implemented measures to proactively respond to the situation by training our teachers to adapt to remote teaching, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a disruption to our tutorial business. In April 2020, we resumed in-person teaching across our schools and tutorial centers, without substantial negative impact on the attendance of our teachers and students. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the economy in China and worldwide, we currently are unable to predict the duration and severity of the spread of COVID-19, the responses thereto, and their impact on our business and operations, our results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and liquidity, as these depend on rapidly evolving developments, which are highly uncertain and will be a function of factors beyond our control. Such factors include, among others, the continued spread or recurrence of contagion, the implementation of effective preventative and containment measures, the development of effective medical solutions, and the extent to which governmental restrictions on travel, public gatherings, mobility and other activities remain in place or are augmented.
Additionally, our business could be materially and adversely affected by natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, tornados and tsunamis, and other outbreaks of health epidemics such as avian influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, and Influenza A virus, such as H5N1 subtype and H5N2 subtype flu viruses, as well as terrorist attacks, other acts of violence or war or social instability in the region in which we operate or those generally affecting China. If any of these occur, our schools and facilities may be required to temporarily or permanently close and our business operations may be suspended or terminated. Our students, teachers and staff may also be negatively affected by such event. Our physical facilities may also be affected. In addition, any of these could adversely affect the Chinese economy and demographics of the affected region, which could cause significant declines in the number of our students in that region and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business is heavily dependent on the reputation of our tutorial services.
Our ability to maintain our reputation depends on a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control. As we continue to grow and adapt our programs and services to the demand of our students, it may become difficult to maintain the quality and consistency of the services we offer, which may lead to diminishing confidence in our brand names.
Numerous factors can potentially impact the reputation of our tutorial services, including but not limited to, the degree of students’ and their parents’ satisfaction with our curriculum, our teachers and teaching quality, teacher or student scandals, negative press, interruptions to our services, failure to pass inspections by government educational authorities, loss of certifications and approvals that enable us to operate our tutorial centers and other businesses in the manner they are currently operated, and unaffiliated parties using our brands without adhering to our standards. Any negative impact on the reputation of one or more of our tutorial centers or businesses may lead to a decrease in students’ or their parents’ interest in our tutorial services or lead to termination of our cooperation with our partner-schools, which would materially and adversely affect our business.
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We have established and developed our student base primarily through a variety of marketing methods. However, we cannot assure you that these marketing efforts will be successful or sufficient in further promoting our brands or in helping us to maintain our competitiveness. If we are unable to further enhance our reputation and increase market awareness of our programs or services, or if we need to incur excessive marketing and promotional expenses in order to remain competitive, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. If we are unable to maintain or strengthen our reputation and brand recognition, we may not be able to maintain or increase student enrollment, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
We may fail to continue to attract and retain students in our tutorial centers.
The success of our business largely depends on the number of students enrolled in our tutorial centers, as well as on the amount of fees our students and/or parents are willing to pay. Therefore, our ability to continue to attract students to enroll in our tutorial centers is critical to the continued success and growth of our business. The success of our efforts to enroll students will depend on several factors, including without limitation our ability to:
● | enhance existing programs to respond to market changes and student demands; |
● | develop new programs that appeal to our students; |
● | expand our geographic reach; |
● | manage our growth while maintaining the consistency of our teaching quality; |
● | effectively market our tutorial centers and programs to a broader base of prospective students; and |
● | respond to the increasing competition in the market. |
In addition, local and provincial government authorities may restrict our ability to provide tutorial services, andour business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected if we cannot maintain or increase our enrollment.
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If we are not able to continue to secure agreements with some or all of our existing partner-schools, or secure new agreements with additional partner-schools for our non-English foreign language program, our results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
In December 2019, we started offering our non-English foreign language program by partnering with high schools nationwide in China. We intend to continue to grow this segment of our business by actively seeking and partnering with more high schools and by expanding to various parts of China. Typically, our agreements with these partner-schools are for three years, and these schools are not obligated to renew their existing agreements with us. If any of our current partner-schools discontinue our services, we cannot assure you that we will be able to timely secure service agreements with other schools to replace the lost revenue, if at all, and therefore, our results of operations and financial condition may be affected.
Our tutorial centers offer refunds to students who withdraw from enrollment within a certain predetermined period, and we cannot assure you that our estimates of refund will be accurate, or that such refunds will remain insignificant to our results of operations and our financial condition.
For our tutorial centers, we generally offer refunds for any remaining classes to students who decide to withdraw from a course within the predetermined period in the education contract the student enters into with the relevant school or center. The refund is limited to the amount of fees that would be charged for any undelivered classes. Refund liability estimates are based on a historical refund ratio on a portfolio basis using the expected value method. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, refund liability amounted to $348,472 and $246,935, respectively. The refund amount is currently insignificant to our results of operations and our financial condition. However, we cannot assure you that our estimates of refund will be accurate. Additionally, we cannot assure you that such refunds will remain insignificant to our results of operations and our financial condition.
We may fail to continue to attract and retain teachers and we may not be able to maintain consistent teaching quality throughout our schools and tutorial centers.
Our teachers are critical to maintaining and improving the quality of our tutorial services, and to supporting the expansion of our services. We must continue to attract qualified teachers who have strong command of their subject areas and who meet our qualifications. Currently, there is a limited number of teachers in China with the necessary experience, expertise and qualifications that meet our requirements. We also have to provide competitive compensation packages to attract and retain qualified teachers.
The annual retention rate of our teachers as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, was 73.8% and 80.4%, respectively. “Retention rate” is calculated as 100% minus the quotient of the number of teachers who cease being employed during the period by the number of teachers at the beginning of that period (not including teachers hired during that period). Shortages of qualified teachers, or significant decreases in the quality of our tutorial services, whether actual or perceived in one or more of our partner-schools or tutorial centers, may have a material and adverse effect on our business and our reputation. In addition, we may not be able to hire or retain enough qualified teachers to maintain consistent teaching quality. Further, any significantly increase in teacher salaries may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Our historical results may not be indicative of our future performance.
Our financial condition and results of operations may fluctuate due to a number of other factors, such as expansion and related costs in a given period, our ability to maintain and increase our profitability and to enhance our operational efficiency, increased competition and market perception and acceptance of any newly introduced educational programs in any given year. In addition, while we plan to further expand our network of partner-schools and tutorial centers, there is no guarantee that we will be able to do so successfully. Furthermore, we may not be successful in continuing to increase the number of students admitted to our programs.
We may not grow in future periods, and we may not achieve profitability on a quarterly or annual basis in the future. Our historical results, growth rates and profitability may not be indicative of our future performance. Our ordinary shares could be subject to significant price volatility should our earnings fail to meet the expectations of the investment community. Any of these events could cause the price of our ordinary shares to materially decrease.
We may not be able to successfully execute our growth strategies or effectively manage our growth, which may hinder our ability to capitalize on new business opportunities.
Managing and supporting our growth strategies require substantial management time and know-how, as well as the commitment of significant resources and expenditure. If any of these elements are not fulfilled, we may not be able to grow or effectively and efficiently manage the growth of our operations. Any failure to effectively and efficiently manage our resources may materially and adversely affect our ability to capitalize on new business opportunities, which in turn may have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.
We plan to leverage our existing operations and resources to further expand our network of partner schools and tutorial centers. In addition, we plan to explore acquisition opportunities. We may not succeed in executing our growth strategies due to a number of factors, including failure to do any of the following:
● | identify cities with sufficient growth potential in which we can establish new partner schools; |
● | identify suitable acquisition targets; |
● | establish cooperation with partners; |
● | effectively execute our expansion plans; |
● | acquire or lease suitable land sites in the cities in which we plan to expand our operations; |
● | obtain government support in cities where we already have schools or in cities or areas in which we plan to expand our operations; |
● | effectively market our tutorial services in new markets or promote ourselves in existing markets; |
● | replicate our successful growth model in new markets or new geographical locations outside of Zhejiang province and Shanghai city area; |
● | obtain the requisite licenses and permits from the authorities necessary to open tutorial centers at our desired locations; |
● | continue to enhance our course materials or adapt our course materials to changing student needs and teaching methods; and |
● | achieve the benefits we expect from our expansion. |
If we fail to successfully execute our growth strategies, we may not be able to grow as expected, and as a result, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
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We are subject to taxation in multiple jurisdictions, which is complex and often requires making subjective determinations subject to scrutiny by, and disagreements with, tax regulators.
We are subject to many different forms of taxation in each of the countries and regions we form and/or conduct our business, of operation including, but not limited to, income tax, withholding tax, property tax, VAT and social security and other payroll-related taxes. Tax law and administration is complex, subject to change and varying interpretations and often requires us to make subjective determinations. In addition, we take positions in the course of our business with respect to various tax matters, including in connection with our operations. Tax authorities worldwide are increasingly rigorous in their scrutiny of corporate tax structures and may not agree with the determinations that are made, or the positions taken, by us with respect to the application of tax law. Such disagreements could result in lengthy legal disputes, an increased overall tax rate applicable to us and, ultimately, in the payment of substantial amounts of tax, interest and penalties, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
An uncertain tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. Penalties and interest incurred related to underpayment of income tax are classified as income tax expense in the period incurred. No significant penalties or interest relating to income taxes have been incurred for the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.
According to PRC taxation regulation, if tax has not been fully paid, tax authorities may impose tax and late payment penalties within three years. In practice, since all of the taxes owed are local taxes, the local tax authority is typically more flexible and willing to provide incentives or settlements with local small and medium-size businesses to relieve their burden and to stimulate the local economy. There was no interest and penalty accrued as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, as the Company has not received any penalty or interest charge notice from local tax authorities. As of the date of this prospectus, the tax years ended December 31, 2016 through December 31, 2021 for the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs remain open for statutory examination by PRC tax authorities.
We are subject to various approvals, licenses, permits, registrations and filings for our education and other services in the PRC.
In order to conduct and operate our education business, we are required to obtain and maintain various approvals, licenses and permits and to fulfill registration and filing requirements pursuant to applicable laws and regulations. For instance, to establish and operate a school, we are required to obtain a private school operation permit from the local education bureau and to register with the local civil affairs bureau to obtain a certificate of registration for a privately operated non-enterprise entity for not-for-profit private schools, or register with the local administration for industry and commerce for for-profit private schools.
Given the significant amount of discretion the local PRC authorities may have in interpreting, implementing and enforcing relevant rules and regulations, as well as other factors beyond our control, while we intend to use our best efforts to obtain all requisite permits and complete all necessary filings, renewals and registrations on a timely basis, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain all required permits. If we fail to receive any required permit in a timely manner or obtain or renew any permits and certificates, we may be subject to fines, confiscation of the gains derived from our noncompliant operations, suspension of our non-compliant operations, compensation payments for any economic loss suffered by our students or other relevant parties, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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New legislation or changes in the PRC regulatory requirements regarding private education have affected, and may further affect, our business operations and prospects materially and adversely.
The private education sector in China is subject to regulations in various aspects. Relevant rules and regulations could be amended or updated from time to time.
On April 7, 2021, the revised Implementation Rules for the Law for Promoting Private Education of the PRC, which regulates the establishment, organization and operation of private schools, teachers and educators, assets and financial management of schools, among other things, was promulgated and became effective on September 1, 2021. The revised Implementing Regulation prohibits private schools that provide compulsory education to be controlled by means of agreements or to enter into any transactions with any related parties. Until September 2021, the Company had controlled and received the economic benefits from two private schools that provide compulsory education through VIE Agreements, to provide contractual exposure to foreign investment in Chinese-based companies where Chinese law prohibits direct foreign investment in the Chinese operating companies. Under U.S. GAAP, the Company was deemed to have a controlling financial interest in, and be the primary beneficiary of, the VIEs for accounting purposes, because pursuant to the VIE Agreements, the operations of the VIEs were solely for the benefit of the Company, and the Company was deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIEs for accounting purposes and must consolidate the VIE. In order to become compliant with the Implementing Regulation, in September 2021, the Company completed a reorganization to divest its operations of these two private schools and no longer uses a VIE structure. See “Prospectus Summary – Recent Development – The Reorganization” for more details of the Reorganization. The Reorganization has materially and adversely impacted our operations and future prospects, as these two private schools had represented a significant portion of our business and operations.
On July 24, 2021, the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council jointly issued the Guideline, which contains various requirements and restrictions related to after school tutoring services, including registration as a non-for-profit school, a prohibition on foreign ownership, a prohibition for listed companies on raising capital to invest in businesses that teach academic subjects in compulsory education, limitations as to when tutoring services on academic subjects may be provided and new fee standards. On July 28, 2021, to further clarify the scope of academic subjects in China’s compulsory education system, the PRC Ministry of Education issued a notice (the “Notice”). The Notice specified that academic subjects include the following courses provided in accordance with the learning content of the national curriculum standards: Morality and Law, Chinese Language, History, Geography, Mathematics, foreign languages (English, Japanese, and Russian), Physics, Chemistry and Biology. In accordance with the Guideline and the Notice, the Company currently assesses that its tutorial centers do not provide academic subjects in China’s compulsory education system and, therefore, are not subject to the above requirements and restrictions. (See “Regulations - Regulations Related to Private Education – 9. Guideline to Significantly Reduce the Excessive Burden of Homework and After-school Tutoring for Students in Primary and Middle Schools (the “Guideline”). Nevertheless, the Guideline may be expanded in the future to cover any aspect of our business or operations. As of the date of this prospectus, there remain uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of the revised Implementing Regulations and Guideline, which could materially and adversely impact our business and financial outlook.
The Law on the Promotion of Private Schools of the PRC was amended in November 2016, which became effective on September 1, 2017, and the Decision on Amending the Law for Promoting Private Education of the PRC (the “Decision”) was further amended in December 2018. According to the Decision, private schools can be established as for-profit or not-for-profit schools, with the exception of schools that provide compulsory education, which can only be established as not-for-profit private schools. In addition, pursuant to the Decision, (i) school sponsors of for-profit private schools are allowed to receive the operating profits of the schools while the school sponsors of not-for-profit private schools are not permitted to do so; (ii) not-for-profit private schools shall enjoy the same preferential tax and supply of land treatment as public schools while for-profit private schools shall enjoy the preferential tax and supply of land treatment as stipulated by the government; and (iii) for-profit private schools have the discretion to determine the fees to be charged by taking into consideration various factors such as the school operating costs and market demand, and no prior approval from government authorities is required, while not-for-profit private schools shall collect fees pursuant to the measures stipulated by the local PRC government authorities. For details on the distinction between for-profit private schools and not-for-profit private schools under the amended Law on the Promotion of Private Schools of the PRC, please see “Regulations — Regulations Related to Private Education — Law for Promoting Private Education of PRC”. The amount of tuition fees we are able to charge represents one of the most significant factors affecting our profitability. As of the date of this prospectus, among all of our operating entities that are established as schools, Hangzhou Jicai is our only for-profit school, while Yangfushan Tutorial and Shanghai Jicai are not-for-profit schools. To date, local government regulations of Zhejiang and Shanghai, where our not-for-profit schools are located, have generally allowed school sponsors autonomy in school operations, including autonomy in pricing of tuition fees. Accordingly, local governments in Shanghai and Zhejiang have not directly interfered with the determination of pricing of tuition fees of our not-for-profit schools, and we are able to charge fees based on market conditions. As such, as of the date of this prospectus, the company’s business, operations and revenue have not been affected by the designation of “for-profit” or “not-for-profit” for private schools. However, if local governments start to impose restrictions on the charging criteria for the collection of tuition fees by not-for-profit schools, then the revenue of our not-for profit schools could be negatively affected. See “Risk Factors - Risks Relating to Our Business - Our business and results of operations mainly depend on the level of tuition fees we are able to charge and our ability to maintain and raise tuition fees.”
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On December 30, 2016, the Implementation Regulations for Classification Registration of Private Schools (the “Classification Registration Rules”) were promulgated by five PRC government authorities, and became effective on the same date. According to the Classification Registration Rules, existing private schools are required to choose to register either as not-for-profit or for-profit private schools with competent government authorities. If a school elects to register as a for-profit school, it is required to (i) undertake financial settlement, (ii) clarify the ownership of land, school premises and properties it accumulated during its operations, (iii) pay relevant taxes and fees, and (iv) obtain a new private school operation permit and re-register with relevant authorities. We are still unable to predict or estimate the potential costs and expenses in choosing and adjusting our structure. We may incur significant administration and financial costs when we choose to or we are required to complete the re-registration process, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. However, we cannot assure you that the implementation of the relevant rules and regulations by the competent authorities will not deviate from our understanding.
Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and enforcement of new and existing laws and regulations, including their interpretations and applications by the government authorities may impact any of our business operations. We cannot assure you that we will be in compliance with the new rules and regulations, or that we will be able to timely and efficiently change our business practices in line with the new regulatory environment. Any such failure could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
As we currently provide meal services at Yangfushan Tutorial, we may be exposed to potential liabilities if we cannot maintain food quality standards, which could adversely and materially affect our business.
As we provide meal services at Yangfushan Tutorial, we may be exposed to potential liabilities if we are not able to maintain food quality standards. Although we strive to maintain the quality of food we provide, we cannot assure you that we will always meet the food quality standards required by applicable laws and regulations or maintain proper operations of our canteens at Yangfushan Tutorial. Therefore, we cannot assure you that incidents and other issues caused by poor food quality will not occur in the future and, if we are unable to manage these incidents effectively, our teachers’ and students’ health could suffer and medical emergencies could potentially occur. Any of the foregoing could seriously damage our reputation and affect our student enrollment, which would have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Accidents or injuries suffered by our students, our employees or other personnel at our premises may adversely affect our reputation and subject us to liabilities.
We could be held liable for accidents or injuries or other harm to students or other people at our premises, including those caused by or otherwise arising in connection with our facilities or employees. We could also face claims alleging that we were negligent, did not adequately maintain our facilities or provided insufficient supervision to our students and therefore may be held liable for accidents or injuries suffered by our students or other people at our school premises. In addition, if any of our students or teachers commits any acts of violence, we could face allegations that we failed to provide adequate security or were otherwise responsible for his or her actions. Furthermore, in such events, our tutorial centers may be perceived to be unsafe, which may discourage prospective students from applying for or attending our tutorial centers. Although we maintain certain liability insurance, this insurance coverage may not be adequate to fully protect us from these kinds of claims and liabilities. Further, we may not be able to renew our insurance policies in the future at reasonable prices or at all. A liability claim against us or any of our employees could adversely affect our reputation and student enrollment and retention. Also, such claim may create unfavorable publicity, cause us to pay compensation, incur costs in defending such claim, and divert the time and attention of our management, all of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
We maintain limited insurance coverage.
We maintain various insurance policies such as liability insurance for all of our teachers and students to safeguard against risks and unexpected events. However, our insurance coverage is still limited in terms of amount, scope and benefit and we do not maintain property insurance for our buildings or premises, nor do we maintain business insurance for our operations. Consequently, we are exposed to various risks associated with our business and operations. We are nevertheless exposed to risks, including, but not limited to, accidents or injuries in our tutorial centers that are beyond the scope of our insurance coverage, fires, explosions or other accidents for which we do not currently maintain insurance, loss of key management and personnel, business interruption, natural disasters, strikes, terrorist attacks and social instability or any other events beyond our control. The insurance industry in China is still at an early stage of development. Insurance companies in China offer limited business-related insurance products. We do not have any business disruption insurance or key-man life insurance. Any business disruption, litigation or legal proceedings or natural disaster, such as epidemics, pandemics or earthquakes, or other events beyond our control could result in substantial costs and the diversion of our resources. Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected as a result.
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If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights or prevent the misappropriation of our intellectual property rights, we may lose our competitive edge and our brand, reputation and operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Unauthorized use of any of our intellectual property may adversely affect our business and reputation. We rely on a combination of trademark and trade secret laws to protect our intellectual property rights. Nevertheless, third parties may obtain and use our intellectual property without due authorization. The practice of intellectual property rights enforcement action by the PRC regulatory authorities is in its early stage of development and is subject to significant uncertainty. We may also need to resort to litigation and other legal proceedings to enforce our intellectual property rights. Any such action, litigation or other legal proceedings could result in substantial costs diversion of our management’s attention and resources and could disrupt our business. In addition, there is no assurance that we will be able to enforce our intellectual property rights effectively or otherwise prevent others from using our intellectual property without authorization. Failure to adequately protect our intellectual property could materially and adversely affect our brand name and reputation, and our business, financial condition and results of operations. We may face disputes from time to time relating to the intellectual property rights of third parties. We cannot assure you that materials and other educational content used in our educational programs do not or will not infringe the intellectual property rights of third parties. As of the date of this prospectus, we did not encounter any material claim for intellectual property infringement. However, we cannot assure you that in the future third parties will not claim that we have infringed their proprietary rights. Although we plan to defend ourselves vigorously in any such litigation or legal proceedings, there is no assurance that we will prevail in these matters. Participation in such litigation and legal proceedings may also cause us to incur substantial expenses and divert the time and attention of our management. We may be required to pay damages or incur settlement expenses. In addition, in case we are required to pay any royalties or enter into any licensing agreements with the owners of intellectual property rights, we may find that the terms are not commercially acceptable and we may lose the ability to use the related content or materials, which in turn could materially and adversely affect our educational programs and our operations. Any similar claim against us, even without any merit, could also hurt our reputation and brand image. Any such event could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.
Pursuant to PRC laws and regulations, we are required to participate in various employee social insurance plans, including pension insurance, unemployment insurance, medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, maternity insurance, and the housing provident fund, and contribute to these plans and fund at the levels specified by the relevant local government authorities from time to time at locations where we operate our business. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, we did not make full contributions to the social insurance plans as required under the relevant laws and regulations. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, we had outstanding social insurance payments payable in the aggregate amount of approximately $54,784 and $39,182, respectively. Although we have not received any notice from the relevant local government authorities regarding the outstanding contributions, we cannot assure you that the relevant local government authorities will not require us to pay the outstanding amount within a prescribed time or impose late fees or fines on us. A late fee of 0.05% per day and a fine of one to three times the outstanding amount may be imposed by the authority, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We have a limited history of operating some of our business lines.
We have been offering non-English foreign language programs via our tutorial centers but have only been offering non-English foreign language programs by partnering with high schools since December 2019. Additionally, we have only been offering logistics services since December 2019 via our newly established logistics company. Our limited history of operating part of our business may not serve as an adequate basis for evaluating our future prospects and operating results, including net revenue, cash flows and profitability.
Unauthorized disclosure or manipulation of student, teacher and other sensitive personal data, whether through breach of our network security or otherwise, could expose us to litigation or otherwise could adversely affect our reputation.
Maintaining our network security and internal controls over access rights is of critical importance because proprietary and confidential student and teacher information, such as names, addresses, and other personal information, is primarily stored in our computer database located at each of our tutorial centers. If our security measures are breached as a result of actions by third-parties, employee error, malfeasance or otherwise, third parties may receive or be able to access student or teacher records, which could subject us to liabilities, interrupt our business and adversely impact our reputation. Additionally, we run the risk that our employees or third parties could misappropriate or illegally disclose confidential educational information in our possession. As a result, we may be required to expend significant resources to provide additional protection from the threat of these security breaches or to alleviate problems caused by these breaches.
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We have limited sources of working capital, which have been primarily funded from operations, bank loans, and advances from shareholders, and we cannot assure you that our needs for additional financing will be met in the future
As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, we had cash of approximately $1.2 and $1.1 million, total current assets of approximately $5.5 million and $5.1 million and total current liabilities of approximately $12.6 million and $19.0 million, respectively. The Company has limited source of working capital and historically has funded its working capital needs primarily from operations, bank loans, and advances from shareholders, and intends to continue doing so in the near future. No assurance can be given that we will have revenues sufficient to sustain our operations or that we would be able to obtain equity/debt financing in the current economic environment, or we will be able to obtain any additional capital through operations, bank loans, and advances from shareholders, or any combination thereof, on satisfactory terms or at all. Additionally, no assurance can be given that any such financing, if obtained, will be adequate to meet our capital needs and to support our operations. If we do not obtain adequate capital on a timely basis and on satisfactory terms, our revenues and operations would be materially negatively impacted.
Mr. Xueyuan Weng, the CEO and controlling shareholder of the Company, has provided us with working capital in the form of non-interest bearing, unsecured and on demand loans, and we cannot assure you that these funds will always be available to us due to their on demand nature.
As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, the balance of the funds advanced by Mr. Xueyuan Weng, the CEO and controlling shareholder of the Company, for working capital, was $672,560 and $nil, respectively. These funds are non-interest bearing, unsecured and due upon demand. Although Mr. Weng signed a written commitment letter on January 28, 2021 to guarantee that he would not seek repayment of the balance of the funds as long as the Company needs these funds as working capital until 2025, we cannot assure you that Mr. Weng will abide by the terms of the commitment letter and we may have to repay the loan back to him when we still in need of working capital, which may negatively impact our operations and revenues.
Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC
Changes in China’s economic, political, or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.
Substantially all of our assets and operations are currently located in China. Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects may be influenced to a significant degree by political, economic, and social conditions in China generally. The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the level of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange, and allocation of resources. Although the Chinese government has implemented measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, including the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the government. In addition, the Chinese government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The Chinese government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth by allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy, and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.
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While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. Any adverse changes in economic conditions in China, in the policies of the Chinese government, or in the laws and regulations in China could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China. Such developments could adversely affect our business and operating results, reduce demand for our products, and weaken our competitive position. The Chinese government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy, but may have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations. In addition, in the past the Chinese government has implemented certain measures, including interest rate adjustments, to control the pace of economic growth. These measures may cause decreased economic activities in China, which may adversely affect our business and operating results.
Furthermore, we and our China based operating entities, as well as our investors, face uncertainty about future actions by the Chinese government that could significantly affect our financial performance and operations. Failure to take timely and appropriate measures to adapt to any of these or similar regulatory compliance challenges could materially and adversely affect our current corporate structure and business operations.
As of the date of this prospectus, there are no laws, regulations or other rules require our China based operating entities to obtain permission or approvals from Chinese authorities to list on U.S. exchanges, and neither we nor our China based operating entities have received or were denied such permission. However, there is a risk that we or our China based operating entities will not receive or be denied permission from Chinese authorities to list on U.S. exchanges in the future, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors and cause the value of our shares to significantly decline or be worthless.
There are uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws and rules and regulations in China, which can change quickly with little advance notice, and there is a risk that the Chinese government may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas, which could materially and adversely affect our business and hinder our ability to offer or continue our operations, and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Unlike common law systems, it is a system in which legal cases have limited value as precedents. There are uncertainties regarding the enforcement of PRC laws, and rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice. Any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas could materially and adversely affect our business and hinder our ability to offer or continue our operations, and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless. For example, the Chinese cybersecurity regulator announced on July 2, 2021 that it had begun an investigation of Didi Global Inc. (NYSE: DIDI) and two days later ordered that company’s app be removed from smartphone app stores. In December 2021, DIDI announced that it would delist from the New York Stock Exchange less than six months after its initial public offering.
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 an announcement 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 announcement 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 companies like us and our Class A Ordinary Shares.
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From time to time, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, however, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy in the PRC legal system than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published in a timely manner or at all) that may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such uncertainties, including uncertainties over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights, and any failure to respond to changes in the regulatory environment in China could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations, and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
Recent greater oversight by the CAC over data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreign exchange, could adversely impact our business and our proposed offering.
On December 28, 2021, the CAC, together with 12 other governmental departments of the PRC, jointly promulgated the Cybersecurity Review Measures, which became on February 15, 2022. The Cybersecurity Review Measures provides that, in addition to critical information infrastructure operators (“CIIOs”) that intend to purchase Internet products and services, data processing operators engaging in data processing activities that affect or may affect national security must be subject to cybersecurity review by the Cybersecurity Review Office of the PRC. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, a cybersecurity review assesses potential national security risks that may be brought about by any procurement, data processing, or overseas listing. The Cybersecurity Review Measures further requires that CIIOs and data processing operators that possess personal data of at least one million users must apply for a review by the Cybersecurity Review Office of the PRC before conducting listings in foreign countries.
On November 14, 2021, the CAC published the Security Administration Draft, which provides that data processing operators engaging in data processing activities that affect or may affect national security must be subject to network data security review by the relevant Cyberspace Administration of the PRC. According to the Security Administration Draft, data processing operators who possess personal data of at least one million users or collect data that affects or may affect national security must be subject to network data security review by the relevant Cyberspace Administration of the PRC. The deadline for public comments on the Security Administration Draft was December 13, 2021.
As of the date of this prospectus, we have not received any notice from any authorities identifying any of our PRC subsidiaries as a CIIOs or requiring us to go through cybersecurity review or network data security review by the CAC. We believe that our proposed listing in the U.S. will not be affected by the Cybersecurity Review Measures or Security Administration Draft, and our PRC operations will not be subject to cybersecurity review or network data security review by the CAC for this offering, because our PRC subsidiaries are not CIIOs or data processing operators with personal information of more than 1 million users. There remains uncertainty, however, as to how the Cybersecurity Review Measures and the Security Administration 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 Cybersecurity Review Measures and the Security Administration Draft. If any such new laws, regulations, rules, or implementation and interpretation come into effect, we will take all reasonable measures and actions to comply and to minimize the adverse effect of such laws on us. We cannot guarantee, however, that we will not be subject to cybersecurity review or network data security review in the future.
The Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business and may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which actions have recently resulted in a material change in our operations, as we had to divest our operation of Quhai Art School and Chongwen Middle School, and which actions could further impact our operations materially and adversely, and significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares to significantly decline or be worthless.
The Chinese government has exercised, and continues to exercise, substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. As a result of the revised Implementing Regulation, which became effective in September 2021, we had to divest our operation of Quhai Art School and Chongwen Middle School, which has materially and adversely impacted the results of our operations and future prospects. See “Risk Factors – Risks Relating to Our Business - New legislation or changes in the PRC regulatory requirements regarding private education have affected, and may further affect, our business operations and prospects materially and adversely”. Our ability to operate in China may be further harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to private education, taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future, including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms and to return to a more centrally planned economy or regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of any interest we then hold in Chinese properties.
Our business is subject to various government and regulatory interference. We could be subject to regulation by various political and regulatory entities, including various local and municipal agencies and government sub-divisions. The Company may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply. Our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to our business or industry, which could result in further material changes in our operations and could adversely impact the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
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Furthermore, given recent statements by the Chinese government indicating an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas, although we are currently not required to obtain permission from any of the PRC federal or local government and has not received any denial to list on the U.S. exchange, it is uncertain whether or when we might be required to obtain permission from the PRC government to list on U.S. exchanges in the future, and even if such permission is obtained, whether it will be later denied or rescinded, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors and cause the value of our shares to significantly decline or be worthless.
You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments, or bringing actions in China against us or our management named in the prospectus based on foreign laws. It may also be difficult for you or overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China.
As a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, we conduct a majority of our operations in China and a majority of our assets are located in China. In addition, all of our senior executive officers reside within China for a significant portion of the time and are PRC nationals. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect service of process upon those persons inside mainland China. It may be difficult for you to enforce judgements obtained in U.S. courts based on civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors, as none of them currently resides in the U.S. or has substantial assets in the U.S. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands or the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the U.S. or any state.
The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of written arrangement with the United States that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security, or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States. See “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities.”
It may also be difficult for you or overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information, documents, and materials needed for regulatory investigations or litigation outside China. Although the authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with its counterparts of another country or region to monitor and oversee cross border securities activities, such regulatory cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the Unities States may not be efficient in the absence of practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law, or “Article 177,” which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. Article 177 further provides that Chinese entities and individuals are not allowed to provide documents or materials related to securities business activities to foreign agencies without prior consent from the securities regulatory authority of the PRC State Council and the competent departments of the PRC State Council. While detailed interpretation of or implementing rules under Article 177 have yet to be promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within China may further increase difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests.
The newly enacted Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act passed by the U.S. Senate, all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board of the United States (the “PCAOB”). These developments could add uncertainties to our offering and listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, and Nasdaq may determine to delist our securities if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor.
On April 21, 2020, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton and PCAOB Chairman William D. Duhnke III, along with other senior SEC staff, released a joint statement highlighting the risks associated with investing in companies based in or have substantial operations in emerging markets including China. The joint statement emphasized the risks associated with lack of access for the PCAOB to inspect auditors and audit work papers in China and higher risks of fraud in emerging markets.
On May 18, 2020, Nasdaq filed three proposals with the SEC to (i) apply minimum offering size requirement for companies primarily operating in “Restrictive Market”, (ii) adopt a new requirement relating to the qualification of management or board of director for Restrictive Market companies, and (iii) apply additional and more stringent criteria to an applicant or listed company based on the qualifications of the company’s auditors.
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On December 18, 2020, the “Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act” was signed by President Donald Trump and became law. This legislation requires certain issuers of securities to establish that they are not owned or controlled by a foreign government. Specifically, an issuer must make this certification if the PCAOB is unable to audit specified reports because the issuer has retained a foreign public accounting firm not subject to inspection by the PCAOB. Furthermore, if the PCAOB is unable to inspect the issuer’s public accounting firm for three consecutive years beginning in 2021, the issuer’s securities are banned from trade on a national exchange or through other methods.
On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the “Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act”, which, if passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law by the President, would decrease the number of non-inspection years for foreign companies to comply with PCAOB audits from three to two years, thus reducing the time period before their securities may be prohibited from trading or delisted.
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 to determine whether it is unable to inspect or investigate registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction.
On December 2, 2021, The SEC adopted amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (HFCAA). The rules apply to registrants the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate.
On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report on its determinations that the Board is unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and in Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), because of positions taken by PRC authorities in those jurisdictions (the “Determination”). The Board made these determinations pursuant to PCAOB Rule 6100, which provides a framework for how the PCAOB fulfills its responsibilities under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (HFCAA).
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 to lose confidence in audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality of financial statements of China-based companies..
Our auditor, Friedman LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this prospectus, is headquartered in Manhattan, New York and registered with the PCAOB. Our auditor is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess our auditor’s compliance with the applicable professional standards, and has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis with the last inspection in June 2018. As such, as of the date of this prospectus, our auditor is not subject to the Determinations announced by the PCAOB and our offering is not affected by the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and related regulations. However, the recent developments would add uncertainties to our offering and we cannot assure you whether Nasdaq 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 related to the audit of our financial statements. Furthermore, there is a risk that our auditor cannot be inspected by the PCAOB in the future. The lack of inspection could cause trading in our securities to be prohibited on a national exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, and, as a result, Nasdaq may determine to delist our securities, which may cause the value of our securities to decline or become worthless.
Increases in labor costs in the PRC may adversely affect our business and our profitability.
China’s economy has experienced increases in labor costs in recent years. China’s overall economy and the average wage in China are expected to continue to grow. The average wage level for our employees has also increased in recent years. We expect that our labor costs, including wages and employee benefits, will continue to increase. Unless we are able to pass on these increased labor costs to our customers by increasing prices for our products or services, our profitability and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
In addition, we have been subject to stricter regulatory requirements in terms of entering into labor contracts with our employees and paying various statutory employee benefits, including pensions, housing fund, medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance, and maternity insurance to designated government agencies for the benefit of our employees. Pursuant to the PRC Labor Contract Law, or the “Labor Contract Law,” that became effective in January 2008 and its amendments that became effective in July 2013 and its implementing rules that became effective in September 2008, employers are subject to stricter requirements in terms of signing labor contracts, minimum wages, paying remuneration, determining the term of employees’ probation, and unilaterally terminating labor contracts. In the event that we decide to terminate some of our employees or otherwise change our employment or labor practices, the Labor Contract Law and its implementation rules may limit our ability to effect those changes in a desirable or cost-effective manner, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
As the interpretation and implementation of labor-related laws and regulations are still evolving, we cannot assure you that our employment practice does not and will not violate labor-related laws and regulations in China, which may subject us to labor disputes or government investigations. If we are deemed to have violated relevant labor laws and regulations, we could be required to provide additional compensation to our employees and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
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The COVID-19 pandemic may continue to have a material adverse impact on the general economic outlook, economic growth and business sentiment (see “— We face risks related to health epidemics, natural disasters, or terrorist attacks in China.” in this prospectus), and may in turn influence the labor cost. Additionally, certain restrictive measures, including quarantining policies and travel restrictions, implemented by China in response to the COVID-19 pandemic may impose obstacles for us to recruit teachers and operational staff suitable for our business, and may in turn influence our labor cost. Such influence, if any, however, remains unclear at of the date of this prospectus.
Our PRC Affiliated Entities did not make adequate social insurance and housing fund contributions for all employees as required by PRC regulations previously, which may subject us to penalties.
According to the PRC Social Insurance Law and the Administrative Regulations on the Housing Funds, companies operating in China are required to participate in pension insurance, work-related injury insurance, medical insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance (collectively known as “social insurance”), and housing funds plans, and the employers must pay all or a portion of the social insurance premiums and housing funds for their employees. For more details, please see “Regulations—Regulations Related to Employment and Social Welfare—Social Insurance and Housing Fund.” The requirement of social insurance and housing fund has not been implemented consistently by the local governments in China given the different levels of economic development in different locations.
Pursuant to the Social Insurance Law and the Regulations on Management of Housing Funds, an enterprise is required, within a prescribed time limit, to register with the relevant social security authority and housing fund management center, and to open the relevant accounts and make timely contributions for their employees; failure to do so may subject the enterprise to order for rectification, and certain fines if the enterprise fails to rectify in time. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been paying the social insurance housing funds for our employees in full. Any failure to make sufficient provision of such outstanding amounts of contributions to such funds is a violation of applicable PRC laws and regulations and, if we could be required to make up the contributions and be subject to late fees, fines, and associated administrative penalties. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, we had outstanding social insurance payments payable in the aggregate amount of approximately $54,784 and $39,182 , respectively. In the event that the relevant authorities determine that we have underpaid, our PRC Affiliated Entities may be required to pay outstanding contributions and penalties to the extent we did not make full contributions to the social security and housing provident funds. A late fee of 0.05% per day and a fine of one to three times the outstanding amount may be imposed by the authority, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
With respect to housing fund, we may be required to pay and deposit housing funds in full and on time within the prescribed time limit. If we fail to do so, relevant authorities could file applications to competent courts for compulsory enforcement of payment and deposit.
PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries, limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits to us, or may otherwise adversely affect us.
On July 4, 2014, State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) issued the Circular on Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control over the Overseas Investment and Financing and Round-trip Investment by Domestic Residents via Special Purpose Vehicles, or “SAFE Circular 37.” According to SAFE Circular 37, prior registration with the local SAFE branch is required for PRC residents, (including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities as well as foreign individuals that are deemed as PRC residents for foreign exchange administration purpose), in connection with their direct or indirect contribution of domestic assets or interests to offshore special purpose vehicles, or “SPVs.” SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendments to the SAFE registrations in the event of any changes with respect to the basic information of the offshore SPV, such as change of a PRC individual shareholder, name and operation term, or any significant changes with respect to the offshore SPV, such as an increase or decrease of capital contribution, share transfer or exchange, or mergers or divisions. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we make in the future. In February 2015, SAFE promulgated a Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or “SAFE Notice 13,” effective in June 2015. Under SAFE Notice 13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investments and outbound overseas direct investments, including those required under SAFE Circular 37, will be filed with qualified banks instead of SAFE. The qualified banks will directly examine the applications and accept registrations under the supervision of SAFE.
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In addition to SAFE Circular 37 and SAFE Notice 13, our ability to conduct foreign exchange activities in China may be subject to the interpretation and enforcement of the Implementation Rules of the Administrative Measures for Individual Foreign Exchange promulgated by SAFE in January 2007 (as amended and supplemented, the “Individual Foreign Exchange Rules”). Under the Individual Foreign Exchange Rules, any PRC individual seeking to make a direct investment overseas or engage in the issuance or trading of negotiable securities or derivatives overseas must make the appropriate registrations in accordance with SAFE provisions, the failure of which may subject such PRC individual to warnings, fines, or other liabilities.
All of the shareholders who are subject to the SAFE Circular 37 and Individual Foreign Exchange Rules, have completed the initial registrations with the qualified banks as required by the regulations. We may not be informed of the identities of all the PRC residents holding direct or indirect interest in our company, however, and we have no control over any of our future beneficial owners. Thus, we cannot provide any assurance that our current or future PRC resident beneficial owners will comply with our request to make or obtain any applicable registrations or continuously comply with all registration procedures set forth in these SAFE regulations. Such failure or inability of our PRC residents beneficial owners to comply with these SAFE regulations may subject us or our PRC resident beneficial owners to fines and legal sanctions, restrict our cross-border investment activities, or limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends to or obtain foreign-exchange-dominated loans from us, or prevent us from being able to make distributions or pay dividends, as a result of which our business operations and our ability to distribute profits to you could be materially and adversely affected.
We may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries, through our Hong Kong subsidiaries, to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.
We are a Cayman Islands holding company and we rely principally on dividends and other distributions on equity from our PRC subsidiaries for our cash requirements, including for services of any debt we may incur. Our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends is based upon its 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 are 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. Our PRC subsidiaries as FIE are also required to further set aside a portion of their after-tax profits to fund the employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at their discretion. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. 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 businesses, pay dividends or otherwise fund and conduct our business.
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In addition, the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax rate of up to 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted or reduced according to treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC resident enterprises are incorporated.
PRC regulation of parent/subsidiary loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of this offering to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC operating subsidiary, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
Under PRC laws and regulations, we are permitted to utilize the proceeds from this offering to fund our PRC subsidiaries by making loans or providing additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, subject to applicable government registration, statutory limitations on amount, and approval requirements.
Any loans made to Golden Sun Wenzhou, which is treated as a foreign-invested enterprise under PRC law, are subject to PRC regulations and foreign exchange loan registrations. For example, loans made by us to Golden Sun Wenzhou to finance its activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with the local counterpart of SAFE, or filed with SAFE in its information system. Pursuant to relevant PRC regulations, we may provide loans to Golden Sun Wenzhou or Golden Sun Shanghai up to the larger amount of (i) the balance between the registered total investment amount and registered capital of Golden Sun Wenzhou, respectively, or (ii) twice the amount of the net assets of Golden Sun Wenzhou, respectively, calculated in accordance with the Circular on Full-Coverage Macro-Prudent Management of Cross-Border Financing, or the “PBOC Circular 9.” Moreover, any medium or long-term loan to be provided by us to Golden Sun Wenzhou or other domestic PRC entities must also be filed and registered with the NDRC. We may also decide to finance Golden Sun Wenzhou by means of capital contributions. These capital contributions must be recorded with the MOFCOM or its local counterpart.
On March 30, 2015, SAFE issued the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administrative Approach Regarding the Settlement of the Foreign Exchange Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or “SAFE Circular 19,” which took effect and replaced previous regulations effective on June 1, 2015. Pursuant to SAFE Circular 19, up to 100% of foreign currency capital of a foreign-invested enterprise may be converted into RMB capital according to the actual operation, and within the business scope, of the enterprise at its will. Although SAFE Circular 19 allows for the use of RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital for equity investments in the PRC, the restrictions continue to apply as to foreign-invested enterprises’ use of the converted RMB for purposes beyond their business scope, for entrusted loans or for inter-company RMB loans. On June 9, 2016, SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account, or “SAFE Circular 16,” effective on June 9, 2016, which reiterates some rules set forth in Circular 19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to issue loans to non-affiliated enterprises. On October 23, 2019, the SAFE issued the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Facilitating Cross-border Trade and Investment, which, among other things, expanded the use of foreign exchange capital to domestic equity investment area. Non-investment foreign-funded enterprises are allowed to lawfully make domestic equity investments by using their capital on the premise without violation to prevailing special administrative measures for access of foreign investments (negative list) and the authenticity and compliance with the regulations of domestic investment projects. If our PRC Affiliated Entities require financial support from us or our wholly owned subsidiary in the future and we find it necessary to use foreign currency-denominated capital to provide such financial support, our ability to fund our PRC Affiliated Entities’ operations will be subject to statutory limits and restrictions, including those described above.
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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, including SAFE Circular 19, SAFE Circular 16, and other relevant rules and regulations, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans to our PRC subsidiaries or 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 we received or expect to receive from our offshore offerings and to capitalize or otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our business, including our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
Fluctuations in exchange rates could have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.
The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions in China and by China’s foreign exchange policies. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging the value of the RMB to the U.S. dollar, and the RMB appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over the following three years. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted and the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, the RMB has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar in the future.
Our business is conducted in the PRC, and our books and records are maintained in RMB, which is the currency of the PRC. The financial statements that we file with the SEC and provide to our shareholders are presented in U.S. dollars. Changes in the exchange rates between the RMB and U.S. dollar affect the value of our assets and the results of our operations, when presented in U.S. dollars. The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in the PRC’s political and economic conditions and perceived changes in the economy of the PRC and the United States. Any significant revaluation of the RMB may materially and adversely affect our cash flows, revenue, and financial condition. Further, our Class A Ordinary Shares offered by this prospectus are offered in U.S. dollars, we will need to convert the net proceeds we receive into RMB in order to use the funds for our business. Changes in the conversion rate among the U.S. dollar and the RMB will affect the amount of proceeds we will have available for our business.
Very limited hedging options are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may decide to enter into more hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these hedges may be limited and we may not be able to adequately hedge our exposure or at all. In addition, our currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to convert RMB into foreign currency. As a result, fluctuations in exchange rates may have a material adverse effect on your investment.
There are uncertainties under the PRC Securities Law relating to the procedures and requisite timing for the U.S. securities regulatory agencies to conduct investigations and collect evidence within the territory of the PRC.
On December 28, 2019, the newly amended Securities Law of the PRC (the “PRC Securities Law”) was promulgated, which became effective on March 1, 2020. According to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law (“Article 177”), the securities regulatory authority of the State Council may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with securities regulatory authorities of another country or region for the implementation of cross-border supervision and administration. Article 177 further provides that overseas securities regulatory authorities shall not engage in activities pertaining to investigations or evidence collection directly conducted within the territories of the PRC, and that no Chinese entities or individuals shall provide documents and information in connection with securities business activities to any organizations and/or persons aboard without the prior consent of the securities regulatory authority of the State Council and the competent departments of the State Council. As of the date of this prospectus, we are not aware of any implementing rules or regulations which have been published regarding application of Article 177.
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As advised by our PRC counsel, Article 177 is only applicable where the activities of overseas authorities constitute a direct investigation or evidence collection by such authorities within the territory of the PRC. Our principal business operation is conducted in the PRC. In the event that the U.S. securities regulatory agencies carry out an investigation on us, such as an enforcement action by the Department of Justice, the SEC or other authorities, such agencies’ activities will constitute an investigation or evidence collection directly within the territory of the PRC and, accordingly, will fall within the scope of Article 177. In that case, the U.S. securities regulatory agencies may have to consider establishing cross-border cooperation with the securities regulatory authority of the PRC by way of judicial assistance, diplomatic channels or establishing a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities regulatory authority of the PRC. However, there is no assurance that the U.S. securities regulatory agencies will succeed in establishing such cross-border cooperation in this particular case and/or establish such cooperation in a timely manner.
Furthermore, as Article 177 is a recently promulgated provision and, as the date of this prospectus, there have not been implementing rules or regulations regarding the application of Article 177, it remains unclear as to how it will be interpreted, implemented or applied by the Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant government authorities. As such, there are uncertainties as to the procedures and requisite timing for the U.S. securities regulatory agencies to conduct investigations and collect evidence within the territory of the PRC. If the U.S. securities regulatory agencies are unable to conduct such investigations, there exists a risk that they may determine to suspend or de-register our registration with the SEC and may also delist our securities from Nasdaq or other applicable trading market within the US.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, we may be classified as a PRC “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes. Such classification would likely result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the “EIT Law,” that became effective in January 2008, an enterprise established outside the PRC with “de facto management bodies” within the PRC is considered a “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes and is generally subject to a uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate on its worldwide income. Under the implementation rules to the EIT Law, a “de facto management body” is defined as a body that has material and overall management and control over the manufacturing and business operations, personnel and human resources, finances, and properties of an enterprise. In addition, a circular, known as SAT Circular 82, issued in April 2009 by the State Administration of Taxation, or the “SAT,” specifies that certain offshore incorporated enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups will be classified as PRC resident enterprises if the following are located or resident in the PRC: senior management personnel and departments that are responsible for daily production, operation and management; financial and personnel decision making bodies; key properties, accounting books, company seal, and minutes of board meetings and shareholders’ meetings; and half or more of the senior management or directors having voting rights. Further to SAT Circular 82, the SAT issued a bulletin, known as SAT Bulletin 45, which took effect in September 2011, to provide more guidance on the implementation of SAT Circular 82 and clarify the reporting and filing obligations of such “Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated resident enterprises.” SAT Bulletin 45 provides procedures and administrative details for the determination of resident status and administration on post-determination matters. Although both SAT Circular 82 and SAT Bulletin 45 only apply to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreign individuals, the determining criteria set forth in SAT Circular 82 and SAT Bulletin 45 may reflect the SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of offshore enterprises, regardless of whether they are controlled by PRC enterprises, PRC enterprise groups, or by PRC or foreign individuals.
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If the PRC tax authorities determine that the actual management organ of Golden Sun Cayman is within the territory of China, Golden Sun Cayman may be deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes and a number of unfavorable PRC tax consequences could follow. First, we will be subject to the uniform 25% enterprise income tax on our world-wide income, which could materially reduce our net income. In addition, we will also be subject to PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations. Finally, dividends payable by us to our investors and gains on the sale of our shares may become subject to PRC withholding tax, at a rate of 10% in the case of non-PRC enterprises or 20% in the case of non-PRC individuals (in each case, subject to the provisions of any applicable tax treaty), if such gains are deemed to be from PRC sources. It is unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of our company would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise. Any such tax may reduce the returns on your investment in our shares. Although up to the date of this prospectus, Golden Sun Cayman has not been notified or informed by the PRC tax authorities that it has been deemed to be a resident enterprise for the purpose of the EIT Law, we cannot assure you that it will not be deemed to be a resident enterprise in the future.
We face uncertainty with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.
In February 2015, SAT issued a Public Notice Regarding Certain Corporate Income Tax Matters on Indirect Transfer of Properties by Non-Tax Resident Enterprises, or “SAT Circular 7.” SAT Circular 7 provides comprehensive guidelines relating to indirect transfers of PRC taxable assets (including equity interests and real properties of a PRC resident enterprise) by a non-resident enterprise. In addition, in October 2017, SAT issued an Announcement on Issues Relating to Withholding at Source of Income Tax of Non-resident Enterprises, or “SAT Circular 37,” effective in December 2017, which, among others, amended certain provisions in SAT Circular 7 and further clarify the tax payable declaration obligation by non-resident enterprise. Indirect transfer of equity interest and/or real properties in a PRC resident enterprise by their non-PRC holding companies are subject to SAT Circular 7 and SAT Circular 37.
SAT Circular 7 provides clear criteria for an assessment of reasonable commercial purposes and has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. As stipulated in SAT Circular 7, indirect transfers of PRC taxable assets are considered as reasonable commercial purposes if the shareholding structure of both transaction parties falls within the following situations: i) the transferor directly or indirectly owns 80% or above equity interest of the transferee, or vice versa; ii) the transferor and the transferee are both 80% or above directly or indirectly owned by the same party; iii) the percentages in bullet points i) and ii) shall be 100% if over 50% the share value of a foreign enterprise is directly or indirectly derived from PRC real properties. Furthermore, SAT Circular 7 also brings challenges to both foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of taxable assets. Where a non-resident enterprise transfers PRC taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, which is an indirect transfer, the non-resident enterprise as either transferor or transferee, or the PRC entity that directly owns the taxable assets, may report such indirect transfer to the relevant tax authority and the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding, or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. Both the transferor and the transferee may be subject to penalties under PRC tax laws if the transferee fails to withhold the taxes and the transferor fails to pay the taxes.
According to SAT Circular 37, where the non-resident enterprise fails to declare the tax payable pursuant to Article 39 of the EIT Law, the tax authority may order it to pay the tax due within required time limits, and the non-resident enterprise shall declare and pay the tax payable within such time limits specified by the tax authority. If the non-resident enterprise, however, voluntarily declares and pays the tax payable before the tax authority orders it to do so within required time limits, it shall be deemed that such enterprise has paid the tax in time.
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We face uncertainties as to the reporting and assessment of reasonable commercial purposes and future transactions where PRC taxable assets are involved, such as offshore restructuring, sale of the shares in our offshore subsidiaries, and investments. In the event of being assessed as having no reasonable commercial purposes in an indirect transfer transaction, we may be subject to filing obligations or taxed if we are a transferor in such transactions, and may be subject to withholding obligations (to be specific, a 10% withholding tax for the transfer of equity interests) if we are a transferee in such transactions, under SAT Circular 7 and SAT Circular 37. For transfer of shares by investors who are non-PRC resident enterprises, our PRC subsidiaries may be requested to assist in the filing under the SAT circulars. As a result, we may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with the SAT circulars or to request the relevant transferors from whom we purchase taxable assets to comply with these circulars, or to establish that we should not be taxed under these circulars, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our PRC subsidiaries are subject to restrictions on paying dividends or making other payments to us, which may have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. We may need dividends and other distributions on equity from our PRC subsidiaries to satisfy our liquidity requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders and service any debt we may incur. If our PRC 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 distributions to us.
Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our PRC subsidiaries are required to set aside at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds until the total amount set aside reaches 50% of their respective registered capital. Our PRC subsidiaries may also allocate a portion of their respective after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to employee welfare and bonus funds at their discretion. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. These limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments, or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.
Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment and our payment of dividends.
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. We receive substantially all of our revenue in the RMB. Under our current corporate structure, Golden Sun Cayman may rely on dividend payments from our PRC subsidiaries, Golden Sun Wenzhou and Golden Sun Shanghai, to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our PRC subsidiaries are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, subject to the condition that the remittance of such dividends outside of the PRC complies with certain procedures under PRC foreign exchange regulations, such as the overseas investment registrations by our shareholders or the ultimate shareholders of our corporate shareholders who are PRC residents. Approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is, however, required where the RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demand, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders.
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There are significant uncertainties under the EIT Law relating to the withholding tax liabilities of Golden Sun Wenzhou, and dividends payable by Golden Sun Wenzhou to our offshore subsidiaries may not qualify to enjoy certain treaty benefits.
Under the EIT Law and its implementation rules, the profits of a foreign-invested enterprise generated through operations, which are distributed to its immediate holding company outside the PRC, will be subject to a withholding tax rate of 10%. Pursuant to the Arrangement between the Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, or the “Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement,” a withholding tax rate of 10% may be lowered to 5% if the PRC enterprise is at least 25% held by a Hong Kong enterprise for at least 12 consecutive months prior to distribution of the dividends and is determined by the relevant PRC tax authority to have satisfied other conditions and requirements under the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement and other applicable PRC laws.
However, based on the Circular on Certain Issues with Respect to the Enforcement of Dividend Provisions in Tax Treaties, or the “SAT Circular 81,” which became effective on February 20, 2009, if the relevant PRC tax authorities determine, in their discretion, that a company benefits from such reduced income tax rate due to a structure or arrangement that is primarily tax-driven, such PRC tax authorities may adjust the preferential tax treatment. According to Circular on Several Issues regarding the “Beneficial Owner” in Tax Treaties, which became effective as of April 1, 2018, when determining an applicant’s status as the “beneficial owner” regarding tax treatments in connection with dividends, interests, or royalties in the tax treaties, several factors will be taken into account. Such factors include whether the business operated by the applicant constitutes actual business activities, and whether the counterparty country or region to the tax treaties does not levy any tax, grant tax exemption on relevant incomes, or levy tax at an extremely low rate. This circular further requires any applicant who intends to be proved of being the “beneficial owner” to file relevant documents with the relevant tax authorities. Golden Sun Wenzhou is wholly owned by our Hong Kong subsidiary. However, we cannot assure you that our determination regarding our qualification to enjoy the preferential tax treatment will not be challenged by the relevant PRC tax authority or we will be able to complete the necessary filings with the relevant PRC tax authority and enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% under the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement with respect to dividends to be paid by Golden Sun Wenzhou to our Hong Kong subsidiary, in which case, we would be subject to the higher withdrawing tax rate of 10% on dividends received.
If we become directly subject to the scrutiny, criticism, and negative publicity involving U.S.-listed Chinese companies, we may have to expend significant resources to investigate and resolve the matter which could harm our business operations, stock price, and reputation.
U.S. public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China have been the subject of intense scrutiny, criticism, and negative publicity by investors, financial commentators, and regulatory agencies, such as the SEC. Much of the scrutiny, criticism, and negative publicity has centered on financial and accounting irregularities and mistakes, a lack of effective internal controls over financial accounting, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud. As a result of the scrutiny, criticism, and negative publicity, the publicly traded stock of many U.S. listed Chinese companies sharply decreased in value and, in some cases, has become virtually worthless. Many of these companies are now subject to shareholder lawsuits and SEC enforcement actions and are conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations. It is not clear what effect this sector-wide scrutiny, criticism, and negative publicity will have on us, our business, and the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares. If we become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we will have to expend significant resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend our company. This situation will be costly and time consuming and distract our management from developing our business. If such allegations are not proven to be groundless, we and our business operations will be severely affected and you could sustain a significant decline in the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
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The disclosures in our reports and other filings with the SEC and our other public pronouncements are not subject to the scrutiny of any regulatory bodies in the PRC.
We are regulated by the SEC, and our reports and other filings with the SEC are subject to SEC review in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. Our SEC reports and other disclosure and public pronouncements are not subject to the review or scrutiny of any PRC regulatory authority. For example, the disclosure in our SEC reports and other filings are not subject to the review by China Securities Regulatory Commission, a PRC regulator that is responsible for oversight of the capital markets in China. Accordingly, you should review our SEC reports, filings, and our other public pronouncements with the understanding that no local regulator has done any review of us, our SEC reports, other filings, or any of our other public pronouncements.
The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the “CSRC,” may be required in connection with this offering under a regulation adopted in August 2006, and, if required, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such approval, in which case we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies for failure to seek the CSRC approval for this offering.
The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors, or the “M&A Rules,” adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, requires an overseas SPV formed for listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC companies or individuals to obtain the approval of the CSRC, prior to the listing and trading of such SPV’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. In September 2006, the CSRC published a notice on its official website specifying documents and materials required to be submitted to it by an SPV seeking the CSRC approval of its overseas listings. The application of the M&A Rules remains unclear.
Our PRC legal counsel has advised us based on their understanding of the current PRC law, rules, and regulations that the CSRC’s approval is not required for the listing and trading of our shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market in the context of this offering, given that we established our PRC subsidiaries by means of direct investment rather than by merger with or acquisition of PRC domestic companies as defined in the M&A Rules.
Our PRC legal counsel, however, has further advised us that there remains some uncertainty as to how the M&A Rules will be interpreted or implemented in the context of an overseas offering and its opinions summarized above are subject to any new laws, rules and regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations in any form relating to the M&A Rules. We cannot assure you that relevant PRC governmental agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as we do. If it is determined that the CSRC approval is required for this offering, we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies for failure to seek the CSRC approval for this offering. These sanctions may include fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC, limitations on our operating privileges in the PRC, delays in or restrictions on the repatriation of the proceeds from this offering into the PRC, restrictions on or prohibition of the payments or remittance of dividends by our PRC subsidiaries, or other actions that could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation, and prospects, as well as the trading price of our Class A Ordinary Shares. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies may also take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt this offering before the settlement and delivery of the Shares that we are offering. Consequently, if you engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to the settlement and delivery of the shares we are offering, you would be doing so at the risk that the settlement and delivery may not occur.
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The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.
The M&A Rules discussed in the preceding risk factor and recently adopted regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time consuming and complex. For example, the M&A Rules require that the Ministry of Commerce be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise, if (i) any important industry is concerned, (ii) such transaction involves factors that have or may have impact on the national economic security, or (iii) such transaction will lead to a change in control of a domestic enterprise which holds a famous trademark or PRC time-honored brand. Mergers or acquisitions that allow one market player to take control of or to exert decisive impact on another market player must also be notified in advance to the Ministry of Commerce when the threshold under the Provisions on Thresholds for Prior Notification of Concentrations of Undertakings, or the “Prior Notification Rules,” issued by the State Council in August 2008 is triggered. In addition, the security review rules issued by the Ministry of Commerce 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 Ministry of Commerce, 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 Ministry of Commerce or its local counterparts may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions. It is clear that our business would not be deemed to be in an industry that raises “national defense and security” or “national security” concerns. The Ministry of Commerce or other government agencies, however, may publish explanations in the future determining that our business is in an industry subject to the security review, in which case our future acquisitions in the PRC, including those by way of entering into contractual control arrangements with target entities, may be closely scrutinized or prohibited. Our ability to expand our business or maintain or expand our market share through future acquisitions would as such be materially and adversely affected.
Risks Relating to this Offering and the Trading Market
There has been no public market for our Class A Ordinary Shares prior to this offering, and you may not be able to resell our Class A Ordinary Shares at or above the price you pay for them, or at all.
Prior to this offering, there has not been a public market for our Class A Ordinary Shares. We plan to apply for the listing of our Class A Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market. An active public market for our Class A Ordinary Shares, however, may not develop or be sustained after the offering, in which case the market price and liquidity of our Class A Ordinary Shares will be materially and adversely affected.
The initial public offering price for our Class A Ordinary Shares may not be indicative of prices that will prevail in the trading market and such market prices may be volatile.
The initial public offering price for our Class A Ordinary Shares will be determined by negotiations between us and the Underwriter, and may not bear a direct relationship to our earnings, book value, or any other indicia of value. We cannot assure you that the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares will not decline significantly below the initial public offering price. The financial markets in the United States and other countries have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations in the last few years. Volatility in the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares may be caused by factors outside of our control and may be unrelated or disproportionate to changes in our results of operations.
You will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of Class A Ordinary Shares purchased.
The initial public offering price of our Class A Ordinary Shares is substantially higher than the (pro forma) net tangible book value per share of our Class A Ordinary Shares. Consequently, when you purchase our Class A Ordinary Shares in the offering, upon completion of the offering you will incur immediate dilution of $3.86 per share if the over-allotment option is not exercised or $3.73 per share if the over-allotment option is fully exercised, assuming an initial public offering price of $4.5. See “Dilution.” In addition, you may experience further dilution to the extent that additional Class A Ordinary Shares are issued upon exercise of outstanding options we may grant from time to time.
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If we fail to implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls or fail to remediate the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting that have been identified, we may fail to meet our reporting obligations or be unable to accurately report our results of operations or prevent fraud, and investor confidence and the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares may be materially and adversely affected.
Prior to this offering, we have been 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 as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, we and our independent registered public accounting firm have 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. The material weaknesses identified included (i) a lack of accounting staff and resources with appropriate knowledge of U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting and compliance requirements; and (ii) a lack of independent directors and an audit committee. Following the identification of the material weaknesses and control deficiencies, we plan to continue to take remedial measures including (i) 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; (ii) implementing regular and continuous U.S. GAAP accounting and financial reporting training programs for our accounting and financial reporting personnel; (iii) 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; and (iv) appointing independent directors, establishing an audit committee, and strengthening corporate governance. 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. As a result, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of our Class A Ordinary Shares, may be materially and adversely affected. Moreover, ineffective internal control over financial reporting significantly hinders our ability to prevent fraud.
Upon completion of this offering, we will become a public company in the United States subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 will require that we include a report of management on our internal control over financial reporting in our annual report on Form 20-F beginning with our annual report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022. In addition, once we cease to be an “emerging growth company,” as such term is defined in the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm must attest to and report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Our management may conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective. Moreover, even if our management concludes that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, our independent registered public accounting firm, after conducting its own independent testing, may issue a report that is qualified if it is not satisfied with our internal controls or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated, or reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant requirements differently from us. In addition, after we become a public company, our reporting obligations may place a significant strain on our management, operational, and financial resources and systems for the foreseeable future. We may be unable to complete our evaluation testing and any required remediation in a timely manner.
We will incur substantial increased costs as a result of being a public company.
Upon consummation of this offering, we will incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses as a public company that we did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and Nasdaq, impose various requirements on the corporate governance practices of public companies.
Compliance with these rules and regulations increases our legal and financial compliance costs and makes some corporate activities more time-consuming and costlier. We have incurred additional costs in obtaining director and officer liability insurance. In addition, we incur additional costs associated with our public company reporting requirements. It may also be more difficult for us to find qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers.
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We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act and will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Class A Ordinary Shares that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior September 30, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 in the assessment of the emerging growth company’s internal control over financial reporting and permission to delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies.
After we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” or until five years following the completion of our initial public offering, whichever is earlier, we expect to incur significant additional expenses and devote substantial management effort toward ensuring compliance with the requirements of Section 404 and the other rules and regulations of the SEC. For example, as a public company, we have been required to increase the number of independent directors and adopt policies regarding internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures.
We are currently evaluating and monitoring developments with respect to these rules and regulations, and we cannot predict or estimate with any degree of certainty the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs.
Our dual class share structure will concentrate a majority of voting power in our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who is the only owner of our Class B Ordinary Shares.
Our Class B Ordinary Shares have five votes per share, and our Class A Ordinary Shares, which are the shares we are offering pursuant to this prospectus, have one vote per share, on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of the Company. Following this offering, assuming the underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option, Mr. Xueyuan Weng, our Chairman and CEO, will beneficially hold in the aggregate 59% to 60% of the total votes for our total issued and outstanding share capital, depending on whether the underwriter exercises its over-allotment option or not. Because of the five-to-one voting ratio between our Class B Ordinary Shares and Class A Ordinary Shares, the holder of our Class B Ordinary Shares could collectively control a majority of the aggregate voting power of our issued Ordinary Shares and therefore be able to control all matters submitted to our shareholders for approval. 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 actions requiring shareholder approval. In addition, this may prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or offers for our share capital that you may feel are in your best interest as one of our shareholders. Such concentration of voting power could also have the effect of delaying, deterring, or preventing a change of control or other business combination, which could, in turn, have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares or prevent our shareholders from realizing a premium over the then-prevailing market price for their Class A Ordinary Shares.
As a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing rules, we may follow certain exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that could adversely affect our public shareholders.
Following this offering, our largest shareholder will own more than a majority of the voting power of our outstanding ordinary shares. Under the Nasdaq listing rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group, or another company is a “controlled company” and is permitted to phase in its compliance with the independent committee requirements. Although we do not intend to rely on the “controlled company” exemptions under the Nasdaq listing rules even if we are deemed a “controlled company,” we could elect to rely on these exemptions in the future. If we were to elect to rely on the “controlled company” exemptions, a majority of the members of our board of directors might not be independent directors and our nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees might not consist entirely of independent directors. Accordingly, if we rely on the exemptions, during the period we remain a controlled company and during any transition period following a time when we are no longer a controlled company, you would not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq.
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Substantial future sales of our Class A Ordinary Shares or the anticipation of future sales of our Class A Ordinary Shares in the public market could cause the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares to decline.
Sales of substantial amounts of our Class A Ordinary Shares in the public market after this offering, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares to decline. As of the date of this prospectus, an aggregate of 13,000,000 Ordinary Shares are outstanding, including 8,970,000 Class A Ordinary Shares and 4,030,000 Class B Ordinary Shares, before the consummation of this offering and 13,370,000 Class A Ordinary Shares will be outstanding immediately after the consummation of this offering if the Underwriter’s over-allotment option is not exercised, and 14,030,000 Class A Ordinary Shares will be outstanding immediately after the consummation of this offering if the Underwriter’s over-allotment option is fully exercised. Sales of these shares into the market could cause the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares to decline.
We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future.
We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the operation and expansion of our business, and we do not expect to declare or pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. As a result, you may only receive a return on your investment in our Class A Ordinary Shares if the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares increases.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if the publish a negative report regarding our Class A Ordinary Shares, the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares and trading volume could decline.
Any trading market for our Class A Ordinary Shares may depend in part on the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. We do not have any control over these analysts. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade us, the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares and the trading volume to decline.
The market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares may be volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance, and you may not be able to resell your shares at or above the initial public offering price.
The initial public offering price for our Class A Ordinary Shares will be determined through negotiations between the Underwriter and us and may vary from the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares following our initial public offering. If you purchase our Class A Ordinary Shares in our initial public offering, you may not be able to resell those shares at or above the initial public offering price. We cannot assure you that the initial public offering price of our Class A Ordinary Shares, or the market price following our initial public offering, will equal or exceed prices in privately negotiated transactions of our shares that have occurred from time to time prior to our initial public offering. The market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:
● | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our revenue and other operating results; | |
● | the financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in these projections or our failure to meet these projections; | |
● | actions of securities analysts who initiate or maintain coverage of us, changes in financial estimates by any securities analysts who follow our company, or our failure to meet these estimates or the expectations of investors; |
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● | announcements by us or our competitors of significant products or features, technical innovations, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, or capital commitments; | |
● | price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market, including as a result of trends in the economy as a whole; | |
● | lawsuits threatened or filed against us; and | |
● | other events or factors, including those resulting from war or incidents of terrorism, or responses to these events. |
In addition, the stock markets have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many companies. Stock prices of many companies have fluctuated in a manner unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. In the past, shareholders have filed securities class action litigation following periods of market volatility. If we were to become involved in securities litigation, it could subject us to substantial costs, divert resources and the attention of management from our business, and adversely affect our business.
Our management has broad discretion to determine how to use the funds raised in the offering and may use them in ways that may not enhance our results of operations or the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
We anticipate that we will use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and other corporate purposes. Our management will have significant discretion as to the use of the net proceeds to us from this offering and could spend the proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
If we cease to qualify as a foreign private issuer, we would be required to comply fully with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, and we would incur significant additional legal, accounting and other expenses that we would not incur as a foreign private issuer.
We expect to qualify as a foreign private issuer upon the completion of this offering. As a foreign private issuer, we will be exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our officers, directors and principal shareholders will be exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as United States domestic issuers, and we will not be required to disclose in our periodic reports all of the information that United States domestic issuers are required to disclose. While we currently expect to qualify as a foreign private issuer immediately following the completion of this offering, we may cease to qualify as a foreign private issuer in the future, in which case we would incur significant additional expenses that could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Because we are a foreign private issuer and are exempt from certain Nasdaq corporate governance standards applicable to U.S. issuers, you will have less protection than you would have if we were a domestic issuer.
Nasdaq listing rules require listed companies to have, among other things, a majority of its board members be independent. As a foreign private issuer, however, we are permitted to, and we may follow home country practice in lieu of the above requirements, or we may choose to comply with the above requirement within one year of listing. The corporate governance practice in our home country, the Cayman Islands, does not require a majority of our board to consist of independent directors. Thus, although a director must act in the best interests of the Company, it is possible that fewer board members will be exercising independent judgment and the level of board oversight on the management of our company may decrease as a result. In addition, Nasdaq listing rules also require U.S. domestic issuers to have a compensation committee, a nominating/corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors, and an audit committee with a minimum of three members. We, as a foreign private issuer, are not subject to these requirements. Nasdaq listing rules may require shareholder approval for certain corporate matters, such as requiring that shareholders be given the opportunity to vote on all equity compensation plans and material revisions to those plans, certain ordinary share issuances. We intend to comply with the requirements of Nasdaq listing rules in determining whether shareholder approval is required on such matters and to appoint a nominating and corporate governance committee. We may, however, consider following home country practice in lieu of the requirements under Nasdaq listing rules with respect to certain corporate governance standards which may afford less protection to investors.
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Although as a Foreign Private Issuer we are exempt from certain corporate governance standards applicable to U.S. issuers, if we cannot satisfy, or continue to satisfy, the initial listing requirements and other rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market, our securities may not be listed or may be delisted, which could negatively impact the price of our securities and your ability to sell them.
We will seek to have our securities approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market upon consummation of this offering. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time. Even if our securities are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
In addition, following this offering, in order to maintain our listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we will be required to comply with certain rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market, including those regarding minimum shareholders’ equity, minimum share price, minimum market value of publicly held shares, and various additional requirements. Even if we initially meet the listing requirements and other applicable rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market, we may not be able to continue to satisfy these requirements and applicable rules. If we are unable to satisfy the Nasdaq Capital Market criteria for maintaining our listing, our securities could be subject to delisting.
If the Nasdaq Capital Market does not list our securities, or subsequently delists our securities from trading, we could face significant consequences, including:
● | a limited availability for market quotations for our securities; | |
● | reduced liquidity with respect to our securities; | |
● | a determination that our Class A Ordinary Share is a “penny stock,” which will require brokers trading in our Class A Ordinary Share to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our Class A Ordinary Share; | |
● | limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and | |
● | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
Anti-takeover provisions in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay, or prevent a change in control.
Some provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, which will become effective on or before the completion of this offering, may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including, among other things, the following:
● | provisions that authorize our board of directors to issue shares with preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions without any further vote or action by our shareholders; and | |
● | provisions that restrict the ability of our shareholders to call meetings and to propose special matters for consideration at shareholder meetings. |
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Our board of directors may decline to register transfers of Ordinary Shares in certain circumstances.
Our board of directors may, in its sole discretion, decline to register any transfer of any Ordinary 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 transferred are free of any lien in favor of us; or (vi) a fee of such maximum sum as the Nasdaq Capital Market 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 three months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal. The registration of transfers may, on 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.
This, however, is unlikely to affect market transactions of the Class A Ordinary Shares purchased by investors in the public offering. Once the Class A Ordinary Shares have been listed, the legal title to such Class A Ordinary Shares and the registration details of those Class A Ordinary Shares in the Company’s register of members will remain with DTC/Cede & Co. All market transactions with respect to those Class A Ordinary Shares will then be carried out without the need for any kind of registration by the directors, as the market transactions will all be conducted through the DTC systems.
Because we are an “emerging growth company,” we may not be subject to requirements that other public companies are subject to, which could affect investor confidence in us and our Class A Ordinary Shares.
For as long as we remain an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, we will elect to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies”, including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. Because of these lessened regulatory requirements, our shareholders would be left without information or rights available to shareholders of more mature companies. If some investors find our Class A Ordinary Shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A Ordinary Shares and our share price may be more volatile. See “Implications of Our Being an ‘Emerging Growth Company.’”
The laws of the Cayman Islands may not provide our shareholders with benefits comparable to those provided to shareholders of corporations incorporated in the United States.
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands with limited liability. Our corporate affairs are governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, by the Companies Act (2021 Revision) of the Cayman Islands and by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against our directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law in the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands and from English common law. Decisions of the Privy Council (which is the final Court of Appeal for British overseas territories such as the Cayman Islands) are binding on a court in the Cayman Islands. Decisions of the English courts, and particularly the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal are generally of persuasive authority but are not binding in the courts of the Cayman Islands. Decisions of courts in other Commonwealth jurisdictions are similarly of persuasive but not binding authority. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedents in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws relative to the United States. Therefore, our public shareholders may have more difficulty protecting their interests in the face of actions by our management, directors or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States.
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Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like us have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records or to obtain copies of the register of members of these companies. Our directors have discretion under our articles of association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by our management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a company incorporated in the United States. For a discussion of significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Act (2021 Revision) of the Cayman Islands and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders, see “Description of Share Capital — Differences in Corporate Law.”
You may be unable to present proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by shareholders.
Cayman Islands law provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. These rights, however, may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our articles of association allow our shareholders holding shares representing in aggregate not less than 10% of our voting share capital in issue, to requisition a general meeting of our shareholders, in which case our directors are obliged to call such meeting. Advance notice of at least 21 clear days is required for the convening of our annual general shareholders’ meeting and at least 14 clear days’ notice any other general meeting of our shareholders. A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of at least one shareholder present or by proxy, representing not less than one-third of the total issued shares carrying the right to vote at a general meeting of the Company. For these purposes, “clear days” means that period excluding (a) the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given and (b) the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect.
If we are classified as a passive foreign investment company, United States taxpayers who own our Class A Ordinary Shares may have adverse United States federal income tax consequences.
A non-U.S. corporation such as ourselves will be classified as a passive foreign investment company, which is known as a PFIC, for any taxable year if, for such year, either:
● | At least 75% of our gross income for the year is passive income; or | |
● | The average percentage of our assets (determined at the end of each quarter) during the taxable year which produce passive income or which are held for the production of passive income is at least 50%. |
Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business), and gains from the disposition of passive assets.
If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. taxpayer who holds our Class A Ordinary Shares, the U.S. taxpayer may be subject to increased U.S. federal income tax liability and may be subject to additional reporting requirements.
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Depending on the amount of cash we raise in this offering, together with any other assets held for the production of passive income, it is possible that, for our 2021 taxable year or for any subsequent year, more than 50% of our assets may be assets which produce passive income, in which case we would be deemed a PFIC, which could have adverse US federal income tax consequences for US taxpayers who are shareholders. We will make this determination following the end of any particular tax year.
The classification of certain of our income as active or passive, and certain of our assets as producing active or passive income, and hence whether we are or will become a PFIC, depends on the interpretation of certain United States Treasury Regulations as well as certain IRS guidance relating to the classification of assets as producing active or passive income. Such regulations and guidance are potentially subject to different interpretations. If, due to different interpretations of such regulations and guidance, the percentage of our passive income or the percentage of our assets treated as producing passive income increases, we may be a PFIC in one or more taxable years.
For a more detailed discussion of the application of the PFIC rules to us and the consequences to U.S. taxpayers if we were or are determined to be a PFIC, see “Material Income Tax Consideration—United States Federal Income Taxation—Passive Foreign Investment Company.”
Our pre-IPO shareholders will be able to sell their shares upon completion of this offering subject to restrictions under Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
As of the date of this prospectus, 13,000,000 of our Ordinary Shares were issued and outstanding before this offering. Our pre-IPO shareholders may be able to sell their Class A Ordinary Shares under Rule 144 after the completion of this offering. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” below. Because these shareholders have paid a lower price per Ordinary Share than participants in this offering, when they are able to sell their pre-IPO shares under Rule 144, they may be more willing to accept a lower sales price than the IPO price. This fact could impact the trading price of the Class A Ordinary Shares following the completion of the offering, to the detriment of participants in this offering. Under Rule 144, before our pre-IPO shareholders can sell their shares, in addition to meeting other requirements, they must meet the required holding period. We do not expect any of the Class A Ordinary Shares to be sold pursuant to Rule 144 during the pendency of this offering.
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DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current expectations and views of future events, all of which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. You can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “approximates,” “assesses,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions in this prospectus. These statements are likely to address our growth strategy, financial results and product and development programs. You must carefully consider any such statements and should understand that many factors could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements. These factors may include inaccurate assumptions and a broad variety of other risks and uncertainties, including some that are known and some that are not. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
● | assumptions about our future financial and operating results, including revenue, income, expenditures, cash balances, and other financial items; | |
● | our ability to execute our growth, and expansion, including our ability to meet our goals; | |
● | current and future economic and political conditions; | |
● | our capital requirements and our ability to raise any additional financing which we may require; | |
● | our ability to attract clients and further enhance our brand recognition; | |
● | our ability to hire and retain qualified management personnel and key employees in order to enable us to develop our business; | |
● | trends and competition in the education industry; | |
● | the impact of the coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”) and other pandemic or natural disaster; and | |
● | other assumptions described in this prospectus underlying or relating to any forward-looking statements. |
We describe certain material risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could affect our business, including our financial condition and results of operations, under “Risk Factors.” We base our forward-looking statements on our management’s beliefs and assumptions based on information available to our management at the time the statements are made. We caution you that actual outcomes and results may, and are likely to, differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecast by our forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should be careful about relying on any forward-looking statements. Except as required under the federal securities laws, we do not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements after the distribution of this prospectus, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, or otherwise.
Industry Data and Forecasts
This prospectus contains data related to the education industry in China. This industry data includes projections that are based on a number of assumptions which have been derived from industry and government sources which we believe to be reasonable. The education industry may not grow at the rate projected by industry data, or at all. The failure of the industry to grow as anticipated is likely to have a material adverse effect on our business and the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares. In addition, the rapidly changing nature of the education industry subjects any projections or estimates relating to the growth prospects or future condition of our industry to significant uncertainties. Furthermore, if any one or more of the assumptions underlying the industry data turns out to be incorrect, actual results may, and are likely to, differ from the projections based on these assumptions.
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability. We incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands because of certain benefits associated with being a Cayman Islands company, such as political and economic stability, an effective judicial system, a favorable tax system, the absence of foreign exchange control or currency restrictions and the availability of professional and support services. The Cayman Islands, however, has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides significantly less protection for investors than the United States. Additionally, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue in the Federal courts of the United States.
Substantially all of our assets are located in the PRC. In addition, a majority of our directors and officers are nationals or residents of the PRC and all or a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or these persons, or to enforce against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
We have appointed Cogency Global Inc. 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 in the United States or any action brought against us in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the County of New York under the securities laws of the State of New York.
Ogier, our counsel with respect to the laws of the Cayman Islands, and Pacgate Law Firm, our counsel with respect to PRC law, have advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands or the PRC would (i) recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States or (ii) entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands or the PRC against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
Ogier has further advised us that there is currently no statutory enforcement or treaty between the United States and the Cayman Islands providing for enforcement of judgments. A judgment obtained in the United States, however, may be recognized and enforced in the courts of the Cayman Islands at common law, without any re-examination on the merits of the underlying dispute, by an action commenced on the foreign judgment debt in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, provided such judgment: (i) is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction; (ii) is final; (iii) is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty; and (iv) was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or public policy of the Cayman Islands. Furthermore, it is uncertain that Cayman Islands courts would enforce: (1) judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions against us or other persons that are predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws; or (2) original actions brought against us or other persons predicated upon the Securities Act. Ogier has informed us that there is uncertainty with regard to Cayman Islands law relating to whether a judgment obtained from the U.S. courts under civil liability provisions of the securities laws will be determined by the courts of the Cayman Islands as penal or punitive in nature.
Pacgate Law Firm has further advised us that the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedure Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedure Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on reciprocity between jurisdictions. There are no treaties or other forms of reciprocity between China and the United States for the mutual recognition and enforcement of court judgments. Pacgate Law Firm has further advised us that under PRC law, PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our officers and directors if the court decides that such judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security or public interest, thus making the recognition and enforcement of a U.S. court judgment in China difficult.
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Based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $4.5 per Class A Ordinary Share, which is the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, we estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and the estimated offering expenses payable by us, of approximately $17.6 million if the Underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option, and $20.3 million if the Underwriter exercises its over-allotment option in full.
We plan to use the net proceeds we receive from this offering for the following purposes:
● | approximately 25% for acquisitions of tutorial centers for non-English foreign language for Gaokao, as well as overseas schools and tutorial centers; | |
● | Approximately 15% for research and development of the courses related to non-English foreign language for Gaokao, and the expansion of the operating center for non-English foreign language for Gaokao; | |
● | approximately 40% for acquisitions of tutorial centers for language training; | |
● | approximately 10% for the recruitment and retention of teachers and management personnel; and | |
● | approximately 10% to fund working capital and for other general corporate purposes. |
The foregoing represents our current intentions based upon our present plans and business conditions to use and allocate the net proceeds of this offering. Our management, however, will have significant flexibility and discretion to apply the net proceeds of this offering. If an unforeseen event occurs or business conditions change, we may use the proceeds of this offering differently than as described in this prospectus. To the extent that the net proceeds we receive from this offering are not immediately used for the above purposes, we intend to invest our net proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing bank deposits or debt instruments.
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We intend to keep any future earnings to finance the expansion of our business, and we do not anticipate that any cash dividends will be paid in the foreseeable future.
Under the Cayman Islands law, a Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend on its shares out of either profit or share premium amount, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in the company being unable to pay its debts due in the ordinary course of business.
If we determine to pay dividends on any of our Class A Ordinary Shares in the future, as a holding company, we will be dependent on receipt of funds from our direct subsidiaries, Golden Sun Shanghai and Golden Sun Hong Kong.
Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to Golden Sun Hong Kong only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our Affiliated Entities in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. Each of such 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 the remittance of currencies out of the PRC. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in complying with the administrative requirements necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from our profits, if any. Furthermore, if our Affiliated Entities in the PRC incur debt on their own in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments. If we or our PRC subsidiaries are unable to receive all of the revenue from our operations, we may be unable to pay dividends on our Class A Ordinary Shares.
Cash dividends, if any, on our Class A Ordinary Shares will be paid in U.S. dollars. Golden Sun Hong Kong may be considered a non-resident enterprise for tax purposes, so that any dividends Golden Sun Wenzhou pays to Golden Sun Hong Kong may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%. See “Material Income Tax Consideration—People’s Republic of China Enterprise Taxation.”
In order for us to pay dividends to our shareholders, we will rely on payments made from subsidiaries of Golden Sun Wenzhou to Golden Sun Wenzhou, and the distribution of such payments to Golden Sun Hong Kong and Golden Sun Cayman as dividends from our subsidiaries. If Golden Sun Wenzhou incurs debt on its own behalves in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us.
Pursuant to the Arrangement between Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, or the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, the 10% withholding tax rate may be lowered to 5% if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns no less than 25% of a PRC project. The 5% withholding tax rate, however, does not automatically apply and certain requirements must be satisfied, including without limitation that (a) the Hong Kong project must be the beneficial owner of the relevant dividends; and (b) the Hong Kong project must directly hold no less than 25% share ownership in the PRC project during the 12 consecutive months preceding its receipt of the dividends. In current practice, a Hong Kong project must obtain a tax resident certificate from the Hong Kong tax authority to apply for the 5% lower PRC withholding tax rate. As the Hong Kong tax authority will issue such a tax resident certificate on a case-by-case basis, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority and enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% under the Double Taxation Arrangement with respect to any dividends paid by Golden Sun Wenzhou to its immediate holding company, Golden Sun Hong Kong. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not applied for the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority. Golden Sun Hong Kong intends to apply for the tax resident certificate if and when Golden Sun Wenzhou plans to declare and pay dividends to Golden Sun Hong Kong. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—There are significant uncertainties under the EIT Law relating to the withholding tax liabilities of Golden Sun Wenzhou, and dividends payable by Golden Sun Wenzhou to our offshore subsidiaries may not qualify to enjoy certain treaty benefits.”
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The following table sets forth our capitalization as of September 30, 2021:
● | on an actual basis; and | |
● | on an as adjusted basis to reflect the issuance and sale of the Class A Ordinary Shares by us in this offering at the assumed initial public offering price of $4.5 per Class A Ordinary Share, which is the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts, and the estimated offering expenses payable by us. |
You should read this capitalization table in conjunction with “Use of Proceeds,” “Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.
September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
Actual | As
adjusted (Over-allotment option not exercised)(1) | As
adjusted (Over-allotment option exercised in full)(1) | ||||||||||
$ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
Cash | $ | 1,192,780 | $ | 18,864,553 | $ | 21,582,103 | ||||||
Long-term bank loans | 1,028,182 | 1,028,182 | 1,028,182 | |||||||||
Due to related party- long term | 672,560 | 672,560 | 672,560 | |||||||||
Shareholders’ Equity: | ||||||||||||
Ordinary Shares, $0.0005 par value, 100,000,000 Ordinary Shares authorized, 13,000,000 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, including 8,970,000 Class A Ordinary Shares and 4,030,000 Class B Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted | ||||||||||||
Class A Ordinary Shares | $ | 4,485 | $ | 6,685 | $ | 7,015 | ||||||
Class B Ordinary Shares | $ | 2,015 | $ | 2,015 | $ | 2,015 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | $ | 19,145 | $ | 17,141,699 | $ | 19,858,919 | ||||||
Statuary reserves | $ | 857,370 | $ | 857,370 | $ | 857,370 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit | $ | (6,760,297 | ) | $ | (6,760,297 | ) | $ | (6,760,297 | ) | |||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | $ | (1,676,651 | ) | $ | (1,676,651 | ) | $ | (1,676,651 | ) | |||
Total Shareholders’ Equity | $ | (7,553,933 | ) | $ | 9,570,821 | $ | 12,288,371 | |||||
Total Capitalization | $ | (5,853,191 | ) | $ | 11,271,563 | $ | 13,989,113 |
(1) | Reflects the sale of Class A Ordinary Shares in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $4.5 per share, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts, and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The pro forma as adjusted information is illustrative only, and we will adjust this information based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. Additional paid-in capital reflects the net proceeds we expect to receive, after deducting the underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We estimate that such net proceeds will be approximately $17.6 million. |
A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $4.5 per Class A Ordinary Share would increase (decrease) each of additional paid-in capital, total shareholders’ equity and total capitalization by $4.0 million, assuming the number of Class A Ordinary Shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts, and estimated expenses payable by us.
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If you invest in our Class A Ordinary Shares, your interest will be diluted for each Class A Ordinary Share you purchase to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per Class A Ordinary Share and our net tangible book value per Class A Ordinary Share after this offering. Dilution results from the fact that the initial public offering price per Class A Ordinary Share is substantially in excess of the net tangible book value per Class A Ordinary Share attributable to the existing shareholders for our presently outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares.
Our net tangible book value as of September 30, 2021, was deficit of $8.1 million, or $(0.62) per Ordinary Share. Net tangible book value represents the amount of our total consolidated tangible assets, less the amount of our total consolidated liabilities, non-controlling interest and deferred IPO cost. Dilution is determined by subtracting the net tangible book value per Class A Ordinary Share (as adjusted for the offering) from the initial public offering price per Class A Ordinary Share and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts, and the estimated offering expenses payable by us.
After giving effect to our sale of 4,400,000 Class A Ordinary Shares offered in this offering based on the initial public offering price of $4.5 per Class A Ordinary Share after deduction of the estimated underwriting discounts, and the estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2021, would have been $9.6 million, or $0.55 per outstanding Ordinary Share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $1.17 per Ordinary Share to the existing shareholders, and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $3.95 per Ordinary Share to investors purchasing Class A Ordinary Shares in this offering. The as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only.
The following table illustrates such dilution:
No Exercise of Over-Allotment Option | Full Exercise of Over-Allotment Option | |||||||
Assumed Initial public offering price per Class A Ordinary Share | $ | 4.50 | $ | 4.50 | ||||
Net tangible book value per Class A Ordinary Share as of September 30, 2021 | $ | (0.62 | ) | $ | (0.62 | ) | ||
As adjusted net tangible book value per Class A Ordinary Share attributable to payments by new investors | $ | 1.17 | $ | 1.30 | ||||
Pro forma net tangible book value per Class A Ordinary Share immediately after this offering | $ | 0.55 | $ | 0.68 | ||||
Amount of dilution in net tangible book value per Class A Ordinary Share to new investors in the offering | $ | 3.95 | $ | 3.82 |
The following tables summarize, on a pro forma as adjusted basis as of September 30, 2021, the differences between existing shareholders and the new investors with respect to the number of Class A Ordinary Shares purchased from us, the total consideration paid and the average price per Class A Ordinary Share before deducting the estimated underwriting discounts, and the estimated offering expenses payable by us.
Ordinary Shares purchased |
Total consideration | Average price per Ordinary |
||||||||||||||||||
Over-allotment option not exercised | Number | Percent | Amount | Percent | Share | |||||||||||||||
Existing shareholders | 13,000,000 | 74.7 | % | $ | 25,645 | 0.15 | % | $ | 0.00 | |||||||||||
New investors | 4,400,000 | 25.3 | % | $ | 17,124,754 | 99.85 | % | $ | 3.89 | |||||||||||
Total | 17,400,000 | 100 | % | $ | 17,150,399 | 100 | % | $ | 0.99 |
Ordinary Shares purchased |
Total consideration | Average price per Ordinary |
||||||||||||||||||
Over-allotment option exercised in full | Number | Percent | Amount | Percent | Share | |||||||||||||||
Existing shareholders | 13,000,000 | 72.0 | % | $ | 25,645 | 0.13 | % | $ | 0.00 | |||||||||||
New investors | 5,060,000 | 28.0 | % | $ | 19,842,304 | 99.87 | % | $ | 3.92 | |||||||||||
Total | 18,060,000 | 100 | % | $ | 19,867,949 | 100 | % | $ | 1.10 |
The pro forma as adjusted information as discussed above is illustrative only. Our net tangible book value following the completion of this offering is subject to adjustment based on the actual initial public offering price of our Class A Ordinary Shares and other terms of this offering determined at the pricing.
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CORPORATE HISTORY AND STRUCTURE
Our Corporate History
Golden Sun Education Group Limited, or Golden Sun Cayman, was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on September 20, 2018.
Our principal executive office is located at Profit Huiyin Square North Building, Huashan 2018, Unit 1001, Xuhui District, Shanghai, PRC. Our telephone at this address is +86-0577-56765303. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at the offices of Vistra (Cayman) Limited, P.O. Box 31119 Grand Pavilion, Hibiscus Way, 802 West Bay Road, Grand Cayman, KY1 – 1205 Cayman Islands, and the phone number of our registered office is +1-345-769 9372. We maintain a corporate website at http://www.jtyjyjt.com. The information contained in, or accessible from, our website or any other website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.
The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC using its EDGAR system.
Our Corporate Structure
The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure upon completion of this offering based on a proposed number of 4,400,000 Class A Ordinary Shares being offered, assuming no exercise of the over-allotment, and 13,000,000 Ordinary Shares, including 8,970,000 Class A Ordinary Shares and 4,030,000 Class B Ordinary Shares, outstanding as of the date of this prospectus.
For details of each shareholder’s ownership, please refer to the beneficial ownership table in the section captioned “Principal Shareholders.”
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The VIE Agreements
Prior to our Reorganization (see “Prospectus Summary - Recent Development - The Reorganization”), which was completed in September 2021, we operated Ouhai Art School and Chongwen Middle School through VIE structures. Neither we nor our subsidiaries owned any shares in Ouhai Art School or Chongwen Middle School. Instead, we controlled and received the economic benefits of the business operations of Ouhai Art School and Chongwen Middle School through the VIE Agreements. As a result of our indirect ownership of Golden Sun Wenzhou and Golden Sun Shanghai, as well as the VIE Agreements which were designed so that the operations of the VIEs were solely for the benefit of the Company, the Company was deemed to have a controlling financial interest in, and be the primary beneficiary of, the VIEs, for accounting purposes under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, we had consolidated the financial results of the VIEs in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2010. As a result of the Reorganization, we no longer operates any VIEs.
Ouhai Art School
On March 1, 2019, Golden Sun Wenzhou, Ouhai Art School, and Xiulan Ye and Xueyuan Weng, the shareholders of Ouhai (“Ouhai Shareholders”) entered into contractual arrangements (the “Ouhai Agreements”) for a term of 10 years with preferred renewal rights. The Ouhai Agreements were designed to provide Golden Sun Wenzhou with the power, rights, and obligations equivalent in all material respects to those it would possess as the person with exclusive rights to control the operations of Ouhai Art School, including the power to control Ouhai Art School and the rights to the assets, property, and revenue of Ouhai Art School. In September 2021, the Quhai Agreement were terminated as a result of the Reorganization and the Company no longer operates Quhai Art School vie the VIE structure.
Chongwen Middle School
On August 19, 2015, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Golden Sun Shanghai, entered into an entrustment agreement (“Entrustment Agreement”) with Chongwen Middle School and Xueyuan Weng for the period from September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2023, and was renewable for an additional seven years if elected. The Entrustment Agreement was subsequently amended on March 1, 2021, and, pursuant to the Entrustment Agreement, as amended, Golden Sun Shanghai had the exclusive right to control the operations of Chongwen Middle School, including making operational and financial decisions. In return, the Company was entitled to receive the residual return from Chongwen Middle School’s operation and at the same time to bear the risk of loss from the operation.
As part of the Reorganization, the Company sold all of its shares of Golden Sun Shanghai for a consideration of Hong Kong Dollar 100,000 (approximately $12,845) and no longer operates Chongwen Middle School via the VIE structure.
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the section headed “Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Data” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus.
Overview
We are a leading provider of Spanish tutorial services in China in 2019, according to the Industry Report. Established in 1997 and headquartered in Shanghai, China, we have over twenty years of experience providing educational services that focus on the development of each of our student’s strengths and potential, and the promotion of life-long skills and interests in learning. Prior to the Reorganization, we operated one premium primary private school and one premium secondary private school through two VIEs, in addition to our current operations that include tutorial centers for children and adults, one educational company that partners with high schools to offer language classes to their students, and one logistics company that provides logistic and consulting services. . Since the Reorganization, we no longer operate primary or secondary private schools and no longer use a VIE structure.
On September 1, 2021, the revised Implementing Regulation became effective. The revised Implementing Regulation prohibits private schools that provide compulsory education to be controlled by means of agreements or to enter into any transactions with any related parties. Until September 2021, the Company had controlled and received economic benefits from the VIEs, Ouhai Art School and Chongwen Middle School, two private schools that provide compulsory education, through a series of contractual arrangements (the “VIE Agreements”) to provide contractual exposure to foreign investment in Chinese-based companies, where Chinese law prohibits direct foreign investment in the Chinese operating companies. In order to become compliant with the revised Implementing Regulation, in September, 2021, the Company completed a reorganization to divest its operations of Ouhai Art School and Chongwen Middle School. Through the Reorganization, (1) the Company sold all of its shares in Golden Sun Shanghai (the entity that controls Chongwen Middle School through contractual arrangements) to CEO and his wife; and (2) Golden Sun Wenzhou, one of the Company’s subsidiaries, terminated its VIE Agreements with Ouhai Art School. As a result of the foregoing, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries controls or receives economic benefits from any private schools that provide compulsory education, and, as of the date of this prospectus, we believe the Company and its subsidiaries are compliant with the revised Implementing Regulation. The assets and liabilities related to the discontinued VIE operations were retroactively classified as assets/liabilities held for sale as of September 30, 2020, while results of operations related to the discontinued operations for the years ended September 30, 2020, were retroactively reported as income (loss) from discontinued operations.
During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 (“fiscal year 2021”), our revenue from continuing operations increased by approximately 94%, to approximately $15.0 million from $7.7 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 (“fiscal year 2020”). In fiscal year 2021, our net income from continuing operations amounted to approximately $1.3 million, compared to a net loss from continuing operation of approximately $146,000 in fiscal year 2020. In fiscal year 2021, our total net income was approximately $2.2 million as compared with approximately $55,000 for fiscal year 2020. The increase in revenue primarily attributable to the increase of our tutorial service revenue. The number of partner-schools, to which we provide non-English foreign languages tutorial service increased from 28 in fiscal year 2020 to 64 in fiscal year 2021; the number of students enrolled in our non-English foreign languages tutorial programs nearly tripled in fiscal year 2021, as a result, the revenue from our tutorial services increased significantly. The increase in net income was in line with the increase in revenue.
Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
We believe the most significant factors that affect our business and results of operations include the following:
● | The Chinese education sector is going through a series of reforms and new laws and guidelines have been recently promulgated and released to regulate our industry. We are subject to legal and operational risks associated with being based in and having the majority of the company’s operations in China. On September 1, 2021, the revised Implementing Regulation became effective. The revised Implementing Regulation prohibits private schools that provide compulsory education to be controlled by means of agreements or to enter into any transactions with any related parties. The new regulation has a material change in our operations . |
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● | The number of students enrolled is largely driven by the demand for the tutorial programs we offer, our reputation and brand recognition and our ability to improve the variety and quality of the programs we offer. |
● | Pricing of our tuition fees are affected by the tuition policy set by governments. Article 38 of the Law for Promoting Private Education stipulates that the items and rates of fees to be charged by private schools shall be determined according to the cost of running a school, market demands and other relevant factors, and made available to the public. Tuition and fee rates for private schools are subject to the supervision by the relevant authority. Provincial governments, autonomous regions governments and centrally-administered municipalities set the guidelines on fees for not-for-profit schools; while the tuition criteria of for-profit private schools are subject to market conditions and shall be determined by the schools themselves. Currently, fees for our not-for-profit schools are determined by the school and filed with the relevant authorities for its supervision, while fees for our for-profit schools are primarily based on demand for our courses, the targeted market for our courses and fees charged by our competitors for the same or similar courses. |
● | Our ability to manage our cost of revenues directly affects our profitability. Our cost of revenues mainly consists of labor costs, which are compensation for our teachers and educational staff, student-related costs, depreciation expenses and lease payment for our schools and tutorial centers. We expect our cost of revenues to increase in absolute amounts as we continue to grow our business. |
Results of Continuing Operations
For the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020
Impact of COVID-19
Beginning in late 2019, an outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) first emerged in China and spread globally. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared the COVID-19 as a pandemic. Governments in affected countries imposed travel bans, quarantines and other emergency public health measures, which have caused material disruption to businesses globally resulting in an economic slowdown. These measures, though intended to be temporary in nature, may continue and increase depending on developments in the COVID-19 outbreak.
Yangtze River Delta, where we conduct a substantial part of our business, was heavily impacted by COVID-19 in the beginning of 2020. We followed the recommendations of local health authorities to minimize exposure risk for our schools and tutorial centers, including the postponement of commencement of new semester, temporary closure of our tutorial centers and suspension of other office activities, and remote teaching. Our in-person classes has resumed gradually since April 2020.
The COVID-19 outbreak had a significant negative impact on our tutorial services in fiscal year 2020. In fiscal 2021, COVID-19 impact on our operation was relatively limited. Our tutorial services revenue increased by approximately $6.7 million, or 98%, to approximately $13.5 million in fiscal year 2021, from approximately $6.8 million in fiscal year 2020.
The extent of the impact on the Company’s future financial results will be dependent on future developments such as the length and severity of the crisis, the potential resurgence of the crisis, the virus variation, future government actions in response to the crisis and the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and capital markets, among many other factors, all of which remain highly uncertain and unpredictable. Given this uncertainty, the Company is currently unable to quantify the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its future operations, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations if the current situation continues.
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Revenue
We, through our China based subsidiaries, generate revenues from our continuing operations through the following main sources: (i) tutorial services and (ii) logistic and consulting services. The following table sets forth the breakdown of our revenue for the periods presented:
For the years ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue by type | Amount | % of total revenue | Amount | % of total revenue | Increase (Decrease) | Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||||||||||||
Tutorial services provided by our PRC subsidiaries | 13,518,061 | 90 | % | 6,827,677 | 88 | % | 6,690,384 | 98 | % | |||||||||||||||
Logistic and consulting services | 1,508,930 | 10 | % | 907,508 | 12 | % | 601,422 | 66 | % | |||||||||||||||
Total revenue | $ | 15,026,991 | 100 | % | $ | 7,735,185 | 100 | % | $ | 7,291,806 | 94 | % |
Revenue from our continuing operations increased approximately $7.3 million, or 94%, to approximately $15.0 million in fiscal year 2021 from approximately $7.7 million in fiscal year 2020. The increase in revenue was mainly due to an increase of approximately $6.7 million in tutorial service revenue in fiscal year 2021.
Tutorial services
Our tutorial services revenue increased by approximately $6.7 million, or 98%, to approximately $13.5 million in fiscal year 2021, from approximately $6.8 million in fiscal year 2020. Due to the effective control of the COVID -19 pandemic in China, we resumed in-person tutorial class sessions and increased our average tuition fees to pre-pandemic levels, consequently achieving revenue rebound in tutorial services for fiscal year 2021. The total number of student enrollment in our tutorial programs increased by 162 from an aggregate of 9,557 students in fiscal year 2020 to an aggregate of 9,719 students in fiscal year 2021, our average revenue recognized per student increased by $677 from $714 per student in fiscal year 2020 to $1,391 per student in fiscal year 2021. Qinshang Education, a subsidiary of the Company established in December 2019, started generating revenue by partnering with high schools to provide non-English foreign languages tutoring services in fiscal year 2020. The number of our partner-schools increased from 28 in fiscal year 2020 to 64 in fiscal year 2021; the number of students enrolled in Qingshang’s non-English foreign languages tutorial programs increased from 786 in fiscal year 2020 to 2,682 in fiscal year 2021, as a result, the revenue increased significantly in the fiscal year 2021.
Logistic and consulting services
Logistic and consulting services revenue increased by approximately $0.6 million, or 66%, to approximately $1.5 million in fiscal year 2021 from approximately $0.9 million in fiscal year 2020. The increase was mainly due to increase in our catering services offered to our affiliated schools.
Cost of Revenues
Cost of revenues from our continuing operations increased by approximately $2.1 million, or 52%, to approximately $6.2 million in fiscal year 2021, from approximately $4.1 million in fiscal year 2020. The higher cost of revenue in fiscal year 2021 was in line with the increase in revenues, largely as a result of the additional costs incurred for teachers compensations and management fees for our non-English foreign languages tutorial program. Catering cost also contributed to the increase in fiscal 2021 as schools catering service were closed for some part of fiscal year 2020 during the period of January to April 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19.
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Gross profit
Gross profit from our continuing operations increased by approximately $5.2 million, or 141%, to approximately $8.8 million in fiscal year 2021, from approximately $3.7 million in fiscal year 2020. Overall gross profit margin was approximately 59% in fiscal year 2021, as compared to approximately 47% in fiscal year 2020. The increases in gross profit and gross margin in fiscal year 2021 were primarily due to the increase in tutorial service revenue that outweighed the increase in costs in tutorial service. In fiscal year 2020, there was no significant tutorial service revenue from Qinshang Education, while we incurred certain start-up costs, such as course development, teacher recruiting and training cost etc., which resulted in a lower gross margin for tutorial service from Qingshang Education. As Qingshang Education’s revenue increased significantly in fiscal 2021, it achieved a 64% gross profit margin. In addition, we improved our operational efficiency and achieved a higher gross margin with respect to our three tutorial centers. The above contributed to overall improvement of our gross profit margin.
Operating Expenses
For the years ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Amount | % of revenue | Amount | % of revenue | Amount Increase | % Increase | |||||||||||||||||||
Selling expenses | $ | 2,208,296 | 15 | % | $ | 797,209 | 11 | % | $ | 1,411,087 | 177 | % | ||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 4,656,256 | 31 | % | 2,806,933 | 36 | % | 1,849,323 | 66 | % | |||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 6,864,552 | 46 | % | $ | 3,604,142 | 47 | % | $ | 3,260,410 | 90 | % |
Operating expenses from our continuing operations increased by approximately $3.3 million, or 90%, from approximately $3.6 million in fiscal year 2020, to approximately $6.9 million in fiscal year 2021. The increase in operating expenses was mainly due to approximately $1.8 million increased in general and administrative expenses and approximately $1.4 million in selling expenses in fiscal year 2021.
Selling expenses
Selling expenses from our continuing operations increased by approximately $1.4 million to approximately $2.2 million in fiscal year 2021 as compared to approximately $0.8 million in fiscal year 2020. The increase in selling expenses was mainly due to (i) approximately $1.0 million increase in amortization of contract acquisition cost related to the upfront fees paid to tutorial service agents to facilitate the related contracts with students for the tutorial service, and (ii) more marketing and promotional activities in fiscal 2021, as compared to fiscal 2020.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses of our continuing operations increased by approximately $1.8 million, or 66%, to approximately $4.7 million in fiscal year 2021, from approximately $2.8 million in fiscal year 2020. As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses represented approximately 31% and 36% of our total revenues in fiscal year 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase of general and administrative expenses was primarily attributable to (i) $1.2 million increase in salary expenses which largely attributed to increased teachers for our non-English foreign languages tutorial programs; and (ii) $0.2 million increase in consulting and professional fees related to our proposed initial public offering.
Interest expense
Our net interest expense from our continuing operations was approximately $0.2 million and $0.1 million in fiscal years 2021 and 2020. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, we had an aggregate of approximately $2.1 million and $1.6 million bank loan balances outstanding, respectively. The average interest rate was approximately 6.9% and 8.2% in fiscal year 2021 and 2020 for the bank loans, respectively.
Income before income taxes
Income from our continuing operations before income tax was approximately $2.0 million and $38,000 in fiscal year 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase of approximately $1.9 million was primarily attributable to higher gross profit in fiscal year 2021 as stated above.
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Provision for income taxes
Income tax provision from our continuing operations was $0.7 million and $0.2 million in fiscal year 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in income tax provision was in line with the increase in taxable income in fiscal 2021.
Under the Enterprise Income Tax (“EIT”) Law of PRC, domestic enterprises and Foreign Investment Enterprises (the “FIE”) are usually subject to a unified 25% enterprise income tax rate while preferential tax rates, tax holidays and even tax exemption may be granted on a case-by-case basis. According to the Law on the Promotion of Private Education (“2016 Private Education Law”) effective as of September 1, 2017, private schools may enjoy preferential tax treatment, and will be entitled to similar tax benefits as public schools. Our subsidiaries are subject to statutory 25% income tax rate. Yangfushan Tutorial, qualified as a “small-scaled minimal profit enterprise”, is entitled to a preferential rate of 10% for the year ended September 30, 2020. It was not qualified as a “small-scaled minimal profit enterprise” for the year ended September 30, 2021, thus was subject to statutory 25% income tax rate for the same period. The Company’s other subsidiaries are subject to statutory 25% income tax rate.
Net income
Our net income from continuing operations was approximately $1.3 million in fiscal year 2021, compared to a net loss of approximately $146,000 million in fiscal year 2020. The increase was primarily due to the higher gross profit in fiscal year 2021.
Our net income from discontinued operations increased by approximately 326% to approximately $855,040 in fiscal year 2021 from approximately $200,000 net income from discontinued operations in fiscal year 2020.
Our total net income was approximately $2.2 million in fiscal year 2021 as compared with approximately $55,000 net income in fiscal year 2020.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
In assessing its liquidity, management monitors and analyzes the Company’s cash on-hand, its ability to generate sufficient revenue sources in the future, and its operating and capital expenditure commitments. For the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded net income (loss) from continuing operation of approximately $1.3 million and ($0.1) million, respectively. While the Company had a negative working capital of approximately $7.0 million as of September 30, 2021, which was largely attributed to unearned tuition advances of approximately $6.3 million. These deferred tuition payments will be recognized as revenue in the next fiscal year when the services are provided. The Company has historically funded its working capital needs primarily from operations, bank loans, and advances from shareholders and intends to continue doing so in the near future.
The Company currently plans to fund its operations mainly through cash flow from its operations, renewal of bank borrowings, supports from controlling shareholders if necessary, to ensure sufficient working capital. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had cash on hand of approximately $1.2 million and outstanding bank loans of approximately $2.1 million. Management expects that it would be able to renew all of its existing bank loans upon their maturity based on past experience and the Company’s good credit history. The Company believes that its cash on hand and internally generated cash flows will be sufficient to fund its operations over at least the next 12 months from the date of this report. However, the Company may need additional cash resources in the future if the Company experiences changed business conditions or other developments, and may also need additional cash resources in the future if the Company wishes to pursue opportunities for investment, acquisition, strategic cooperation or other similar actions. If it is determined that the cash requirements exceed the Company’s amounts of cash on hand, the Company may seek to issue additional debt or obtain financial support from shareholders. The principal shareholder of the Company has made pledges to provide financial support to the Company whenever necessary.
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Cash flows
For the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020
The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:
For the years ended | ||||||||
September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2020 | |||||||
Net cash (used in) provided by continuing operations | $ | (801,054 | ) | $ | 484,075 | |||
Net cash provided by discontinued operations | 832,947 | 1,024,501 | ||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 31,893 | 1,508,576 | ||||||
Net cash used in continuing investing activities | (91,145 | ) | (320,810 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in discontinued investing activities | (121,471 | ) | (1,259,430 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (212,616 | ) | (1,580,240 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing financing activities | 5,682,665 | (194,795 | ) | |||||
Net cash (used in) provided by discontinued financing activities | (7,686,234 | ) | 215,442 | |||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (2,003,569 | ) | 20,647 | |||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalent | 167,061 | 151,377 | ||||||
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalent | $ | (2,017,231 | ) | $ | 100,360 |
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $32,000 in fiscal year 2021, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of approximately $1.5 million in fiscal year 2020. Net cash provided by operating activities in fiscal year 2021 mainly consisted of a net income $1.3 million from continuing operations, adjustments of $0.3 million non-cash items, an increase of approximately $0.9 million in tax payables, operating cash flows of $0.8 million from discontinued operation, offset by an increase of approximately $2.2 million in prepayments and other assets, an decrease of approximately $1.1 million in deferred revenue and an increase of approximately $0.5 million in contract assets.
Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $1.5 million in fiscal year 2020, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of approximately $6.8 million in fiscal year 2019. Net cash provided by operating activities in fiscal year 2020 mainly consisted of operating cash flows of $1.0 million from discontinued operation, adjustments of $0.1 million non-cash items, an increase of approximately $1.2 million in deferred revenue, an increase of $0.3 million in tax payables, offset by a net loss from continuing operation of approximately $0.1 million, an increase of approximately $0.8 million in prepayments.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $212,000 in fiscal year 2021, mainly consisted of approximately 91,000 to purchase of property and equipment used in school operation and approximately $0.1 million used in discontinued operation.
Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $1.6 million in fiscal year 2020, mainly consisted of approximately $0.3 million to purchase of property and equipment used in school operation and approximately $1.3 million used in discontinued operation.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was approximately $2.0 in fiscal year 2021, including net proceeds from related parties of approximately $5.2 million, net proceeds from bank loans of approximately $0.4 million, and net proceeds from third parties loans of approximately $0.3 million, offset by approximately $7.7 million used in discontinued operation.
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Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $21,000 in fiscal year 2020, including net proceeds from bank loans of approximately $86,000, payment of approximately $0.3 million of issuance cost and approximately $0.2 million provided by discontinued operation.
Capital Expenditures
Our capital expenditures attributable to our continuing operations consist primarily of additions to fixed assets as a result of our business growth. Our capital expenditures amounted to approximately $91,000 and $321,000 in fiscal year 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Contractual Obligations
We had various outstanding bank loans of approximately $2.1 million and $1.6 million as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We have also entered into non-cancellable operating lease agreements for several offices and operating facilities. The leases are expiring through 2029.
The following table sets forth our contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of September 30, 2021:
Payment Due by Period | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | Less than 1 Year | 1 – 3 Years | 3 – 5 Years | More than 5 Years | ||||||||||||||||
Operating lease arrangements | $ | 3,455,836 | $ | 1,037,870 | $ | 1,229,398 | $ | 606,138 | $ | 582,430 | ||||||||||
Bank loans | 2,096,624 | 1,068,442 | 1,028,182 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 5,552,460 | $ | 2,106,312 | $ | 2,257,580 | $ | 606,138 | $ | 582,430 |
Off-balance Sheet Commitments and Arrangements
As of September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2021, we had capital injection obligation in five entities totaled $10,289,124 and $ 10,839,269, respectively. Pursuant to the Chinese company laws, the timing of the contribution to the registered capital is specified in the article of incorporation, the remaining contribution can be made before year 2030, unless any subsequent shareholder meeting adjusts this capital injection plan.
Except for the capital injection obligation mentioned above, there were no off-balance sheet arrangements for the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, that have, or that in the opinion of the management are likely to have, a current or future material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Impact of Inflation
We do not believe the impact of inflation on our Company is material. Our operations are in China and China’s inflation rates have been relatively stable in the last three years: approximately 2.1% in 2018, 2.9% in 2019 and 2.5% in 2020.
Critical Accounting Policies
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect our reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenue, costs and expenses, and any related disclosures. Although there were no material changes made to the accounting estimates and assumptions in the past two years, we continually evaluate these estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, our own historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from our expectations as a result of changes in our estimates.
We believe that the following accounting policies involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity in their application and require us to make significant accounting estimates. Accordingly, these are the policies we believe are the most critical to understanding and evaluating our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
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Uses of estimates
In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates are based on information as of the date of the consolidated financial statements. Significant estimates required to be made by management include, but are not limited to useful lives of property and equipment and intangible assets, the recoverability of long-lived assets, provision necessary for contingent liabilities, revenue recognition and advances from customers, valuation of prepayments and other assets and realization of deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue recognition
The Company, through its China based subsidiaries, generates revenues primarily from tuitions fees and other fees collected from services provided. Revenue is recognized when the price is fixed or determinable, persuasive evidence of the arrangement exists, the service is performed or the product is delivered and collectability of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured
The Company has adopted ASC 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” and all subsequent ASUs that modified ASC 606, using the modified retrospective approach for the year ended September 30, 2019 and has elected to apply it retrospectively for the year ended September 30, 2018. ASC 606 establishes principles for reporting information about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from the entity’s contracts to provide goods or services to customers. The core principle requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that it expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services recognized as performance obligations are satisfied. This new guidance provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized. Under the new guidance, revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services and is recognized in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, the new guidance requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.
The Company currently generates its revenue from the following main sources:
Tutorial service revenue
The Company offers various off-campus small-group foreign language tutoring programs. Each contract of tutorial service programs represents a series of distinct services, which is delivery of various courses. The services have substantially the same pattern of transfer to the students, as such, they are considered as a single performance obligation, which is satisfied proportionately based on a straight-line basis over the program term as students simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of these services throughout the program term. The Company is the principal in providing tutorial services as it controls such services before the services are transferred to the customer. The program fees are generally collected in advance and are initially recorded as deferred revenue. Generally, the Company approves refunds for any remaining classes to students who decide to withdraw from a course within the predetermined period in the contract. The refund is equal to and limited to the amount related to the undelivered classes. The Company estimates and records refund liability for the potion the Company does not expect to be entitled based on historical refund ratio on a portfolio basis using the expected value method.
Logistic and consulting services
The Company also provides logistic and consulting services to customers, including but not limited to academic management, , human resources, procurement and logistics management services. The promised services in each education and management service contract are combined and accounted as a single performance obligation, as the promised services in a contract are not distinct and are considered as a significant integrated service. The revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period of the education and management service, as customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of these services throughout the service period.
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Practical expedient
As a practical expedient, the Company elects to record the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that the entity otherwise would have recognized is one year or less. The Company has applied the new revenue standard requirements to a portfolio of contracts (or performance obligations) with similar characteristics for transactions where it is expected that the effects on the financial statements of applying the revenue recognition guidance to the portfolio would not differ materially from applying this guidance to the individual contracts (or performance obligations) within that portfolio. Therefore, the Company elects the portfolio approach in applying the new revenue guidance.
Contract assets
In accordance with ASC340-40-25-1, an entity shall recognize as an asset the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if the entity expects to recover those costs. Entities sometimes incur costs to obtain a contract that otherwise would not have been incurred. Entities also may incur costs to fulfill a contract before a good or service is provided to a customer. The revenue standard provides guidance on costs to obtain and fulfill a contract that should be recognized as assets. Costs that are recognized as assets are amortized over the period that the related goods or services transfer to the customer, and are periodically reviewed for impairment. Only incremental costs should be recognized as assets. Incremental costs of obtaining a contract are those costs that the entity would not have incurred if the contract had not been obtained.
As of September 30, 2021, in order to develop non-English foreign language tutorial service for middle school students, the Company incurred total of approximately $1.8 million (RMB11.7 million) commission type fee and administration costs paid to agents to facilitate the related contracts with students for the tutorial service period, generally from 4 to 29 months tutorial service periods. The Company will not incur such costs if the Company does not enter into the tutorial service contracts with the students, as a result, the cost of approximately $1.8 million (RMB11.7 million) is considered as the incremental costs of obtaining contracts and shall be capitalized and amortize over tutorial service period. For the year ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company amortized related amount of $1,097,346 and $122,144 into selling expense, respectively. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, the contract assets amounted to $672,506 and $161,537.
Refund liability
Refund liability mainly relates to the estimated refunds that are expected to be provided to students if they decide they no longer want to take the course. Refund liability estimates are based on historical refund ratio on a portfolio basis using the expected value method. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, refund liability amounted to $348,472 and $246,935, respectively.
Cost of revenues
Cost of revenues mainly consists of salaries to teachers, rental expenses for office space and learning centers, depreciation and amortization of properties and equipment and teaching materials used in the provision of educational services.
Income taxes
In China, the Company accounts for current income taxes in accordance with the laws of the relevant tax authorities. Deferred income taxes are recognized when temporary differences exist between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period including the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
An uncertain tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. Penalties and interest incurred related to underpayment of income tax are classified as income tax expense in the period incurred. No significant penalties or interest relating to income taxes have been incurred for the years ended September 30, 2021, and 2020. All of the tax returns of the Company’s subsidiaries in PRC remain subject to examination by the tax authorities for five years from the date of filing.
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Entities incorporated in Hong Kong are subject to profits tax in Hong Kong at the rate of 16.5%.
The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains, or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the Government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or, after execution, brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. No stamp duty is payable in the Cayman Islands on the issue of shares by, or any transfers of shares of, Cayman Islands companies (except those which hold interests in land in the Cayman Islands). There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our Ordinary Shares will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of our Ordinary Shares, as the case may be, nor will gains derived from the disposal of our Ordinary Shares be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.
Foreign currency translation
The functional currencies of the Company are the local currency of the county in which the subsidiaries operate. The Company’s financial statements are reported using U.S. Dollars. The results of operations and the consolidated statements of cash flows denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the average rates of exchange during the reporting period. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are translated at the applicable rates of exchange in effect on that date. The equity denominated in the functional currencies is translated at the historical rates of exchange at the time of capital contributions. Because cash flows are translated based on the average translation rates, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the consolidated statements of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the consolidated balance sheets. Translation adjustments arising from the use of different exchange rates from period to period are included as a separate component in accumulated other comprehensive income included in consolidated statements of changes in equity. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in the consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income.
Since the Company operates primarily in the PRC, the Company’s functional currency is the Chinese Yuan (“RMB”). The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been translated into the reporting currency of U.S. Dollars (“US$”). The RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currency and all foreign exchange transactions must take place through authorized institutions. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ at the rates used in the translation.
The following table outlines the currency exchange rates that were used in creating the consolidated financial statements in this report:
For the year ended September 30, 2021 | For the year ended September 30, 2020 | |||
Balance sheet items, except for equity accounts | US$1=RMB 6.4580 | US$1=RMB 6.8033 | ||
Items in the statements of income and cash flows | US$1=RMB 6.5095 | US$1=RMB 7.0077 |
Comprehensive income
Comprehensive income consists of two components, net income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to revenue, expenses, gains and losses that under U.S. GAAP are recorded as an element of shareholders’ equity but are excluded from net income. Other comprehensive income (loss) consists of foreign currency translation adjustment resulting from the Company not using US$ as its functional currency.
Segment reporting
The Company’s chief operating decision-maker (“CODM”) has been identified as its Chief Executive Officer, who reviews the consolidated results when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing the performance of the Company as a whole and the management of the Company concludes that it has only one reportable segment. The Company does not distinguish between markets or segments for the purpose of internal reporting. The Company’s long-lived assets are all located in the PRC and substantially all of the Company’s revenues are derived from the PRC. Therefore, no geographical segments are presented.
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Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company considers the applicability and impact of all accounting standards updates (“ASUs”). Management periodically reviews new accounting standards that are issued.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases, including operating leases, with a term in excess of 12 months. The guidance also expands the quantitative and qualitative disclosure requirements. In July 2018, the FASB issued updates to the lease standard making transition requirements less burdensome. The update provides an option to apply the transition provisions of the new standard at its adoption date instead of at the earliest comparative period presented in the company’s financial statements. The new guidance requires the lessee to record operating leases on the balance sheet with a right-of-use asset and corresponding liability for future payment obligations. FASB further issued ASU 2018-11 “Target Improvement” and ASU 2018-20 “Narrow-scope Improvements for Lessors.” In June 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-05, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Leases (Topic 842) Effective Dates for Certain Entities” (“ASU 2020-05”) in response to the ongoing impacts to businesses in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. ASU 2020-05 provides a limited deferral of the effective dates for implementing previously issued ASU 842 to give some relief to businesses and the difficulties they are facing during the pandemic. ASU 2020-05 affects entities in the “all other” category and public Not-For-Profit entities that have not gone into effect yet regarding ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). Entities in the “all other” category may defer to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. As an emerging growth company, the Company will adopt this guidance effective October 1, 2022. The Company is evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which requires the Company to measure and recognize expected credit losses for financial assets held and not accounted for at fair value through net income. In November 2018, April 2019 and May 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-19, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses,” “ASU No. 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses,” “Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments,” and “ASU No. 2019-05, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief,” which provided additional implementation guidance on the previously issued ASU. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. The ASU requires a modified retrospective adoption method. The Company is still evaluating the impact of adoption on its financial statements and disclosures.
In August 2018, the FASB Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement” (“ASU 2018-13”). ASU 2018-13 modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for any removed or modified disclosures. The removed and modified disclosures will be adopted on a retrospective basis and the new disclosures will be adopted on a prospective basis. The Company does not expect this guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740)—Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. ASU 2019-12 is intended to simplify accounting for income taxes. It removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years, which is fiscal 2021 for us, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption of the new guidance to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Except for the above-mentioned pronouncements, there are no new recent issued accounting standards that will have a material impact on the consolidated financial position, statements of operations and cash flows.
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All the information and data presented in this section have been derived from the industry report of Frost & Sullivan International Limited (“Frost & Sullivan”) commissioned by us in October 2021 entitled “Independent Market Study on China’s Non-English foreign Language Training and Zhongkao, Gaokao Training Market Study” (the “Industry Report”) unless otherwise noted. Frost & Sullivan has advised us that the statistical and graphical information contained herein is drawn from its database and other sources. The following discussion contains projections for future growth, which may not occur at the rates that are projected or at all.
Education Industry in China
All information and data presented in this section has been derived from the Frost & Sullivan Report. Frost & Sullivan has advised us that the statistical and graphical information contained herein is drawn from its database and other sources. The following discussion includes projections for future growth, which may not occur at the rates that are projected or at all.
ANALYSIS OF CHINA’S NON-ENGLISH FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRAINING SERVICES MARKET
Non-English foreign languages refer to all the foreign languages other than English. China’s Non-English Foreign Language Training Market is defined as non-English foreign language teaching and training services market where students obtain non-English foreign language training and training services provided by training institutions. The services could be provided either online or offline. The market is further segmented into interest-oriented, study/work-oriented and College entrance examination, or Gaokao-oriented non-English foreign language trainings.
Market Size of China’s Non-English Foreign Language Training Services Market
The market of non-English foreign language training services increased from RMB10.7 billion in 2015 to RMB21.2 billion in 2019, representing a CAGR of approximately 18.6%, mainly due to the growing popularity of non-English foreign language among Chinese. In 2020, the market dropped due to the spread of COVID-19. However, it is expected that the market will recover soon after the spread of the disease is largely controlled in China.
Going forward, the market is likely to keep the growing trend as non-English foreign language talents are becoming increasingly important in China. The market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of approximately 16.1% from 2019 to 2024, reaching RMB44.7 billion in 2024.
Japanese training services accounts for the largest part in the non-English foreign language training services market in China. In 2019, Japanese took approximately 53.8% of the total market share. Spanish accounted for approximately 3.3% of the total market in 2019, increasing from approximately 2.8% of the total market in 2015. The market is expected to keep the fast growing pace due to the promotion of non-English foreign language test in Gaokao.
Revenue of Non-English Foreign Language Training Services Market (China), 2015 – 2024E
Source: Frost & Sullivan
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Market Drivers of China’s Non-English Foreign Language Training Services Market
Growing Number of Students Studying Abroad: Over the past years, the number of Chinese students studying abroad has been growing and China has become the world’s largest student origin country. As of 2019, the number of students to start studying abroad was 716,200. The CAGR of 2015 to 2019 was approximately 8.1%. The number of students studying abroad increased from 1,264,300 to 1,636,500 with a CAGR of approximately 6.7% from 2015 to 2019. Around 25% of the students choose to study in non-English speaking countries. For example, Chinese students studying in Spain increased from 8,400 in 2015 to 13,400 in 2019, representing a CAGR of approximately 12.4%. During the same period, Chinese students studying in Japan increased from 94,100 to 124,400 at a CAGR of 7.2%. Basic language skills are needed in order to live and study in these countries. Under these circumstances, an increasing number of Chinese students are enrolled in non-English foreign language training institutions before going abroad, which drives the development of non-English foreign language training services market.
Increasing Demand for Non-English foreign Language Talents: Chinese enterprises have accelerated their globalization process, creating an increasing demand for bilingual and multilingual talents. Proficiency in non-English foreign language is sometimes essential for conducting various business activities across different companies from other countries. Globalization has also raised the standard of career requirements. The awareness of the importance of non-English foreign language training has prompted an increasing number of adults to improve their language skills.
Competitive landscape of China’s Non-English foreign Language Training Services Market
China’s non-English foreign language training services market is extremely fragmented with top 3 players only accounting for 5.7% market in 2019.
The Company generated approximately RMB33.8 million from non-English foreign language training services in 2019, accounting for approximately 0.2% market share in China.
Source: Frost & Sullivan
China’s Spanish training services market is also fragmented. In 2019, the top 3 providers together took approximately 5.9% market share in terms of revenue.
Company H was China’s largest Spanish training service provider with a revenue of RMB16.9 million, accounting for approximately 2.4% market share in 2019. The Company ranked at the second place with a revenue of RMB13.9 million in 2019 and took approximately 2.0% market share.
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Source: Frost & Sullivan
Market Size of China’s Gaokao-oriented Non-English Foreign Language Training Services Market
The market of Gaokao-oriented non-English foreign language training services witnessed a rapid growth from 2015 to 2019. In 2019, this segment reached RMB601.5 million, accounting for approximately 3% of the total non-English foreign language training service market. Compared to other segment of non-English foreign language training services market,this segment is the only segment that is not strongly impacted by the spread of COVID-19 in 2020 because Gaokao was held and students participated in the 2020 Gaokao.
Going forward, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 73.7% from 2019 to 2024, reaching RMB9.5 billion in 2024.
Revenue of Gaokao-oriented Non-English foreign Language Training Services Market (China), 2015 – 2024E
Source: Frost & Sullivan
Market Drivers of China’s Gaokao-oriented Non-English Foreign Language Training Services Market
Fierce Competition: Gaokao is the most critical set of examinations for a student in China as many students and their parents believe that it determines the future of a student. Comparing with English, competition for students who take non-English foreign language test in Gaokao is less fierce as the tests are generally easier than that of English. For example, the vocabulary for Japanese test in Gaokao is around 2,000, much less than the number of 3,000 thousand in English test. Hence, students who are not good at English may prefer to choose non-English foreign languages. The tough competition has and is likely to further drive the development of Gaokao-oriented non-English foreign language training services market in China.
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Growing Penetration Rate of Non-English Foreign Language Test in Gaokao: The penetration rate of non-English foreign language test in Gaokao is rather low at current stage. In 2019, approximately 0.5% of the total students participating in Gaokao chose non-English foreign language for the foreign language test. However, the PRC government initiated One Road One Belt strategy in recent years to invest in nearly 70 countries and international organizations. In line with the development of One Road One Belt strategy, the PRC government has noticed that it has become increasingly important to foster multilingual talents in order to cooperate with other countries. For example, the Ministry of Education issued the Letter Regarding the Reply to No.0013 (No.006 of Education Category) Proposal of the First Session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in September 2018. In the letter, the Ministry of Education paid high attention on the set of courses of non-English foreign languages in primary and secondary schools, promoted multilingual curricula and the exams of non-English foreign language in Gaokao and encouraged the development of multilingual talents. In line with the promotion of the non-English foreign language tests, it is expected that around 4% of the total Gaokao takers would choose non-English foreign language by 2024. The growing penetration rate is likely to drive the market in the coming years.
Increasing Disposable Income and Expenditure on Education: Along with the growth of macro economy, the disposable income of Chinese residents has also witnessed stable growth from 2015 to 2019. Benefiting from the growing disposable income, the per capita annual expenditure on education in China grew from RMB1,456 in 2015 to RMB2,132 in 2019. Also, as Chinese parents pay much attention on children’s education and score of Gaokao, it is likely that an increasing share of students choose to take non-English foreign language test in Gaokao would participate in training to achieve higher score. The growing spending on training services is likely to sustain and further drive the development of Gaokao-oriented non-English foreign language training services market in China.
Opportunities and Challenges of China’s Non-English Foreign Language Training Services Market
Opportunities:
Online Education Revolution: With the increasing penetration rate of the Internet and electronic equipment such as laptops and smart phones, the online education market provided new development opportunities to the non-English foreign language training services market. Proper online learning tools and courses, such as live class, are more flexible and convenient for students to arrange study time. The online education enlarges the capability of training service providers as it allows a larger number of students to attend the same class. It also attracts students who are not able to attend offline classes. In addition, new technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence will provide innovation of learning scenes with more accuracy and interactivity. Under this circumstance, the revolution of online education is expected to present great development potential for the market.
Opportunities in Tier 3 and Lower Tier Cities: Compared with residents in tier 1 and tier 2 cities like Beijing and Shanghai, the willingness of taking part in non-English foreign language training of residents in tier 3 and lower tier cities is relatively lower due to the high training fee. The market in tier 3 and lower tier cities still shows large potential for market players. As the consumption power of citizens in tier 3 and lower tier cities increases, expanding the business to tier 3 and lower tier cities is likely to be new growth opportunities for the market players who plan to establish branches in these regions.
Challenges:
Fierce Competition on Resources: The non-English foreign language training services market in China has witnessed a growth in the past five years. With limited human resources in the market, it is extremely important for non-English foreign language training services providers to compete for talents by paying high-level salary and providing friendly working environment to teachers. Players have been competing for highly qualified teachers, as well as seeking for better school locations to attract students. Market players also need to invest on resources such as online software development, equipment updating and renting expenses. The scarcity of resources has become a big threat to the players, especially for small ones.
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Increasing Labor Costs and Rental Expenses: As the labor costs increase in recent years, the Gaokao-oriented non-English foreign language training service providers are facing an increasing cost of wages and salaries. As teaching resources are relatively scare in the market, players need to pay higher wages and salaries in order to attract talents. In addition, the learning centers of the institutions are generally located in busy downtown areas in the cities where the rents are high. The increasing operating expenses are a challenge to the operation of Gaokao-oriented non-English foreign language training services operators.
ANALYSIS OF YANGTZE RIVER DELTA’S GAOKAO RETAKE TRAINING SERVICES MARKET
In order to be admitted to colleges in China, upper secondary school students are required to take the college entrance examinations, or Gaokao. Gaokao is the most critical set of examinations for a student as the results determine whether a student will be able to attend a high-ranked college, or any at all, which in turn has a significant impact on the student’s future job prospects. Students whose Gaokao results are not satisfactory may study for another year and retake the examinations the next year. Some of these students take the examinations for more than two times. Retake training service refers to the tutoring provided to students who decide to retake the exams of Gaokao, hoping that they would get better scores the next year.
Benefitting from the favorable policy that public schools are not allowed to enroll former students, the total revenue of specialized schools that provide Gaokao retake training services has witnessed a growth from 2015 to 2019 with a CAGR of approximately 3.6%. The market is likely to continue its growthing in the coming future due to the fierce competition of Gaokao. The number of students enrolled in Gaokao retake training services in Zhejiang increased from 9.1 thousand to 9.8 thousand from 2015 to 2019. The number is forecast to reach 11.4 thousand in 2024.
Number of Former Students Enrolled in Specialized Gaokao Retake Training Schools (Zhejiang), 2015 – 2024E
Source: Frost & Sullivan
Competitive landscape of Zhejiang’s Gaokao Retake Training Services Market
The Gaokao retake training services market in Zhejiang province is relatively concentrated with dozens of services providers. In 2019, the top five providers together occupied 41.9% of the market share in terms of student enrollments.
Company J was the largest Gaokao retake training services providers in 2019, the total enrollment of Company J was 1.6 thousand students, accounting for 16.3% of the market. Company K ranked at the second place with a number of 1.5 thousand students. The Company ranked at the third place in the Gaokao retake training services market in Zhejiang province. The student enrollments of the Company was 0.4 thousand in 2019, taking approximately 4.1% market share in Zhejiang province. Followed by Company L and Company M, they each had approximately 0.3 thousand students enrolled in 2019.
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Source: Frost & Sullivan
Opportunities and Challenges of Yangtze River Delta’s Gaokao Retake Training Services Market
Opportunities:
Increasing Penetration Rate of Specialized Schools: Although public schools are not allowed to enroll former students who want to retake Gaokao according to the Notice of the Ministry of Education on Several Issues about Strengthening School-Running Management of Basic Education issued by the Ministry of Education in February 2020, a large number of students still choose to study in formal upper secondary schools. However, as the supervision becomes stricter in China, it is likely that an increasing share of students would attend specialized schools focusing on providing retake training services in the future.
Challenges:
Growing Concentration Rate: Students and their parents prefer schools with high reputation, and high enrollment rate. Schools with good track record performance can attract more students. Hence the concentration rate of the market is likely to keep growing. It would become harder for small brands without good track record performance to recruit students.
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Overview
We are not a Chinese operating company, but rather a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Our Class A Ordinary Shares offered in this prospectus are shares of our Cayman Islands holding company. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct our operations through our operating entities established in the PRC.
We are a leading provider of Spanish tutorial services in China in 2019, according to the Industry Report. Established in 1997 and headquartered in Shanghai, China, we have over twenty years of experience providing educational services that focus on the development of each of our student’s strengths and potential, and the promotion of life-long skills and interests in learning. Prior to the Reorganization, we operated one premium primary private school and one premium secondary private school through two VIEs, in addition to our current operations that include tutorial centers for children and adults, one educational company that partners with high schools to offer language classes to their students, and one logistics company that provides logistic and consulting services. . Since the Reorganization, we no longer operate primary or secondary private schools and no longer use a VIE structure.
Primary and Secondary Education Services Provided by the VIEs prior to the Reorganization
Prior to the Reorganization, the VIEs, Ouhai Art School and Chongwen Middle School, operated premium primary and secondary private schools in China. Neither we nor our subsidiaries owned any equity interest in the VIEs. Instead, we controlled and received the economic benefits of the VIEs’ business operations through a series of contractual arrangements, also known as VIE Agreements. Under U.S. GAAP, the Company was deemed to have a controlling financial interest in, and be the primary beneficiary of, the VIEs, for accounting purposes, because pursuant to the VIE Agreements, the operations of the VIEs were solely for the benefit of the Company. As such, we consolidated the financial results of the VIEs in the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.
Tutorial Services
Our China-based subsidiary, Golden Sun Wenzhou, and its subsidiaries, operate tutorial centers in China. For fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, 90% and 88% of our total revenue (excluding revenues from discontinued operations) was generated from our tutorial centers, respectively. Each of our centers focuses on different groups of targeted students by offering different tutorial programs.
● | Yangfushan Tutorial offers a Gaokao repeater tutorial program to high school students who retake Gaokao. Yangfushan Tutorial is also entrusted to offer high school program education to students of the Central Radio & Television Secondary Specialized School located in Wenzhou City, China. |
● | Hongkou Tutorial offers various English and other foreign language tutorial programs and Gaokao and Zhongkao repeater tutorial programs to individual students as well as companies and other organizations. |
● | Jicai Tutorial offers non-English foreign language tutorial programs to individual students, companies and other organizations. |
Our programs offered to repeaters are specifically targeting the upcoming Gaokao or Zhongkao. As for foreign language tutoring, we offer English, Spanish, German, French and Japanese courses to students who intend to study abroad, individuals seeking jobs that require certain proficiency in these languages, and companies or organizations whose workers need to have certain proficiency in these languages.
In addition to tutorial programs offered by our tutorial centers, Qinshang Education, our China-based subsidiary established in December 2019, partners with high schools to provide non-English foreign language (Spanish and French as secondary language) tutoring services to their students. As of March 2022, Qinshang Education worked with 62 partner-schools serving approximately 2,732 students in seven provinces in China. Revenue from Qinshang Education increased by approximately $4.4 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021, compared to the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. For the fiscal years 2021 and 2020, revenue generated by Qingshang Education accounted for 31.73%, and 4.74%, respectively, of our total revenue (excluding revenues from the discontinued operations). We believe that more Gaokao participants may choose non-English foreign language as a subject in Gaokao . Due to our strength and reputation in offering non-English foreign language courses to Gaokao participants, we expect Qinshang Education’s business to continue to grow in the near future.
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Revenues from providing tutorial programs at our tutorial centers and language training program, primarily consists of tutorial fees and, in some instances, of room and board fees as well.
Logistics and Consulting Services
Additionally, since December 2019, we started generating a small percentage of our revenue from providing logistics and consulting services through one logistics company, Lilong Logistics. As of the date of this prospectus, we have entered into service agreement with six customers. For the fiscal years 2021 and 2020, we generated $1,508,930 and $907,508 in revenue from providing logistic and consulting services.
Our Geographic Coverage
Our tutorial centers span over four locations across Wenzhou city and Hangzhou city in Zhejiang province, and Shanghai city, China. The following map illustrates the geographic locations of our tutorial centers, as well as high partner-schools that Qinshang Education provides on-site non-English foreign languages services, as of the date of this prospectus:
Our tutorial centers | ||
Our partner-schools |
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Our Past Performance
The following discussion of our historical performance does not include revenues from the discontinued operations, which were divested as a result of the Reorganization.
Revenue increased by approximately $7.3 million, or 94%, to approximately $15.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2021 from approximately $7.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2020. The increase in revenue was mainly due to an increase of approximately $6.7 million in tutorial services revenue in fiscal year 2021. Our net income was approximately $2.2 million for the year ended September 30, 2021, representing an increase of approximately $2.1 million from net income of approximately $0.05 million for the year ended September 30, 2020. We had a net income from continuing operation of approximately $1.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2021, and had a net loss from continuing operation of approximately $0.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2020. The following table sets forth the breakdown of our revenue and net income for the year ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.
For the Fiscal
Year | For the Fiscal
Year September 30, | |||||||
Tutorial services | $ | 13,518,061 | $ | 6,827,677 | ||||
Logistic and Consulting Services | 1,508,930 | 907,508 | ||||||
Total revenues | 15,026,991 | 7,735,185 | ||||||
Net income (loss) from continuing operation | 1,306,360 | (145,568 | ) | |||||
Net income from discontinued operations | 855,040 | 200,489 | ||||||
Net income | $ | 2,161,400 | $ | 54,921 |
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, our revenue decreased to $7.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2020 from $8.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2019. Our net income amounted to approximately $0.05 million and $3.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. We had a net loss from continuing operation of approximately $0.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2020, and net income from continuing operation of approximately $1.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2019. The following table sets forth the breakdown of our revenue and net income for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.
For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020 | For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2019 | |||||||
Tutorial services | $ | 6,827,677 | $ | 7,927,196 | ||||
Logistic and Consulting Services | 907,508 | 482,868 | ||||||
Total revenues | 7,735,185 | 8,410,064 | ||||||
Net income (loss) from continuing operation | (145,568 | ) | 1,600,362 | |||||
Net income from discontinued operations | 200,489 | 1,908,897 | ||||||
Net income | $ | 54,921 | $ | 3,509,259 |
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Our Competitive Strengths
We believe that the following competitive strengths contribute to our business growth and differentiate us from our competitors:
Unique niche in non-English foreign language education with significant market coverage
We partner with selective high schools throughout China to provide Spanish as secondary language to their students, offering them on-site language programs. In 2019, we were the second largest Spanish as secondary language provider in China according to the Industry Report, and our market share of this service market was approximately 2.0% in the entire PRC, and approximately 9.3% in Shanghai, ranking at the first place in the market of Spanish training services market in Shanghai.
We believe that our leadership position, coupled with our strong brand and reputation in the market, have effectively created a barrier to entry to new competitors in Shanghai and surrounding areas for non-English foreign language services, and nationwide for Spanish as a secondary language. We believe that we are well-positioned to compete in the highly fragmented non-English foreign language tutoring services market in China.
Well-positioned in Gaokao repeater tutoring market in Wenhzou City
Yangfushan Tutorial is the only school that offers a full-time program to Gaokao repeaters in Wenzhou city, China. The campus of Yangfushan Tutorial covers approximately seven acres with a gross floor area, or GFA, of more than 50,000 sq. ft. Over 10 years, Yangfushan Tutorial has served more than 5,000 students, with over 3,500 successfully admitted to 4-year university programs. Currently, a majority of Yangfushan Tutorial’s teachers hold Advanced Teaching Qualifications, the highest primary and secondary school teacher qualification available in China and are recognized as leaders in their respective academic subjects on the county/city levels. Yangfushan Tutorial has been recognized as a Top 10 Gaokao repeater institutions by China Education Net (China’s largest and well-recognized education online resources center) in 2010, and School of Excellence evaluated by the county education bureau in 2018. With a 100% university acceptance rate in Gaokao in 2021 and 2020, Yangfushan Tutorial has one of the highest acceptance rate and is the third largest in student enrollments among schools offering Gaokao repeater programs in Zhejiang province, and we believe that Yangfushan Tutorial is well-positioned to remain one of the top Gaokao repeater schools in the region.
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Consistent high-quality education with excellent teachers
We are committed to provide high quality educational services. We have an excellent and highly-committed team of professional teachers and educational staff. As of March 2022, we employed 494 teachers and educational staff. Among these teachers and educational staff, approximately 90% held bachelor’s degrees or higher. Our teachers and educational staff have an average of 13 years of educational experience. We also show our commitment to teaching excellence by following a highly rigorous and selective recruiting policy, providing continuing training in teaching techniques and skills, offering opportunities for career advancement, and encouraging experienced teachers to mentor or give guidance to young teachers. Additionally, to reduce the turn-over rate of our teachers and for consistent education quality, we provide friendly working environment, clear career paths and opportunities to promotion, and competitive benefits and perks. Leveraging our highly-qualified faculty team, we have developed strong research and development capabilities. We have also published textbooks in Spanish, German, and French as second language.
Strong management team with rich education experience
Our management team has a proven track record in the education and education management industry. In particular, Mr. Xueyuan Weng, our CEO, has extensive experience as an educator and in corporate management. Mr. Weng has been involved with our tutorial centers since April 2008. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Weng served as a teacher, director and school principal at various schools for over 20 years. He has in-depth understanding of the operations of our Company and tutorial centers. Under Mr. Weng’s leadership and management, we have become a leading non-English foreign language provider in China.
We believe our management team’s extensive experience in the education sector has provided us with valuable industry insight and management expertise, enabling us to manage our operations and growth and promote our brand as a leading provider of private educational services in China.
Our Growth Strategies
Our goal is to continuously promote and improve our position as a premium private tutorial services provider in the Yangtze River Delta Region and a leading Spanish as secondary language provider in the PRC by pursuing the following growth strategies:
Continue to build our brand and reputation
We plan to continue promoting our “Golden Sun” brand in China’s private tutorial services market. We believe that building our brand and reputation for providing tutorial services will allow us to reach a broader base of students and increase our market share in student enrollment. We intend to expand our advertising on major Internet portals, the national media and reputable educational publications. In addition, we will hire additional representatives to enhance our recruitment coverage in new regions that we plan to enter into from time to time.
Significantly expand our network of partner-schools nationwide to offer Spanish as second language program
We plan to solidify our position as a top Spanish as second language educational services provider by not only ensuring our teachers are highly qualified, but also significantly expand our network of partner schools. We have entered into cooperative agreements with 62 partner schools since December 2019. In the next five years, we plan to work with at least 500 partner schools across China. We plan to achieve this goal by leveraging our sales network, increasing local advertising efforts, encouraging referrals by our existing partner-schools, students, teachers and parents. We also plan to acquire non-English foreign language tutorial centers to expand our service level and geographical coverage. Our goal is to become the largest Spanish as second language program provider in China.
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Expand our network of partner -schools and tutorial centers through various measures and maximize synergies through integration of these entities
We plan to expand our network of partner -schools and tutorial centers by organically establishing non-English foreign language and Gaokao repeater tutorial centers, duplicating our model of providing foreign language tutorial services to schools, and selectively pursuing acquisitions of one language school in the U.S. and one language school in Spain, in order to provide our non-English foreign language students opportunities to further their language studies outside of China. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not identified target schools for acquisition. We look for schools that share a common purpose with us and that focus on creating an environment of strong teaching. We expect the target schools to have an area of at least 10,000 sq. ft. with at least 500 enrolled students, and certified by the Cervantes Institute, a well-recognized non-profit organization created by the Spanish government for the promotion of the Spanish language. We also look for schools with sound financial health in areas with sufficient financial resources and economic foundation to support private education.
Our Tutorial Services
We operate tutorial centers through our China based subsidiaries. All of our tutorial centers are located in either Wenzhou city, Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province or Shanghai in China. In December, 2019, we established Qinshang Education to offer non-English foreign language tutorial programs to students enrolled in the high schools we select and partner with throughout the PRC, or partner schools, with a focus on Spanish language.
The following table sets forth the basic information of our tutorial service providers as of March 2022.
Name | Year Opened / Acquired |
Type | Programs / Services Offered | Number
of Students |
Number
of Classes |
Number
of Teachers and Educational Staff |
||||||||||||||
Yangfushan Tutorial | 2008/2018 | (1) | Tutorial
center; operated as a Not-for-profit school |
Gaokao Repeater Tutorial Program | 578 | 10 | 25 | |||||||||||||
Sub-total | 578 | 10 | 25 | |||||||||||||||||
Hongkou Tutorial | 2000/2015 | (2) | Tutorial center; operated as a company |
Gaokao Repeater Tutorial Program | 71 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
English Program | 355 | 51 | ||||||||||||||||||
Non-English
foreign Language Program |
336 | 67 | ||||||||||||||||||
Sub-total | 762 | 122 | 44 | |||||||||||||||||
Jicai Tutorial | 2001/2016 | (3) | Tutorial center; Hangzhou Jicai: operated as a For-profit school; |
Non-English
foreign Language Program |
289
|
51
|
12
|
|||||||||||||
2017/2019 | Shanghai Jicai: operated as a Not-for-profit school | 3721 | 672 | 123 | ||||||||||||||||
Sub-total | 4010 | 723 | 135 | |||||||||||||||||
Qinshang | 2019 | Operated as a company | Non-English foreign Language Program | 2794 | 106 | 115 | ||||||||||||||
Sub-total | 2794 | 106 | 115 | |||||||||||||||||
Total | 8144 | 961 | 319 |
(1) | Yangfushan Tutorial commenced operation in 2008. Mr. Weng acquired the school in 2008 and the school was later acquired by the Company in 2018. |
(2) | Hongkou Tutorial commenced operation in 2000 and was acquired by the Company in 2015. Prior to 2022, it was operated as a Not-for-profit school by Shanghai Hongkou Practical Foreign Language Tutorial School, which ceased operation and transferred all of its existing business to Xianjin Technology on December 31, 2021. |
(3) | Shanghai Jicai and Hangzhou Jicai commenced operation in 2001 and 2017, respectively, and were formally acquired by the Company in 2016 and 2019, respectively. |
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As of March 2022, we had an aggregate number of 8144 students, including 578students in Yangfushan Tutorial,762 in Xianjin Tutorial, 4010 students in Jicai Tutorial and 2794 in Qinshang Eduction. We employed an aggregate number of 319 teachers and educational staff and 175 non-teaching staff. Our tutorial centers are either located in Wenzhou city, Hangzhou city or Shanghai. As of March 2022, our tutorial centers in aggregate had over 41 multi-media classrooms, all with wifi-coverage, three sports fields and 161 student dormitory rooms.
Our Tutorial Centers
Through our PRC subsidiary, Golden Sun Wenzhou and its subsidiaries, we currently operate tutorial centers, with each offering different programs and serving different groups of students.
Yangfushan Tutorial is the only full-time school for Gaokao repeaters in Wenzhou city, China. Students of Yangfushan Tutorial are Gaokao repeaters who are not satisfied with their previous Gaokao result and desire to retake the annual Gaokao, in order to achieve a better result and to potentially get into a better university or college. Students of Yangfushan Tutorial are enrolled for one year to retake the curriculum of the senior year of high school. For the 2021/2020 and 2019/2020 school years, 100% of our students were successfully admitted to 4-year university or 3-year associate college programs, with approximately 90% admitted to 4-year universities and approximately 40% admitted to Key Universities in China. Yangfushan Tutorial, by contract, is also entrusted to offer high school program education to students of Central Radio & Television Secondary Specialized School.
Hongkou Tutorial and Jicai Tutorial are tutorial centers that offer various language courses and part-time Gaokao and Zhongkao repeater courses to individual students and corporate customers. Individual students and corporate customers typically sign up to take a specific course for a period of time. The repeater courses offered at Hongkou Tutorial saw a 96% admittance rate into high schools in the 2021/2020 school years.
Jicai Tutorial is comprised of two locations, Hangzhou and Shanghai; each location is registered as a separate entity under PRC law. However, they operate under one management, one brand, and for accounting purposes, are considered as one tutorial center. Jicai Tutorial tutors more than 10,000 students every year, including students who sign up individually, and those who are signed up as a group by their employers or organizations. Jicai Tutorial focuses on non-English foreign language tutoring, preparing students for overseas studies and work, for various examinations and tests, as well as cultivating students’ interests in languages. To ensure we offer consistent high quality learning experience to our students, 30.1% of Jicai Tutorial’s teachers are full time teachers, and over 90% of them have overseas studies experience with more than 3 years of experience teaching in China. Jicai Tutorial has also developed and regularly updates its own textbooks suitable for various classes. As of March 2022, Jicai Tutorial has published seven textbooks for non-English foreign language learning, including German, French, Spanish and Japanese.
Secondary Language Tutorial Services Provided to Partner-schools
According to the Industry Report, with the acceleration of the globalization of Chinese companies, the needs for talents speaking a non-English foreign language has increased in recent years. In 2018, China’s Ministry of Education added Spanish, German and French as optional subjects to Gaokao, in addition to the then existing Japanese language, giving students the option of choosing one of these languages as their secondary language (as opposed to only English previously) test in Gaokao. Expecting that secondary language education will be widely required by students, and leveraging our success with Jicai Tutorial which had been providing secondary language tutorial programs to students since 2001, in December 2019, we established Qinshang Education to offer secondary language tutorial services to students enrolled high schools we selectively partner with. Currently, we offer Spanish and French programs, . We believe that this model is particularly sustainable because it allows us to utilize the partner-schools’ resources without having to own or lease land or space as teaching facilities or campus.
We are selective in identifying partner-schools. Typically, we look at a school’s track records and whether electing Spanish or another non-English secondary language as their second language in Gaokao would be beneficial to their students. Additionally, we prioritize those with over 1,500 students in each grade, to ensure sufficient enrollment.
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Not-for-Profit/For-profit status
According to PRC laws and regulations, entities and individuals who establish private schools are commonly referred to as “sponsors” instead of “owners” or “shareholders.” The sponsors of private schools may establish non-profit or for-profit schools at their own discretion. However, they are not allowed to establish for-profit schools providing compulsory education. Please refer to “Regulations—Regulations Related to Private Education—2. Law for Promoting Private Education of PRC” for details of private school categories.
The main difference between a for-profit school and a not-for-profit school is whether the sponsor can obtain proceeds from school operations. The sponsor of a not-for-profit school shall not receive proceeds from school operations, and the cash surplus of the school shall be reinvested in the school for its operations. The sponsor of a for-profit school may receive proceeds from school operations, and the cash surplus of the school shall be disposed in accordance with the Company Law and other relevant laws and administrative regulations.
According to the Decision on Amending the Law for Promoting Private Education of the PRC (the “Decision”), amended in December 2018, for-profit private schools have the discretion to determine the fees to be charged by taking into consideration of various factors such as the school operating costs and market demand, and no prior approval from government authorities is required, while not-for-profit private schools shall collect fees pursuant to the measures stipulated by the local PRC government authorities.
Yangfushan Tutorial, Shanghai Jicai and Hangzhou Jicai were established as private schools and are subject to the provisions of the 2016 Private Education Law, which became effective on September 1, 2017, requiring them to register their status as not-for-profit or for-profit. Yangfushan Tutorial and Shanghai Jicai were established as not-for-profit schools, while Hangzhou Jicai was established as a for-profit school.
According to government regulations, in order to change a not-for-profit school to a for-profit school, the school’s property first needs to be liquidated, which would cause large scale disruptions to our schools. In March 2021, the Company made the decision not to reregister its existing not-for-profit schools as for-profit schools.
As of the date of this prospectus, both Qinshang Education and Hongkou Tutorial operate as companies rather than private schools, and therefore do not need to be registered as either for-profit or not-for-profit.
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Our Tutorial Programs
Basic educational program
Prior to our Reorganization, we offered programs included a primary school educational program at Ouhai Art School, a middle school educational program at Chongwen Middle School, in addition to a high school program at Yangfushan Tutorial. After our Reorganization, the only basic education program we offer is the high school program at Yangfushan Tutorial.
Full-time Gaokao repeater tutorial program
Yangfushan Tutorial students are enrolled to retake the senior year of high school program, in preparation of their retaking of Gaokao, which is a standardized annual admission test administered by local authorities at a provincial level, the result of which is critical in determining admission into undergraduate programs in universities in China. Students at Yangfushan Tutorial are offered courses for subjects that are required for Gaokao, i.e., three mandatory subjects (Chinese, math and foreign language), as well as three subjects of a student’s choosing from seven subjects (politics, geography, history, physics, chemistry, biology and technology).
Other Tutorial Programs
We offer other various tutorial programs, including part-time Gaokao and Zhongkao repeater program, English as second language program, such as the national English as a foreign language test courses, intermediate and advanced English interpretation courses, and business English courses, as well as non-English as second language programs.
Our Students
We have operated in Wenzhou city and Shanghai for over twenty years. We believe that prospective students are attracted to our tutorial centers due to our brand name and the quality of our programs. Our target students for our tutorial centers are Gaokao and Zhongkao repeaters, companies or organizations with training needs, as well as high schools with students who can benefit from our non-English foreign languages programs when participating in Gaokao.
We typically reach out to prospective students and their parents through Wechat, our website and physical flyers. We also rely on the referrals of our previous and existing students and their parents.
As of March 2022, we had approximately 8,144 students across China in our tutorial programs and partner-schools.
Our Teachers
We seek to hire teachers and educational staff who hold the necessary academic credentials, are dedicated and active professionals in their fields, and are committed to improving their students’ performance. Typically, our teachers have 10-20 years of educational experience. As of March 2022, approximately 46.5% of our teachers and educational staff held a master’s degrees or above, 51.3% held bachelor’s degrees.
In order to ensure the consistency of teaching quality and engagement level with our students, we strive to hire and retain full time teachers, rather than part time or temporary teachers. Over 52.7 % and 54.6% of our teachers and educational staff at our tutorial centers were full time employees for the years of 2021 and 2020, respectively.
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Our teachers are hired based on classroom experience, educational background, expertise in their specific subject areas, communication skills and commitment to students and teaching. We expect teachers to have or develop excellent teaching skills, including the ability to mentor other teachers and develop innovative curriculums. They are also required to meet PRC regulatory requirements. We post descriptions of vacant positions on our website and social media to recruit teachers. We also recruit qualified graduates from reputable teaching universities and foreign language schools. We review official transcripts and resumes to evaluate a candidate’s academic achievement and work experience. Qualified candidates are interviewed, required to pass a written test and teach a mock class in front of a school’s hiring team. Once hired, a teacher is also expected to pass a probation period during which he or she can be evaluated regularly.
Newly hired teachers undergo a training program on teaching skills and techniques as well as the Company’s culture. We also provide continuing training to our teachers in areas such as ethics, lesson preparation, teaching skills, production efficiency, teaching without script. We typically provide our teachers with 1-10 days of ongoing training each year. We also arrange or encourage experienced teachers to mentor, assist, and provide guidance to newly hired teachers and regularly hold teaching research meetings and activities among teachers of the same subjects. Our teachers are regularly evaluated both qualitatively, on their teaching skills, and quantitatively, on their students’ test scores, typically once every semester.
Our teachers’ compensation is based on their experience, education background, and the results of evaluations of their performance. We provide outstanding teachers with bonuses and other benefits and perks to incentivize them to stay, and those who do not meet our teaching standards are let go. The annual retention rates of our teachers for September 30, 2021 and 2020 were 73.8%% and 80.4%, respectively. “Retention rate” is calculated as 100% minus the quotient of the number of teachers who cease being employed during the period by the number of teachers at the beginning of that period (not including teachers hired during that period).
Tuition Fees
For our tutorial centers, tuition fees vary depending on the type of programs or courses we offer. For the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the average fee charged per students in tutorial program amounted to $1,391 and $714, respectively.
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Logistics and Consulting Services
In December 2019, the Company established Lilong Logistics to provide logistic and consulting services. As of March 2022, Lilong Logistics has entered into six agreements with customers and generated $1,508,930 and $907,508 in revenues for the fiscal years ended 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Our Management System
We have established a centralized and standardized management system. The Chairman of the board of directors and CEO of the Company, Mr. Xueyuan Weng oversees the operations of our Company. Major decisions and policies such as principal nominations, tuition fee levels, construction of material new facilities, and the use of significant funds are determined by relevant departments on the Group level.
Yangfushan Tutorial has one principal to oversee the overall operations of such school, assisted by one deputy principal, primarily in charge of such school’s education, logistics, security, ethics and student enrollments. Yangfushan Tutorial has different departments in charge of various aspects of its day-to-day operations, including the administrative office, department of student affairs, department of teaching and R&D, department of logistics, and department of student enrollment. Directors or heads of each department and management meet at least every two weeks to provide updates on their work, priorities, issues and concerns, to discuss and make plans and goals, and to formulate materials management policies.
Hongkou Tutorial has a general manager, who primarily oversees the school’s overall operations and a general deputy manager, who is in charge of implementation of school policies and operations. These managers each manages different projects. They meet up monthly to reflect on the operations of the center.
Jicai Tutorial has one principal, in charge of the overall operations of the school and managing various departments reporting directly to the principal on a weekly basis.
Due to its business model, Qinshang Education operates as a company and is managed by Mr. Zhou Shen, executive director and general manager. Management meets up for discussion weekly and the meeting minutes are reported to Mr. Weng weekly, while Qinshang Education’s financials are reported monthly.
All of our principals have extensive experience in education and school administration. Besides reporting to Mr. Weng regarding any significant events at real time and attend principals meeting at the beginning and the closing of each school semester, Principals also participate in regular meetings with Mr. Weng to discuss major issues about their respective schools.
As for the management of financial matters, the finance department on the Group level conducts periodic audits on the finance departments at the school level. Annual financial reports of each school are submitted to the finance department at the Group level. Monthly meetings are conducted at the Group level.
Research and Development
We have strong research and development capabilities and have devoted significant resources developing our courses and teaching methods and materials. We encourage our teachers to develop, update and improve based upon the teaching goal of a specific course or program and on students’ needs and preferences.
For Gaokao repeater programs, we focus on all the subjects and courses that the students are participating in, emphasizing the examination requirements. For other tutorial programs and courses, our curricula and materials are developed to meet the specific goals of that program/course. As our students’ academic ability levels vary widely, our curricula are designed with the flexibility to address a particular class or a particular student’s strengths and weaknesses. Our teachers also implement and revise the curricula based on feedback from the classroom.
Leveraging our research and development capacities, specifically for non-English foreign language, from 2012 to 2021, we have published 7 textbooks for Spanish, German, and French studies, covering areas such as vocabulary, grammar, and examination-oriented content.
We also regularly evaluate, update and improve course materials based upon student performance and feedback from teachers, students and parents, typically performed before every semester.
Marketing
We employ various methods in marketing our tutorial centers and our services. We take measures to increase word-of-mouth referrals which have been key to bringing in new students and building our brands. In addition, we also advertise via our social media accounts (primarily Wechat) and our websites, and post advertisement posters on school campuses and other areas with high traffic of our target students, especially during student recruiting seasons.
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Referrals. Word-of-mouth referrals by former and current students and their families have historically been a very significant source of student enrollment. We actively work with our alumni and current students to encourage them to recommend our programs to potential students. We believe that our student enrollment will continue to benefit from referrals by our extensive network of alumni and families, many of whom have enjoyed pleasant and satisfactory learning experiences and achieved their study goals at our schools and tutorial centers.
Social media and traditional media advertising. We maintain several official accounts with the most used social media in China, WeChat, China’s largest social media mobile application and regularly post updates and news about our schools and tutorial centers on our official WeChat accounts. Currently, our 12 WeChat accounts have an aggregate of 63466 followers. We also selectively post advertisement on university school campuses in their cafeteria and dormitory areas, as well as other areas with high traffic of our target students, such as newsstands.
Promotional events. From time to time, we organize in-person promotional and recruiting events so that prospective students and their parents can learn more about our tutorial centers, programs, teachers and services. Prospective students and their parents would be able to meet and interact with our teachers and staff, and ask questions about our tutorial centers.
Competition
China’s non-English foreign language training services market is extremely fragmented with the top five providers only accounted for 5.7% of the market in 2019. On the other hand, China’s Spanish training services market is also fragmented. In 2019, the top three providers together represented approximately 5.9% market share in terms of revenue, and we were the second largest Spanish training provider in China, according to the Industry Report, with approximately a 2.0% market share.
Zhejiang’s Gaokao repeater market is relatively concentrated with the top five providers accounted for approximately 41.9% of the market in 2019. We were the third largest provider in terms of student enrollments in Zhejiang in 2019, according to the Industry Report, with approximately a 4.1% market share.
We believe that the competition in the non-English foreign language services market and the Gaokao repeater market is generally based on brands, student academic performance, parent satisfaction, quality of teachers, campus size, locations, cost of rent, and tuition fees. We expect competition to persist and intensify. We believe that we are able to compete effectively because of our strong brand recognition and track record. However, some of our existing and potential competitors, especially public schools, may have access to resources that we do not have, such as governmental support in forms of government subsidies and other payments or fee reductions. These competitors may devote greater resources, financial or otherwise, than we can to student recruitment, campus development and brand promotion and respond more quickly than we can to changes in student demands and market needs. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business— We face intense competition in the PRC education sector, which could lead to adverse pricing pressure, reduced operating margins, loss of market share, departure of qualified teachers and increasing capital expenditure.”
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Facilities
For our tutorial school campuses and offices, we currently lease properties with a total combined gross floor area and site area of approximately 10,517 square meters in Wenzhou and Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, and Shanghai, from various non-related entities or grant of use from the local government.
The below table sets forth a summary of our facilities:
No. | Company | Lease (L)/ Own (O) | Lease Amount | Area | Location | Lease Term | ||||||
1 | Yangfushan Tutorial | L | $118110/year subject to annual increase | GFA: 51,071 sq ft | Ouhai District, Wenzhou City | April
1, 2019- March 31, 2029 | ||||||
2 | Hongkou Tutorial | L | 7/18/2020
to 7/17/2021: $18833/year 7/18/2021 to 7/17/2022: $19775/month |
GFA: 517sq ft | Hongkou District, Shanghai | July
18, 2020- July 17, 2022 | ||||||
3 | Hongkou Tutorial | L | $242407/year | GFA: 4338sq ft | Hongkou District, Shanghai | Jan
1, 2022- Jan.1, 2023 | ||||||
4 | Hongkou Tutorial | L | $31/half day for classroom; $472/month for office | GFA: 3,767 sq ft | Hongkou District, Shanghai | Sep
1, 2021- Aug 31 2023 | ||||||
5 | Shanghai Jicai | L | $5566/month | GFA: 2,273 sq ft | Pudong District, Shanghai | Apr
1, 2020- March 31, 2022 |
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No. | Company | Lease (L)/ Own (O) | Lease Amount | Area | Location | Lease Term | ||||||
6 | Shanghai Jicai | L | $3830/month | GFA: 2,388sq ft | Yangpu District, Shanghai | June
1, 2020- May 30, 2023 | ||||||
7 | Zhouzhi Culture | L | : $23220/month | GFA: 9935sq ft | Xuhui District, Shanghai | May
15, 2021- January 14, 2023 | ||||||
8 | Qinshang Education | L | 04/01/2020
to 03/31/2022: $19,684/month 04/01/2022 to 03/31/2024: $20,669/month 04/01/2024 to 03/31/2025: $21,692/month |
GFA: 9,688 sq ft | Xuhui District, Shanghai | January
1, 2020- March 31, 2025 | ||||||
9 | Golden Sun Wenzhou | L | Free | GFA: 269 sq ft | Longwan District, Wenzhou City | October
22, 2021- October 21, 2024 | ||||||
10 | Lilong Logistics | L | Free | GFA: 269 sq ft | Longwan District, Wenzhou City | December
2, 2019- December 1, 2022 | ||||||
11 | Gongyu Education | L | Rent free until March 31, 2020, and $4,998/month subject to annual increase | GFA: 2,246 sq ft | Xuhui District, Shanghai | January
1, 2020- March 31, 2025 |
Our Golden Sun Wenzhou and Lilong Logistics locations are leased from the local government free of rent because of local government’s incentives programs for locations we lease. Except for one location that we pay rent based on frequency of use, all of our current leases contain priority renewal provisions which provide that we have the right of first refusal to renew the lease upon the expiration of the lease term. There is no renewal provision for two locations (Golden Sun Wenzhou and Lilong) that we are granted rights to use for free by the government. Upon the expiration of these grants, depending on the then operating situation of these locations, both for office use only, we may negotiate with the government for renewal or to move offices. We do not expect any material disruption to our operations for either option.
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Employees
We had 523, 632and 454 employees as of September 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. The number of our employees decreased due to our Reorganization which took place in September 2021. As of March 31, 2022, we had 494 employees. The majority of our employees are full-time and have signed employment agreements for two to three years, which are being renewed with substantially same terms upon the employee passing the end-of-contract evaluation. The following table sets forth the numbers of our employees, categorized by function as of March 2022.
As of March 2022 | As of September 30, 2019 | As of September 30, 2020 | As of September 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||
Teachers | 319 | 327 | 371 | 286 | ||||||||||||
Cafeteria and dining hall staff | 12 | 30 | 45 | 30 | ||||||||||||
Student living staff | 3 | 29 | 29 | - | ||||||||||||
Security and safety staff | 2 | 7 | 7 | 2 | ||||||||||||
Technology staff | 5 | 1 | 15 | 11 | ||||||||||||
Management and Administrative staff | 153 | 129 | 165 | 125 | ||||||||||||
Total | 494 | 523 | 632 | 454 |
As required by PRC laws and regulations, we participate in various employee social security plans for part of our employees that are administered by local governments, including housing, pension, medical insurance and unemployment insurance. We compensate our employees with basic salaries as well as performance-based bonuses. However, we did not make adequate social insurance and housing fund contributions for all employees as required by PRC regulations. None of our employees are represented by any collective bargaining arrangements, and we consider our relations with our employees to be good.
Intellectual Property
As of the date of this prospectus, we hold 11 trademarks and we are currently applying for 5 trademarks with the Trademark Office of SAIC in China.
Shanghai Jicai holds six copyrights to various textbooks that have been developed internally and provide a basis for improving the quality of our educational services. Our strategic plan calls for continued and extensive investment in maintaining and expanding these assets.
We have also registered six domain names with the China Internet Network Information Center.
To protect our intellectual properties, we rely on a combination of trademark, copyright and trade secret laws. From time to time, we are required to obtain licenses with respect to course materials owned by third parties for our educational services, in particular for our international program which requires foreign-language educational materials.
Insurance
We maintain insurance to cover students and teachers’ medical expenses for injuries they might sustain at our facilities. We also maintain insurance to cover our liability should any injuries occur at facilities. We do not maintain property insurance for facilities or vehicles, business interruption insurance, product liability insurance or key-man life insurance. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—We have limited insurance coverage with respect to our business and operations.” We consider our insurance coverage to be in line with that of other tutorial services providers of a similar scale in the respective areas in China.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we are subject to legal proceedings, investigations and claims incidental to the conduct of our business. We are not currently a party to any legal proceeding or investigation which, in the opinion of our management, is likely to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Seasonality
We do not experience seasonality in our overall operations.
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The Impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 outbreak was first reported in Wuhan and Hubei province in December 2019, and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted travel and the local economy across the PRC. In order to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the MOE issued a notice in February 2020, which, among other things, postponed the commencement of the spring semester for 2019/2020 school year for all universities, middle and high schools, elementary schools and kindergartens in the PRC, and encouraged the proliferation of online teaching. It further stipulated that all training service providers in the PRC are required to temporarily cease providing offline training services to students until authorized by the provincial education bureaus.
Accordingly, we postponed the commencement of the spring semester of all of tutorial centers and two schools we operated prior to the Reorganization. We interactively took measures to ensure teaching goals can be achieved, such as training our teachers to conduct classes online. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic varied depending on the teachers, students, and the method of teaching and learning before the pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant negative impact on our tutorial services in fiscal year 2020. Revenue from our tutorial program decreased by 14%, or approximately $1.1 million, from $7.9 million in fiscal year 2019 to $6.8 million in fiscal year 2020, due to the closure of tutoring classes as a result of restrictions on in-person sessions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic for the period from January 2020 to April 2020.
We also adjusted our marketing strategy to address the needs of our students. For example, because the results of learning might have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and thus, students expect that the outcome of their Gaokao and Zhongkao results will not be satisfactory or ideal, more students have been inquiring into our repeater programs. Hongkou Tutorial therefore has strengthened the marketing efforts to recruit more repeater students. Additionally, anticipating that many students may have to alter or postpone overseas study plans, we also strengthened our efforts to recruit students for language preparation courses inside China, rather than targeting sending those students overseas for language preparation.
Given the gradual decline in the number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in China in March 2020, the business activities in China started to resume. As such, we re-opened all of our schools and tutorial centers by May 2020. To facilitate the re-opening of our schools and tutorial centers, based on each school’s situation and learning environment, we have formulated and implemented COVID-19 response measures, including: (i) setting up disease prevention and control task force and laying out detailed policies and actions in preparation of reopen; and (ii) taking proactive measures to ensure the health of our teachers and students, including establishing students’ and teachers’ health files, educating and reinforcing personal hygiene measures, disinfecting and improving ventilation on campus, strictly enforcing 14-day isolation for those who traveled, stockpiling personal protective equipment, setting up temporary isolation location for those who have fever, staggering arrival and departure time for students, temperature check, and refraining from organizing gatherings.
In fiscal year 2021, the impact of COVID-19 on our operation was relatively limited. Our tutorial services revenue increased by approximately $6.7 million, or 98%, to approximately $13.5 million in fiscal year 2021, from approximately $6.8 million in fiscal year 2020. However, due to the strict COVID-19 prevention and control measures in China, traveling between different regions often becomes restricted from time to time, which has impeded Qinshang Education’s ability to expand its partner-schools across the country, and as a result the business development of Qinshang Education has not matched our prior expectations.
The extent of the impact on the Company’s future financial results will be dependent on future developments such as the length and severity of the crisis, the potential resurgence of the crisis, the virus variation, future government actions in response to the crisis and the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and capital markets, among many other factors, all of which remain highly uncertain and unpredictable. Given this uncertainty, the Company is currently unable to quantify the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its future operations, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations if the current situation continues. Please see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC - We face risks related to health epidemics, natural disasters, or terrorist attacks in China.” in this prospectus for more details.
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REGULATION
As we operate our business solely in China, our China-based operating entities are subject to a variety of PRC laws, rules and regulations across a number of aspects of our business. This section summarizes the principal PRC laws, rules and regulations relevant to our business and operations.
Regulations Related to Private Education
1. Education Law of PRC
On March 18, 1995, the National People’s Congress of the PRC, enacted the Education Law of PRC, or the Education Law, which was amended on August 27, 2009 and further amended on December 27, 2015. The Education Law sets forth provisions relating to the fundamental education systems of the PRC, including a school education system comprising infant school education, primary education, secondary education and higher education, a system of nine-year compulsory education, a national education examination system, and a system of education certificates. The Education Law stipulates that the state shall encourage enterprises, institutions, mass associations, other social organizations and private citizens to establish schools and other educational institutions in accordance with the law.
2. Law for Promoting Private Education of PRC
On December 28, 2002, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, promulgated the Law for Promoting Private Education of PRC, or the Law for Promoting Private Education and was later amended on December 29, 2018. Pursuant to the Law for Promoting Private Education, with regard to private schools, the State applies the principles of enthusiastic encouragement, vigorous support, correct guidance, and administration according to law. The sponsors of private schools may establish non-profit or for-profit private schools at their own discretion. However, they shall not establish for-profit private schools providing mandatory education. The sponsor of a non-profit private school shall not gain proceeds from school running, and the cash surplus of the school shall be used for school running. The sponsor of a for-profit private school may gain proceeds from school running, and the cash surplus of the school shall be disposed of in accordance with the Company Law and other relevant laws and administrative regulations. As of the date of this prospectus, among all of tutorial centers registered as schools, Hangzhou Jicai is a for-profit private school, , while Yangfushan Tutorial and Shanghai Jicai are not-for-profit schools.
Furthermore, according to Article 38 of the Law for Promoting Private Education, the items and rates of fees to be charged by private schools shall be determined according to the cost of running a school, market demand and other factors and made available to the public. They are subject to the supervision by the relevant authority. The measures for the collection of fees by non-profit private schools shall be formulated by the governments of respective provinces, autonomous regions and centrally-administered municipalities; the charging criteria of for-profit private schools are subject to market conditions and shall be determined by the schools themselves.
3. Implementation Rules for the Law for Promoting Private Education of the PRC
On March 5, 2004, the PRC State Council promulgated the Implementation Rules for the Law for Promoting Private Education of the PRC (the “Implementing Regulation”). According to the Implementing Regulation, any social organizations or individuals, except the state governments, may run non-state schools of different types and levels, other than any specialized non-state schools engaging in military, police or political education, with non-state financial funds.
On April 7, 2021, the revised Implementing Regulation was promulgated, and became effective on September 1, 2021. The revised Implementing Regulation regulates the establishment, organization and operation of private schools, teachers and educators, assets and financial management of schools, etc. The Implementing Regulation prohibits foreign investment in private schools. In addition, Article 13 of the Implementing Regulation states that “No social organization or individual may, by means of merger, acquisition, agreement-based control, etc., control any private school that provides compulsory education or any non-profit private school that provides pre-school education”. Furthermore, the Implementing Regulation prohibits a private school that provides compulsory education to conduct any transactions with any interested related party. Regarding the organization and operation of private schools, the Implementing Regulation further stipulates that members of the board or other forms of decision-making bodies of private schools that provide compulsory education, shall have the nationality of the People’s Republic of China and shall be appointed by the supervision and approval authority. In order to be compliant with the revised Implementing Regulation, the Company completed a Reorganization in September 2021 and divested the operations of two private schools through contractual arrangements. See “Prospectus Summary – Recent Development – The Reorganization”. It is the opinion of our PRC counsel that the Company is currently compliant with the revised Implementing Regulation.
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4. Several Opinions of the State Council on Encouraging the Operation of Education by Social Forces and Promoting the Healthy Development of Private Education
On December 29, 2016, the State Council issued the Several Rules of the State Council on Encouraging the Operation of Education by Social Forces and Promoting the Healthy Development of Private Education (Guofa [2016] No. 81), which aims to ease the access to the operation of private schools and encourages social forces to enter the education industry. The rules also provide that each level of the PRC government shall increase their support for the private schools in terms of financial investment, financial support, funding policy, preferential tax treatments, land policies, fee policies, autonomy operation, protection of the rights of teachers and students, etc.
5. Implementation Regulations on Classification Registration of Private Schools
On December 30, 2016, the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA), the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (currently known as the State Administration for Market Regulation) (SAIC), the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS), and the State Commission Office of Public Sectors Reform (SCOPSR) jointly issued the Implementation Rules on the Classification Registration of Private Schools (Jiaofa [2016] No. 19). If a private school established before promulgation of the Amendment chooses to register as a not-for-profit school, it shall amend its articles of association, continue its operation and complete the new registration process. If such private school chooses to register as a for-profit school, it shall conduct financial liquidation process, acquire the property rights of its assets such as lands, school buildings, and have its net balance examined by relevant government authorities. It shall also pay up relevant taxes, apply for a new Permit for Operating a Private School, re-register the for-profit school as a corporation and continue its operation. As of the date of this prospectus, the Company has determined to register and keep the status of not-for-profit for all of our existing not-for-profit schools.
6. Teachers Law of the People’s Republic of China
On October 31, 1993, the standing Committee of the National People’s Congress promulgated the Teachers Law of the People’s Republic of China (“Teachers Law”), which became effective on January 1, 1994, and was amended on August 27, 2009. According to the Teachers Law, China institute a system of qualifications for teachers, the qualifications for teachers in primary and middle schools shall be evaluated and approved by the administrative departments of education under the local people’s governments at or above the county level. Besides, Schools and other institutions of education shall gradually institute a system of appointment for teachers. Appointment of teachers shall be based on the principle of equality between both parties. The school and the teacher shall sign an appointment contract defining each other’s rights, obligations and responsibilities.
7. Local Regulations related to Private Education in Shanghai
On December 26, 2007, local government of Shanghai issued Implementation Opinions on Promoting the Healthy Development of Private Education. This Implementation Opinions provide guidance for the development of local private education. For example, this Implementation Opinions (1) details the implementation of classified management for profit/non-profit institutions and designates multiple government departments to jointly promote this work; (2) details the tuition reform arrangements, and clarifies that the charging standards of for-profit private schools are determined by the schools themselves; (3) emphasizes that private schools should pay social insurance premiums and housing provident funds for teachers and staff in full in accordance with the law. Besides, this Implementation Opinions also arranged specific work in other areas and designated corresponding responsible government agencies.
On December 18, 2017, The Shanghai Municipal Education Commission and other three institutions jointly issued the Standards for the Establishment of Private Training Institutions in Shanghai, The Measures for the Administration of For-profit private Training Institutions in Shanghai and the Measures for the Administration of Non-profit Private Training Institutions in Shanghai, which took effect on January 1, 2018.
According to the Standards for the Establishment of Private Training Institutions in Shanghai, the establishment of a private training institution in Shanghai shall meet the following basic conditions : (1) having organizers who meet the requirements of relevant laws, regulations and normative documents.; (2) having a lawful name, a standardized article of association and a necessary organizational structure; (3) having an internal management system that meets the requirements of relevant laws, regulations and rules.; (4) having the legal representative, the President (the person in charge of administration) and the main managerial personnel who meet the prescribed qualifications for the post; (5) having a contingent of teachers suitable for the type, level and scale of training; (6) having funds matching the training programs offered; (7) having premises, facilities and equipment suitable for the training program and the scale provided; (8) having a curriculum (training) plan and teaching materials corresponding to the training program offered; (9) other conditions prescribed by laws, regulations and rules.
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In addition, in view of the for-profit private training institutions and non-profit private training institutions, The Measures for the Administration of For-profit private Training Institutions in Shanghai and the Measures for the Administration of Non-profit Private Training Institutions in Shanghai make specific provisions respectively from aspects of recruiting students, collect fees, teaching activities, teachers’ personnel, assets and financial management, security management. Among them, the Measures for the Administration of Non-profit Private Training Institutions in Shanghai has made special provisions on the requirements of related training activities in the stage of compulsory education.
8. Local Regulations related to Private Education in Zhejiang
In 2018, Zhejiang province completed the construction of a new policy system for private education, including an overall guideline issued by the Zhejiang provincial government and seven supporting specific regulations. On December 26, 2017, Zhejiang Provincial government issued the Implementation Opinions on Encouraging Social Forces to Set up Education and Promoting the Healthy Development of Private Education, which stipulated in principle the development of private education from 21 aspects, including the classified management of for-profit private schools and non-profit private schools. Corresponding to this, government agencies under the provincial government have specifically formulated seven supporting local rules, including “Implementation Measures for the Change of Registration Types of Existing Private Schools”, “Measures for the Financial Settlement of Private Schools”, “Implementation Measures for Public Finance to Support the Development of Private Education”, “Implementation Measures for the Implementation of the Autonomy of Private Schools”, “Implementation Measures for the Construction of the System of Faculty Development in Private Schools “, “Measures for Financial Management of Private Schools” and “Measures for Information Disclosure and Information Management of Private Schools.”
9. Guideline to Significantly Reduce the Excessive Burden of Homework and After-school Tutoring for Students in Primary and Middle Schools (the “Guideline”)
The Guideline, jointly issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, was released on July 24, 2021. The Guideline mainly includes the following:
(1) Primary and middle schools shall reduce the amount and the difficulty of homework and offer after-school service with activities such as homework tutoring, sports, arts, reading, hobbies, and other extra-curricular activities.
(2) Educational departments should use national and local education teaching resource platforms and school network platforms to provide students with high-quality educational resources and learning resources covering all grades and subjects for free.
(3) Regulate the development of tutoring institutions, including: (a) tutoring institutions providing after-school tutoring services on academic subjects in China’s compulsory education system, or Academic AST Institutions, need to be registered as non-profit, no approval will be granted to new Academic AST Institutions, and an approval mechanism will be adopted for online Academic AST Institutions; (b) local government shall clarify the corresponding competent authorities for the management of different types of tutoring institutions for non-academic course; (c) Academic AST Institutions are strictly prohibited from conducting capitalized operations, including IPO, accepting investment from listed companies whose investment funds are from stock market financing, or sales of assets to listed companies; (d) foreign capital is not allowed to control or participate in Academic AST Institutions through mergers and acquisitions, entrusted operations, franchise chains, and the use of variable interest entities; (e) tutoring institutions are not allowed to teach foreign education courses or content too advanced for the school curriculum; (f) tutoring institutions cannot conduct academic course training on weekends, national holidays or winter and summer vacations; (g) personnel providing academic subject training services must have corresponding teacher qualifications, and the teacher qualification information must be displayed in the tutoring institutions’ premises or on their websites; (h) strictly control the excessive influx of capital into tutoring institutions, the financing and fees of tutoring institutions should be mainly used for training business operations; (i) unfair competition in the form of fictitious original prices, false discounts, and false propaganda for the promotion of business are strictly prohibited, and industry monopolies shall be resolutely investigated and dealt with in accordance with laws and regulations; (j) online training should pay attention to protecting the eyesight of students - each online session should be no more than 30 minutes, the interval between courses should be no less than 10 minutes, and the training end time should be no later than 9pm; (k) online tutoring institutions shall not provide and disseminate unhealthy learning methods such as “photographic search for questions”; and (k) it is strictly forbidden to hire foreign personnel who are not in China to carry out training activities.
(4) Improve the overall quality of education and accelerate the reduction of the education quality gap between urban and rural areas, regions, and schools.
(5) Strengthen the management of tutoring institutions advertisements. Mainstream media, new media, public places, various billboards and online platforms in residential areas, etc. shall not publish or broadcast tutoring institutions advertisements. Commercial advertising activities shall not be carried out in primary and middle schools and kindergartens, and advertisements shall not be published or disguised in disguised form using textbooks, auxiliary materials, exercise books, stationery, teaching aids, school uniforms, school buses, etc.
On July 28, 2021, to further clarify the scope of academic subjects provided by Academic AST Institutions in China’s compulsory education system, the PRC Ministry of Education issued a notice (the “Notice”). The Notice specifies that academic subjects include the following courses provided in accordance with the learning content of the national curriculum standards: Morality and Law, Chinese Language, History, Geography, Mathematics, foreign languages (English, Japanese, and Russian), Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
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In accordance with the Guideline and the Notice, the Company currently assesses that its tutorial centers are not Academic AST Institutions that provide academic subjects in China’s compulsory education system. Yangfushan Tutorial offers Gaokao repeater tutorial program to high school students who retake Gaokao; Hongkou Tutorial offers various English and other foreign language tutorial programs and Gaokao and Zhongkao repeater tutorial programs; Jicai Tutorial offers non-English foreign language tutorial programs. Neither the Gaokao repeater tutorial program nor the Zhongkao repeater tutorial programs offer academic subjects included on the Notice, and the foreign language programs provided by Hongkou Tutorial and Jicai Tutorial are not provided in accordance with “learning content of the national curriculum standards”. To confirm its assessment, after the issuance of the Guideline, the Company contacted local government authorities and received verbal confirmation that its three tutorial institutions are not Academic AST Institutions and shall not be implicated by the restrictions in Paragraph 3 targeting Academic AST Institutions.
Regulations Relating to Foreign Investment
1. Foreign Investment Law of PRC
On March 15, 2019, the National People’s Congress approved the Foreign Investment Law of PRC, or the Foreign Investment Law, which replaces the Sino-foreign Joint Ventures Law of PRC, the Sino-foreign Cooperative Enterprises Law of PRC and the Foreign Investment Enterprise Law of PRC.
The Foreign Investment Law aims to further open up and expand the Chinese market, promote foreign investment and protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors. The Foreign Investment Law defines the foreign investment as direct or indirect investment by foreign investors in China. It includes the following categories: (i) foreign investors alone or jointly with other investors establish a foreign investment enterprise in China; (ii) foreign investors acquire shares, equity, property shares or other similar rights and interests in Chinese domestic enterprises; (iii) foreign investors alone or jointly with other investors invest in new projects in China; and (iv)legal and administrative investment in other ways specified by regulations or the State Council.
The Foreign Investment Law stipulates the pre-access national treatment and negative list management system for foreign investment. Under the Pre-entry National Treatment, foreign investors enjoy at least the same level of market access to investment with domestic investors. The Negative List refers to the special administrative measures required by the government to implement foreign investment in certain industries. The Negative List stipulates that foreign investors are not allowed to invest in industries where investment is prohibited. The Negative List also stipulates industries where investment is restricted, and foreign investors should meet the relevant stipulated conditions. China grants national treatment to foreign investment outside of the negative list. The Negative List shall be approved by the State Council and published after approval.
The Foreign Investment Law stipulates that the PRC government shall not expropriate or requisition the investment of foreign investors, except under special circumstances in accordance with the existing law and regulations. In case of expropriation or requisition, statutory procedures shall be followed, and fair and reasonable compensation shall be made in a timely manner. Foreign investors may, according to the present law and regulations, freely remit into or out of China, in RMB or any other foreign currency, their capital contributions, profits, capital gains, income from asset disposal, intellectual property royalties, lawfully acquired compensation, indemnity or liquidation income, etc., within the territory of China. The PRC government shall protect the intellectual property of foreign investors and foreign-funded enterprises, as well as the legitimate rights and interests of intellectual property obligees and relevant obligations.
2. Implementation Regulations for the Foreign Investment Law of PRC
On December 26, 2019, the State Council promulgated the Implementation Regulations for the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China, which stipulate implementation measures and detailed rules to ensure the effective implementation of the Foreign Investment Law.
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3. Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for Foreign Investment Access (Edition 2021)
On June 23, 2020, the Ministry of Commerce and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly promulgated the Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for Foreign Investment Access (Edition 2020)which is further amended on December 27,2021. Negative List (Edition 2021) stimulates that pre-school education, ordinary high school and higher education institutions are subject to Sino-foreign cooperative education, and must be led by the Chinese Party (the president or the chief executive shall have Chinese nationality, and the Chinese Party shall comprise not less than half of the council, board or joint administrative committee).
It is prohibited to invest in mandatory education institutions or religious education institutions. Furthermore, training business is not on the Negative List (Edition 2021).
Regulations Related to Intellectual Property Rights
1. Trademark
The SCNPC adopted The Trademark Law of PRC in 1982 and revised it in 1993, 2001, 2013 and 2019 respectively, with its implementation rules adopted in 2002 and revised in 2014 by the State Council. The PRC Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, currently known as PRC State Intellectual Property Office of the State Administration for Market Regulation, or the Trademark Office, handles trademark registrations and grants a protection term of ten years to registered trademarks which may be renewed for consecutive ten-year periods upon request by the trademark owner. The PRC Trademark Law has adopted a ‘first-to-file’ principle with respect to trademark registration. Where a trademark for which a registration has been made is identical or similar to another trademark which has already been registered or been subject to a preliminary examination and approval for use on the same kind of or similar commodities or services, the application for registration of such trademark may be rejected. Any person applying for the registration of a trademark may not prejudice the existing right first obtained by others, nor may any person register in advance a trademark that has already been used by another party and has already gained a ‘sufficient degree of reputation’ through such party’s use.
2. Patents
The SCNPC adopted the Patent Law of PRC in 1984 and amended it in 1992, 2000 and 2008, respectively. A patentable invention, utility model or design must meet three conditions, namely novelty, inventiveness and practical applicability. Patents cannot be granted for scientific discoveries, rules and methods for intellectual activities, methods used to diagnose or treat diseases, animal and plant breeds or substances obtained by means of nuclear transformation. The Patent Office under the State Intellectual Property Office is responsible for receiving, examining and approving patent applications. A patent is valid for a twenty-year term for an invention and a ten-year term for a utility model or design, both starting from the application date. Except under certain specific circumstances provided by law, any third-party user must obtain consent or a proper license from the patent owner to use the patent, otherwise the use will constitute an infringement of the rights of the patent holder.
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3. Copyright
The SCNPC adopted The Copyright Law of PRC in 1982 and revised it in 2010. Work of Chinese citizens, legal persons or other organizations shall enjoy copyright pursuant to this Law regardless of whether they are published. Work shall include literature, art and natural science, social science, engineering and technical work created in the following forms: (1) Written works; (2) Oral works; (3) Musical, dramatic, opera, dance, acrobatic artistic works; (4) Art, architectural works; (5) Photographic works;(6) Film work and work created using methods similar to film making; (7) Graphic works and model works such as engineering design plan, product design plan, map, schematic diagram, etc.; (8) Computer software; and (9) Any other work stipulated by laws and administrative regulations. Persons who have committed the infringement acts shall bear civil liability to stop the infringement, eliminate the impact, make apologies, compensate losses, etc., in accordance with the circumstances.
4. Domain Name
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology promulgated the Administrative Measures on Internet Domain Names in 2017. Pursuant to such measures, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is in charge of the overall administration of domain names in China. Domain name registration services shall in principle implement “first apply first register”. A domain name applicant will become the domain name holder upon the completion of the application procedure.
Regulations Related to Employment
On June 29, 2007, the SCNPC, adopted the Labor Contract Law of PRC, or the Labor Contract Law, which became effective as of January 1, 2008 and was revised in 2012. The Labor Contract Law requires employers to enter into written contracts with their employees, restricts the use of temporary workers. Pursuant to the Labor Contract Law, employment contracts lawfully executed prior to the implementation of the Labor Contract Law and continuing as of the date of its implementation will continue to be performed. Where an employment relationship was established prior to the implementation of the Labor Contract Law but no written employment contract was concluded, a contract must be concluded within one month after the Labor Contract Law’s implementation. All PRC enterprises are generally required to implement a standard working time system of eight hours a day and forty hours a week, and if the implementation of such standard working time system is not appropriate due to the nature of the job or the characteristics of business operation, the enterprise may implement a flexible working time system or comprehensive working time system after obtaining approvals from the relevant authorities. According to the Social Insurance Law promulgated by SCNPC effective from July 1, 2011, Regulation of Insurance for Work-Related Injury, Provisional Measures on Insurance for Maternity of Employees, Regulation of Unemployment Insurance, Decision of the State Council on Setting Up Basic Medical Insurance System for Staff Members and Workers in Cities and Towns, Interim Regulation on the Collection and Payment of Social Insurance Premiums and Interim Provisions on Registration of Social Insurance, an employer is required to contribute the social insurance for its employees in China, including the basic pension insurance, basic medical insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance and injury insurance. Under the Regulations on the Administration of Housing Funds, promulgated by the State Council on April 3, 1999 and as amended on March 24, 2002, an employer is required to make contributions to a housing fund for its employees. Our PRC operating entities participate in various employee social security plans for part of our employees that are administered by local governments, including housing, pension, medical insurance and unemployment insurance. Our PRC operating entities compensate our employees with basic salaries as well as performance-based bonuses. However, our PRC operating entities did not make adequate social insurance and housing fund contributions for all employees as required by PRC regulations. See “Risks Related to Our Business—Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.”
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Regulations Related to Foreign Exchange
From 2012, SAFE has promulgated several circulars to substantially amend and simplify the current foreign exchange procedure. Pursuant to these circulars, the opening of various special purpose foreign exchange accounts, the reinvestment of RMB proceeds by foreign investors in the PRC and remittance of foreign exchange profits and dividends by a foreign-invested enterprise to its foreign shareholders no longer require the approval or verification of SAFE. In addition, domestic companies are no longer limited to extend cross-border loans to their offshore subsidiaries but are also allowed to provide loans to their offshore parents and affiliates and multiple capital accounts for the same entity may be opened in different provinces. SAFE also promulgated the Circular on Printing and Distributing the Provisions on Foreign Exchange Administration over Domestic Direct Investment by Foreign Investors and the Supporting Documents in May 2013, which specifies that the administration by SAFE or its local branches over direct investment by foreign investors in the PRC shall be conducted by way of registration and banks shall process foreign exchange business relating to the direct investment in the PRC based on the registration information provided by SAFE and its branches. In February 2015, SAFE promulgated SAFE Circular 13, which took effect on June 1, 2015. SAFE Circular 13 delegates the power to enforce the foreign exchange registration in connection with inbound and outbound direct investments under relevant SAFE rules from local branches of SAFE to banks, thereby further simplifying the foreign exchange registration procedures for inbound and outbound direct investments.
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 (the “Circular 19”), effective on June 1, 2015, in replacement of SAFE Circular 142 (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. According to 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 or the repayment of inter-enterprise loans or the repayment of banks loans that have been transferred to a third party. Although Circular 19 allows RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise to be used for equity investments within the PRC, it also reiterates the principle that RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope. Thus, it is unclear whether SAFE will permit such capital to be used for equity investments in the PRC in actual practice. SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account (the “Circular 16”), effective on June 9, 2016, which reiterates some of the rules set forth in Circular 19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to issue loans to non-associated enterprises. Violations of SAFE Circular 19 or Circular 16 could result in administrative penalties.
On January 26, 2017, SAFE issued the Notice of State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Improving the Check of Authenticity and Compliance to Further Promote Foreign Exchange Control (the “SAFE Circular 3”), which stipulates several capital control measures with respect to the outbound remittance of profit from domestic entities to offshore entities, including (i) under the principle of genuine transaction, banks shall check board resolutions regarding profit distribution, the original version of tax filing records and audited financial statements; and (ii) domestic entities shall hold income to account for previous years’ losses before remitting the profits. Moreover, pursuant to SAFE Circular 3, domestic entities shall make detailed explanations of the sources of capital and utilization arrangements, and provide board resolutions, contracts and other proof when completing the registration procedures in connection with an outbound investment.
Under our current structure, our income will primarily derive from dividend payments from our subsidiaries in China. Even though we may remit the income outside of China, the fluctuation of exchange rate may be a disadvantage to us if RMB depreciates.
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Regulations Related to Taxation
1. Enterprise Income Tax
On March 16, 2007, the National People’s Congress enacted the Enterprise Income Tax Law of PRC, or the Enterprise Income Tax Law, while the State Council promulgated the Implementing Rules of the Enterprise Income Tax Law of PRC, or the Implementing Rules on December 6, 2007, both of which became effective on January 1, 2008. The Enterprise Income Tax Law was further amended by SCNPC on February 24, 2017, which stimulates that corporate income tax shall be payable by a resident enterprise for income derived from or accruing in or outside China. Corporate income tax shall be payable by a non-resident enterprise, for income derived from or accruing in China by its office or premises established in China, and for income derived from or accruing outside China for which the established office or premises has a de facto relationship. The corporate income tax shall be at the rate of 25%. The applicable tax rate for income of a non-resident enterprise under the provisions of the third paragraph of Article 3 shall be 20%. Corporate income tax for qualified small profit enterprises shall be at a reduced tax rate of 20%. Corporate income tax for key advanced and new technology enterprises supported by the State shall be at a reduced tax rate of 15%. On the other hand, the State Administration of Taxation provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a PRC-controlled offshore enterprise is located in China. Simply speaking, the criteria is more focused on substantive rather than format. Pursuant to its Circular 82 of 2009, the criteria to determine “de facto management body” include: (a) the senior management and core management departments in charge of its daily operations function have their presence mainly in the PRC; (b) its financial and human resources decisions are subject to determination or approval by persons or bodies in the PRC; (c) its major assets, accounting books, company seals, and minutes and files of its board and shareholders’ meetings are located or kept in the PRC; and (d) more than half of the enterprise’s directors or senior management with voting rights habitually reside in the PRC. Furthermore, the SAT published Bulletin 45 in September 2011, which provides more guidance on the implementation of the definition and provides for procedures and administration details on determining resident status and administration on post-determination matters. However, the SAT Circular 82 and Bulletin 45 only apply to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups rather than those controlled by PRC individuals or foreign individuals. So far there is no further criteria passed yet and no applicable legal precedents either, therefore it remains unclear how the PRC tax authorities will determine the PRC tax resident treatment of a foreign company controlled by individuals. Under these existing criteria, it is possible that we will be classified as a PRC “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes. If so, it would likely result in unfavorable tax consequences to our non-PRC shareholders and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment. Please see “Risk Factors— Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC - Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, we may be classified as a PRC “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes. Such classification would likely result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.” for more details.
On August 21, 2006, China and Hong Kong SAR signed the Arrangement between Mainland China and Hong Kong SAR concerning Avoiding Double Taxation and Preventing Tax Evasion on Income. When a Chinese company distributes dividends to Hong Kong residents (beneficiary owners of dividends), if the recipient directly owns at least 25% of the equity interest in the above-mentioned Chinese company, the Chinese withholding tax rate is 5%, otherwise it is 10%.
On October 14, 2019, the State Administration of Taxation promulgated the Announcement of State Taxation Administration on Promulgation of the Administrative Measures on Non-resident Taxpayers Enjoying Treaty Benefits, which stimulate that non-resident taxpayers claiming treaty benefits shall be handled in accordance with the principles of “self-assessment, claiming benefits, retention of the relevant materials for future inspection”. Where a non-resident taxpayer self-assesses and concludes that it satisfies the criteria for claiming treaty benefits, it may enjoy treaty benefits at the time of tax declaration or at the time of withholding through the withholding agent, simultaneously gather and retain the relevant materials pursuant to the provisions of these Measures for future inspection, and accept follow-up administration by the tax authorities.
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2. Value-Added Tax
On December 13, 1993, the State Council promulgated the Provisional Regulations on Value-added Tax (VAT) of PRC and revised on November 10, 2008, February 6, 2016, and November 19, 2017. On December 25, 1993, the Ministry of Finance promulgated the Implementation Rules for the Provisional Regulations on Value-added Tax of PRC, which were revised on December 15, 2008 and October 28, 2011. The organizations and individuals engaging in sale of goods or processing, repair and assembly services, sale of services, intangible assets, immovables and importation of goods in the People’s Republic of China shall be taxpayers of VAT, and shall pay VAT pursuant to these Regulations.
On November 16, 2011, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation promulgated the Pilot Plan for Imposition of Value-Added Tax to Replace Business Tax. On March 23, 2016, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation further promulgated the Notice on Fully Promoting the Pilot Plan for Replacing Business Tax by Value-Added Tax, which stimulate that the income from the provision of educational services that is exempt from VAT refers to the income from the provision of academic education services for students participating in the government-designated enrollment plan, including tuition, accommodation, teaching materials, and textbook fees that have been inspected and approved by relevant government agencies and collected in accordance with prescribed standards And examination registration fees, as well as income from catering expenses provided by the school cafeteria. In addition to the above income, the sponsorship fees and school selection fees collected by the school in any name are subject to VAT.
Regulations Related to PRC Company
The Company Law of PRC, or the Company Law was promulgated on December 29, 1993 and revised on December 25, 1999, August 28, 2004, October 27, 2005, December 28, 2013, and October 26, 2018. According to the Company Law, companies are generally divided into two categories: limited liability companies and joint stock limited companies. The Company Law also applies to foreign-invested limited liability companies, but if other relevant laws on foreign investment provide otherwise, those provisions shall be adopted. The Company Law revised in 2013 abolished the general time limit for shareholders to make full capital contributions to the company, unless other relevant laws, administrative regulations and decisions of the State Council may provide otherwise for companies in specific industries. Generally speaking, shareholders can set the time limit for capital contribution by themselves in the company’s articles of association. In addition, the first payment of the company’s registered capital is no longer restricted by the minimum amount, and the company’s business license will no longer record its paid-up capital. In addition, the shareholders’ contribution to the registered capital does not need to be verified by a capital verification agency.
Regulations Related to Property
On March 16, 2007, the National People’s Congress promulgated the Property Law of PRC, or the Property Law, which forbids schools, kindergartens, hospitals and other public institutions and social organizations to mortgage educational facilities, medical and health facilities and other public welfare facilities.
On May 28, 2020, the National People’s Congress promulgated the Civil Code of PRC, or the Civil Code, which will become effective on January 1, 2021. The Civil Code merged and replaced a series of special laws in the field of civil law, including the Property Law. The Civil Code stipulates that non-profit legal persons established for public welfare purposes, such as schools, kindergartens, and medical institutions, shall not mortgage their educational facilities, medical and health facilities and other public welfare facilities. In practice, the Civil Code limits the ban on property mortgages to non-profit private schools. However, since the Civil Code is newly promulgated, its interpretation and implementation may be open to change.
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Regulations Related to Dividend Distribution
The principal regulations governing the distribution of dividends paid by WFOEs include the PRC Company Law. Under the PRC Company Law, WFOEs in China may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, as determined in accordance with the PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, a WFOE in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards each year to its general reserves until its cumulative total reserve funds reaches 50% of its registered capital. These reserve funds, however, may not be distributed as cash dividends.
Regulations Related to Foreign Exchange Registration of Offshore Investment by PRC Residents
In July 2014, SAFE issued SAFE Circular 37, which regulates foreign exchange matters in relation to the use of SPVs by PRC residents or entities to seek offshore investment and financing or conduct round trip investment in China. Under SAFE Circular 37, an SPV refers to an offshore entity established or controlled, directly or indirectly, by PRC residents or entities for the purpose of seeking offshore financing or making offshore investment, using legitimate domestic or offshore assets or interests, while “round trip investment” refers to the direct investment in China by PRC residents or entities through SPVs, namely, establishing foreign-invested enterprises (namely, Golden Sun Shanghai and Golden Sun Wenzhou) to obtain the ownership, control rights, and management rights of Ouhai Art School. Circular 37 requires that, before making contributions to an SPV, PRC residents or entities are required to complete foreign exchange registration with SAFE or its local branch.
In February 2015, SAFE promulgated SAFE Notice 13. SAFE Notice 13 has amended SAFE Circular 37 by requiring PRC residents or entities to register with qualified banks instead of SAFE or its local branch in connection with their establishment of an SPV.
In addition, pursuant to SAFE Circular 37, an amendment to registration or subsequent filing with qualified banks by such PRC resident is also required if there is a material change with respect to the capital of the offshore company, such as any change of basic information (including change of such PRC residents, change of name, and operation term of the SPV), increases or decreases in investment amount, transfers or exchanges of shares, or mergers or divisions. Failure to comply with these registration requirements as set forth in SAFE Circular 37 and SAFE Notice 13, and misrepresentation on or failure to disclose controllers of foreign-invested enterprises that are established by round-trip investment may result in bans on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant onshore company, including the payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent or affiliates, and may also subject relevant PRC residents to penalties under the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations of the PRC.
All of our shareholders who are subject to the SAFE Circular 37 have completed the initial registrations with the qualified banks as required by SAFE Circular 37.
Regulations Related to Foreign Debt
As an offshore holding company, we may make additional capital contributions to Golden Sun Shanghai or Golden Sun Wenzhou subject to approval from the local department of commerce and SAFE, with no limitation on the amount of capital contributions. We may also make loans to Golden Sun Shanghai or Golden Sun Wenzhou subject to the approval from SAFE or its local office and the limitation on the amount of loans.
By means of making loans, Golden Sun Wenzhou is subject to the relevant PRC laws and regulation relating to foreign debts. On January 8, 2003, the NDRC, SAFE, and Ministry of Finance, or “MOF,” jointly promulgated the Circular on the Interim Provisions on the Management of Foreign Debts, or the “Foreign Debts Provisions,” which became effective on March 1, 2003, and was partially abolished on May 10, 2015. Pursuant to the Foreign Debts Provisions, the total amount of foreign loans received by a foreign-invested enterprise shall not exceed the difference between the total investment in projects as approved by the MOFCOM or its local counterpart and the amount of registered capital of such foreign-invested enterprise. In addition, on January 12, 2017, the People’s Bank of China, or the “PBOC”, issued the PBOC Circular 9, which sets out the statutory upper limit on the foreign debts for PRC non-financial entities, including both foreign-invested enterprises and domestic-invested enterprises. Pursuant to the PBOC Circular 9, the foreign debt upper limit for both foreign-invested enterprises and domestic-invested enterprises is calculated as twice the net assets of such enterprises. As to net assets, the enterprises shall take the net assets value stated in their latest audited financial statements.
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The PBOC Circular 9 does not supersede the Foreign Debts Provisions, but rather serve as a supplement to it. It provides a one-year transitional period from January 11, 2017 for foreign-invested enterprises, during which foreign-invested enterprises, such as Golden Sun Shanghai and Golden Sun Wenzhou, could adopt their calculation method of foreign debt upper limit based on either the Foreign Debts Provisions or the PBOC Circular 9. The transitional period ended on January 11, 2018. Upon its expiry, pursuant to the PBOC Circular 9, the PBOC and SAFE shall re-evaluate the calculation method for foreign-invested enterprises and determine what the applicable calculation method should be. As of the date of this prospectus, neither the PBOC nor SAFE has promulgated and made public any further rules, regulations, notices, or circulars in this regard.
See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—PRC regulation of parent/subsidiary loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of this offering to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC operating subsidiary, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.”
Regulations Related to Social Welfare
Under the Social Insurance Law of the PRC that was promulgated by the SCNPC on October 28, 2010 and came into force as of July 1, 2011, and most recently amended on December 29, 2018, together with other laws and regulations, employers are required to pay basic pension insurance, unemployment insurance, basic medical insurance, employment injury insurance, maternity insurance, and other social insurance for its employees at specified percentages of the salaries of the employees, up to a maximum amount specified by the local government regulations from time to time. On July 20, 2018, the General Office of the State Council issued the Plan for Reforming the State and Local Tax Collection and Administration Systems, which stipulated that the SAT will become solely responsible for collecting social insurance premiums. When an employer fails to fully pay social insurance premiums, relevant social insurance collection agency shall order it to make up for any shortfall within a prescribed time limit, and may impose a late payment fee at the rate of 0.05% per day of the outstanding amount from the due date. If such employer still fails to make up for the shortfalls within the prescribed time limit, the relevant administrative authorities shall impose a fine of one to three times the outstanding amount upon such employer.
In accordance with the Regulations on the Management of Housing Fund which was promulgated by the State Council in 1999 and recently amended in 2019, employers must register at the designated administrative centers and open bank accounts for depositing employees’ housing funds. Employer and employee are also required to pay and deposit housing funds, with an amount no less than 5% of the monthly average salary of the employee in the preceding year in full and on time.
As of the date of this prospectus, our PRC Affiliated Entities have not paid the social insurance and housing funds for our employees in full and could be required to pay outstanding contributions and penalties. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—Our PRC Affiliated Entities did have not made adequate social insurance and housing fund contributions for all employees as required by PRC regulations previously, which may subject us to penalties.”
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Set forth below is information concerning our directors, executive officers, and other key employees.
The following individuals are our executive management and members of the board of directors.
Name | Age | Position(s) | ||
Xueyuan Weng | 57 | Chairman, Director, Chief Executive Officer | ||
Yunan Huang | 44 | Chief Financial Officer | ||
Xiaoyi Wang | 36 | Chief Operating Officer | ||
Liming Xu | 60 | Director | ||
Peilin Ji | 64 | Director | ||
Pengmun Foo* | 50 | Independent Director Nominee | ||
Robert Travers* | 36 | Independent Director Nominee | ||
Wenlong Xia* | 49 | Independent Director Nominee | ||
Jin’an Li* | 44 | Independent Director Nominee |
* | This individual has indicated his consent to occupy such position upon effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. |
The following is a brief biography of each of our executive officers and directors:
Mr. Xueyuan Weng has served as a director of Golden Sun Cayman since its inception in September 2018, the executive director of Golden Sun Wenzhou since October 2018, the chief executive officer of Chongwen Middle School since August 2018, the executive director of Yinuo Education Technology Co., Ltd., a technology company servicing the education sector since November 2017, the executive director of Gongyu Education since September 2017, the chairman of Golden Sun Hong Kong since June 2017, the executive director of Shanghai Golden Sun Education Technology Co., Ltd., a technology company focuses on the development of education software and computer software, since December 2015, the chief executive officer of Ouhai Art School since March 2015, the chairman of Golden Sun Shanghai since November 2013, the supervisor of Wenzhou Kunlong Industrial Co., Ltd., a company that intends to engage in the research and development of educational device and computer software, since April 2010 and the chairman of the board of supervisors of Yangfushan Tutorial since April 2008. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Weng served as the chairmen of Wenzhou New Thought Education Group from September 2000 to August 2008. He served as the chairman of Wenzhou New Century School from September 1997 to August 2000. Prior to that, he worked at various local middle schools and the local government in Whenzhou from 1986 to 1997. Mr. Weng received and EMBA degree from Macau University of Science and Technology in 2009 and graduated from Wenzhou Teachers College with a major in Political Science in 1986.
Ms. Yunan Huang has served the chief financial officer of Golden Sun Cayman since September 2020. From July 2010 to December 2019, she served as the deputy general manager and board secretary of Guangdong Guixin Electronics Technology Co., Ltd., a Guangzhou-based semiconductors company. From July 2009 to July 2010, she served as the assistant to the chairman of Qiaojiangnan Co., Ltd., a Beijing-based restaurant services and management company. Ms. Huang received an MBA from the National University of Singapore in 2008, an MBA from Beijing University in 2009, and a bachelor’s degree in international business English from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. She holds a Certified Management Accountant Certification by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a Chartered Global Management Accountant Certification by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, and a CPA certification by the CPA Australia.
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Ms. Xiaoyi Wang has served as the chief operating officer of Golden Sun Cayman since September 2020. From May 2014 to July 2020, she served as the executive deputy principal of Hongkou Tutorial. From April 2014 to July 2010, she served as the assistant to the principal of Shanghai Huangpu Youth Continuing Education School. Ms. Wang has 10 years of school management experience and is familiar with all aspects of operating a school. She received an MBA from Shanghai International Studies University (“SISU”) in 2018, spending time studying at Halmstad University in Sweden and ESIC Business & Marketing School in Spain and a bachelor’s degree from the SISU in Advertisement (English) in 2010.
Mr. Liming Xu has served as the Company’s director since November 10, 2020. He has also served as the chairman of the board of directors of Hongkou Tutorial since May 2014. From May 2002 to April 2014, Mr. Xu served as the principal of Shanghai Huangpu Youth Continuing Education School. He has over 35 years of experience as an educator and in managing schools. He received a bachelor’s degree in physics from Jiangxi Normal University in 1984.
Ms. Peilin Ji has served as the Company’s director since November 10, 2020. Since January 2013, she has invested in various companies in the restaurant and education industries. She has been engaging in various investment activities since 2007. Previously, she was the business operator for Shanghai Sports Lottery from January 2004 to September 2006, and Yangpu district night market from February 1987 to December 2003. She graduated from Tongji High School in 1975.
Mr. Pengmun Foo is an independent director nominee of Golden Sun Cayman. From January 2014 to August 2019, Mr. Fu served as the chief financial officer of Hebron Technology Co., Ltd., a Wenzhou-based NASDAQ listed company engaged in developing, manufacturing and providing customized installation of valves and pipe fittings for use in the pharmaceutical, biological, food and beverage, and other clean industries, and he also served as the director of Hebron Technology Co., Ltd. from January 2014 to November 2018. Mr. Fu also served as a director and the chief financial officer of SOS Health Rescue Services Ltd., one of the largest health rescue services providers in China, offering the equivalent of a private 911 call service for emergencies. Mr. Fu has over 24 years of investment, financing experience as well as financial management and restructuring work experience in Asia, and he has extensive leadership experience in strategy, financial management and capital markets. Mr. Fu is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Mr. Fu received a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, in 1996.
Mr. Robert Travers is an independent director nominee of Golden Sun Cayman. Mr. Travers is a serial entrepreneur. He is a part-owner and consultant for various companies and clients across the US, specializing in sales, business development, product management and partnerships. Since January 2014, he served as the managing director and consultant of Lost Lighter LLC, a U.S.-based software developer. Mr. Travers received a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship & small business management from Quinnipiac University in 2009.
Mr. Wenlong Xia is an independent director nominee of Golden Sun Cayman. He is the founder and has served as the president of Accord Power Inc., a New York-based a solar photovoltaic company since its establishment in June 2011. In 2018, Mr. Xia was elected the president of Sino-American Commerce Association, a New York-based non-profit organization with more than 110 small businesses as members and has been serving as the president since then. Prior to founding Accord Power, Mr. Xia worked at several various global investment banks for twenty years, specializing in risk analysis and management, and financial modelling for multi-billion dollar portfolios. Ms. Xia received a master’s degree in computer science and engineering from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1985, and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Beijing Aeronautics Institute in 1982.
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Mr. Jin’an Li is an independent director nominee of Golden Sun Cayman. He has served as the chairman of Shanghai Houyouan Asset Management Co., Ltd., an asset management company since March 2018, and the chief strategy officer of Guohou Finance Asset Management Co., Ltd., an asset management company since January 2018. From March 2015 to January 2018, he served as the chief executive officer and chief risk officer of China Securities Credit Investment Co., Ltd. (“China Securities”), a credit technology provider, and the chairman of China Securities (Shanghai) Credit Investment Co., Ltd., the Shanghai branch of China Securities. He has over 20 years of experience in managing several well-recognized securities firm in China, and has ample experience in securities in finance, particularly in a public company’s operations, management, and investments. He received an EMBA from Shanghai National Accounting Institute in 2007, an MBA from the W. P. Carey School of Business of Arizona State University in 2007, a PhD in finance in 2005, a master’s degree in money and banking from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 1996, and a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics in 1989.
Our officers are appointed by and serve at the discretion of our board of directors and the shareholders voting by ordinary resolution. Our directors are not subject to a set term of office and hold office until the next general meeting called for the election of directors and until their successor is duly appointed or such time as they die, resign or are removed from office by a shareholders’ ordinary resolution. The office of a director will be vacated automatically if, among other things, the directors resigns in writing, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his/her creditors generally or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind.
For additional information, see “Description of Share Capital—Directors.”
Family Relationships
None of our directors or executive officers has a family relationship as defined in Item 401 of Regulation S-K.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
To the best of our knowledge, none of our directors or executive officers has, during the past 10 years, been involved in any legal proceedings described in subparagraph (f) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K.
Board of Directors
Our board of directors will consist of seven directors upon closing of this offering, four of whom shall be “independent” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq listing rules and will meet the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.
Duties of Directors
Under Cayman Islands law, all of our directors owe three types of duties to us: (i) statutory duties, (ii) fiduciary duties, and (iii) common law duties. The Companies Act (2021 Revision) of the Cayman Islands imposes a number of statutory duties on a director. A Cayman Islands director’s fiduciary duties are not codified, however, the courts of the Cayman Islands have held that a director owes the following fiduciary duties: (a) a duty to act in what the director bona fide considers to be in the best interests of the company, (b) a duty to exercise their powers for the purposes they were conferred, (c) a duty to avoid fettering his or her discretion in the future and (d) a duty to avoid conflicts of interest and of duty. The common law duties owed by a director are those to act with skill, care and diligence that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director in relation to the company and, also, to act with the skill, care and diligence in keeping with a standard of care commensurate with any particular skill they have which enables them to meet a higher standard than a director without those skills. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our articles of association expected to be amended and effective on or before the completion of this offering. We have the right to seek damages if a duty owed by any of our directors is breached.
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The functions and powers of our board of directors include, among others:
● | appointing officers and determining the term of office of the officers; | |
● | exercising the borrowing powers of the company and mortgaging the property of the company; and | |
● | maintaining or registering a register of mortgages, charges, or other encumbrances of the company. |
Terms of Directors and Executive Officers
Our officers are appointed by and serve at the discretion of our board of directors and the shareholders voting by ordinary resolution. Our directors are not subject to a set term of office and hold office until the next general meeting called for the election of directors and until their successor is duly appointed or such time as they die, resign or are removed from office by a shareholders’ ordinary resolution. The office of a director will be vacated automatically if, among other things, the directors resigns in writing, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his/her creditors generally or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind.
Qualification
There is currently no shareholding qualification for directors, although a shareholding qualification for directors may be fixed by our shareholders by ordinary resolution.
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into employment agreement with each of our executive officers. Pursuant to employment agreements, the form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Registration Statement, we agree to employ each of our executive officers for a specified time period, which may be renewed upon both parties’ agreement 60 days before the end of the current employment term, and payment of cash compensation and benefits shall become payable when the Company becomes a public reporting company in the US. We may terminate the employment for cause, at any time, without notice or remuneration, for certain acts of the executive officer, including but not limited to the commitments of any serious or persistent breach or non-observance of the terms and conditions of the employment, conviction of a criminal offense, willful disobedience of a lawful and reasonable order, fraud or dishonesty, receipt of bribery, or severe neglect of his or her duties. An executive officer may terminate his or her employment at any time with a one-month prior written notice. Each executive officer agrees to hold, both during and after the employment agreement expires, in strict confidence and not to use or disclose to any person, corporation or other entity without written consent, any confidential information.
We will also enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. Under these agreements, we agree to indemnify our directors and executive officers against certain liabilities and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with claims made by reason of their being a director or officer of our company.
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, we paid an aggregate of $ 262490.4 as compensation to our executive officers, and we did not compensate our non-executive directors for their services other than to reimburse them for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their attendance at meetings of the board of directors. We have not set aside or accrued any amount to provide pension, retirement, or other similar benefits to our directors and executive officers. Our PRC subsidiaries are required by law to make contributions equal to certain percentages of each employee’s salary for his or her pension insurance, medical insurance, unemployment insurance, and other statutory benefits and a housing provident fund.
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Insider Participation Concerning Executive Compensation
Our current board of directors, which comprises of three directors, has been making all determinations regarding executive officer compensation from the inception of the Company. When our Compensation Committee is set up, it will be making all determination regarding executive officer compensation (please see below).
Committees of the Board of Directors
We will establish three committees under the board of directors prior to effectiveness of this registration statement: an audit committee, a compensation committee, and a nominating and corporate governance committee. We will adopt a charter for each of the three committees. Each committee’s members and functions are described below.
Audit Committee. Our audit committee will consist of Pengmun Foo, Wenlong Xia, and Jin’an Li. Pengmun Foo will be the chairperson of our audit committee. We have determined that Pengmun Foo, Wenlong Xia, and Jin’an Li satisfy the “independence” requirements of the Nasdaq listing rules under and Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act. Our board also has determined that Pengmun Foo qualifies as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of the SEC rules or possesses financial sophistication within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing rules. The audit committee will oversee our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the financial statements of our company. The audit committee will be responsible for, among other things:
● | appointing the independent auditors and pre-approving all auditing and non-auditing services permitted to be performed by the independent auditors; | |
● | reviewing with the independent auditors any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response; | |
● | discussing the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditors; | |
● | reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our accounting and internal control policies and procedures and any steps taken to monitor and control major financial risk exposures; | |
● | reviewing and approving all proposed related party transactions; | |
● | meeting separately and periodically with management and the independent auditors; and | |
● | monitoring compliance with our code of business conduct and ethics, including reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our procedures to ensure proper compliance. |
Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee will consist of Wenlong Xia, Pengmun Foo, and Jin’an Li. Wenlong Xia will be the chairperson of our compensation committee. We have determined that Wenlong Xia, Pengmun Foo, and Jin’an Li satisfy the “independence” requirements of the Nasdaq listing rules and Rule 10C-1 under the Securities Exchange Act. The compensation committee will assist the board in reviewing and approving the compensation structure, including all forms of compensation, relating to our directors and executive officers. Our chief executive officer may not be present at any committee meeting during which his compensation is deliberated. The compensation committee will be responsible for, among other things:
● | reviewing and approving the total compensation package for our most senior executive officers; | |
● | approving and overseeing the total compensation package for our executives other than the most senior executive officers; |
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● | reviewing and recommending to the board with respect to the compensation of our directors; | |
● | reviewing periodically and approving any long-term incentive compensation or equity plans; | |
● | selecting compensation consultants, legal counsel or other advisors after taking into consideration all factors relevant to that person’s independence from management; and | |
● | reviewing programs or similar arrangements, annual bonuses, employee pension and welfare benefit plans. |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our nominating and corporate governance committee will consist of Jin’an Li, Pengmun Foo, and Robert Travers. Jin’an Li will be the chairperson of our nominating and corporate governance committee. Jin’an Li, Pengmun Foo, and Robert Travers satisfy the “independence” requirements of the Nasdaq listing rules. The nominating and corporate governance committee will assist the board of directors in selecting individuals qualified to become our directors and in determining the composition of the board and its committees. The nominating and corporate governance committee will be responsible for, among other things:
● | identifying and recommending nominees for election or re-election to our board of directors or for appointment to fill any vacancy; | |
● | reviewing annually with our board of directors its current composition in light of the characteristics of independence, age, skills, experience and availability of service to us; | |
● | identifying and recommending to our board the directors to serve as members of committees; | |
● | advising the board periodically with respect to significant developments in the law and practice of corporate governance as well as our compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and making recommendations to our board of directors on all matters of corporate governance and on any corrective action to be taken; and | |
● | monitoring compliance with our code of business conduct and ethics, including reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our procedures to ensure proper compliance. |
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Our board of directors will adopt a code of business conduct and ethics, which is included as Exhibit 99.1 of this registration statement and applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees. We will make our code of business conduct and ethics publicly available on our website prior to the initial closing of this offering.
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The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership, within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of our Ordinary Shares as of the date of this prospectus, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of the Ordinary Shares offered in this offering for:
● | each of our directors and executive officers; and | |
● | each person known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of our Ordinary Shares. |
Beneficial ownership includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. Except as indicated below, and subject to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all Ordinary Shares shown as beneficially owned by them. Percentage of beneficial ownership of each listed person prior to this offering is based on 13,000,000 Ordinary Shares, including 8,970,000 Class A Ordinary Shares and 4,030,000 Class B Ordinary Shares, outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. Percentage of beneficial ownership of each listed person after this offering includes Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after the completion of this offering, assuming the Underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option.
The number and percentage of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned after the offering are based on 17,400,000 Ordinary Shares outstanding, including 13,370,000 Class A Ordinary Shares and 4,030,000 Class B Ordinary Shares, assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option in this offering. Information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by each director, officer, or beneficial owner of 5% or more of our Ordinary Shares. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally requires that such person have voting or investment power with respect to securities. In computing the number of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by a person listed below and the percentage ownership of such person, Ordinary Shares underlying options, warrants, or convertible securities held by each such person that are exercisable or convertible within 60 days of the date of this prospectus are deemed outstanding, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Except as otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, or as required by applicable community property laws, all persons listed have sole voting and investment power for all Ordinary Shares shown as beneficially owned by them. As of the date of the prospectus, we have 14 shareholders of record, none of whom are located in the United States. We will be required to have at least 300 unrestricted round lot shareholders at closing in order to satisfy the Nasdaq listing rules.
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Ordinary
Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to this Offering |
Ordinary
Shares Beneficially Owned After this Offering (Over-allotment option not exercised) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
A Ordinary Shares |
Class
B Ordinary Shares |
% | Voting
Power % |
Class
A Ordinary Shares |
Class
B Ordinary Shares |
% | Voting
Power % |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Directors and Executive Officers(1): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Xueyuan Weng, CEO | 0 | 4,030,000 | 31 | % | 69.2 | % | 0 | 4,030,000 | 23.2 | % | 60.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Yunan Huang, CFO | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Xiaoyi Wang | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Liming Xu(3) | 650,000 | 0 | 5 | % | 2.23 | % | 650,000 | 0 | 3.7 | % | 1.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Peilin Ji(2) | 2,080,000 | 0 | 16 | % | 7.14 | % | 2,080,000 | 0 | 12.0 | % | 6.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Pengmun Foo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert Travers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Wenlong Xia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Jin’an Li | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (9 individuals): | 2,730,000 | 4,030,000 | 52 | % | 78.57 | % | 2,730,000 | 4,030,000 | 38.9 | % | 68.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
5% Shareholders: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Xueyuan Weng, CEO | 0 | 4,030,000 | 31 | % | 69.2 | % | 0 | 4,030,000 | 23.2 | % | 60.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Well Joy International Investment Limited(2) No.8, Gaotian Road, Hongdian Street, Lucheng District, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China |
2,080,000 | 0 | 16 | % | 7.14 | % | 2,080,000 | 0 | 12.0 | % | 6.20 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vast Express Development Co., Ltd.(4) No. 54, Dalang Bridge Road, Shacheng Town, Longwan District, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China |
780,000 | 0 | 6 | % | 2.68 | % | 780,000 | 0 | 4.5 | % | 2.3 | % |
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Ordinary
Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to this Offering |
Ordinary
Shares Beneficially Owned After this Offering (Over-allotment option not exercised) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
A Ordinary Shares |
Class
B Ordinary Shares |
% | Voting
Power % |
Class
A Ordinary Shares |
Class
B Ordinary Shares |
% | Voting
Power % |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wise Metro Development Co., Ltd.(5) No. 54, Dalang Bridge Road, Shacheng Town, Longwan District, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China | 780,000 | 0 | 6 | % | 2.68 | % | 780,000 | 0 | 4.5 | % | 2.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ever Loyal Industrial Limited(3) No. 68, Lane 5135, Yanggaonan Road, Pudongxin District, Shanghai, China | 650,000 | 0 | 5 | % | 2.23 | % | 650,000 | 0 | 3.7 | % | 1.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Good Wisdom Development Limited (6) Room 101, No. 103, Lane 988, Dahua Road, Baoshan District Shanghai, China | 650,000 | 0 | 5 | % | 2.23 | % | 650,000 | 0 | 3.7 | % | 1.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Able Joyful Industrial Limited (7) Room 1607, Trend Centre, 29-31 Cheung Lee Street, Chai Wan, Hong Kong | 650,000 | 0 | 5 | % | 2.23 | % | 650,000 | 0 | 3.7 | % | 1.9 | % |
(1) | Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the individuals is Profit Huiyin Square North Building, Huashan 2018, Unit 1001, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China. |
(2) | Peilin Ji is the 100% owner of Well Joy International Investment Limited that holds 2,080,000 Class A Ordinary Shares. |
(3) | Liming Xu is the 100% owner of Ever Loyal Industrial Limited that holds 650,000 Class A Ordinary Shares. |
(4) | Lingmin Sun is the 100% owner of Vast Express Development Co., Ltd. that holds 780,000 Class A Ordinary Shares. |
(5) | Anyuan Sun is the 100% owner of Wise Metro Development Co., Ltd. that holds 780,000 Class A Ordinary Shares. |
(6) | Zhou Shen is the 100% owner of Good Wisdom Development Limited that holds 650,000 Class A Ordinary Shares. |
(7) | Jiajia Sun is the 100% owner of Able Joyful Industrial Limited that holds 650,000 Class A Ordinary Shares. |
As of the date of this prospectus, none of our outstanding Ordinary Shares are held by record holders in the United States.
We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our Company.
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Contractual Arrangements with the VIEs and their respective Shareholders
See “Corporate History and Structure - the VIE Agreements.”
Employment Agreements
See “Management—Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements.”
Transactions with Related Parties
Mr. Xueyuan Weng is the Company’s CEO, director and principal shareholder. Our transactions with him are summarized as follow:
For the years ended September 30, | ||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
Amounts due to related party(1): | ||||||||||||
Due to Mr. Xueyuan Weng (the Company’s CEO, director and principal shareholder) | $ | 672,560 | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||
Revenue earned from related party(2) | ||||||||||||
Logistic and consulting service revenue | $ | 365,042 | $ | 334,588 | 275,966 | |||||||
(1) | The balance of the amounts due to related party represent non-interesting bearing and unsecured borrowing from related party for working capital purpose. The due to related party are due on demand. Mr. Xueyuan Weng signed a commitment letter not to demand the repayment of the payable as long as the Company needs these funds as working capital until 2025. As of the date of the prospectus, amounts due to Mr. Xueyuan Weng amounted to $157,441. |
(2) | For the years ended September 30, 2019, 2020 and 2021, the Company provided certain logistic and consulting service to certain kindergartens owned by Mr. Weng and earned revenue of $275,966 , $334,588 and $365,042, respectively. From September 30, 2021 to the date of the prospectus, the Company earned revenue of $237,277 from the above service. As the date of the prospectus, the Company has accounts receivable of $75,875 from the above service. |
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Sale of Golden Sun Shanghai
As part of the Reorganization, on September 30, 2021, the Company sold all shares in Golden Sun Shanghai to Mr. Xueyuan Weng and his wife for a consideration of Hong Kong Dollar 100,000 (approximately $12,845) as a nominal proceed.
Purchase of Yangfushan Tutorial
On January 18, 2019, Mr. Xueyuan Weng, the sole sponsor of Yangfushan Tutorial, transferred all of his right of sponsorship in Yangfushan Tutorial to Golden Sun Wenzhou for RMB100,000 (approximately $14,749) according to a transfer agreement between the parties.
Balances with Related Parties
We have the following related party balances with majority shareholder:
As of September 30, 2021 | As of September 30, 2020 | As of September 30, 2019 | ||||||||||
Due to related party balance: | ||||||||||||
Weng Xueyuan, | $ | 672,560 | $ | - | $ | - |
Due to related parties amounted to $672,560, $nil and $nil as of September 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019 respectively, represented the balance of the funds advanced by the controlling shareholder and the CEO of the Company for working capital purpose. The CEO agreed not to demand the repayment of these dues until the Company’s working capital becomes sufficient or for at least 12 months from September 30, 2021, whichever occurs later. As of the date of the prospectus, amounts due to Mr. Xueyuan Weng amounted to $157,441.
Guarantee provided to a related party
On September 26, 2019, the Company’s subsidiary Xianjin signed an agreement with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank to provide guarantee for a related party’s borrowing of $1,207,804 for a period from September 26, 2019 to September 26, 2022. The related party, Wenzhou Kunlong Industrial Co., Ltd., is owned by Mr. Weng, who further personally indemnifies the Company against any losses caused by the above guaranty. As of September 30, 2021, the Company did not record any guarantee liability due to no indications of default by the related party and Mr. Weng’s indemnity.
Guarantee provided by related parties
Five related parties of the Company guaranteed the repayment of the Company’s short-term and long-term loans as of, September 30, 2021 and 2020.
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The following description of our share capital and provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended from time to time, are summaries and do not purport to be complete. Reference is made to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, copies of which are filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part (and which is referred to in this section as, respectively, the “memorandum” and the “articles”).
We were incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Act (2021 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, or the “Cayman Companies Act,” on September 20, 2018. A Cayman Islands exempted company:
● | is a company that conducts its business mainly outside the Cayman Islands; | |
● | is prohibited from trading in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of the business of the exempted company carried on outside the Cayman Islands (and for this purpose can effect and conclude contracts in the Cayman Islands and exercise in the Cayman Islands all of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands); | |
● | does not have to hold an annual general meeting; | |
● | does not have to make its register of members open to inspection by shareholders of that company; | |
● | may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation; | |
● | may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands; | |
● | may register as a limited duration company; and | |
● | may register as a segregated portfolio company. |
Ordinary Shares
Our authorized share capital is $50,000 divided into 90,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0005 per share and 10,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares par value $0.0005 per share. All of our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Our Ordinary Shares are issued in registered form, and are issued when registered in our register of members. Unless the board of directors determine otherwise, each holder of our Ordinary Shares will not receive a certificate in respect of such Ordinary Shares. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their Ordinary Shares. We may not issue shares or warrants to bearer.
Subject to the provisions of the Cayman Companies Act and our articles regarding redemption and purchase of the shares, the directors have general and unconditional authority to allot (with or without confirming rights of renunciation), grant options over or otherwise deal with any unissued shares to such persons, at such times and on such terms and conditions as they may decide. Such authority could be exercised by the directors to allot shares which carry rights and privileges that are preferential to the rights attaching to Ordinary Shares. No share may be issued at a discount except in accordance with the provisions of the Cayman Companies Act. The directors may refuse to accept any application for shares, and may accept any application in whole or in part, for any reason or for no reason.
At the completion of this offering, there will be 17,400,000 Class A Ordinary Shares, assuming the Underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option, issued and outstanding held by at least 300 unrestricted round lot shareholders and beneficial owners which is the minimum requirement by the Nasdaq Capital Market. Shares sold in this offering will be delivered against payment from the Underwriter upon the closing of the offering in New York, New York, on or about [●], 2022.
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Listing
We have applied to list our Class A Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “GSUN.” However, there is no assurance that our Class A Ordinary Shares will be listed on the Nasdaq.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our Class A Ordinary Shares is Transhare Corporation, at 17755 US Hwy 19 N, Clearwater, FL 33764.
Dividends
Subject to the provisions of the Cayman Companies Act and any rights attaching to any class or classes of shares under and in accordance with the articles:
(a) | the directors may declare dividends or distributions out of our funds which are lawfully available for that purpose; and | |
(b) | our shareholders may, by ordinary resolution, declare dividends but no such dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the directors. |
Subject to the requirements of the Cayman Companies Act regarding the application of a company’s share premium account and with the sanction of an ordinary resolution, dividends may also be declared and paid out of any share premium account. The directors when paying dividends to shareholders may make such payment either in cash or in specie.
Unless provided by the rights attached to a share, no dividend shall bear interest.
Voting Rights
Subject to any rights or restrictions as to voting attached to any shares, unless any share carries special voting rights, on a show of hands every shareholder who is present in person and every person representing a shareholder by proxy shall have one vote per Ordinary Share. Each holder of Ordinary Shares shall, on a poll, be entitled to one vote for each Ordinary Share he or she holds save that each holder of Class B Ordinary Shares shall, on a poll, be entitled to exercise five (5) votes for each Class B Ordinary Share he or she holds on any and all matters. In addition, all shareholders holding shares of a particular class are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class of shares. Votes may be given either personally or by proxy.
Variation of Rights of Shares
Whenever our capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attaching to any class of share (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) may be varied either with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the issued shares of that class, or with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the holders of shares of the class present in person or by proxy at a separate general meeting of the holders of shares of that class.
Unless the terms on which a class of shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the shareholder holding shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with the existing shares of that class.
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Alteration of Share Capital
Subject to the Cayman Companies Act, we may, by ordinary resolution:
(a) | increase our share capital by new shares of the amount fixed by that ordinary resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that ordinary resolution; | |
(b) | consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of larger amount than our existing shares; | |
(c) | convert all or any of our paid up shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into paid up shares of any denomination; | |
(d) | sub-divide our shares or any of them into shares of an amount smaller than that fixed, so, however, that in the sub-division, the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; and | |
(e) | cancel shares which, at the date of the passing of that ordinary resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of our share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled or, in the case of shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of shares into which our capital is divided. |
Subject to the Cayman Companies Act and to any rights for the time being conferred on the shareholders holding a particular class of shares, we may, by special resolution, reduce our share capital in any way.
Calls on Shares and Forfeiture
Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make calls on the shareholders in respect of any monies unpaid on their shares including any premium and each shareholder shall (subject to receiving at least 14 clear days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made), pay to us the amount called on his shares. Shareholders registered as the joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the share. If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the share or in the notice of the call or if no rate is fixed, at the rate of ten percent per annum. The directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.
We have a first and paramount lien on all shares (whether fully paid up or not) registered in the name of a shareholder (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all monies payable to us by the shareholder or the shareholder’s estate:
(a) | either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a shareholder; and |
(b) | whether or not those monies are presently payable. |
At any time the directors may declare any share to be wholly or partly exempt from the lien on shares provisions of the articles.
We may sell, in such manner as the directors may determine, any share on which the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, if due notice that such sum is payable has been given (as prescribed by the articles) and, within 14 days of the date on which the notice is deemed to be given under the articles, such notice has not been complied with.
Unclaimed Dividend
A dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of six years after it became due for payment shall be forfeited to, and shall cease to remain owing by, the company.
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Forfeiture or Surrender of Shares
If a shareholder fails to pay any call, the directors may give to such shareholder not less than 14 clear days’ notice requiring payment and specifying the amount unpaid including any interest which may have accrued, any expenses which have been incurred by us due to that person’s default and the place where payment is to be made. The notice shall also contain a warning that if the notice is not complied with, the shares in respect of which the call is made will be liable to be forfeited.
If such notice is not complied with, the directors may, before the payment required by the notice has been received, resolve that any share the subject of that notice be forfeited (which forfeiture shall include all dividends or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited share and not paid before such forfeiture).
A forfeited share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the directors determine and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the directors think fit.
A person whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a shareholder in respect of the forfeited shares, but shall, notwithstanding such forfeiture, remain liable to pay to us all monies which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to us in respect of the shares, together with all expenses and interest from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment, but his liability shall cease if and when we receive payment in full of the unpaid amount.
A declaration, whether statutory or under oath, made by a director or the secretary shall be conclusive evidence that the person making the declaration is a director or secretary and that the particular shares have been forfeited or surrendered on a particular date.
Subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer, if necessary, the declaration shall constitute good title to the shares.
Share Premium Account
The directors shall establish a share premium account and shall carry the credit of such account from time to time to a sum equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any share or capital contributed or such other amounts required by the Cayman Companies Act.
Redemption and Purchase of Own Shares
Subject to the Cayman Companies Act and any rights for the time being conferred on the shareholders holding a particular class of shares, we may by action of our directors:
(a) | issue shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at our option or the shareholder holding those redeemable shares, on the terms and in the manner our directors determine before the issue of those shares; | |
(b) | with the consent by special resolution of the shareholders holding shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of shares so as to provide that those shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at our option on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such variation; and | |
(c) | purchase all or any of our own shares of any class including any redeemable shares on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such purchase. |
We may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own shares in any manner authorized by the Cayman Companies Act, including out of any combination of capital, our profits and the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares.
When making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of shares, the directors may make the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one and partly in the other) if so authorized by the terms of the allotment of those shares or by the terms applying to those shares, or otherwise by agreement with the shareholder holding those shares.
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Conversion Rights
Each Class B Ordinary Share shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time after the date of issuance of such Share, at the office of the Company or any transfer agent for such Shares, into one fully paid and non-assessable Class A Ordinary Share. The directors shall at all times reserve and keep available out of the Company’s authorized but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Class B Ordinary Shares, such number of its Class A Ordinary Shares as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares; and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares, in addition to such other remedies as shall be available to the holders of such Class B Ordinary Shares, the directors will take such action as may be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares to such number of Shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes. All conversions of Class B Ordinary Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares shall be effected by way of redemption or repurchase by the Company of the relevant Class B Ordinary Shares and the simultaneous issue of Class A Ordinary Shares in consideration for such redemption or repurchase. The shareholder and the Company will procure that any and all necessary corporate actions are taken to effect such conversion.
Transfer of Shares
Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any Ordinary Share that has not been fully paid up or is subject to a company lien. Our board of directors may also decline to register any transfer of such Ordinary Share unless:
(a) | the instrument of transfer is lodged with the Company, accompanied by the certificate for the Ordinary Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; | |
(b) | the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares; | |
(c) | the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required; | |
(d) | the Ordinary Share transferred is fully paid and free of any lien in favor of us; | |
(e) | any fee related to the transfer has been paid to us; and | |
(f) | the transfer is not to more than four joint holders. |
If our directors refuse to register a transfer, they are required, within three months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, to send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.
The registration of transfers may, on 14 calendar days’ notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers or by electronic means, be suspended and our register of members closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine. The registration of transfers, however, may not be suspended, and the register may not be closed, for more than 30 days in any year.
Inspection of Books and Records
Holders of our Ordinary Shares will have no general right under the Cayman Companies Act to inspect or obtain copies of our register of members or our corporate records.
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General Meetings
As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obligated by the Cayman Companies Act to call shareholders’ annual general meetings; accordingly, we may, but shall not be obliged to, in each year hold a general meeting as an annual general meeting. Any annual general meeting held shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by our board of directors. All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings.
The directors may convene general meetings whenever they think fit. General meetings shall also be convened on the written requisition of one or more of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at our general meetings who (together) hold not less than ten percent of the rights to vote at such general meeting in accordance with the notice provisions in the articles, specifying the purpose of the meeting and signed by each of the shareholders making the requisition. If the directors do not convene such meeting for a date not later than 21 clear days’ after the date of receipt of the written requisition, those shareholders who requested the meeting may convene the general meeting themselves within three months after the end of such period of 21 clear days in which case reasonable expenses incurred by them as a result of the directors failing to convene a meeting shall be reimbursed by us.
At least 14 days’ notice of an extraordinary general meeting and 21 days’ notice of an annual general meeting shall be given to shareholders entitled to attend and vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of that business. In addition, if a resolution is proposed as a special resolution, the text of that resolution shall be given to all shareholders. Notice of every general meeting shall also be given to the directors and our auditors.
Subject to the Cayman Companies Act and with the consent of the shareholders who, individually or collectively, hold at least 90 percent of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote at a general meeting, a general meeting may be convened on shorter notice.
A quorum shall consist of the presence (whether in person or represented by proxy) of one or more shareholders holding shares that represent not less than one-third of the outstanding shares carrying the right to vote at such general meeting.
If, within 15 minutes from the time appointed for the general meeting, or at any time during the meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of shareholders, shall be cancelled. In any other case it shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days or to such other time or place as is determined by the directors.
The chairman may, with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present, adjourn the meeting. When a meeting is adjourned for seven days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with the articles.
At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless a poll is (before, or on, the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded by the chairman of the meeting or by at least two shareholders having the right to vote on the resolutions or one or more shareholders present who together hold not less than ten percent of the voting rights of all those who are entitled to vote on the resolution. Unless a poll is so demanded, a declaration by the chairman as to the result of a resolution and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting, shall be conclusive evidence of the outcome of a show of hands, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favor of, or against, that resolution.
If a poll is duly demanded it shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded.
In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded, shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote.
Directors
We may by ordinary resolution, from time to time, fix the maximum and minimum number of directors to be appointed. Under the Articles, we are required to have a minimum of one director and the maximum number of Directors shall be unlimited.
A director may be appointed by ordinary resolution or by the directors. Any appointment may be to fill a vacancy or as an additional director.
Unless the remuneration of the directors is determined by the shareholders by ordinary resolution, the directors shall be entitled to such remuneration as the directors may determine.
The shareholding qualification for directors may be fixed by our shareholders by ordinary resolution and unless and until so fixed no share qualification shall be required.
Unless removed or re-appointed, each director shall be appointed for a term expiring at the next-following annual general meeting, if one is held. At any annual general meeting held, our directors will be elected by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. At each annual general meeting, each director so elected shall hold office for a one-year term and until the election of their respective successors in office or removed.
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A director may be removed by ordinary resolution.
A director may at any time resign or retire from office by giving us notice in writing. Unless the notice specifies a different date, the director shall be deemed to have resigned on the date that the notice is delivered to us.
Subject to the provisions of the articles, the office of a director may be terminated forthwith if:
(a) | he is prohibited by the law of the Cayman Islands from acting as a director; | |
(b) | he is made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; | |
(c) | he resigns his office by notice to us; | |
(d) | he only held office as a director for a fixed term and such term expires; | |
(e) | in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated he becomes physically or mentally incapable of acting as a director; | |
(f) | he is given notice by the majority of the other directors (not being less than two in number) to vacate office (without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any agreement relating to the provision of the services of such director); | |
(g) | he is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise; or | |
(h) | without the consent of the other directors, he is absent from meetings of directors for continuous period of six months. |
Each of the compensation committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee shall consist of at least three directors and the majority of the committee members shall be independent within the meaning of Section 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq listing rules. The audit committee shall consist of at least three directors, all of whom shall be independent within the meaning of Section 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq listing rules and will meet the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3 or Rule 10C-1 of the Exchange Act.
Powers and Duties of Directors
Subject to the provisions of the Cayman Companies Act and our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, our business shall be managed by the directors, who may exercise all our powers. No prior act of the directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of our memorandum or articles of association. To the extent allowed by the Cayman Companies Act, however, shareholders may by special resolution validate any prior or future act of the directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties.
The directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more persons who need not be shareholders and may include non-directors so long as the majority of those persons are directors; any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the directors. Upon the initial closing of this offering, our board of directors will have established an audit committee, compensation committee, and nomination and corporate governance committee.
The board of directors may establish any local or divisional board of directors or agency and delegate to it its powers and authorities (with power to sub-delegate) for managing any of our affairs whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere and may appoint any persons to be members of a local or divisional board of directors, or to be managers or agents, and may fix their remuneration.
The directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney or in any other manner they determine appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to be our agent with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers.
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The directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney or in any other manner they determine appoint any person, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the directors, to be our attorney or our authorized signatory and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit. The powers, authorities and discretions, however, must not exceed those vested in, or exercisable, by the directors under the articles.
The board of directors may remove any person so appointed and may revoke or vary the delegation.
The directors may exercise all of our powers to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets both present and future and uncalled capital or any part thereof, to issue debentures and other securities whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of ours or our parent undertaking (if any) or any subsidiary undertaking of us or of any third party.
A director shall not, as a director, vote in respect of any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal in which he has an interest which (together with any interest of any person connected with him) is a material interest (otherwise than by virtue of his interests, direct or indirect, in shares or debentures or other securities of, or otherwise in or through, us) and if he shall do so his vote shall not be counted, nor in relation thereto shall he be counted in the quorum present at the meeting, but (in the absence of some other material interest than is mentioned below) none of these prohibitions shall apply to:
(a) | the giving of any security, guarantee or indemnity in respect of: |
(i) | money lent or obligations incurred by him or by any other person for our benefit or any of our subsidiaries; or | |
(ii) | a debt or obligation of ours or any of our subsidiaries for which the director himself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part and whether alone or jointly with others under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security; |
(b) | where we or any of our subsidiaries is offering securities in which offer the director is or may be entitled to participate as a holder of securities or in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of which the director is to or may participate; | |
(c) | any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal affecting any other body corporate in which he is interested, directly or indirectly and whether as an officer, shareholder, creditor or otherwise howsoever, provided that he (together with persons connected with him) does not to his knowledge hold an interest representing one percent or more of any class of the equity share capital of such body corporate (or of any third body corporate through which his interest is derived) or of the voting rights available to shareholders of the relevant body corporate; | |
(d) | any act or thing done or to be done in respect of any arrangement for the benefit of the employees of us or any of our subsidiaries under which he is not accorded as a director any privilege or advantage not generally accorded to the employees to whom such arrangement relates; or | |
(e) | any matter connected with the purchase or maintenance for any director of insurance against any liability or (to the extent permitted by the Cayman Companies Act) indemnities in favor of directors, the funding of expenditure by one or more directors in defending proceedings against him or them or the doing of anything to enable such director or directors to avoid incurring such expenditure. |
A director may, as a director, vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal in which he has an interest which is not a material interest or as described above.
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Capitalization of Profits
The directors may resolve to capitalize:
(a) | any part of our profits not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not those profits are available for distribution); or | |
(b) | any sum standing to the credit of our share premium account or capital redemption reserve, if any. |
The amount resolved to be capitalized must be appropriated to the shareholders who would have been entitled to it had it been distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions.
Liquidation Rights
If we are wound up, the shareholders may, subject to the articles and any other sanction required by the Cayman Companies Act, pass a special resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following:
(a) | to divide in specie among the shareholders the whole or any part of our assets and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the shareholders or different classes of shareholders; and | |
(b) | to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of shareholders and those liable to contribute to the winding up. |
The directors have the authority to present a petition for our winding up to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on our behalf without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting.
Register of Members
Under the Cayman Companies Act, we must keep a register of members and there should be entered therein:
● | the names and addresses of the members of the company, a statement of the shares held by each member, which: |
○ | distinguishes each share by its number (so long as the share has a number); |
○ | confirms the amount paid, or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of each member; |
○ | confirms the number and category of shares held by each member; and |
○ | confirms whether each relevant category of shares held by a member carries voting rights under the Articles, and if so, whether such voting rights are conditional; |
● | the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a member; and |
● | the date on which any person ceased to be a member. |
For these purposes, “voting rights” means rights conferred on shareholders, including the right to appoint or remove directors, in respect of their shares to vote at general meetings of the company on all or substantially all matters. A voting right is conditional where the voting right arises only in certain circumstances.
Under the Cayman Companies Act, the register of members of our company is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (that is, the register of members will raise a presumption of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a shareholder registered in the register of members is deemed as a matter of the Cayman Companies Act to have legal title to the shares as set against its name in the register of members. Upon the completion of this offering, the register of members will be immediately updated to record and give effect to the issuance of shares by us to the custodian or its nominee. Once our register of members has been updated, the shareholders recorded in the register of members will be deemed to have legal title to the shares set against their name.
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If the name of any person is incorrectly entered in or omitted from our register of members, or if there is any default or unnecessary delay in entering on the register the fact of any person having ceased to be a shareholder of our company, the person or shareholder aggrieved (or any shareholder of our company or our company itself) may apply to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands for an order that the register be rectified, and the Court may either refuse such application or it may, if satisfied of the justice of the case, make an order for the rectification of the register.
Differences in Corporate Law
The Cayman Companies Act is derived, to a large extent, from the older Companies Acts of England and Wales but does not follow recent United Kingdom statutory enactments, and accordingly there are significant differences between the Cayman Companies Act and the current Companies Act of the UK. In addition, the Cayman Companies Act differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of certain significant differences between the provisions of the Cayman Companies Act applicable to us and the comparable laws applicable to companies incorporated in the State of Delaware in the United States.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements
The Cayman Companies Act permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes, (a) “merger” means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company, and (b) a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a consolidated company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the consolidated company. In order to effect such a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which must then be authorized by (a) a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company, and (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. The plan must be filed with the Registrar of Companies together with a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a list of the assets and liabilities of each constituent company and an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the shareholders and creditors of each constituent company and that notification of the merger or consolidation will be published in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation which is effected in compliance with these statutory procedures.
A merger between a Cayman Islands parent company and its Cayman Islands subsidiary or subsidiaries does not require authorization by a resolution of shareholders. For this purpose a subsidiary is a company of which at least 90% of the issued shares entitled to vote are owned by the parent company.
The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest of a constituent company is required unless this requirement is waived by a court in the Cayman Islands.
Except in certain limited circumstances, a dissenting shareholder of a Cayman Islands constituent company is entitled to payment of the fair value of his or her shares upon dissenting from a merger or consolidation. The exercise of such dissenter rights will preclude the exercise by the dissenting shareholder of any other rights to which he or she might otherwise be entitled by virtue of holding shares, except for the right to seek relief on the grounds that the merger or consolidation is void or unlawful.
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In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies, provided that the arrangement is approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made, and who must, in addition, represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meetings, convened for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it determines that:
(a) | the statutory provisions as to the required majority vote have been met; |
(b) | the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question and the statutory majority are acting bona fide without coercion of the minority to promote interests adverse to those of the class; |
(c) | the arrangement is such that may be reasonably approved by an intelligent and honest man of that class acting in respect of his interest; and |
(d) | the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Cayman Companies Act. |
When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares affected within four months the offeror may, within a two-month period commencing on the expiration of such four month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed in the case of an offer which has been so approved unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith or collusion.
If an arrangement and reconstruction is thus approved, or if a takeover offer is made and accepted, a dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of Delaware corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.
Shareholders’ Suits
In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff to sue for a wrong done to us as a company and as a general rule, a derivative action may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English law authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands courts can be expected to follow and apply the common law principles (namely the rule in Foss v. Harbottle and the exceptions thereto) so that a non-controlling shareholder may be permitted to commence a class action against or derivative actions in the name of the company to challenge:
(a) | an act which is illegal or ultra vires with respect to the company and is therefore incapable of ratification by the shareholders; |
(b) | an act which, although not ultra vires, requires authorization by a qualified (or special) majority (that is, more than a simple majority) which has not been obtained; and |
(c) | an act which constitutes a “fraud on the minority” where the wrongdoers are themselves in control of the company. |
Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability
The Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our articles of association provide to the extent permitted by law, we shall indemnify each existing or former secretary, director (including alternate director), and any of our other officers (including an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives against:
(a) | all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by the existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary or officer in or about the conduct of our business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of the existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary’s or officer’s duties, powers, authorities or discretions; and |
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(b) | without limitation to paragraph (a) above, all costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary or officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending or completed) concerning us or our affairs in any court or tribunal, whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere. |
No such existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary or officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of his own dishonesty.
To the extent permitted by law, we may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary or any of our officers in respect of any matter identified in above on condition that the director (including alternate director), secretary or officer must repay the amount paid by us to the extent that it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the director (including alternate director), the secretary or that officer for those legal costs.
This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation. In addition, we intend to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers that will provide such persons with additional indemnification beyond that provided in our articles of association.
Anti-Takeover Provisions in Our Articles
Some provisions of our articles of association may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that authorize our board of directors to issue shares at such times and on such terms and conditions as the board of directors may decide without any further vote or action by our shareholders.
Under the Cayman Companies Act, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our articles of association for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company and for a proper purpose.
Directors’ Fiduciary Duties
Under Delaware corporate law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty of loyalty requires that a director act in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He or she must not use his or her corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interests of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, a director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.
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As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director owe three types of duties to the company: (i) statutory duties, (ii) fiduciary duties, and (iii) common law duties. The Cayman Companies Act imposes a number of statutory duties on a director. A Cayman Islands director’s fiduciary duties are not codified, however the courts of the Cayman Islands have held that a director owes the following fiduciary duties (a) a duty to act in what the director bona fide considers to be in the best interests of the company, (b) a duty to exercise their powers for the purposes they were conferred, (c) a duty to avoid fettering his or her discretion in the future and (d) a duty to avoid conflicts of interest and of duty. The common law duties owed by a director are those to act with skill, care and diligence that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director in relation to the company and, also, to act with the skill, care and diligence in keeping with a standard of care commensurate with any particular skill they have which enables them to meet a higher standard than a director without those skills. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time. We have the right to seek damages if a duty owed by any of our directors is breached.’
Shareholder Proposals
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. The Delaware General Corporation Law does not provide shareholders an express right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, but in keeping with common law, Delaware corporations generally afford shareholders an opportunity to make proposals and nominations provided that they comply with the notice provisions in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws. A special meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings.
The Cayman Companies Act provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our articles of association provide that general meetings shall be convened on the written requisition of one or more of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at our general meetings who (together) hold not less than 10 percent of the rights to vote at such general meeting in accordance with the notice provisions in the articles of association, specifying the purpose of the meeting and signed by each of the shareholders making the requisition. If the directors do not convene such meeting for a date not later than twenty-one clear days’ after the date of receipt of the written requisition, those shareholders who requested the meeting may convene the general meeting themselves within three months after the end of such period of twenty-one clear days in which case reasonable expenses incurred by them as a result of the directors failing to convene a meeting shall be reimbursed by us. Our articles of association provide no other right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings. As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obligated by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings.
Cumulative Voting
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing such director. As permitted under the Cayman Companies Act, our articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded any less protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.
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Removal of Directors
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation with a classified board may be removed only for cause with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Subject to the provisions of our articles of association (which include the removal of a director by ordinary resolution), the office of a director may be terminated forthwith if (a) he is prohibited by the laws of the Cayman Islands from acting as a director, (b) he is made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors generally, (c) he resigns his office by notice to us, (d) he only held office as a director for a fixed term and such term expires, (e) in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated he becomes physically or mentally incapable of acting as a director, (f) he is given notice by the majority of the other directors (not being less than two in number) to vacate office (without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any agreement relating to the provision of the services of such director), (g) he is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise, or (h) without the consent of the other directors, he is absent from meetings of directors for continuous period of six months.
Transactions with Interested Shareholders
The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware public corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute by amendment to its certificate of incorporation or bylaws that is approved by its shareholders, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or a group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting stock or who or which is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and owned 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors.
The Cayman Companies Act has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although the Cayman Companies Act does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, under Cayman Islands law such transactions must be entered into bona fide in the best interests of the company and for a proper corporate purpose and not with the effect of constituting a fraud on the minority shareholders.
Dissolution; Winding Up
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board of directors.
Under the Cayman Companies Act and our articles of association, the Company may be wound up by a special resolution of our shareholders, or if the winding up is initiated by our board of directors, by either a special resolution of our members or, if our company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of our members. In addition, a company may be wound up by an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances including where it is, in the opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so.
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Variation of Rights of Shares
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under the Cayman Companies Act and our articles of association, if our share capital is divided into more than one class of shares, the rights attaching to any class of share (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) may be varied either with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the issued shares of that class, or with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the holders of shares of the class present in person or by proxy at a separate general meeting of the holders of shares of that class.
Amendment of Governing Documents
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may be amended only if adopted and declared advisable by the board of directors and approved by a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, and the bylaws may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote and may, if so provided in the certificate of incorporation, also be amended by the board of directors. Under the Cayman Companies Act, our articles of association may only be amended by special resolution of our shareholders.
Anti-money Laundering—Cayman Islands
In order to comply with legislation or regulations aimed at the prevention of money laundering, we may be required to adopt and maintain anti-money laundering procedures, and may require subscribers to provide evidence to verify their identity. Where permitted, and subject to certain conditions, we may also delegate the maintenance of our anti-money laundering procedures (including the acquisition of due diligence information) to a suitable person.
We reserve the right to request such information as is necessary to verify the identity of a subscriber. In the event of delay or failure on the part of the subscriber in producing any information required for verification purposes, we may refuse to accept the application, in which case any funds received will be returned without interest to the account from which they were originally debited.
We also reserve the right to refuse to make any redemption payment to a shareholder if our directors or officers suspect or are advised that the payment of redemption proceeds to such shareholder might result in a breach of applicable anti-money laundering or other laws or regulations by any person in any relevant jurisdiction, or if such refusal is considered necessary or appropriate to ensure our compliance with any such laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction.
If any person resident in the Cayman Islands knows or suspects or has reason for knowing or suspecting that another person is engaged in criminal conduct or is involved with terrorism or terrorist property and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the course of their business in the regulated sector, or other trade, profession, business or employment, the person will be required to report such knowledge or suspicion to (i) a nominated officer (appointed in accordance with the Proceeds of Crime Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands) or the Financial Reporting Authority of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act (Revised), if the disclosure relates to criminal conduct or money laundering or (ii) to a police constable or a nominated officer (pursuant to the Terrorism Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands) or the Financial Reporting Authority, pursuant to the Terrorism Act (Revised), if the disclosure relates to involvement with terrorism or terrorist financing and terrorist property. Such a report shall not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information imposed by any enactment or otherwise.
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Data Protection in the Cayman Islands—Privacy Notice
This privacy notice explains the manner in which we collect, process, and maintain personal data about investors of the Company pursuant to the Data Protection Act, 2017 of the Cayman Islands, as amended from time to time and any regulations, codes of practice, or orders promulgated pursuant thereto (the “DPA”).
We are committed to processing personal data in accordance with the DPA. In our use of personal data, we will be characterized under the DPA as a “data controller,” whilst certain of our service providers, affiliates, and delegates may act as “data processors” under the DPA. These service providers may process personal information for their own lawful purposes in connection with services provided to us.
By virtue of your investment in the Company, we and certain of our service providers may collect, record, store, transfer, and otherwise process personal data by which individuals may be directly or indirectly identified.
Your personal data will be processed fairly and for lawful purposes, including (a) where the processing is necessary for us to perform a contract to which you are a party or for taking pre-contractual steps at your request, (b) where the processing is necessary for compliance with any legal, tax, or regulatory obligation to which we are subject, or (c) where the processing is for the purposes of legitimate interests pursued by us or by a service provider to whom the data are disclosed. As a data controller, we will only use your personal data for the purposes for which we collected it. If we need to use your personal data for an unrelated purpose, we will contact you.
We anticipate that we will share your personal data with our service providers for the purposes set out in this privacy notice. We may also share relevant personal data where it is lawful to do so and necessary to comply with our contractual obligations or your instructions or where it is necessary or desirable to do so in connection with any regulatory reporting obligations. In exceptional circumstances, we will share your personal data with regulatory, prosecuting, and other governmental agencies or departments, and parties to litigation (whether pending or threatened), in any country or territory including to any other person where we have a public or legal duty to do so (e.g. to assist with detecting and preventing fraud, tax evasion, and financial crime or compliance with a court order).
Your personal data shall not be held by the Company for longer than necessary with regard to the purposes of the data processing.
We will not sell your personal data. Any transfer of personal data outside of the Cayman Islands shall be in accordance with the requirements of the DPA. Where necessary, we will ensure that separate and appropriate legal agreements are put in place with the recipient of that data.
We will only transfer personal data in accordance with the requirements of the DPA, and will apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of the personal data and against the accidental loss, destruction, or damage to the personal data.
If you are a natural person, this will affect you directly. If you are a corporate investor (including, for these purposes, legal arrangements such as trusts or exempted limited partnerships) that provides us with personal data on individuals connected to you for any reason in relation to your investment into the Company, this will be relevant for those individuals and you should inform such individuals of the content.
You have certain rights under the DPA, including (a) the right to be informed as to how we collect and use your personal data (and this privacy notice fulfils our obligation in this respect), (b) the right to obtain a copy of your personal data, (c) the right to require us to stop direct marketing, (d) the right to have inaccurate or incomplete personal data corrected, (e) the right to withdraw your consent and require us to stop processing or restrict the processing, or not begin the processing of your personal data, (f) the right to be notified of a data breach (unless the breach is unlikely to be prejudicial), (g) the right to obtain information as to any countries or territories outside the Cayman Islands to which we, whether directly or indirectly, transfer, intend to transfer, or wish to transfer your personal data, general measures we take to ensure the security of personal data, and any information available to us as to the source of your personal data, (h) the right to complain to the Office of the Ombudsman of the Cayman Islands, and (i) the right to require us to delete your personal data in some limited circumstances.
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If you consider that your personal data has not been handled correctly, or you are not satisfied with our responses to any requests you have made regarding the use of your personal data, you have the right to complain to the Cayman Islands’ Ombudsman. The Ombudsman can be contacted by calling +1 (345) 946-6283 or by email at info@ombudsman.ky.
History of Share Issuances
The following is a summary of our share issuances since incorporation.
On September 20, 2018, 2,410 Ordinary Shares were issued to four founding shareholders, including Xueyuan Weng and Xiulan Ye.
On November 24, 2020, the board of directors and shareholders of the Company unanimously approved the amendment of share capital, re-designation of shares and the adoption of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, after which, (1) the Company’s share capital was changed to $50,000 divided into 45,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of $1.00 par value per share and 5,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of $1.00 par value per share, and (2) 747.1 Class B Ordinary Shares were issued to Mr. Xueyuan Weng. On December 5, 2020, the board of directors of the Company further approved the surrender of shares, and Mr. Weng’s then holding of 747.1 Class A Ordinary Shares were surrendered.
On April 24, 2021, the board of directors and shareholders of the Company unanimously approved an amendment to the share capital and the adoption of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, after which, (1) the Company effectuates a 1:2000 stock split whereas the Company’s authorized share capital was changed to 90,000,000 Class A ordinary Shares of $0.0005 par value per share and 10,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of $0.0005 par value per share; (2) the Company had nominal issuance of 7,024,200 Class A ordinary shares pro rata to the existing Class A ordinary shareholders and nominal issuance of 3,155,800 Class B ordinary shares to the existing Class B ordinary shareholder as against the total number of issued and outstanding shares in the capital of the Company immediately prior to the recapitalization, after which, the Company had an aggregate of 15,000,000 ordinary shares issued and outstanding, consisting of 10,350,000 Class A ordinary shares and 4,650,000 Class B ordinary shares.
On September 30, 2021, in connection with the Reorganization and the proposed initial public offering of the Company, the board of directors and shareholders of the Company unanimously approved and effectuated a voluntary surrender of 2,000,000 ordinary shares by the shareholders of the Company on a pro rata basis, immediately after which, the Company had an aggregate of 13,000,000 ordinary shares issued and outstanding, consisting of 8,970,000 Class A ordinary shares and 4,030,000 Class B ordinary shares.
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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Before our initial public offering, there has not been a public market for our Class A Ordinary Shares, and although we expect to make an application for the Class A Ordinary Shares to be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, a regular trading market for our Class A Ordinary Shares may not develop. Future sales of substantial amounts of shares of our Class A Ordinary Shares in the public market after our initial public offering, or the possibility of these sales occurring, could cause the prevailing market price for our Class A Ordinary Shares to fall or impair our ability to raise equity capital in the future. Upon completion of this offering, we will have outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares held by public shareholders representing approximately 33.16% of our Class A Ordinary Shares in issue if the Underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option, and approximately 34.06% of our Class A Ordinary Shares in issue if the Underwriter exercises its over-allotment option in full. All of the Class A Ordinary Shares sold in this offering will be freely transferable by persons other than our “affiliates” without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act.
Lock-Up Agreements
We have agreed not to, for a period of 180 days beginning on the date of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, offer, issue, sell, contract to sell, encumber, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of, except in this offering, any of our Class A Ordinary Shares or securities that are substantially similar to our Class A Ordinary Shares, including but not limited to any options or warrants to purchase our Class A Ordinary Shares, or any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, our Class A Ordinary Shares or any such substantially similar securities (other than pursuant to employee stock option plans existing on, or upon the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the date such lock-up agreement was executed), without the prior written consent of the Underwriter.
Furthermore, each of our directors, executive officers, and principal shareholders (5% or more shareholders of our Class A Ordinary Shares), other than Mr. Xueyuan Weng and Peilin Ji, has also entered into a similar lock-up agreement for a period of 180 days beginning on the date of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, subject to certain exceptions, with respect to our Class A Ordinary Shares and securities that are substantially similar to our Class A Ordinary Shares. Mr. Xueyuan Weng and Ms. Peilin Ji are subject to similar lock-up agreements for a period of 365 days after the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus form a part.
Other than this offering, we are not aware of any plans by any significant shareholders to dispose of significant numbers of our Class A Ordinary Shares. However, one or more existing shareholders or owners of securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for our Class A Ordinary Shares may dispose of significant numbers of our Class A Ordinary Shares in the future. We cannot predict what effect, if any, future sales of our Class A Ordinary Shares, or the availability of Class A Ordinary Shares for future sale, will have on the trading price of our Class A Ordinary Shares from time to time. Sales of substantial amounts of our Class A Ordinary Shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the trading price of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
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Rule 144
All of our Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding prior to the closing of this offering are “restricted securities” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act and may be sold publicly in the United States only if they are subject to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirement such as those provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus, a person who is not deemed to have been our affiliate at any time during the three months preceding a sale and who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for more than six months would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of those shares, subject only to the availability of current public information about us. A non-affiliate who has beneficially owned restricted securities for at least one year from the later of the date these shares were acquired from us or from our affiliate would be entitled to freely sell those shares.
A person who is deemed to be an affiliate of ours and who has beneficially owned “restricted securities” for at least six months would be entitled to sell, within any three-month period, a number of shares that is not more than the greater of:
● | 1% of the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then outstanding, in the form of Class A Ordinary Shares or otherwise, which will equal approximately 153,500 Class A Ordinary Shares immediately after this offering, assuming the Underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option; or | |
● | the average weekly trading volume of the Class A Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to such sale. |
Sales under Rule 144 by our affiliates or persons selling shares on behalf of our affiliates are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.
Rule 701
In general, under Rule 701 of the Securities Act as currently in effect, each of our employees, consultants, or advisors who purchases our Class A Ordinary Shares from us in connection with a compensatory stock plan or other written agreement executed prior to the completion of this offering is eligible to resell those Class A Ordinary Shares in reliance on Rule 144, but without compliance with some of the restrictions, including the holding period, contained in Rule 144. However, the Rule 701 shares would remain subject to lock-up arrangements and would only become eligible for sale when the lock-up period expires.
Regulation S
Regulation S provides generally that sales made in offshore transactions are not subject to the registration or prospectus-delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
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MATERIAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATION
The following summary of certain Cayman Islands, PRC and U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our Class A Ordinary Shares is based on laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this prospectus, all of which are subject to change. Please note that this summary should not be considered a comprehensive description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to the decision to purchase our Class A Ordinary Shares, such as tax considerations under U.S. state and local tax laws or under the tax laws of jurisdictions other than the Cayman Islands, the People’s Republic of China and the United States. To the extent that the discussion relates to matters of Cayman Islands tax law, it represents the opinion of Ogier, our Cayman Islands counsel. To the extent that the discussion relates to matters of PRC tax law, it represents the opinion of Pacgate Law Firm, our PRC counsel. To the extent that the discussion relates to matters of U.S. Federal Income Taxation, it represents the opinion of Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC, our U.S. counsel.
People’s Republic of China Enterprise Taxation
The following brief description of Chinese enterprise income taxation is designed to highlight the enterprise-level taxation on our earnings, which will affect the amount of dividends, if any, we are ultimately able to pay to our shareholders. See “Dividend Policy.”
According to the EIT Law, which was promulgated by the SCNPC on March 16, 2007, became effective on January 1, 2008, and was then amended on February 24, 2017, and the Implementation Rules of the EIT Law, which were promulgated by the State Council on December 6, 2007, and became effective on January 1, 2008, enterprises are divided into resident enterprises and non-resident enterprises. Resident enterprises pay enterprise income tax on their incomes obtained in and outside the PRC at the rate of 25%. Non-resident enterprises setting up institutions in the PRC pay enterprise income tax on the incomes obtained by such institutions in and outside the PRC at the rate of 25%. Non-resident enterprises with no institutions in the PRC, and non-resident enterprises with income having no substantial connection with their institutions in the PRC, pay enterprise income tax on their income obtained in the PRC at a reduced rate of 10%.
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and we gain substantial income by way of dividends paid to us from our PRC subsidiaries. The EIT Law and its implementation rules provide that China-sourced income of foreign enterprises, such as dividends paid by a PRC subsidiary to its equity holders that are non-resident enterprises, will normally be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of 10%, unless any such foreign investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a preferential tax rate or a tax exemption.
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Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of China with a “de facto management body” within China is considered a “resident enterprise,” which means that it is treated in a manner similar to a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes. Although the implementation rules of the EIT Law define “de facto management body” as a managing body that actually, comprehensively manage and control the production and operation, staff, accounting, property, and other aspects of an enterprise, the only official guidance for this definition currently available is set forth in SAT Notice 82, which provides guidance on the determination of the tax residence status of a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise, defined as an enterprise that is incorporated under the laws of a foreign country or territory and that has a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as its primary controlling shareholder. Although Golden Sun Cayman does not have a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as our primary controlling shareholder and is therefore not a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise within the meaning of SAT Notice 82, in the absence of guidance specifically applicable to us, we have applied the guidance set forth in SAT Notice 82 to evaluate the tax residence status of Golden Sun Cayman and its subsidiaries organized outside the PRC.
According to SAT Notice 82, a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having a “de facto management body” in China and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its worldwide income only if all of the following criteria are met: (i) the places where senior management and senior management departments that are responsible for daily production, operation and management of the enterprise perform their duties are mainly located within the territory of China; (ii) financial decisions (such as money borrowing, lending, financing and financial risk management) and personnel decisions (such as appointment, dismissal and salary and wages) are decided or need to be decided by organizations or persons located within the territory of China; (iii) main property, accounting books, corporate seal, the board of directors and files of the minutes of shareholders’ meetings of the enterprise are located or preserved within the territory of China; and (iv) one half (or more) of the directors or senior management staff having the right to vote habitually reside within the territory of China.
We believe that we do not meet some of the conditions outlined in the immediately preceding paragraph. For example, as a holding company, the key assets and records of Golden Sun Cayman, including the resolutions and meeting minutes of our board of directors and the resolutions and meeting minutes of our shareholders, are located and maintained outside the PRC. In addition, we are not aware of any offshore holding companies with a corporate structure similar to ours that has been deemed a PRC “resident enterprise” by the PRC tax authorities. Accordingly, we believe that Golden Sun Cayman and its offshore subsidiaries should not be treated as a “resident enterprise” for PRC tax purposes if the criteria for “de facto management body” as set forth in SAT Notice 82 were deemed applicable to us. However, as the tax residency status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body” as applicable to our offshore entities, we will continue to monitor our tax status.
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The implementation rules of the EIT Law provide that, (i) if the enterprise that distributes dividends is domiciled in the PRC or (ii) if gains are realized from transferring equity interests of enterprises domiciled in the PRC, then such dividends or gains are treated as China-sourced income. It is not clear how “domicile” may be interpreted under the EIT Law, and it may be interpreted as the jurisdiction where the enterprise is a tax resident. Therefore, if we are considered as a PRC tax resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes, any dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders which are non-resident enterprises as well as gains realized by such shareholders from the transfer of our shares may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result become subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%. Pacgate, our PRC counsel, is unable to provide a “will” opinion because it believes that it is more likely than not that we and our offshore subsidiaries would be treated as non-resident enterprises for PRC tax purposes because we do not meet some of the conditions outlined in SAT Notice 82. In addition, Pacgate is not aware of any offshore holding companies with a corporate structure similar to ours that has been deemed a PRC “resident enterprise” by the PRC tax authorities as of the date of the prospectus. Therefore, Pacgate believes that it is possible but highly unlikely that the income received by our overseas shareholders will be regarded as China-sourced income.
See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC—Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, we may be classified as a PRC ‘resident enterprise’ for PRC enterprise income tax purposes. Such classification would likely result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.”
Currently, as resident enterprises in the PRC, Golden Sun Shanghai, Chongwen Middle School, Ouhai Art School, as well as Golden Sun Wenzhou and its subsidiaries in PRC are subject to the enterprise income tax at the rate of 25%, except that once an enterprise meets certain requirements and is identified as a small-scale minimal profit enterprise, the part of its taxable income not more than RMB1 million is subject to a reduced rate of 5% and the part between RMB1 million and 3 million is subject to a reduced rate of 10%. The EIT is calculated based on the entity’s global income as determined under PRC tax laws and accounting standards. If the PRC tax authorities determine that Golden Sun Cayman is a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we may be required to withhold a 10% withholding tax from dividends we pay to our shareholders that are non-resident enterprises. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders may be subject to a 10% PRC withholding tax on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of our Class A Ordinary Shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within the PRC. It is unclear whether our non-PRC individual shareholders would be subject to any PRC tax on dividends or gains obtained by such non-PRC individual shareholders in the event we are determined to be a PRC resident enterprise. If any PRC tax were to apply to dividends or gains realized by non-PRC individuals, it would generally apply at a rate of 20% unless a reduced rate is available under an applicable tax treaty. However, it is also unclear whether our non-PRC shareholders would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise. There is no guidance from the PRC government to indicate whether or not any tax treaties between the PRC and other countries would apply in circumstances where a non-PRC company was deemed to be a PRC tax resident, and thus there is no basis for expecting how tax treaty between the PRC and other countries may impact non-resident enterprises.
Hong Kong Taxation
Entities incorporated in Hong Kong are subject to profits tax in Hong Kong at the rate of 16.5%.
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Cayman Islands Taxation
The following is a discussion on certain Cayman Islands income tax consequences of an investment in the Shares. The discussion is a general summary of the present law, which is subject to prospective and retroactive change. It is not intended as tax advice, does not consider any investor’s particular circumstances, and does not consider tax consequences other than those arising under Cayman Islands law.
The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains, or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the Government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or, after execution, brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. No stamp duty is payable in the Cayman Islands on the issue of shares by, or any transfers of shares of, Cayman Islands companies (except those which hold interests in land in the Cayman Islands). There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our Ordinary Shares will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of our Ordinary Shares, as the case may be, nor will gains derived from the disposal of our Ordinary Shares be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.
United States Federal Income Taxation
The following does not address the tax consequences to any particular investor or to persons in special tax situations such as:
● | banks; | |
● | financial institutions; | |
● | insurance companies; | |
● | regulated investment companies; | |
● | real estate investment trusts; | |
● | broker-dealers; | |
● | persons that elect to mark their securities to market; | |
● | U.S. expatriates or former long-term residents of the U.S.; | |
● | governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof; | |
● | tax-exempt entities; | |
● | persons liable for alternative minimum tax; | |
● | persons holding our Ordinary Shares as part of a straddle, hedging, conversion or integrated transaction; | |
● | persons that actually or constructively own 10% or more of our voting power or value (including by reason of owning our Ordinary Shares); | |
● | persons who acquired our Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of any employee share option or otherwise as compensation; | |
● | persons holding our Ordinary Shares through partnerships or other pass-through entities; | |
● | beneficiaries of a Trust holding our Ordinary Shares; or | |
● | persons holding our Ordinary Shares through a trust. |
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The discussion set forth below is addressed only to U.S. Holders that purchase Class A Ordinary Shares in this offering. Prospective purchasers are urged to consult their own tax advisors about the application of the U.S. federal income tax rules to their particular circumstances as well as the state, local, foreign and other tax consequences to them of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
Material Tax Consequences Applicable to U.S. Holders of Our Ordinary Shares
The following sets forth the material U.S. federal income tax consequences related to the ownership and disposition of our Ordinary Shares. It is directed to U.S. Holders (as defined below) of our Ordinary Shares and is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this prospectus, all of which are subject to change. This description does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to ownership and disposition of our Ordinary Shares or U.S. tax laws, other than the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as the tax consequences under non-U.S. tax laws, state, local and other tax laws.
The following brief description applies only to U.S. Holders (defined below) that hold Ordinary Shares as capital assets and that have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. This brief description is based on the federal income tax laws of the United States in effect as of the date of this prospectus and on U.S. Treasury regulations in effect or, in some cases, proposed, as of the date of this prospectus, as well as judicial and administrative interpretations thereof available on or before such date. All of the foregoing authorities are subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax consequences described below.
The brief description below of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to “U.S. Holders” will apply to you if you are a beneficial owner of Ordinary Shares and you are, for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
● | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; | |
● | a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; | |
● | an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or | |
● | a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and the control of one or more U.S. persons for all substantial decisions or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
If a partnership (or other entities treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of our Ordinary Shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships and partners of a partnership holding our Ordinary Shares are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding an investment in our Ordinary Shares.
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An individual is considered a resident of the U.S. for Federal Income Tax purposes if they meet either the “Green Card Test” or the “Substantial Presence Test” described as follows:
The Green Card Test: You are a lawful permanent resident of the United States, at any time, if you have been given the privilege, according to the immigration laws of the United States, of residing permanently in the United States as an immigrant. You generally have this status if the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued you an alien registration card, Form I-551, also known as a “green card.”
The Substantial Presence Test:
If an alien is present in the United States on at least 31 days of the current calendar year, he/she will (absent an applicable exception) be classified as a resident alien if the sum of the following equals 183 days or more (See §7701(b)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code and related Treasury Regulations):
1. | The actual days in the United States in the current year; plus |
2. | One-third of his/her days in the United States in the immediately preceding year; plus |
3. | One-sixth of his/her days in the United States in the second preceding year. |
Taxation of Dividends and Other Distributions on our Ordinary Shares
Subject to the PFIC (defined below) rules discussed below, the gross amount of distributions made by us to you with respect to the Ordinary Shares (including the amount of any taxes withheld therefrom) will generally be includable in your gross income as dividend income on the date of receipt by you, but only to the extent that the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). With respect to corporate U.S. Holders, the dividends will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations in respect of dividends received from other U.S. corporations.
With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individual U.S. Holders, dividends will be taxed at the lower capital gains rate applicable to qualified dividend income, provided that (1) the Ordinary Shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, or we are eligible for the benefits of an approved qualifying income tax treaty with the United States that includes an exchange of information program, (2) we are not a PFIC (defined below) for either our taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding taxable year, and (3) certain holding period requirements are met. Because there is no income tax treaty between the United States and the Cayman Islands, clause (1) above can be satisfied only if the Ordinary Shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Under U.S. Internal Revenue Service authority, Ordinary Shares are considered for purpose of clause (1) above to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States if they are listed on certain exchanges, which presently include the NYSE and the Nasdaq Stock Market. You are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower rate for dividends paid with respect to our Ordinary Shares, including the effects of any change in law after the date of this prospectus.
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Dividends will constitute foreign source income for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. If the dividends are taxed as qualified dividend income (as discussed above), the amount of the dividend taken into account for purposes of calculating the foreign tax credit limitation will be limited to the gross amount of the dividend, multiplied by the reduced rate divided by the highest rate of tax normally applicable to dividends. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income. For this purpose, dividends distributed by us with respect to our Ordinary Shares will constitute “passive category income” but could, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, constitute “general category income.”
To the extent that the amount of the distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), it will be treated first as a tax-free return of your tax basis in your Ordinary Shares, and to the extent the amount of the distribution exceeds your tax basis, the excess will be taxed as capital gain. We do not intend to calculate our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles. Therefore, a U.S. Holder should expect that a distribution will be treated as a dividend income even if that distribution would otherwise be treated as a non-taxable return of capital or as capital gain under the rules described above.
Taxation of Dispositions of Ordinary Shares
Subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed below, you will recognize taxable gain or loss on any sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of a share equal to the difference between the amount realized (in U.S. dollars) for the share and your tax basis (in U.S. dollars) in the Ordinary Shares. The gain or loss will be capital gain or loss. If you are a non-corporate U.S. Holder, including an individual U.S. Holder, who has held the Ordinary Shares for more than one year, you will generally be eligible for reduced tax rates as long term capital gain. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Any such gain or loss that you recognize will generally be treated as United States source income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes which will generally limit the availability of foreign tax credits.
Passive Foreign Investment Company (“PFIC”)
A non-U.S. corporation is considered a PFIC, as defined in Section 1297(a) of the US Internal Revenue Code, for any taxable year if either:
● | at least 75% of its gross income for such taxable year is passive income; or | |
● | at least 50% of the value of its assets (based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets during a taxable year) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income (the “asset test”). |
Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business) and gains from the disposition of passive assets. We will be treated as owning our proportionate share of the assets and earning our proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, at least 25% (by value) of the stock. In determining the value and composition of our assets for purposes of the PFIC asset test, (1) the cash we raise in this offering will generally be considered to be held for the production of passive income and (2) the value of our assets must be determined based on the market value of our Ordinary Shares from time to time, which could cause the value of our non-passive assets to be less than 50% of the value of all of our assets (including the cash raised in this offering) on any particular quarterly testing date for purposes of the asset test.
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Based on our operations and the composition of our assets we do not expect to be treated as a PFIC under the current PFIC rules. We must make a separate determination each year as to whether we are a PFIC, however, and there can be no assurance with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable year or any future taxable year. Depending on the amount of cash we raise in this offering, together with any other assets held for the production of passive income, it is possible that, for our current taxable year or for any subsequent taxable year, more than 50% of our assets may be assets held for the production of passive income. We will make this determination following the end of any particular tax year. Because the value of our assets for purposes of the asset test will generally be determined based on the market price of our Ordinary Shares and because cash is generally considered to be an asset held for the production of passive income, our PFIC status will depend in large part on the market price of our Ordinary Shares and the amount of cash we raise in this offering. Accordingly, fluctuations in the market price of the Ordinary Shares may cause us to become a PFIC. In addition, the application of the PFIC rules are subject to uncertainty in several respects and the composition of our income and assets will be affected by how and timing thereto we spend the cash we raise in this offering. We are under no obligation to take steps to reduce the risk of our being classified as a PFIC, and as stated above, the determination of the value of our assets will depend upon material facts (including the market price of our Ordinary Shares from time to time and the amount of cash we raise in this offering) that may not be within our control. If we are a PFIC for any year during which you hold Ordinary Shares, we will continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years during which you hold Ordinary Shares. If we cease to be a PFIC and you did not previously make a timely “mark-to-market” election as described below, however, you may avoid some of the adverse effects of the PFIC regime by making a “purging election” (as described below) with respect to the Ordinary Shares.
If we are a PFIC for your taxable year(s) during which you hold Ordinary Shares, you will be subject to special tax rules with respect to any “excess distribution” that you receive and any gain you realize from a sale or other disposition (including a pledge) of the Ordinary Shares, unless you make a “mark-to-market” election as discussed below. Distributions you receive in a taxable year that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions you received during the shorter of the three preceding taxable years or your holding period for the Ordinary Shares will be treated as an excess distribution. Under these special tax rules:
● | the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over your holding period for the Ordinary Shares; | |
● | the amount allocated to your current taxable year, and any amount allocated to any of your taxable year(s) prior to the first taxable year in which we were a PFIC, will be treated as ordinary income, and | |
● | the amount allocated to each of your other taxable year(s) will be subject to the highest tax rate in effect for that year and the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the resulting tax attributable to each such year. |
The tax liability for amounts allocated to years prior to the year of disposition or “excess distribution” cannot be offset by any net operating losses for such years, and gains (but not losses) realized on the sale of the Ordinary Shares cannot be treated as capital, even if you hold the Ordinary Shares as capital assets.
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A U.S. Holder of “marketable stock” (as defined below) in a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election under Section 1296 of the US Internal Revenue Code for such stock to elect out of the tax treatment discussed above. If you make a mark-to-market election for first taxable year which you hold (or are deemed to hold) Ordinary Shares and for which we are determined to be a PFIC, you will include in your income each year an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Ordinary Shares as of the close of such taxable year over your adjusted basis in such Ordinary Shares, which excess will be treated as ordinary income and not capital gain. You are allowed an ordinary loss for the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the Ordinary Shares over their fair market value as of the close of the taxable year. Such ordinary loss, however, is allowable only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains on the Ordinary Shares included in your income for prior taxable years. Amounts included in your income under a mark-to-market election, as well as gain on the actual sale or other disposition of the Ordinary Shares, are treated as ordinary income. Ordinary loss treatment also applies to any loss realized on the actual sale or disposition of the Ordinary Shares, to the extent that the amount of such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included for such Ordinary Shares. Your basis in the Ordinary Shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts. If you make a valid mark-to-market election, the tax rules that apply to distributions by corporations which are not PFICs would apply to distributions by us, except that the lower applicable capital gains rate for qualified dividend income discussed above under “—Taxation of Dividends and Other Distributions on our Ordinary Shares” generally would not apply.
The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock”, which is stock that is traded in other than de minimis quantities on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter (“regularly traded”) on a qualified exchange or other market (as defined in applicable U.S. Treasury regulations), including the Nasdaq Capital Market. If the Ordinary Shares are regularly traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market and if you are a holder of Ordinary Shares, the mark-to-market election would be available to you were we to be or become a PFIC.
Alternatively, a U.S. Holder of stock in a PFIC may make a “qualified electing fund” election under Section 1295(b) of the US Internal Revenue Code with respect to such PFIC to elect out of the tax treatment discussed above. A U.S. Holder who makes a valid qualified electing fund election with respect to a PFIC will generally include in gross income for a taxable year such holder’s pro rata share of the corporation’s earnings and profits for the taxable year. The qualified electing fund election, however, is available only if such PFIC provides such U.S. Holder with certain information regarding its earnings and profits as required under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. We do not currently intend to prepare or provide the information that would enable you to make a qualified electing fund election. If you hold Ordinary Shares in any taxable year in which we are a PFIC, you will be required to file U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form 8621 in each such year and provide certain annual information regarding such Ordinary Shares, including distributions received on the Ordinary Shares and any gain realized on the disposition of the Ordinary Shares.
If you do not make a timely “mark-to-market” election (as described above), and if we were a PFIC at any time during the period you hold our Ordinary Shares, then such Ordinary Shares will continue to be treated as stock of a PFIC with respect to you even if we cease to be a PFIC in a future year, unless you make a “purging election” for the year we cease to be a PFIC. A “purging election” creates a deemed sale of such Ordinary Shares at their fair market value on the last day of the last year in which we are treated as a PFIC. The gain recognized by the purging election will be subject to the special tax and interest charge rules treating the gain as an excess distribution, as described above. As a result of the purging election, you will have a new basis (equal to the fair market value of the Ordinary Shares on the last day of the last year in which we are treated as a PFIC) and holding period (which new holding period will begin the day after such last day) in your Ordinary Shares for tax purposes.
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IRC Section 1014(a) provides for a step-up in basis to the fair market value for our Ordinary Shares when inherited from a decedent that was previously a holder of our Ordinary Shares. However, if we are determined to be a PFIC and a decedent that was a U.S. Holder did not make either a timely qualified electing fund election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder held (or was deemed to hold) our Ordinary Shares, or a mark-to-market election and ownership of those Ordinary Shares are inherited, a special provision in IRC Section 1291(e) provides that the new U.S. Holder’s basis should be reduced by an amount equal to the Section 1014 basis minus the decedent’s adjusted basis just before death. As such if we are determined to be a PFIC at any time prior to a decedent’s passing, the PFIC rules will cause any new U.S. Holder that inherits our Ordinary Shares from a U.S. Holder to not get a step-up in basis under Section 1014 and instead will receive a carryover basis in those Ordinary Shares.
You are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to your investment in our Ordinary Shares and the elections discussed above.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Dividend payments with respect to our Ordinary Shares and proceeds from the sale, exchange or redemption of our Ordinary Shares may be subject to information reporting to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and possible U.S. backup withholding under Section 3406 of the US Internal Revenue Code with at a current flat rate of 24%. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes any other required certification on U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding. U.S. Holders who are required to establish their exempt status generally must provide such certification on U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the U.S. information reporting and backup withholding rules.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, and you may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by filing the appropriate claim for refund with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and furnishing any required information. We do not intend to withhold taxes for individual shareholders. Transactions effected through certain brokers or other intermediaries, however, may be subject to withholding taxes (including backup withholding), and such brokers or intermediaries may be required by law to withhold such taxes.
Under the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act of 2010, certain U.S. Holders are required to report information relating to our Ordinary Shares, subject to certain exceptions (including an exception for Ordinary Shares held in accounts maintained by certain financial institutions), by attaching a complete Internal Revenue Service Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets, with their tax return for each year in which they hold Ordinary Shares. Failure to report such information could result in substantial penalties. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your obligation to file a Form 8938.
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Under the terms and subject to the conditions of an underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus, Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc., the Underwriter, has agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to it the number of shares indicated below:
Name | Number of Shares | |||
Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc. | [● ] | |||
Total | [● ] |
The underwriting agreement provides that the Underwriter is obligated to purchase all shares in the offering if any are purchased, other than those shares covered by the over-allotment option described below.
We have agreed to indemnify the Underwriter and certain of their controlling persons against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, arising from breaches of representations and warranties contained in the underwriting agreement, or to contribute to payments that the Underwriter may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
We have granted to the Underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the total of number of Class A Ordinary Shares offered or 660,000 Class A Ordinary Shares from us at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discounts. The option may be exercised in whole or in part, and may be exercised more than once, during the 45-day option period. The Underwriter may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, made in connection with the offering contemplated by this prospectus.
Discounts and Expenses
The underwriting discounts are equal to 7.5% of the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus.
The following table shows the price per Class A Ordinary Share and total initial public offering price, underwriting discounts, and proceeds before expenses to us. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the Underwriter’s option to purchase up to an additional 660,000 Class A Ordinary Shares.
Per Share | Total Without Exercise of Over-Allotment Option | Total With Full Exercise of Over-Allotment Option | ||||||||||
Initial public offering price | 4.5 | $ | 19,800,000 | $ | 22,770,000 | |||||||
Underwriting discounts to be paid by us | 0.34 | $ | 1,496,000 | $ | 1,720,400 | |||||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us | 4.16 | $ | 18,304,000 | $ | 21,049,600 |
We will also pay to the Underwriter by deduction from the net proceeds of the offering contemplated herein, a non-accountable expense allowance equal to one percent (1%) of the gross proceeds received by us from the sale of the shares. We have agreed to reimburse the Underwriter up to $150,000 for out-of-pocket accountable expenses.
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We paid an expense deposit of $100,000 to the Underwriter upon the execution of the letter of intent between us and the Underwriter. We paid an additional $40,000 upon the first public filing of the Company’s registration statement with the SEC. Upon the closing of this offering, we will pay the remaining and final payment of $10,000 to the Underwriter. Any expense deposits will be returned to us to the extent the Underwriter’s out-of-pocket accountable expenses are not actually incurred in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(A).
We have agreed to pay expenses relating to the offering, including: (i) the Company’s legal and accounting fees and disbursements; (ii) the costs of preparing, printing, mailing and delivering the registration statement, the preliminary and final prospectus contained therein and amendments thereto, post-effective amendments and supplements thereto, the underwriting agreement and related documents (all in such quantities as the Underwriter may reasonably require); (iii) preparing and printing stock certificates and warrant certificates; (iv) background checks of the Company’s officers and directors up to a maximum of up to $15,000; (v) all reasonable and documented fees and expenses for conducting a net road show presentation; (vi) all filing fees (including SEC filing fees) and communication expenses relating to the registration of the shares to be sold in this offering, DTC fee, FINRA filing fees; (vii) the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of the Underwriter’s counsel up to $75,000; (viii) preparation of bound volumes and mementos in such quantities as the Underwriter may reasonably request; (ix) transfer taxes, if any, payable upon the transfer of securities from the Company to the Underwriter; and (x) the fees and expenses of the transfer agent, clearing firm and registrar for the shares.
We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding the underwriting discounts and Underwriter’s accountable and non-accountable expenses, will be approximately $0.8 million.
In the event that at any time prior to the closing date of the offering, the Company or any of its subsidiaries enters into any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger, consolidation, acquisition, financing, joint venture or other arrangement) with any party (i) introduced to the Company by the Underwriter, during such period,(ii) that the Underwriter had back and forth correspondence with during the period that the Underwriter was engaged by the Company in connection with the offering or (iii) who participated in the offering, the Underwriter will be paid a transaction fee, payable at the closing thereof, equal to a percentage of the consideration or value received by the Company and/or its stockholders as follows:
5% of the first $1,000,000,
4% of the next $1,000,000,
3% of the next $1,000,000,
2% of the next $1,000,000, and
1% of all amounts in excess of $4,000,000.
We have applied to list our Class A Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “GSUN.” There is no assurance that such application will be approved, and if our application is not approved, this offering may not be completed.
Underwriter Warrants
In addition, we have agreed to issue warrants to the Underwriter to purchase a number of Class A Ordinary Shares equal to 7.5% of the total number of Class A Ordinary Shares sold in this offering. Such warrants shall have an exercise price equal to 130% of the offering price of the Class A Ordinary Shares sold in this offering. The Underwriter Warrants have the cashless exercise feature, will be exercisable for five years beginning on the date of commencement of sales of this offering, and will terminate on the 5th anniversary of such date. The Underwriter Warrants and the underlying Class A Ordinary Shares will be deemed compensation by FINRA, and therefore will be subject to FINRA Rule 5110(e). In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1), and except as otherwise permitted by FINRA rules, neither the Underwriter Warrants nor any of our Class A Ordinary Shares issued upon exercise of the Underwriter Warrants may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities by any person, for a period of 180 days immediately following the commencement of sales of this offering, except that they or any portion thereof may be transferred or assigned to any successor to the Underwriter, any officer, manager, member or partner of the Underwriter, as well as to any member participating in the Offering and the officers, partners, managers or members thereof, if all securities so transferred remain subject to the lock-up restriction for the remainder of the time period. In addition, although Class A Ordinary Shares underlying the Underwriter Warrants will be registered in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we have also agreed that the Underwriter Warrants will provide for registration rights in certain cases. These registration rights apply to all of the securities directly and indirectly issuable upon exercise of the Underwriter Warrants. The Underwriter’s Warrants may be exercised at any time after issuance of the Warrants as to all or a lesser number of the underlying Class A Ordinary Shares, will provide for cashless exercise and will contain provisions for one demand registration of the sale of the underlying Class A Ordinary Share at the Company’s expense, and an additional demand registration at the Underwriter’s Warrants holder’s expense, provided such demand registration rights will not be for a period greater than five years from the date of the commencement of sales of this offering, in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(C). The piggyback registration right provided will not be greater than five years from the date of commencement of sales of this offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(D).
We will bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Underwriter Warrants, other than underwriting commissions incurred and payable by the holders. The exercise price and number of Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances, including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger, or consolidation. The warrant exercise price and/or underlying shares may also be adjusted for issuances of Class A Ordinary Shares at a price below the warrant exercise price.
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Indemnification; Indemnification Escrow
We have agreed to indemnify the Underwriter against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and liabilities arising from breaches of representations and warranties contained in the underwriting agreement, or to contribute to payments that the Underwriter may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
Lock-Up Agreements
We have agreed not to, for a period of 180 days beginning on the date of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, offer, issue, sell, contract to sell, encumber, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of, except in this offering, any of our Class A Ordinary Shares or securities that are substantially similar to our Class A Class A Ordinary Shares, including but not limited to any options or warrants to purchase our Class A Ordinary Shares, or any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, our Class A Ordinary Shares or any such substantially similar securities (other than pursuant to employee stock option plans existing on, or upon the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the date such lock-up agreement was executed), without the prior written consent of the Underwriter.
Furthermore, each of our directors, executive officers, and principal shareholders (5% or more shareholders) of our Class A Ordinary Shares, other than Mr. Xueyuan Weng and Ms. Peilin Ji, has also entered into a similar lock-up agreement for a period of 180 days beginning on the date the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, subject to certain exceptions, with respect to our Ordinary Shares and securities that are substantially similar to our Class A Ordinary Shares. Mr. Xueyuan Weng and Ms. Peilin Ji are subject to similar lock-up agreements for a period of 365 days beginning on the date of the effectiveness of the registration agreement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Pricing of the Offering
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A Ordinary Shares. We have reserved the symbol “GSUN” for purposes of listing our Class A Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market and plan to apply to list our Class A Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market. It is a condition to the closing of this offering that the Class A Ordinary Shares qualify for listing on a national securities exchange. The initial public offering price of the Class A Ordinary Shares has been negotiated between us and the Underwriter. Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price of the Class A Ordinary Shares, in addition to the prevailing market conditions, are our historical performance, estimates of our business potential and earnings prospects, an assessment of our management, and the consideration of the above factors in relation to market valuation of companies in related businesses.
Electronic Offer, Sale, and Distribution of Class A Ordinary Shares
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by the Underwriter or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering and the Underwriter may distribute prospectuses electronically. The Underwriter may agree to allocate a number of Class A Ordinary Shares to selling group members for sale to its online brokerage account holders. The Class A Ordinary Shares to be sold pursuant to internet distributions will be allocated on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on these websites is not part of, nor incorporated by reference into, this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved or endorsed by us or the Underwriter, and should not be relied upon by investors.
Price Stabilization, Short Positions, and Penalty Bids
In connection with this offering, the Underwriter may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares. Specifically, the Underwriter may sell more Class A Ordinary Shares than it is obligated to purchase under the underwriting agreement, creating a short position. A short sale is covered if the short position is no greater than the number of Class A Ordinary Shares available for purchase by the Underwriter under option to purchase additional Class A Ordinary Shares. The Underwriter can close out a covered short sale by exercising the option to purchase additional Class A Ordinary Shares or purchasing Class A Ordinary Shares in the open market. In determining the source of Class A Ordinary Shares to close out a covered short sale, the Underwriter will consider, among other things, the open market price of Class A Ordinary Shares compared to the price available under the option to purchase additional Ordinary Shares. The Underwriter may also sell Class A Ordinary Shares in excess of the option to purchase additional Class A Ordinary Shares, creating a naked short position. The Underwriter must close out any naked short position by purchasing Class A Ordinary Shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the Underwriter are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the Class A Ordinary Shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.
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The Underwriter may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter or dealer repays selling concessions allowed to it for distributing our Class A Ordinary Shares in this offering because such underwriter repurchases those Class A Ordinary Shares in stabilizing or short covering transactions.
Finally, the Underwriter may bid for, and purchase, our Class A Ordinary Shares in market making transactions, including “passive” market making transactions as described below.
These activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares at a price that is higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the absence of these activities. The Underwriter is not required to engage in these activities, and may discontinue any of these activities at any time without notice. These transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq Capital Market, in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise.
Passive Market Making
In connection with this offering, the Underwriter may engage in passive market making transactions in our Class A Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during a period before the commencement of offers or sales of the Class A Ordinary Shares and extending through the completion of the distribution. A passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of that security. However, if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, then that bid must then be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
The Underwriter and its affiliates may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business for which they may receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the Underwriter and its affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own accounts and for the accounts of their customers and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of our Company. The Underwriter and its affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
Selling Restrictions
No action has been taken in any jurisdiction (except in the United States) that would permit a public offering of the Class A Ordinary Shares, or the possession, circulation or distribution of this prospectus or any other material relating to us or the Class A Ordinary Shares, where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, the Class A Ordinary Shares may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither this prospectus nor any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the Class A Ordinary Shares may be distributed or published, in or from any country or jurisdiction except in compliance with any applicable rules and regulations of any such country or jurisdiction.
Stamp Taxes
If you purchase Class A Ordinary Shares offered in this prospectus, you may be required to pay stamp taxes and other charges under the laws and practices of the country of purchase, in addition to the offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus.
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EXPENSES RELATING TO THIS OFFERING
Set forth below is an itemization of the total expenses, excluding underwriting discounts, that we expect to incur in connection with this offering. With the exception of the SEC registration fee, the FINRA filing fee and the Nasdaq Capital Market listing fee, all amounts are estimates.
Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee | $ | 3,433 | ||
Nasdaq Capital Market Listing Fee | $ | 75,000 | ||
FINRA Filing Fee | $ | 5,233 | ||
Legal Fees and Expenses | $ | 380,000 | ||
Accounting Fees and Expenses | $ | 200,000 | ||
Printing and Engraving Expenses | $ | 50,000 | ||
Transfer Agent Expenses | $ | 10,000 | ||
Miscellaneous Expenses | $ | 118,580 | ||
Total Expenses | $ | 842,246 |
These expenses will be borne by us. Underwriting discounts will be borne by us in proportion to the numbers of Class A Ordinary Shares sold in the offering.
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We are being represented by Hunter Taubman Fischer& Li LLC with respect to certain legal matters as to United States federal securities and New York State law. The validity of the Class A Ordinary Shares offered in this offering and certain other legal matters as to Cayman Islands law will be passed upon for us by Ogier, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law. Legal matters as to PRC law will be passed upon for us by Pacgate. Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP, New York, New York, is acting as the legal counsel to the Underwriter with respect to certain legal matters as to United States federal securities law and New York State law.
The consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, included in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of Friedman LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The office of Friedman LLP is located at One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10006.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-1, including relevant exhibits and schedules under the Securities Act, covering the Ordinary Shares offered by this prospectus. You should refer to our registration statements and their exhibits and schedules if you would like to find out more about us and about the Ordinary Shares. This prospectus summarizes material provisions of contracts and other documents that we refer you to. Since the prospectus may not contain all the information that you may find important, you should review the full text of these documents.
Immediately upon the completion of this offering, we will be subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act, as applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we will be required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules of the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders under the federal proxy rules contained in Sections 14(a), (b) and (c) of the Exchange Act, and our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
The registration statements, reports and other information so filed can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of these documents upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference rooms. The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov. The information on that website is not a part of this prospectus.
No dealers, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date.
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GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Golden Sun Education Group Limited
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Golden Sun Education Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive (loss) income, changes in shareholders’ deficit, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended September 30, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended September 30, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statement. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Friedman LLP
New York, New York
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.
February 11, 2022
F-2
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of September 30, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS: | ||||||||
Cash | $ | 1,192,780 | $ | 1,149,542 | ||||
Contract assets | 672,506 | 161,537 | ||||||
Prepayments and other current assets | 3,663,317 | 1,473,237 | ||||||
Current assets of discontinued operation | - | 2,352,590 | ||||||
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | 5,528,603 | 5,136,906 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net | 374,618 | 405,759 | ||||||
Prepayments and other non-current assets | 185,640 | 114,062 | ||||||
Deferred tax assets | - | 20,696 | ||||||
Deferred issuance costs | 547,019 | 288,840 | ||||||
Non-current assets of discontinued operation | - | 11,479,473 | ||||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 6,635,880 | $ | 17,445,736 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | ||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||||||
Short-term bank loans | $ | 758,749 | $ | 220,481 | ||||
Current maturity of long-term bank loan | 309,693 | 73,494 | ||||||
Accounts payable | 210,782 | 48,800 | ||||||
Deferred revenue | 6,324,472 | 7,056,233 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 586,701 | 412,140 | ||||||
Refund liability | 348,472 | 246,935 | ||||||
Loan from third party | 309,693 | - | ||||||
Taxes payable | 3,727,058 | 2,687,454 | ||||||
Current liabilities of discontinued operation | - | 8,257,487 | ||||||
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES | 12,575,620 | 19,003,024 | ||||||
Long-term bank loans | 1,028,182 | 1,269,972 | ||||||
Due to related party | 672,560 | - | ||||||
Non-current liabilities of discontinued operation | - | 4,545,003 | ||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 14,276,362 | 24,817,999 | ||||||
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | ||||||||
DEFICIT: | ||||||||
Ordinary shares, 100,000,000 shares authorized, consisting of 90,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of $0.0005 par value per share and 10,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of $0.0005 par value per share, 8,970,000 Class A ordinary shares and 4,030,000 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2021 and 2020* | ||||||||
Class A ordinary shares | 4,485 | 4,485 | ||||||
Class B ordinary shares | 2,015 | 2,015 | ||||||
Additional paid in capital | 19,145 | 1,649,867 | ||||||
Statutory reserves | 857,370 | 1,031,167 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit | (6,760,297 | ) | (8,522,575 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (1,676,651 | ) | (1,280,115 | ) | ||||
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | (7,553,933 | ) | (7,115,156 | ) | ||||
Non-controlling interests | (86,549 | ) | (257,107 | ) | ||||
TOTAL DEFICIT | (7,640,482 | ) | (7,372,263 | ) | ||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND DEFICIT | $ | 6,635,880 | $ | 17,445,736 |
* | Shares and per share data are presented on a retroactive basis to reflect the recapitalization on December 5, 2020, April 24, 2021 and September 30, 2021 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
For the Years Ended September 30, |
||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Revenues | $ | 15,026,991 | $ | 7,735,185 | ||||
Cost of revenues | 6,210,672 | 4,075,391 | ||||||
Gross profit | 8,816,319 | 3,659,794 | ||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||
Selling expenses | 2,208,296 | 797,209 | ||||||
General and administrative expenses | 4,656,256 | 2,806,933 | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 6,864,552 | 3,604,142 | ||||||
Income from operations | 1,951,767 | 55,652 | ||||||
Other income (expense): | ||||||||
Interest expense, net | (212,023 | ) | (108,974 | ) | ||||
Other income, net | 226,474 | 91,780 | ||||||
Total other income (expense), net | 14,451 | (17,194 | ) | |||||
Income before income taxes | 1,966,218 | 38,458 | ||||||
Income taxes provision | 659,858 | 184,026 | ||||||
Net income (loss) from continuing operating | 1,306,360 | (145,568 | ) | |||||
Net income from discontinued operations | 855,040 | 200,489 | ||||||
Net income | 2,161,400 | 54,921 | ||||||
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests | 182,847 | 12,910 | ||||||
Net income attributable to the company | 1,978,553 | 42,011 | ||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | ||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | (408,825 | ) | (346,472 | ) | ||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | 1,752,575 | (291,551 | ) | |||||
Less: comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests | 170,558 | 626 | ||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the company | $ | 1,582,017 | $ | (292,177 | ) | |||
Earnings per share - Basic and diluted | ||||||||
Continuing operations | $ | 0.09 | $ | (0.01 | ) | |||
Discontinued operations | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.02 | ||||
Weighted average number of shares outstanding- Basic and diluted* | ||||||||
Continuing operations | 13,000,000 | 13,000,000 | ||||||
Discontinued operations | 13,000,000 | 13,000,000 |
* | Shares and per share data are presented on a retroactive basis to reflect the recapitalization on December 5, 2020, April 24, 2021 and September 30, 2021. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 AND 2020
Ordinary shares | Additional paid in | Statutory | Accumulated | Accumulated other comprehensive | Non- controlling | Total shareholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares* | Amount | capital | Reserves | deficit | loss | interests | deficit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2019 | 13,000,000 | $ | 6,500 | $ | 1,649,867 | $ | 686,731 | $ | (8,220,150 | ) | $ | (945,927 | ) | $ | (257,733 | ) | $ | (7,080,712 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net income | - | - | - | - | 42,011 | - | 12,910 | 54,921 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Statutory reserve | - | - | - | 344,436 | (344,436 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | - | - | - | - | - | (334,188 | ) | (12,284 | ) | (346,472 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2020 | 13,000,000 | $ | 6,500 | $ | 1,649,867 | $ | 1,031,167 | $ | (8,522,575 | ) | $ | (1,280,115 | ) | $ | (257,107 | ) | $ | (7,372,263 | ) | |||||||||||||
Deemed distribution to shareholders | - | - | (1,630,722 | ) | (390,072 | ) | - | - | - | (2,020,794 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | - | - | - | - | 1,978,553 | - | 182,847 | 2,161,400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Statutory reserve | - | - | - | 216,275 | (216,275 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | - | - | - | - | - | (396,536 | ) | (12,289 | ) | (408,825 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2021 | 13,000,000 | $ | 6,500 | $ | 19,145 | $ | 857,370 | $ | (6,760,297 | ) | $ | (1,676,651 | ) | $ | (86,549 | ) | $ | (7,640,482 | ) |
* | Shares and per share data are presented on a retroactive basis to reflect the recapitalization on December 5, 2020, April 24, 2021 and September 30, 2021 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION
GROUP LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Years Ended September 30, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 2,161,400 | $ | 54,921 | ||||
Less: net income from discontinued operations | (855,040 | ) | (200,489 | ) | ||||
Net income (loss) from continuing operations | 1,306,360 | (145,568 | ) | |||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 143,562 | 85,737 | ||||||
Bad debt provisions | 87,499 | 32,364 | ||||||
Deferred tax provision | 21,630 | 12,648 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Prepayments and other assets | (2,247,065 | ) | (843,479 | ) | ||||
Contract assets | (498,358 | ) | (156,825 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable | 158,112 | (1,421 | ) | |||||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 351,024 | (159,078 | ) | |||||
Deferred revenue | (1,100,273 | ) | 1,226,033 | |||||
Refund liability | 87,635 | 128,915 | ||||||
Taxes payable | 888,820 | 304,749 | ||||||
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities from continuing operations | (801,054 | ) | 484,075 | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities from discontinued operations | 832,947 | 1,024,501 | ||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 31,893 | 1,508,576 | ||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
Purchase of property and equipment | (91,145 | ) | (320,810 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations | (91,145 | ) | (320,810 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations | (121,471 | ) | (1,259,430 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (212,616 | ) | (1,580,240 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
Proceeds from short-term bank loans | 2,596,206 | 1,997,802 | ||||||
Repayment of short-term bank loans | (2,073,892 | ) | (1,783,752 | ) | ||||
Repayment of long-term bank loans | (76,811 | ) | (128,430 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from related parties | 5,170,734 | - | ||||||
Proceeds from third party loans | 307,243 | - | ||||||
Payment of deferred issuance costs | (240,815 | ) | (280,415 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities from continuing operations | 5,682,665 | (194,795 | ) | |||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities from discontinued operations | (7,686,234 | ) | 215,442 | |||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (2,003,569 | ) | 20,647 | |||||
Effect of exchange rates changes on cash and cash equivalents | 167,061 | 151,377 | ||||||
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalent | (2,017,231 | ) | 100,360 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalent, beginning of year | 3,210,011 | 3,109,651 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalent, end of year | 1,192,780 | 3,210,011 | ||||||
Less cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash of discounted operations at end of year | - | (2,060,469 | ) | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash of continuing operations at end of year | $ | 1,192,780 | $ | 1,149,542 | ||||
Supplemental cash flow disclosures: | ||||||||
Cash paid for income tax | $ | 10,441 | $ | 1,453 | ||||
Cash paid for interest | $ | 139,279 | $ | 113,730 | ||||
Non-Cash Investing Activities | ||||||||
Purchase of fixed assets with unpaid costs accrued within accounts payable | $ | - | $ | 48,799 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Golden Sun Education Group Limited (“Golden Sun”) is a holding company that was incorporated under the laws of Cayman Islands on September 20, 2018. Golden Sun, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries and entities (collectively, “the Company”) controlled through contractual arrangements, is engaged in the provision of education and management services in People’s Republic of China (“China” or “PRC”). The Company offers foreign language tutorial services and other education training management services.
As of September 30, 2021, the Company’s subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities are as follows:
Subsidiaries | Date of Incorporation | Jurisdiction of Formation | Percentage of direct/indirect Economic Ownership | Principal Activities | ||||||
Hong Kong Jintaiyang International Education Holding Group Limited (“Golden Sun Hong Kong”) | June 23, 2017 | Hong Kong, PRC | 100 | % | Investment Holding | |||||
Wenzhou Jintaiyang Education Development Co., Ltd (“Golden Sun Wenzhou” or “WFOE”) | October 24, 2018 | PRC | 100 | % | Education and management service | |||||
Wenzhou City Ouhai District Yangfushan Culture Tutorial School (“Yangfushan Tutorial”) | May 5, 2008 | PRC | 100 | % | Tutorial service | |||||
Shanghai Golden Sun Gongyu Education Technology Co., Ltd. (“Gongyu Education”) | September 15, 2017 | PRC | 100 | % | Education and management service | |||||
Xianjin Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Xianjin Technology”) | February 20, 2012 | PRC | 85 | % | Education service | |||||
Shanghai Zhouzhi Culture Development Co., Ltd (“Zhouzhi Culture”) | December 11, 2012 | PRC | 100 | % | Tutorial service | |||||
Hangzhou Jicai Tutorial School Co., Ltd (“Hangzhou Jicai”)* | April 10, 2017 | PRC | 100 | % | Tutorial service | |||||
Shanghai Yangpu District Jicai Tutorial School (“Shanghai Jicai”)* | March 13, 2001 | PRC | 100 | % | Tutorial service | |||||
Shanghai Hongkou Practical Foreign Language School (“Hongkou Tutorial”)** | February 6, 2004 | PRC | 80 | % | Tutorial service | |||||
Wenzhou Lilong Logistics Services Co., Ltd. (“Lilong Logistics”) | December 17, 2019 | PRC | 100 | % | Education logistics and accommodation service | |||||
Shanghai Qinshang Education Technology Co., Ltd (“Qinshang Education”) | December 12, 2019 | PRC | 100 | % | Educational training service |
* | Hangzhou Jicai and Shanghai Jicai collectively refer to Jicai School. |
** | Hongkou Tutorial ceased operation and transferred its existing business to Xianjin Technology on December 31, 2021. |
F-7
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS DESCRIPTION (continued)
As described below, the Company, through a series of transactions which is accounted for as a reorganization of entities under a common control (the “Reorganization”), became the ultimate parent of its subsidiaries. CEO, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, is the ultimate controlling shareholder of the Company.
Reorganization
A Reorganization of the legal structure was completed in June 2019. The Reorganization involved: (i) the formation of Hong Kong Golden Sun and a wholly owned foreign entity (“WFOE”), Golden Sun Wenzhou; (ii) the transfer of CEO’s equity interest in Gongyu Education to WFOE; (iii) the transfer of CEO’s equity interest in Xianjin Technology to Gongyu Education; and (iv) the signing of contractual arrangements between Golden Sun Wenzhou and Wenzhou City Ouhai District Art School (“Ouhai Art School”) and its respective shareholders.
On April 27, 2015, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Golden Sun Shanghai, entered into an entrustment agreement (“Entrustment Agreement”) with Wenzhou City Longwan District Chongwen Middle School (“Chongwen Middle School”) and CEO for the period from September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2023, which may be renewed for an additional seven years. Pursuant to the Entrustment Agreement, Golden Sun Shanghai has the exclusive right to control the operations of Chongwen Middle School, including making operational and financial decisions. In return, the Company is entitled to receive the residual return from Chongwen Middle School’s operation and at the same time to bear the risk of loss from the operation. The sponsors of Chongwen Middle School had the right to receive a fixed amount of return on annual basis. Pursuant to the amendment to the Entrustment Agreement on March 1, 2021, sponsors of Chongwen Middle School will no longer receive a fixed amount of return on annual basis from fiscal year 2021 and Golden Sun Shanghai is entitled to receive all the residual return from Chongwen Middle School’s operation.
On March 1, 2019, the Company, through its WFOE, entered into a series contractual arrangements with the owners of Ouhai Art School with a term of 10 years with preferred renewal rights. These agreements include a Shareholders’ Voting Rights Proxy Agreement, an Executive Call Option Agreement, Equity Pledge Agreements and an Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement. Pursuant to the contractual arrangements, WFOE has the exclusive right to control the operations of Ouhai Art School.
On September 1, 2021, the revised Implementing Regulation became effective. The revised Implementing Regulation prohibits private schools that provide compulsory education to be controlled by means of agreements or to enter into any transactions with any related parties. In order to become compliant with the revised Implementing Regulation, in September 2021, the Company divested its operations of Ouhai Art School and Chongwen Middle School through the following actions: (1) the Company transferred all of its shares in Golden Sun Shanghai (the entity that controls Chongwen Middle School through contractual arrangements) to CEO and his wife; and (2) Golden Sun Wenzhou, one of the Company’s subsidiaries, terminated its VIE Agreements with Ouhai Art School. As a result of the foregoing, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries controls or receives economic benefits from any private schools that provide compulsory education, and, as of September 30, 2021.
Before and after the Reorganization, the Company, together with its subsidiaries, is effectively controlled by the same shareholders, and therefore the Reorganization is considered as a recapitalization of entities under common control. The consolidation of the Company and its subsidiaries have 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.
F-8
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Principles of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated upon consolidation.
Non-controlling interests
Non-controlling interest represents the portion of the net assets of subsidiaries attributable to interests that are not owned or controlled by the Company. The non-controlling interest is presented in the consolidated balance sheets, separately from equity attributable to the shareholders of the Company. Non-controlling interest’s operating results are presented on the face of the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income as an allocation of the total income for the year between non-controlling shareholders and the shareholders of the Company. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, non-controlling interests represent two non-controlling shareholders’ proportionate share of equity interests in Hongkou School and Xianjin Technology.
F-9
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Uses of estimates
In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates are based on information as of the date of the consolidated financial statements. Significant estimates required to be made by management include, but are not limited to useful lives of property and equipment and land use rights, the recoverability of long-lived assets, provision necessary for contingent liabilities, revenue recognition and advances from customers, valuation of prepayments and other assets and realization of deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash
Cash comprise cash at banks and on hand, which includes deposits with original maturities of three months or less with commercial banks in PRC. Cash balances in bank accounts in PRC are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or other programs.
Fair value of financial instruments
ASC 825-10 requires certain disclosures regarding the fair value of financial instruments. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A three-level fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:
● | Level 1 — inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. |
● | Level 2 — inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted market prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable and inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data. |
● | Level 3 — inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable. |
Unless otherwise disclosed, the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash, prepayments and other current assets, accounts payable, deferred revenue, accrued liabilities, due to related parties, short term bank loans and taxes payable, approximates their recorded values due to their short-term maturities. The Company determined that the carrying value of the long-term liabilities approximated their present value as the interest rates applied reflect the current quoted market yield for comparable financial instruments.
Prepayment and other assets
Prepayment and other assets primarily consist of prepaid rents, prepaid service fee, advances to vendors for purchasing goods or services that have not been received or provided, loans to third-parties, security deposits made to customers and advances to employees and accounts receivable from Qinshang Education’s business partner schools which are presented net of allowance for doubtful accounts. Prepayment and other assets are classified as either current or non-current based on the terms of the respective agreements. These advances are unsecured and are reviewed periodically to determine whether their carrying value has become impaired. The Company considers the assets to be impaired if the collectability of the advance becomes doubtful. The Company uses the aging method to estimate the allowance for uncollectible balances. The allowance is also based on management’s best estimate of specific losses on individual exposures, as well as a provision on historical trends of collections and utilizations. Actual amounts received or utilized may differ from management’s estimate of credit worthiness and the economic environment. Other receivables are written off against the allowances only after exhaustive collection efforts. For the year ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, $87,499 and $277,847 was written off against other receivables, respectively. No allowance was recorded as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
F-10
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Property and equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided in the amounts sufficient to depreciate the cost of the related assets over their useful lives using the straight-line method, as follows:
Useful life | ||
Transport Equipment | 5 years | |
Office Equipment | 3-5 years | |
Leasehold Improvement | 3-5 years |
Expenditures for maintenance and repairs, which do not materially extend the useful lives of the assets, are charged to expense as incurred. Expenditures for major renewals and betterments which substantially extend the useful life of assets are capitalized. The cost and related accumulated depreciation of assets retired or sold are removed from the respective accounts, and any gain or loss is recognized in the consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income in other income or expenses.
Impairment of long-lived assets
Long-lived assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances (such as a significant adverse change to market conditions that will impact the future use of the assets) indicate that the carrying amount may not be fully recoverable or that the useful life is shorter than the Company had originally estimated. When these events occur, the Company evaluates the impairment by comparing the carrying value of the assets to an estimate of future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the assets, the Company recognizes an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying value of the assets over the fair value of the assets. No impairment charge was recognized for the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Revenue recognition
The Company generates revenues primarily from tuitions fees and other fees collected from services provided. Revenue is recognized when the price is fixed or determinable, persuasive evidence of the arrangement exists, the service is performed or the product is delivered and collectability of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured
The Company has adopted ASC 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” and all subsequent ASUs that modified ASC 606, using the modified retrospective approach for the year ended September 30, 2019 and has elected to apply it retrospectively for the year ended September 30, 2018. ASC 606 establishes principles for reporting information about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from the entity’s contracts to provide goods or services to customers. The core principle requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that it expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services recognized as performance obligations are satisfied. This new guidance provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized. Under the new guidance, revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services and is recognized in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, the new guidance requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.
F-11
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Revenue recognition (continued)
The Company’s continuing operations currently generated its revenue from the following main sources:
Tutorial service revenue
The Company offers various off-campus small-group foreign language tutoring programs. Each contract of tutorial service programs represents a series of distinct services, which is delivery of various courses. The services have substantially the same pattern of transfer to the students, as such, they are considered as a single performance obligation, which is satisfied proportionately based on a straight-line basis over the program term as students simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of these services throughout the program term. The Company is the principal in providing tutorial services as it controls such services before the services are transferred to the customer. The program fees are generally collected in advance and are initially recorded as deferred revenue. Generally, the Company approves refunds for any remaining classes to students who decide to withdraw from a course within the predetermined period in the contract. The refund is equal to and limited to the amount related to the undelivered classes. The Company estimates and records refund liability for the portion the Company does not expect to be entitled based on historical refund ratio on a portfolio basis using the expected value method.
Logistic and consulting services
The Company also provides education and management services to schools and kindergartens, including but not limited to logistic, catering, branding, academic management, basic education resources, human resources, procurement and logistics management services. The promised services in each education and management service contract are combined and accounted as a single performance obligation, as the promised services in a contract are not distinct and are considered as a significant integrated service. The revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period of the education and management service, as customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of these services throughout the service period.
Practical expedient
As a practical expedient, the Company elects to record the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that the entity otherwise would have recognized is one year or less. The Company has applied the new revenue standard requirements to a portfolio of contracts (or performance obligations) with similar characteristics for transactions where it is expected that the effects on the financial statements of applying the revenue recognition guidance to the portfolio would not differ materially from applying this guidance to the individual contracts (or performance obligations) within that portfolio. Therefore, the Company elects the portfolio approach in applying the new revenue guidance.
Disaggregation of revenue
Substantially all of revenues is recognized over time, based on a straight-line basis as students simultaneously receive education services throughout the service period. Revenue attributable to educational materials is recognized at point in time, which only accounts for a fraction of total revenue. As the Company’s long-lived assets are all located in Yangtze River Delta, which is a triangle-shaped megalopolis comprising areas of Shanghai, southern Jiangsu province and northern Zhejiang province and substantially all of the Company’s revenues are derived from this area, no geographical disaggregation is presented. For the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the disaggregation of revenue by major revenue stream is as follows:
For the years ended September 30, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Tutorial service revenue | $ | 13,518,061 | $ | 6,827,677 | ||||
Logistic and consulting services | 1,508,930 | 907,508 | ||||||
Total | $ | 15,026,991 | $ | 7,735,185 |
F-12
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Revenue recognition (continued)
Contract assets
In accordance with ASC340-40-25-1, an entity shall recognize as an asset the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if the entity expects to recover those costs. Entities sometimes incur costs to obtain a contract that otherwise would not have been incurred. Entities also may incur costs to fulfill a contract before a good or service is provided to a customer. The revenue standard provides guidance on costs to obtain and fulfill a contract that should be recognized as assets. Costs that are recognized as assets are amortized over the period that the related goods or services transfer to the customer, and are periodically reviewed for impairment. Only incremental costs should be recognized as assets. Incremental costs of obtaining a contract are those costs that the entity would not have incurred if the contract had not been obtained.
As of September 30, 2021, in order to develop non-English foreign language tutorial service for middle school students, the Company incurred total of approximately $1.8 million (RMB11.7 million) commission type fee and administration costs paid to agents to facilitate the related contracts with students for the tutorial service period, generally from 4 to 29 months tutorial service periods. The Company will not incur such costs if the Company does not enter into the tutorial service contracts with the students, as a result, the cost of approximately $1.8 million (RMB11.7 million) is considered as the incremental costs of obtaining contracts and shall be capitalized and amortize over tutorial service period. For the year ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company amortized related amount of $1,097,346 and $122,144 into selling expense, respectively. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, the contract assets amounted to $672,506 and $161,537.
Contract liability
Contract liabilities are presented as deferred revenue in the consolidated balance sheets, which represents service fee payment received from students in advance of completion of performance obligations under a contract. The balance of deferred revenue is recognized as revenue upon the completion of performance obligations. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, the balance of deferred revenue amounted to $6,324,472 and $7,056,233, respectively. Substantially all of which will be recognized as revenue during the Company’s following fiscal year.
Refund liability
Refund liability mainly relates to the estimated refunds that are expected to be provided to students if they decide they no longer want to take the course. Refund liability estimates are based on historical refund ratio on a portfolio basis using the expected value method. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, refund liability amounted to $348,472 and $246,935, respectively.
Cost of revenues
Cost of revenues mainly consists of salaries to instructors and tutors, rental expenses for office space and learning centers, depreciation and amortization of properties and equipment and teaching materials used in the provision of educational services.
Government subsidies
Government subsidies are recognized when there is reasonable assurance that the Company will comply with the conditions attach to it and the grant will be received. Government grant for the purpose of giving immediate financial support to the Company with no future related costs or obligation is recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income when the grant becomes receivable. For the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, government subsidies income amounted to $Nil and $2,839, respectively, and was included in other income of the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive (loss) income.
F-13
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Advertising expenditures
Advertising expenditures are expensed as incurred and such expenses were minimal for the periods presented. Advertising expenditures have been included as part of selling and marketing expenses. For the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the advertising expenses amounted to $247,952 and $142,134, respectively.
Operating leases
A lease for which substantially all the benefits and risks incidental to ownership remain with the lessor is classified by the lessee as an operating lease. All leases of the Company are currently classified as operating leases.
Value added tax (“VAT”)
Revenue represents the invoiced value of goods and services, net of VAT. The VAT is based on gross sales price and VAT rates range up to 6%, depending on the type of products sold or service provided. Entities that are VAT general taxpayers are allowed to offset qualified input VAT paid to suppliers against their output VAT liabilities. Net VAT balance between input VAT and output VAT is recorded in taxes payable. All of the VAT returns filed by the Company’s subsidiaries in PRC remain subject to examination by the tax authorities for five years from the date of filing.
Income taxes
The Company accounts for current income taxes in accordance with the laws of the relevant tax authorities. Deferred income taxes are recognized when temporary differences exist between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period including the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
An uncertain tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. Penalties and interest incurred related to underpayment of income tax are classified as income tax expense in the period incurred. No significant penalties or interest relating to income taxes have been incurred for the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. All of the tax returns of the Company’s subsidiaries in the PRC remain subject to examination by the tax authorities for five years from the date of filing.
Employee benefits
Full-time employees of the Company in the PRC participate in a government-mandated employer contribution social insurance plan pursuant to which certain pension benefits, medical care, unemployment insurance, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to eligible full-time employees. Chinese labor regulations require that the Company make contributions to the government for these benefits based on government prescribed percentage of the employee’s salaries. The contributions to the plan are expensed as incurred. Obligations for contributions to employer contribution social insurance plans are recognized as an employee benefit expenses in the period during which services are rendered by employees.
Earnings per Share
The Company computes earnings per share (“EPS”) in accordance with ASC 260, “Earnings per Share”. ASC 260 requires companies to present basic and diluted EPS. Basic EPS is measured as net income divided by the weighted average common share outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS presents the dilutive effect on a per-share basis of the potential Ordinary Shares (e.g., convertible securities, options and warrants) as if they had been converted at the beginning of the periods presented, or issuance date, if later. Potential Ordinary Shares that have an anti-dilutive effect (i.e., those that increase income per share or decrease loss per share) are excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS.
F-14
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Foreign currency translation
The functional currencies of the Company are the local currency of the county in which the subsidiaries operate. The Company’s financial statements are reported using U.S. Dollars. The results of operations and the consolidated statements of cash flows denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the average rates of exchange during the reporting period. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are translated at the applicable rates of exchange in effect on that date. The equity denominated in the functional currencies is translated at the historical rates of exchange at the time of capital contributions. Because cash flows are translated based on the average translation rates, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the consolidated statements of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the consolidated balance sheets. Translation adjustments arising from the use of different exchange rates from period to period are included as a separate component in accumulated other comprehensive income included in consolidated statements of changes in equity. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in the consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income.
Since the Company operates primarily in the PRC, the Company’s functional currency is the Chinese Yuan (“RMB”). The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been translated into the reporting currency of U.S. Dollars (“US$”). The RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currency and all foreign exchange transactions must take place through authorized institutions. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ at the rates used in the translation.
The following table outlines the currency exchange rates that were used in creating the consolidated financial statements in this report:
September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2020 | |||
Balance sheet items, except for equity accounts | US$1=RMB 6.4580 | US$1=RMB 6.8033 | ||
Items in the statements of income and cash flows | US$1=RMB 6.5095 | US$1=RMB 7.0077 |
Comprehensive (loss) income
Comprehensive income consists of two components, net income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to revenue, expenses, gains and losses that under U.S. GAAP are recorded as an element of shareholders’ equity but are excluded from net income. Other comprehensive income (loss) consists of foreign currency translation adjustment resulting from the Company not using US$ as its functional currency.
Risks and uncertainties
Beginning in late 2019, an outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) first emerged in China and has spread globally. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared the COVID-19 as a pandemic. Governments in affected countries are imposing travel bans, quarantines and other emergency public health measures, which have caused material disruption to businesses globally resulting in an economic slowdown. These measures, though intended to be temporary in nature, may continue and increase depending on developments in the COVID-19 outbreak or any reoccurrence of an outbreak. In addition, the continued spread and variations of COVID-19 as well as the imposition of related public health measures have resulted in, and is expected to continue to result in, increased volatility and uncertainty in the global economy. The continued spread and variations of COVID-19 and efforts to contain the virus could adversely impact the Company’s strategic business plans and growth strategy, reduce demand for its services, reduce the availability and productivity of its employees, service providers, and third-party resources, cause it to experience an increase in costs due to emergency measures, and otherwise adversely impact the business.
F-15
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Segment reporting
The Company’s chief operating decision-maker (“CODM”) has been identified as its Chief Executive Officer, who reviews the consolidated results when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing the performance of the Company as a whole and the management of the Company concludes that it has only one reportable segment. The Company does not distinguish between markets or segments for the purpose of internal reporting. The Company’s long-lived assets are all located in the PRC and substantially all of the Company’s revenues are derived from the PRC. Therefore, no geographical segments are presented.
Concentrations of risks
(a) | Concentration of credit risk |
Assets that potentially subject the Company to a significant concentration of credit risk primarily consist of cash, accounts receivable and other current assets. The maximum exposure of such assets to credit risk is their carrying amounts as at the balance sheet dates. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalent of $1,165,735 and $1,132,656, respectively, was held at major financial institutions in PRC, where there is no requirement for the financial institutions to maintain insurance to cover bank deposits in the event of bank failure. To limit the exposure to credit risk relating to deposits, the Company primarily places cash deposits with large financial institutions in the PRC. The Company conducts credit evaluations of its customers and suppliers, and generally does not require collateral or other security from them. The Company establishes an accounting policy to provide for allowance for doubtful accounts based on the individual customer’s and supplier’s financial condition, credit history, and the current economic conditions.
(b) | Foreign currency risk |
A majority of the Company’s expense transactions are denominated in RMB and a significant portion of the Company and its subsidiaries’ assets and liabilities are denominated in RMB. RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. In the PRC, certain foreign exchange transactions are required by law to be transacted only by authorized financial institutions at exchange rates set by the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”). Remittances in currencies other than RMB by the Company in China must be processed through the PBOC or other China foreign exchange regulatory bodies which require certain supporting documentation in order to affect the remittance.
It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar in the future. The change in the value of the RMB relative to the U.S. dollar may affect the Company’s financial results reported in the U.S. dollar terms without giving effect to any underlying changes in the Company’s business or results of operations. Currently, the Company’s assets, liabilities, revenues and costs are denominated in RMB. To the extent that the Company needs to convert U.S. dollars into RMB for capital expenditures and working capital and other business purposes, appreciation of RMB against U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount the Company would receive from the conversion. Conversely, if the Company decides to convert RMB into U.S. dollar for the purpose of making payments for dividends, strategic acquisition or investments or other business purposes, appreciation of U.S. dollar against RMB would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to the Company.
Reclassifications
The assets and liabilities related to the discontinued operations were retroactively classified as assets/liabilities held for sale as of September 30, 2020, while results of operations related to the discontinued operations for the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, were retroactively reported as income (loss) from discontinued operations.
F-16
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Recent accounting pronouncements
The Company considers the applicability and impact of all accounting standards updates (“ASUs”). Management periodically reviews new accounting standards that are issued.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases, including operating leases, with a term in excess of 12 months. The guidance also expands the quantitative and qualitative disclosure requirements. In July 2018, the FASB issued updates to the lease standard making transition requirements less burdensome. The update provides an option to apply the transition provisions of the new standard at its adoption date instead of at the earliest comparative period presented in the company’s financial statements. The new guidance requires the lessee to record operating leases on the balance sheet with a right-of-use asset and corresponding liability for future payment obligations. FASB further issued ASU 2018-11 “Target Improvement” and ASU 2018-20 “Narrow-scope Improvements for Lessors.” In June 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-05, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Leases (Topic 842) Effective Dates for Certain Entities” (“ASU 2020-05”) in response to the ongoing impacts to businesses in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. ASU 2020-05 provides a limited deferral of the effective dates for implementing previously issued ASU 842 to give some relief to businesses and the difficulties they are facing during the pandemic. ASU 2020-05 affects entities in the “all other” category and public Not-For-Profit entities that have not gone into effect yet regarding ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). Entities in the “all other” category may defer to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. As an emerging growth company, the Company will adopt this guidance effective October 1, 2022. The Company is evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which requires the Company to measure and recognize expected credit losses for financial assets held and not accounted for at fair value through net income. In November 2018, April 2019 and May 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-19, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses,” “ASU No. 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses,” “Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments,” and “ASU No. 2019-05, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief,” which provided additional implementation guidance on the previously issued ASU. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. The ASU requires a modified retrospective adoption method. The Company is still evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In August 2018, the FASB Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement” (“ASU 2018-13”). ASU 2018-13 modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for any removed or modified disclosures. The removed and modified disclosures will be adopted on a retrospective basis and the new disclosures will be adopted on a prospective basis. The Company does not expect this guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740)—Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. ASU 2019-12 is intended to simplify accounting for income taxes. It removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years, which is fiscal 2021 for us, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption of the new guidance to have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Except for the above-mentioned pronouncements, there are no new recent issued accounting standards that will have a material impact on the consolidated financial position, statements of operations and cash flows.
F-17
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 3 — LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
In assessing its liquidity, management monitors and analyzes the Company’s cash on-hand, its ability to generate sufficient revenue sources in the future, and its operating and capital expenditure commitments. For the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded net income (loss) from continuing operation of approximately $1.3 million and ($0.1) million, respectively. While the Company had a negative working capital of approximately $7.0 million as of September 30, 2021, which was largely attributed to unearned tuition advances of approximately $6.3 million. These deferred tuition payments will be recognized as revenue in the next fiscal year when the services are provided. The Company has historically funded its working capital needs primarily from operations, bank loans, and advances from shareholders and intends to continue doing so in the near future.
The Company currently plans to fund its operations mainly through cash flow from its operations, renewal of bank borrowings, supports from controlling shareholders if necessary, to ensure sufficient working capital. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had cash on hand of approximately $1.2 million and outstanding bank loans of approximately $2.1 million. Management expects that it would be able to renew all of its existing bank loans upon their maturity based on past experience and the Company’s good credit history. The Company believes that its cash on hand and internally generated cash flows will be sufficient to fund its operations over at least the next 12 months from the date of this report. However, the Company may need additional cash resources in the future if the Company experiences changed business conditions or other developments, and may also need additional cash resources in the future if the Company wishes to pursue opportunities for investment, acquisition, strategic cooperation or other similar actions. If it is determined that the cash requirements exceed the Company’s amounts of cash on hand, the Company may seek to issue additional debt or obtain financial supports from shareholders. The principal shareholder of the Company has made pledges to provide financial support to the Company whenever necessary.
F-18
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 4 — DISCONTINUED OPERATION
On September 30, 2021, under the Company’s the Board of Director’s approval, WOFE signed a termination agreement with CEO and his wife, pursuant to which, the contractual arrangements signed on March 1, 2019 including a Shareholders’ Voting Rights Proxy Agreement, an Executive Call Option Agreement, Equity Pledge Agreements and an Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement were terminated effective September 30, 2021. On September 30, 2021, the Company sold all shares in Golden Sun Shanghai to CEO and his wife for a consideration of Hongkong Dollar 100,000 (approximately $12,845) as a nominal proceed. As a result of the foregoing, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries controls or receives economic benefits from Chongwen Middle School and Ouhai Art School (VIEs). In substance, the Subsequent Divestitures is a part of the Company’s reorganization under common control with no commercial substance, therefore no gain or loss was recognized through the Subsequent Divestitures. Upon the completion of the Subsequent Divestitures, the carrying value of net assets of VIEs, net of nominal proceeds, is considered as a deemed distribution back to the Company’s shareholders and recorded as a reduction of shareholders’ equity.
The discontinued operation represents a strategic shift that has a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results, which trigger discontinued operations accounting in accordance with ASC 205-20-45. The assets and liabilities related to the discontinued operations were retroactively classified as assets/liabilities held for sale as of September 30, 2020, while results of operations related to the discontinued operations for the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, were retroactively reported as income (loss) from discontinued operations. The results of discontinued operations for the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
For the Year ended September 30, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Revenues | $ | 7,220,396 | $ | 6,224,375 | ||||
Cost of revenues | 4,143,387 | 3,615,800 | ||||||
Gross profit | 3,077,009 | 2,608,575 | ||||||
Operating expenses | 1,704,280 | 1,983,871 | ||||||
Income from discontinued operations | 1,372,729 | 624,704 | ||||||
Other expense, net | (320,718 | ) | (351,462 | ) | ||||
Income before income taxes | 1,052,011 | 273,242 | ||||||
Income taxes provision | 196,971 | 72,753 | ||||||
Net income from discontinued operations | $ | 855,040 | $ | 200,489 |
F-19
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 4 — DISCONTINUED OPERATION (continued)
Assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations:
As of September 30, | ||||
2020 | ||||
CURRENT ASSETS: | ||||
Cash | $ | 2,060,469 | ||
Prepayments and other current assets, net | 292,121 | |||
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | 2,352,590 | |||
NON-CURRENT ASSETS: | ||||
Property and equipment, net | 5,000,707 | |||
Land use rights, net | 6,364,382 | |||
Deferred tax assets | 114,384 | |||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 13,832,063 | ||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||
Short-term bank loans | $ | 1,763,850 | ||
Notes payable – current portion | 474,629 | |||
Accounts payable | 1,735,258 | |||
Deferred revenue | 2,983,325 | |||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 302,211 | |||
Loans from third party | 80,843 | |||
Taxes payable | 917,371 | |||
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES | 8,257,487 | |||
Due to related party | 1,153,083 | |||
Note payable – long term portion | 3,391,920 | |||
TOTAL LIABILITIES | $ | 12,802,490 |
F-20
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 5 — PREPAYMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS, NET
Prepayments and other assets, net consisted of the following:
September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2020 | |||||||
Prepaid rents (a) | $ | 5,436 | $ | 40,672 | ||||
Prepaid service fee (b) | 36,677 | 54,973 | ||||||
Loans to third-parties (c) | 729,638 | 831,283 | ||||||
Advances to vendors (d) | 1,706,081 | 187 | ||||||
Advance to employees (e) | 17,653 | 10,353 | ||||||
Security deposits | 532,198 | 512,913 | ||||||
Accounts receivable (f) | 701,437 | 6,155 | ||||||
Others (g) | 119,837 | 130,763 | ||||||
Total | $ | 3,848,957 | $ | 1,587,299 | ||||
Including: | ||||||||
Prepayment and other current assets | $ | 3,663,317 | $ | 1,473,237 | ||||
Prepayments and other non-current assets | $ | 185,640 | $ | 114,062 |
(a) | Prepaid rents represent the prepayment of rent related to leases expiring within 12 months. |
(b) | The prepaid expense of $36,677 was classified as non-current assets, which will be amortized over five years. |
(c) | Loan to third-parties represents the balance lend to various third-parties for working capital needs. The Company collected $541,963 subsequently as of the date of this report. |
(d) | Advances to vendors primarily included prepayment for cooperation project, software and lease improvement. The advance of $743,264 for cooperation project was returned by the vendor in January, 2022. |
(e) | Advance to employees was provided to staff for travelling and business related use and are expensed as incurred. |
(f) | Accounts receivable represents the tuition fee receivable from Qinshang Education’s business partner schools. The business partner schools collects tuition from students and holds the fund during the course of study. Qinshang Education will receive the tuition after student complete their program. |
(g) | Others primarily included funds deposited in third-party platforms such as Alipay and WeChat. |
Allowance for doubtful accounts movement:
September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2020 | |||||||
Beginning balance | $ | - | $ | 241,008 | ||||
Provision | 87,499 | 47,605 | ||||||
Write off | (87,499 | ) | (277,847 | ) | ||||
Recovery | - | (15,240 | ) | |||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | - | 4,474 | ||||||
Ending balance | $ | - | $ | - |
F-21
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 6 — PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Property and equipment, net, consist of the following:
September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2020 | |||||||
Office equipment | $ | 321,578 | $ | 254,942 | ||||
Leasehold improvements | 323,385 | 270,077 | ||||||
Subtotal | 644,963 | 525,019 | ||||||
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization | (270,345 | ) | (119,260 | ) | ||||
Property and equipment, net | $ | 374,618 | $ | 405,759 |
Depreciation expenses for the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 amounted to $143,562 and $85,737, respectively.
Note 7 — ACCRUED EXPENSE AND OTHER LIABILITIES
Accrued expenses and other liabilities consisted of the following:
September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2020 | |||||||
Payroll payables | $ | 253,204 | $ | 181,044 | ||||
Professional fee and others | 333,497 | 231,096 | ||||||
Total | $ | 586,701 | $ | 412,140 |
F-22
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 8 — BANK LOANS
Short-term Borrowings
Short-term borrowings represent amounts due to various banks maturing within one year. The principal of the borrowings is due at maturity. Accrued interest is due either monthly or quarterly. Short-term borrowings consisted of the following:
As of | As of | |||||||
September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2020 | |||||||
Shanghai Bank (1) | $ | - | $ | 220,481 | ||||
Zhejiang Wenzhou Longwan Rural Commercial Bank (“Longwan RCB”) (2) | 758,749 | - | ||||||
Total | $ | 758,749 | $ | 220,481 |
(1) | On September 10, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement with Shanghai Bank to obtain a loan of $220,481 (or RMB 1,500,000) for a term from September 17, 2020 to August 31, 2021 at a fixed rate of 4.35% per annum. Shanghai Small and Micro Enterprise Guarantee Funding Center and two legal representatives of the Companies’ subsidiaries guaranteed the repayment of the loan. The loan was fully repaid upon maturity. |
(2) | On February 07, 2021, the Company entered into a loan agreement with Longwan RCB to obtain a loan of $758,749 (or RMB4,900,000) for a term from February 24, 2021 to January 24, 2022 at a fixed rate of 4.36% per annum. The Company’s CEO and his wife provided personal guaranty for the repayment of the loan. The loan was subsequently renewed for another year with the new maturity date of January 20, 2023. |
Long-term Borrowings
Long-term borrowings consisted of the following:
As of | As of | |||||||
September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2020 | |||||||
Wenzhou Minshang Bank (1) | $ | 433,571 | $ | 485,059 | ||||
Wenzhou Minshang Bank (2) | 904,304 | 858,407 | ||||||
Total | $ | 1,337,875 | $ | 1,343,466 | ||||
Less: current maturity of long-term loan | 309,693 | 73,494 | ||||||
Long term portion | $ | 1,028,182 | $ | 1,269,972 |
(1) | On December 12, 2018, the Company entered into a loan agreement with Wenzhou Minshang Bank to obtain a loan of $774,234 (or RMB 5,000,000) for a term from December 12, 2018 to December 12, 2021 at a fixed annual interest rate of 8%. The Company’s CEO and his wife provided personal guaranty for the repayment of the loan. The Company has repaid $340,663 (or RMB 2,200,000) in principal as of September 30, 2021. The loan was subsequently renewed for another year with the new maturity date of December 12, 2022. |
(2) | On December 13, 2018, the Company entered into a loan agreement with Wenzhou Minshang Bank to obtain a loan of $904,304 (or RMB 5,840,000) for a term from December 13, 2018 to December 12, 2021 at a fixed annual interest rate of 8%. The Company’s CEO and his wife provided personal guaranty for the repayment of the loan. The loan was subsequently renewed for another year with the new maturity date of December 12, 2022. |
For the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the weighted average annual interest rate for the bank loans was approximately 6.9% and 8.2%, respectively. Interest expenses for the above-mentioned loans amount to $139,279 and $113,730 for the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
F-23
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 8 — BANK LOANS (continued)
Long-term Borrowings (continued)
The repayment schedule for the bank loans are as follows:
Twelve months ending September 30, | Repayment | |||
2022 | $ | 1,068,442 | ||
2023 | 1,028,182 | |||
Total | $ | 2,096,624 |
Note 9 — RELATED PARTIES BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS
Due to related party
Due to related party amounted to $672,560 and $nil as of September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020, respectively, represented the balance of the funds advanced by the controlling shareholder and the CEO of the Company for working capital purpose. The CEO agreed not to demand the repayment of these dues until the Company’s working capital becomes sufficient or for at least 12 months from the date of this report, whichever occurs later.
Revenue earned from related parties
For the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company provided educational management consulting service to certain kindergartens owned by CEO and earned revenue from related parties of $365,042 and $334,558, respectively.
Guarantee provided to a related party
On September 26, 2019, the Company’s subsidiary Xianjin signed an agreement with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank to provide guarantee for a related party’s borrowing of $1,207,804 for a period from September 26, 2019 to September 26, 2022. The related party is owned by CEO, who, in return, personally indemnifies the Company against any potential losses caused by the above guaranty. As of September 30, 2020, the Company did not record any guarantee liability since there was no indications of default by the related party and CEO’s indemnity.
Guarantee provided by related parties
Five related parties guaranteed the repayment of the Company’s short-term and long-term loans. (See Note 8)
F-24
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 10 — TAXES
(a) | Corporate Income Taxes (“CIT”) |
Cayman Islands
The Company is incorporated in the Cayman Islands and is not subject to tax on income or capital gains under the laws of Cayman Islands. Additionally, the Cayman Islands does not impose a withholding tax on payments of dividends to shareholders.
Hong Kong
Under Hong Kong tax laws, Shanghai Golden Sun and Hong Kong Golden Sun are subject to a statutory income tax rate at 16.5% if revenue is generated in Hong Kong and they are exempted from income tax on their foreign-derived income. There are no withholding taxes in Hong Kong on remittance of dividends.
PRC
Under the Enterprise Income Tax (“EIT”) Law of PRC, domestic enterprises and Foreign Investment Enterprises (the “FIE”) are usually subject to a unified 25% enterprise income tax rate while preferential tax rates, tax holidays and even tax exemption may be granted on a case-by-case basis. According to the Law on the Promotion of Private Education (“2016 Private Education Law”) effective as of September 1, 2017, private schools may enjoy preferential tax treatment, and will be entitled to similar tax benefits as public schools. Yangfushan Tutorial, qualified as “small-scaled minimal profit enterprise”, is entitled to preferential rate of 10% for the year ended September 30, 2020. It was not qualified as “small-scaled minimal profit enterprise” for the year ended September 30, 2021, thus was subject to statutory 25% income tax rate for current period. The rest of the Company’s subsidiaries are subject to statutory 25% income tax rate.
The PRC tax system is subject to substantial uncertainties. There can be no assurance that changes in PRC tax laws or their interpretation or their application will not subject the Company’s PRC entities to substantial PRC taxes in the future.
i) | The components of the income tax provision are as follows: |
For the year ended September 30, 2021 | For the year ended September 30, 2020 | |||||||
Current income tax | $ | 638,228 | $ | 171,377 | ||||
Deferred income tax | 21,630 | 12,649 | ||||||
Total provision for income taxes | $ | 659,858 | $ | 184,026 |
ii) | The following table reconciles PRC statutory rates to the Company’s effective tax rate: |
The following table reconciles the China statutory rates to the Company’s effective tax rate:
For the year ended September 30, | For the year ended September 30, | |||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Income tax expense computed based on PRC statutory rate | 491,555 | 9,615 | ||||||
Change in valuation allowance | 100,244 | 236,503 | ||||||
Non-deductible items and others* | 68,059 | (62,092 | ) | |||||
Income tax expense | 659,858 | 184,026 |
* | Non-deductible items and others represent excess expenses and losses not deductible for PRC tax purpose. |
F-25
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 10 — TAXES (continued)
iii) | The following table summarizes deferred tax assets and liabilities resulting from differences between financial accounting basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities: |
September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2020 | |||||||
Deferred tax assets: | ||||||||
Net operating loss carry-forward | $ | 439,597 | $ | 342,067 | ||||
Valuation allowance | (439,597 | ) | (321,371 | ) | ||||
Total deferred tax assets | $ | - | $ | 20,696 |
As of September 30, 2021, the net operating losses carried forward was approximately $1.8 million, which will expire on various dates from May 31, 2022 to May 31, 2026. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Recovery of substantially all of the Company’s deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future income, exclusive of reversing taxable temporary differences. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are recoverable, management believes that it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will not generate sufficient taxable income to realize the deferred tax assets as at September 30, 2021 and 2020.
(b) | Taxes payable |
Taxes payable consist of the following:
September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2020 | |||||||
Income tax payable | $ | 2,475,474 | $ | 1,679,119 | ||||
Value-added tax payable | 1,107,490 | 882,834 | ||||||
Other taxes payable | 144,094 | 125,501 | ||||||
Total taxes payable | $ | 3,727,058 | $ | 2,687,454 |
As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company had accrued tax liabilities of approximately $3.7 million and $2.7 million, respectively, mostly related to the unpaid income tax and business tax in China. According to PRC taxation regulation, if tax has not been fully paid, tax authorities may impose tax and late payment penalties within three years. In practice, since all of the taxes owed are local taxes, the local tax authority is typically more flexible and willing to provide incentives or settlements with local small and medium-size businesses to relieve their burden and to stimulate the local economy. There was no interest and penalty accrued as of September 30, 2021 and 2020 since it is impossible to estimate the amount of the penalty and interest at this point, and the Company believe that the probability of them being charged interest and penalty is remote as the local authority is often more willing to settle. As of September 30, 2021, the tax years ended December 31, 2016 through December 31, 2021 for the Company’s PRC subsidiaries remain open for statutory examination by PRC tax authorities.
F-26
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 11 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Ordinary shares
Recapitalization
The Company was established by its CEO and his wife (“two founding shareholders”) under the laws of the Cayman Islands on September 20, 2018 with 2,410 ordinary shares issued and outstanding. From April 2020 to October 19, 2020, the two founding shareholders sold an aggregate of 1,662.9 ordinary shares to several purchasers and thereafter, the CEO held 747.1 ordinary shares and the CEO’s wife did not hold any ordinary shares of the Company any more. On November 24, 2020, the shareholders of the Company held a meeting (the “Meeting”) and unanimously approved an amendment to the share capital, re-designation of shares and the adoption of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, after which, (1) the Company’s share capital was changed to $50,000 divided into 45,000 Class A ordinary Shares of $1.00 par value per share and 5,000 Class B ordinary shares of $1.00 par value per share, and (2) 747.1 Class B ordinary shares were issued to CEO. On December 5, 2020, CEO’s 747.1 Class A ordinary shares were canceled. Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares have equal economic rights but unequal voting rights, pursuant to which Class A ordinary shares will receive one vote each and Class B ordinary shares will receive five votes each. As a result, CEO only owns 747.1 Class B ordinary shares of par value of $1 each and CEO’s wife does not own any ordinary shares of the Company. On April 24, 2021, the shareholders of the Company held a meeting and unanimously approved an amendment to the share capital and the adoption of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, after which, (1) the Company effectuates a forward stock split at a ratio of 2,000-for-1 to increase the Company’s authorized share capital to 90,000,000 Class A ordinary Shares of $0.0005 par value per share and 10,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of $0.0005 par value per share; (2) the Company had nominal issuance of 7,024,200 Class A ordinary shares to the existing Class A ordinary shareholders and nominal issuance of 3,155,800 Class B ordinary shares to the existing Class B ordinary shareholder, after which, the Company has an aggregated of 15,000,000 ordinary shares issued and outstanding, consisting of 10,350,000 Class A ordinary shares and 4,650,000 Class B ordinary shares. On September 30, 2021, the Board of Directors approved that the shareholders of the Company voluntarily surrender, on pro rata basis, 2,000,000 ordinary shares of US$0.0005 par value per share (the Surrender). As a result, the Company has an aggregated of 13,000,000 ordinary shares issued and outstanding, consisting of 8,970,000 Class A ordinary shares and 4,030,000 Class B ordinary shares.
The Company believes that the stock split, the share issuance and the Surrender should be considered as a part of the Recapitalization of the Company and accounted for on a retroactive basis pursuant to ASC 260. All ordinary shares and per share data for all periods have been retroactively restated accordingly. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, a total of 13,000,000 ordinary shares were issued and outstanding. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, additional paid-in capital in the consolidated balance sheet represented the combined contributed capital of the Company’s subsidiaries.
Statutory reserve and restricted net assets
As stipulated by relevant PRC laws and regulations, the Company’s subsidiaries and affiliated entities in the PRC must take appropriations from tax profit to non-distributive funds. These reserves include general reserve and the development reserve.
The general reserve requires annual appropriation 10% of after-tax profits at each year-end until the balance reaches 50% of a PRC company’s registered capital. Other reserve is set aside at the Company’s discretion. These reserves can only be used for general enterprise expansion and are not distributable as cash dividends. The general reserve amounted $48,340 and $302,327 as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, among which $Nil and $59,056 belongs to discontinued operations, respectively.
Prior to the effectiveness of Amended Private Education Law, PRC laws and regulations required private schools that require reasonable returns to contribute 25% of after-tax income before payments of dividend to a fund to be used for the construction or maintenance of the school or procurement or upgrading of educational facility. For private schools that do not require reasonable returns, this amount should be equivalent to no less than 25% of the annual increase of its net assets as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the PRC. For the Company’s private schools, development reserve amounted to $809,030 and $728,840 as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, among which $Nil and $147,641 belong to discontinued operations, respectively. The statutory reserves cannot be transferred to the Company in the form of loans or advances and are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation.
Because the Company’s operating subsidiaries in the PRC can only be paid out of distributable profits reported in accordance with PRC accounting standards, the Company’s operating subsidiaries in the PRC are restricted from transferring a portion of their net assets to the Company. The restricted amounts include the paid-in capital and statutory reserves of the Company’s entities in the PRC. The aggregate amount of paid-in capital and statutory reserves, which represented the amount of net assets of the Company’s operating subsidiaries in the PRC not available for distribution, was $883,015 and $2,687,534 as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, among which $Nil and $689,801 belong to discontinued operations.
F-27
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 12 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Contingencies
From time to time, the Company is subject to certain legal proceedings, claims and disputes that arise in the ordinary course of business. Although the outcomes of these legal proceedings cannot be predicted, the Company does not believe these actions, in the aggregate, will have a material adverse impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. As of September 30, 2021, the Company has no outstanding litigation.
Capital Injection
As of September 30, 2021, the Company has capital injection obligation in five subsidiaries totaled $10,839,269. Pursuant to the Chinese company laws, the timing of the contribution to the registered capital is specified in the article of incorporation, the remaining contribution can be made before year 2030, unless any subsequent shareholder meeting adjusts this capital injection plan.
Operating lease commitments
The Company signed several lease agreements to rent offices and facilities for its operations with the latest expiring date of April 30, 2029.
As of September 30, 2021, the Company was obligated under eleven operating leases for minimum rentals as follows:
Twelve months ending September 30, | Minimum lease payment | |||
2022 | $ | 1,037,870 | ||
2023 | 693,492 | |||
2024 | 535,906 | |||
2025 | 380,681 | |||
2026 | 225,457 | |||
Thereafter | 582,430 | |||
Total | $ | 3,455,836 |
Rent expenses for the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were $1,348,586 and $1,397,547, respectively.
F-28
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 13 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On October 8, 2021, the Company entered into a loan agreement with Agricultural Bank of China to obtain a loan of $232,270 (or RMB 1,500,000) with a term from October 8, 2021 to September 17, 2022 at a fixed rate of 4% per annum. The Company’s CEO and his family members provided personal guaranty for the repayment of the loan.
Shanghai Hongkou Practical Foreign Language Tutorial School ceased operation and transferred its existing business to Xianjin Technology on December 31, 2021. The transfer of business does not represent a strategic shift and the effect on the Company’s operations and financial results is limited.
Note 14 — CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE PARENT COMPANY
The Company’s PRC subsidiaries are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to the Company. The payment of dividends by entities organized in the PRC is subject to limitations, procedures and formalities. Regulations in the PRC currently permit payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with accounting standards and regulations in the PRC. The Company’s subsidiaries are also required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profit based on PRC accounting standards each year to its statutory reserves account until the accumulative amount of such reserves reaches 50% of its respective registered capital. The aforementioned reserves can only be used for specific purposes and are not distributable as cash dividends.
In addition, the Company’s operations and revenues are conducted and generated in the PRC, all of the Company’s revenues being earned and currency received are denominated in RMB. RMB is subject to the foreign exchange control regulation in China, and, as a result, the Company may be unable to distribute any dividends outside of China due to PRC foreign exchange control regulations that restrict the Company’s ability to convert RMB into USD.
Regulation S-X requires the condensed financial information of registrant shall be filed when the restricted net assets of consolidated subsidiaries exceed 25 percent of consolidated net assets as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. For purposes of the above test, restricted net assets of consolidated subsidiaries shall mean that amount of the registrant’s proportionate share of net assets of consolidated subsidiaries (after intercompany eliminations) which as of the end of the most recent fiscal year may not be transferred to the parent company by subsidiaries in the form of loans, advances or cash dividends without the consent of a third party. The condensed parent company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Rule 12-04, Schedule I of Regulation S-X as the restricted net assets of the Company’s PRC subsidiary exceed 25% of the consolidated net assets of the Company.
Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. The Company’s investment in subsidiary is stated at cost plus equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries.
Due to subsidiaries, net, on the Condensed Balance Sheets, is comprised of the Parent Company’s net investment deficit in its subsidiaries under the equity method of accounting.
F-29
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 14 — CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE PARENT COMPANY (continued)
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
PARENT COMPANY BALANCE SHEETS
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
ASSETS: | ||||||||
Due from related party | $ | 12,845 | $ | - | ||||
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | 12,845 | - | ||||||
Investments in subsidiaries and VIEs | (7,566,778 | ) | (7,115,156 | ) | ||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | (7,553,933 | ) | $ | (7,115,156 | ) | ||
EQUITY: | ||||||||
Ordinary shares, 100,000,000 shares authorized, consisting of 90,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of $0.0005 par value per share and 10,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of $0.0005 par value per share, 8,970,000 Class A ordinary shares and 4,030,000 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2021 and 2020* | ||||||||
Class A ordinary shares | $ | 4,485 | $ | 4,485 | ||||
Class B ordinary shares | 2,015 | 2,015 | ||||||
Additional paid in capital | 19,145 | 1,649,867 | ||||||
Statutory reserves | 857,370 | 1,031,167 | ||||||
Accumulated deficits | (6,760,297 | ) | (8,522,575 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (1,676,651 | ) | (1,280,115 | ) | ||||
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | (7,553,933 | ) | (7,115,156 | ) | ||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ | (7,553,933 | ) | $ | (7,115,156 | ) |
* | Shares and per share data are presented on a retroactive basis to reflect the recapitalization on December 5, 2020, April 24, 2021 and September 30, 2021 |
F-30
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the Years Ended September 30, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries | $ | 1,978,553 | $ | 42,011 | ||||
NET INCOME | 1,978,553 | 42,011 | ||||||
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | ||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | (396,536 | ) | (334,188 | ) | ||||
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) | $ | 1,582,017 | $ | (292,177 | ) |
F-31
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Years Ended September 30, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 1,978,553 | $ | 42,011 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries | (1,978,553 | ) | (42,011 | ) | ||||
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES | - | - | ||||||
CHANGES IN CASH | - | - | ||||||
CASH, BEGINNING OF YEAR | - | - | ||||||
CASH, END OF YEAR | $ | - | $ | - |
F-32
Until [ ], 2022, all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriter and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
4,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares
Golden Sun Education Group Limited
Prospectus dated [●], 2022
Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
The Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our articles of association, which will become effective upon or before completion of this offering, provide that, to the extent permitted by law, we shall indemnify each existing or former secretary, director (including alternate director), and any of our other officers (including an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives against:
(a) all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages, or liabilities incurred or sustained by the existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary, or officer in or about the conduct of our business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of the existing or former director (including alternate director)’s, secretary’s, or officer’s duties, powers, authorities or discretions; and
(b) without limitation to paragraph (a) above, all costs, expenses, losses, or liabilities incurred by the existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary, or officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending or completed) concerning us or our affairs in any court or tribunal, whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere.
No such existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary, or officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of his own dishonesty.
To the extent permitted by law, we may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing secretary, or any of our officers in respect of any matter identified in above on condition that the secretary, or officer must repay the amount paid by us to the extent that it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the secretary or that officer for those legal costs.
Pursuant to indemnification agreements, the form of which will be filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this registration statement, we will agree to indemnify our directors and officers against certain liabilities and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with claims made by reason of their being such a director or officer.
The Underwriting Agreement, the form of which will be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this registration statement, will also provide for indemnification of us and our officers and directors.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
II-1
ITEM 7. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.
During the past three years, we have issued the following securities which were not registered under the Securities Act. We believe that each of the following issuance was exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act regarding sales by an issuer in offshore transactions. No Placement Agents were involved in these issuances of securities.
Securities/Purchaser | Date of Issuance | Number of Securities | Consideration | |||||||
Ordinary Shares | ||||||||||
Xueyuan Weng | September 20, 2018 | 1,800 | $ | 1,800 | ||||||
Xiulan Ye | September 20, 2018 | 200 | $ | 200 | ||||||
Vast Express Development Co., Ltd. | September 20, 2018 | 230 | $ | 230 | ||||||
Hongkong Yude Biotechnology Limited | September 20, 2018 | 180 | $ | 180 | ||||||
Xueyuan Weng | November 24, 2020 | 747.10 | $ | 747.10 |
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
(a) Exhibits
See Exhibit Index beginning on page II-6 of this registration statement.
(b) Financial Statement Schedules
Schedules have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the Notes thereto.
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the Underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the Underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-2
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant under Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. 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 first use, 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 date of first use.
(4) For the purpose of determining any liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) 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.
II-3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-1 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China, on April 1, 2022.
Golden Sun Education Group Limited | ||
By: | /s/ Xueyuan Weng | |
Xueyuan Weng | ||
Chief Executive Officer, Director, and Chairman of the Board of Directors | ||
(Principal Executive Officer) |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Xueyuan Weng | Chief Executive Officer, Director, and Chairman of the Board of Directors | April 1, 2022 | ||
Name: Xueyuan Weng | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
/s/ Yunan Huang | Chief Financial Officer | April 1, 2022 | ||
Name: Yunan Huang | (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer) | |||
/s/ Peilin Ji | Director | April 1, 2022 | ||
Name: Peilin Ji | ||||
/s/ Liming Xu | Director | April 1, 2022 | ||
Name: Liming Xu |
II-4
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of America, has signed this registration statement thereto in New York, NY on April 1, 2022.
Cogency Global Inc. | |||
By: | /s/ Colleen A. De Vries | ||
Name: | Colleen A. De Vries | ||
Title: | Senior Vice President on behalf of Cogency Global Inc. |
II-5
EXHIBIT INDEX
* | Previously filed |
*** | Filed herewith |
II-6
Exhibit 1.1
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
[●], 2021
Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc.
2 Bridge Avenue, Suite 241
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Golden Sun Education Group Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc. (the “Underwriter”) to issue and sell to the Underwriter an aggregate of [●] Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $1.00, of the Company (“Shares”). The offering and sale of securities contemplated by this Agreement is referred to herein as the “Offering.”
1. Firm Shares; Additional Shares.
(a) Purchase of Firm Shares. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriter an aggregate of [●] Shares (the “Firm Shares”) at a purchase price (net of underwriting discounts) of $[●] per Share. The Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Company the Firm Shares set forth opposite its name on Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof.
(b) Delivery of and Payment for Firm Shares. Delivery of and payment for the Firm Shares shall be made at 10:00 A.M., Eastern time, on the second (2nd) Business Day following the effective date of the Registration Statement (“Effective Date”) or at such time as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriter and the Company, at the offices of Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP (the “Underwriter’s Counsel”) or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriter and the Company. The hour and date of delivery of and payment for the Firm Shares is called the “Closing Date.” The closing of the payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates representing, the Firm Shares, is referred to herein as the “Closing.” Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer in federal (same day) funds upon delivery to the Underwriter of the Firm Shares through the full fast transfer facilities of the Depository Trust Company (the “DTC”) for the account of the Underwriter. The Firm Shares shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Underwriter may request in writing at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Shares except upon tender of payment by the Underwriter for all the Firm Shares.
(c) Additional Shares. The Company hereby grants to the Underwriter an option (the “Over-allotment Option”) to purchase up to an additional [●] Shares (the “Additional Shares”), representing fifteen percent (15%) of the Firm Shares sold in the offering, in each case only for the purpose of covering over-allotments of such securities, if any.
(d) Exercise of Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1(c) hereof may be exercised in whole or in part at any time within 45 days after the Effective Date. The purchase price to be paid per Additional Share shall be equal to the price per Firm Share in Section 1(a). The Underwriter shall not be under any obligation to purchase any Additional Shares prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised upon written notice given at least two full business days prior to the exercise to the Company from the Underwriter setting forth the aggregate number of Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriter and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Additional Shares (the “Option Closing Date”), which Closing Date shall not be later than five (5) full Business Days after the date of such written notice to purchase Additional Shares is given or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriter, at the offices of Underwriter’s Counsel or at such other place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriter. If such delivery and payment for the Additional Shares does not occur on the Closing Date, the Option Closing Date will be as set forth in the written notice. Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option with respect to all or any portion of the Additional Shares, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (i) the Company shall become obligated to sell to the Underwriter the number of Additional Shares specified in such notice and (ii) the Underwriter shall purchase from the Company that portion of the total number of Additional Shares then being purchased with the number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares, subject, in each case, to such adjustment as the Underwriter, in its sole discretion, shall determine.
(e) Delivery and Payment of Additional Shares. Payment for the Additional Shares shall be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in federal (same day) funds, upon delivery to the Underwriter of the Additional Shares through the facilities of DTC for the account of the Underwriter. The Additional Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Underwriter may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Option Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Additional Shares except upon tender of payment by the Underwriter for applicable Additional Shares. The Option Closing Date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the Closing Date; and in the event that such time and date are simultaneous with the Closing Date, the term “Closing Date” shall refer to the time and date of delivery of the Firm Shares and Additional Shares.
The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Securities.”
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriter as of the Applicable Time (as defined below) and as of the Closing Date, as follows:
(a) Filing of Registration Statement.
(i) Pursuant to the Act.
(1) The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form F-1 (File No. 333-[●]), including any related prospectus or prospectuses, for the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the Company and conform, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act (the “Regulations”). Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement becomes effective (including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of the Effective Date pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A of the Regulations), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement.
(2) The final prospectus in the form first furnished to the Underwriter for use in the Offering, is hereinafter called the “Prospectus.”
(3) The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date hereof. “Applicable Time” means 9:00 a.m. EDT, on [date] or such other time as agreed to by the Company and the Underwriter.
(ii) Registration under the Exchange Act. The Securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Securities under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration except as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.
(iii) Listing on Nasdaq. The Shares will be approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) by the Closing Date, subject to official notice of issuance, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the listing of the Securities on Nasdaq nor has the Company received any notification that Nasdaq is contemplating revoking or withdrawing approval for listing of the Securities.
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(b) No Stop Orders, etc. Neither the Commission nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any state regulatory authority has issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus (“Preliminary Prospectus”), the Prospectus or the Registration Statement or has instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.
(c) Disclosures in Registration Statement.
(i) 10b-5 Representation.
(1) The Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Regulations.
(2) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, and any amendment or supplement thereto, did not contain and, at the Closing Date, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and the Prospectus when filed with the Commission does not contain and, at the Closing Date, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representation and warranty made in this Section 2(c)(i)(2) does not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with written information with respect to the Underwriter furnished to the Company by the Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of the Underwriter consists solely of the disclosure contained in the “Underwriting” section of the Prospectus (collectively, the “Underwriter’s Information”).
(3) The General Disclosure Package (as defined below), when taken together as a whole with the Prospectus (collectively, the “Disclosure Materials”), does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Materials based upon and in conformity with the Underwriter’s Information.
(ii) Prior Securities Transactions. No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(d) Changes After Dates in Registration Statement.
(i) No Material Adverse Change. Since the end of the period covered by the latest audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and except as otherwise specifically stated therein: (i) to the knowledge of the Company, there have been no events that have occurred that would have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below); and (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company not in the ordinary course of business, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement.
(ii) Recent Securities Transactions, etc. Since the end of the period covered by the latest audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has not, other than with respect to options to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares at an exercise price equal to the then fair market price of the Class A Ordinary Shares, as determined by the Company’s board of directors, granted to employees, consultants or service providers: (i) issued any securities or incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money other than in the ordinary course of business; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its capital stock.
(e) Independent Accountants. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, Friedman LLP (“Friedman”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, are independent registered public accountants as required by the Act and the Regulations.
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(f) Financial Statements, etc. The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement and Prospectus fairly present the financial position and the results of operations of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved except as disclosed therein; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein. The Registration Statement discloses all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (a) neither the Company nor any of its operating subsidiaries (each, a “Subsidiary” and together, the “Subsidiaries”), has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions other than in the ordinary course of business, (b) the Company has not declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock, (c) there has not been any change in the capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any grants under any stock compensation plan and, (d) there has not been any material adverse change in the Company’s long-term or short-term debt.
(g) Authorized Capital; Options, etc. The Company has the duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the adjusted stock capitalization set forth therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by, this Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, there will be no options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized, but unissued capital stock of the Company or any security convertible into capital stock of the Company, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell capital stock or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.
(h) Valid Issuance of Securities, etc.
(i) Outstanding Securities. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company.
(ii) Securities Sold Pursuant to this Agreement. The Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale and, when issued and paid for, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the foregoing Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Securities conform in all material respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement.
(iii) Issuance of Securities. Upon issuance of Securities, and subject to full payment thereof by the Underwriter in accordance with the terms hereof, such Securities will be duly and validly issued, and the persons in whose names the Securities are registered will be entitled to the rights specified in the Securities, and upon the sale and delivery of these Securities, and payment therefor, pursuant to this Agreement, the purchasers will acquire good, marketable and valid title to such Securities, free and clear of all pledges, liens, security interests, charges, claims or encumbrances of any kind.
(i) Registration Rights of Third Parties. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Act or to include any such securities in a registration statement to be filed by the Company.
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(j) Validity and Binding Effect of This Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by the Company, and, when executed and delivered, will constitute, the valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be brought.
(k) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both: (i) result in a material breach of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a material default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Charter”); or (iii) violate any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or business as constituted as of the date hereof, except such violation or breach that would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the assets, business, conditions, financial position or results of operations of the Company (a “Material Adverse Effect”).
(l) No Defaults; Violations. No default exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any material license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other material agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject, except for such defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that are not otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Disclosure Materials. The Company is not in violation of any term or provision of its Charter, or in violation in any respect of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or businesses, except for such defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that are not otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Disclosure Materials.
(m) Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.
(i) Conduct of Business. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business purpose as described in the Prospectus except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) Transactions Contemplated Herein. The Company has all corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof and thereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection therewith have been obtained. No consent, authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body is required for the valid issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities and the consummation by the Company of the transactions and agreements contemplated by this Agreement and as contemplated by the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable federal and state securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and the Nasdaq.
(n) D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s directors and officers named in the section “Management” in the Prospectus immediately prior to the Offering (the “Insiders”) and provided to the Underwriter is true and correct in all respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the questionnaires completed by each Insider to become inaccurate and incorrect.
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(o) Litigation; Governmental Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against, or involving the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any executive officer or director that has not been disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in connection with the Company’s listing application for the listing of the Securities on Nasdaq.
(p) Good Standing. The Company has been duly organized, is validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands as of the date hereof, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) Transactions Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.
(i) Finder’s Fees. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Insider with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any of its shareholders that may affect the Underwriter’s compensation, as determined by FINRA.
(ii) Payments Within Twelve (12) Months. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) to any FINRA member; or (iii) to any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the twelve months prior to the Effective Date, other than the prior payment of US$ to the Underwriter, as provided hereunder in connection with the Offering.
(iii) FINRA Affiliation. To the Company’s knowledge, and except as may have been previously disclosed in writing to the Underwriter, no Insider or any beneficial owner of 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA).
(r) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Insiders or employees of the Company or any other person authorized to act on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly, knowingly given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) that might subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding.
(s) Officers’ Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to you or to the Underwriter’s Counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
(t) Lock-Up Period.
(i) Each Insider and in addition each beneficial owner of the Company holding at least five percent of the outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares (or securities convertible into Class A Ordinary Shares) (together with the Insiders, the “Lock-Up Parties”) have agreed pursuant to executed Lock-Up Agreements in the form attached hereto as Annex II that for a period ending 180 days after the Effective Date and with respect to Xueyuan Weng and Peilin Ji 360 days after the Effective Date (the “Lock-Up Period”), such persons and their affiliated parties shall not offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, grant, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Securities or capital stock of the Company, including Class A Ordinary Shares, or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such Securities or capital stock, without the consent of the Underwriter, with certain exceptions. The Underwriter may consent to an early release from the applicable Lock-Up period if, in its opinion, the market for the Securities would not be adversely impacted by sales and in cases of financial emergency of a Lock-up Party.
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(ii) The Company, on behalf of itself and any successor entity, has agreed that, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, it will not, for a period ending 180 days after the Effective Date, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company; (ii) file or cause to be filed any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company or (iii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of capital stock of the Company, whether any such transaction described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of capital stock of the Company or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The restrictions contained in this Section 2(t)(ii) shall not apply to (i) the Securities to be sold hereunder, (ii) the issuance by the Company of Securities upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof of, provided that the Underwriter has been advised in writing of such issuance prior to the date hereof, (iii) the issuance by the Company of option to purchase or shares of Securities, capital stock or restricted stock of the Company under any stock compensation plan of the Company outstanding on the date hereof, (iv) any registration statement on Form S-8, or (v) the issuance of securities in connection with mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, licensing arrangements or any other similar non-capital raising transactions provided such shares are not registered pursuant to a registrations statement For purposes of subclause (ii) in this paragraph, the Underwriter acknowledges that disclosure in the Registration Statement filed prior to the date hereof of any outstanding option or warrant shall be deemed to constitute prior written notice to the Underwriter.
(u) Subsidiaries. Exhibit 21.1 of the Registration Statement lists each Subsidiary and consolidated entity of the Company and sets forth the ownership of all of the Subsidiaries. The Subsidiaries are duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the place of organization or incorporation, and each such Subsidiary is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company’s ownership and control of each Subsidiary and each Subsidiary’s ownership and control of other Subsidiaries, is as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Materials and the Prospectus. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or entity, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has full corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Materials and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification.
(v) Related Party Transactions. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company or any other person required to be described in the Prospectus that have not been described as required.
(w) Board of Directors. The Board of Directors of the Company is comprised of the persons set forth under the heading of the Prospectus captioned “Board of Directors and Board Committees.” The qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the board comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and the rules of Nasdaq. At least one member of the Board of Directors of the Company qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of Nasdaq. In addition, at least a majority of the persons serving on the Board of Directors qualify as “independent” as defined under the rules of Nasdaq.
(x) Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Materials, and the Prospectus, the Company will be, on the Effective Date, in material compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 applicable to it and has implemented or will implement such programs and taken reasonable steps to ensure the Company’s future compliance (not later than the relevant statutory and regulatory deadlines therefor) with all the material provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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(y) No Investment Company Status. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the Offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the net proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, will not be, an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(z) No Material Labor Disputes. No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries exists or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, is imminent, which would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(aa) Intellectual Property. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries owns or possesses or has valid rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets and similar rights (“Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except for such Intellectual Property, the failure of which to own or possess, as the case may be, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, no action or use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will involve or give rise to any infringement of, or material license or similar fees for, any Intellectual Property of others, that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice alleging any such infringement or fee, except such infringement or fee that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(bb) Taxes. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has filed all returns (as hereinafter defined) required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof or has duly obtained extensions of time for the filing thereof. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has paid all taxes (as hereinafter defined) shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all material taxes imposed on or assessed against the Company or such subsidiary. The provisions for taxes payable, if any, shown on the financial statements filed with or as part of the Registration Statement are sufficient for all accrued and unpaid taxes, whether or not disputed, for all periods to and including the dates of such consolidated financial statements. Except as disclosed in writing to the Underwriter and to the knowledge of the Company, (i) no material issues have been raised (and are currently pending) by any taxing authority in connection with any of the returns or taxes asserted as due from the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (ii) no waivers of statutes of limitation with respect to the returns or collection of taxes have been given by or requested from the Company or its Subsidiaries. The term “taxes” mean all federal, state, local, foreign, and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments, or charges of any kind whatever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts with respect thereto. The term “returns” means all returns, declarations, reports, statements, and other documents required to be filed with relevant taxing authorities in respect to taxes.
(cc) Data. The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived. The Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources to the extent necessary.
(dd) The Company’s Board of Directors has validly appointed an audit committee whose composition satisfies the requirements of the rules and regulations of Nasdaq and the Board of Directors and/or audit committee has adopted a charter that satisfies the requirements of the rules and regulations of Nasdaq. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Board of Directors nor the audit committee has been informed, nor is any director of the Company aware, of any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information.
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(ee) Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities which are required to be “integrated” pursuant to the Act or the Regulations with the offer and sale of the Underwriter pursuant to the Registration Statement. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries has sold or issued any Class A Ordinary Shares or any securities convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Ordinary Shares, or other equity securities, or any rights to acquire any Class A Ordinary Shares or other equity securities of the Company, during the six-month period preceding the date of the Prospectus, including but not limited to any sales pursuant to Rule 144A or Regulation D or S under the Act, other than Class A Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or the employee compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or warrants as described in the Registration Statement.
(ff) PRC Representation and Warranties.
(i) Organization.
(1) Wenzhou Golden Sun Education Development Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”) has been duly organized and is validly existing as a company under the laws of the PRC, and its business license is in full force and effect; WFOE has been duly qualified as a foreign invested enterprise with the following approvals and certificates: (A) Certificate of Filing and (B) Business License. 100% of the equity interests of WFOE are owned, through Golden Sun Education Group Limited, by the Company as described in the Prospectus, and such equity interests are free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims; the bylaws, the business license and other constituent documents of WFOE comply in all material respects with the requirements of applicable laws of the PRC and are in full force and effect; WFOE has full power and authority (corporate and other) and all consents, approvals, authorizations, permits, licenses, orders, registrations, clearances and qualifications of or with any governmental agency having jurisdiction over WFOE or any of its properties required for the ownership or lease of property by it and the conduct of its business in accordance with its registered business scope except for such that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and has the legal right and authority to own, use, lease and operate its assets and to conduct its business in the manner presently conducted and as described in the Prospectus; and the registered capital of WFOE has not been paid, which does not violate the articles of association and applicable PRC Laws.
(2) Wenzhou City Ouhai District Art School (“Ouhai VIE”) and Wenzhou City Longwan District Chongwen Middle School (“Chongwen VIE”) have been duly organized and are validly existing as companies under the laws of the PRC and their business licenses are in full force and effect; 100% of the equity interests of Ouhai VIE and Chongwen VIE are indirectly controlled by the Company through contractual arrangements as described in the Prospectus (the “VIE Agreements”), and such equity interests are free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims except for the pledge of the equity interests under the VIE Agreements; the bylaws, the business license and other constituent documents of Ouhai VIE and Chongwen VIE comply in all material respects with the requirements of applicable laws of the PRC and are in full force and effect; except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, Ouhai VIE and Chongwen VIE have full power and authority (corporate and other) and has all consents, approvals, authorizations, permits, licenses, orders, registrations, clearances and qualifications of or with any governmental agency having jurisdiction over Ouhai VIE , Chongwen VIE or any of its properties required for the ownership or lease of property by it and the conduct of its business, except for such that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and has the legal right and authority to own, use, lease and operate its assets and to conduct its business in the manner presently conducted and as described in the Prospectus; the registered capital of has been fully paid by its shareholders.
(3) Each of WFOE, Ouhai VIE and Chongwen VIE has legal and valid title to all of its properties and assets, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances, equities, claims, options and restrictions; each lease agreement to which it is a party is duly executed and legally binding; its leasehold interests are set forth in and governed by the terms of any lease agreements, and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, such agreements are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their respective terms under PRC law, except where the invalidity of such lease agreements would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and, neither of WFOE, Ouhai VIE or Chongwen VIE owns, operates, manages or has any other right or interest in any other material real property of any kind, which would reasonably result in a Material Adverse Effect to the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as described in the Prospectus.
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(ii) PRC Taxes. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Materials and Prospectus, including the risk factor set forth in “Risk Factors— 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,” no transaction, stamp, capital or other issuance, registration, transaction, transfer or withholding taxes or duties are payable in China, Hong Kong or the Cayman Islands to any Chinese, Hong Kong or Cayman Islands taxing authority in connection with (A) the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities to or for the account of the purchasers, and (B) the purchase from the Company and the sale and delivery of the Securities to purchasers thereof.
(iii) Dividends and Distributions. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Materials, Registration Statement and the Prospectus, no Subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited or restricted, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such Subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company.
(iv) Money Laundering. The operations of the Company, its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in all material respects in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company, any of its Subsidiaries.
(v) Office of Foreign Assets Control. None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, Ouhai VIE, Chongwen VIE or, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, or employee of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, Ouhai VIE or Chongwen VIE has conducted or entered into a contract to conduct any transaction with the governments or any of subdivision thereof, residents of, or any entity based or resident in the countries that are currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, Ouhai VIE or Chongwen VIE is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC (including but not limited to the designation as a “specially designated national or blocked person” thereunder), the United Nations Security Council, or the European Union or is located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of OFAC-administered sanctions, including, without limitation, Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria; and the Company will not knowingly directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
(vi) No Immunity. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, Ouhai VIE or any of its or their properties or assets has any immunity from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or otherwise) under the laws of the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, the PRC, New York or United States federal law; and, to the extent that the Company, its Subsidiaries, Ouhai VIE or any of their respective properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to any such right of immunity in any such court in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, each of the Company, its Subsidiaries and Ouhai VIE waives or will waive such right to the extent permitted by law and has consented to such relief and enforcement under New York law as provided under this Agreement.
(vii) Free Transferability of Dividends or Distributions. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Materials, Registration Statement and Prospectus all dividends and other distributions declared and payable on the Class A Ordinary Shares may under current Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and PRC law and regulations be paid to the holders of Securities in United States dollars and may be converted into foreign currency that may be transferred out of the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and the PRC in accordance with, and all such payments made to holders thereof or therein who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong or the PRC, will not be subject to income, withholding or other taxes under, the laws and regulations of the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and the PRC, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein and will otherwise be free and clear of any other tax, duty, withholding or deduction in the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and the PRC or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein and without the necessity of obtaining any governmental authorization in the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and the PRC or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.
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(vi) Not a PFIC. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Materials, Registration Statement and Prospectus, the Company does not expect that it will be treated as a Passive Foreign Investment Company (“PFIC”) within the meaning of Section 1297 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for its current taxable year. The Company has no plan or intention to operate in such a manner that would reasonably be expected to result in the Company becoming a PFIC in future taxable years.
(vii) Compliance with SAFE Regulations. The Company has taken all reasonable steps to cause all of the Company’s shareholders and option holders who are residents or citizens of the PRC, to comply with any applicable rules and regulations of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) relating to such shareholders’ and option holders’ shareholding with the Company (the “SAFE Rules and Regulations”), including, without limitation, taking reasonable steps to require each shareholder or option holder that is, or is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, a resident or citizen of the PRC to complete any registration and other procedures required under applicable SAFE Rules and Regulations.
(viii) M&A and CSRC Rules. The Company is aware of and has been advised as to the content of the Rules on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors jointly promulgated by the Ministry of Commerce, the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Tax Administration, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) and SAFE on August 8, 2006 and amended on June 22, 2009 (the “M&A Rules”), in particular the relevant provisions thereof that purport to require offshore special purpose vehicles formed for the purpose of obtaining a stock exchange listing outside of the PRC and controlled directly or indirectly by companies or natural persons of the PRC, to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of their securities on a stock exchange located outside of the PRC; the Company has received legal advice specifically with respect to the M&A Rules from its PRC counsel and based on such legal advice, the Company confirms with the Underwriter:
(1) Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Materials, Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the issuance and sale of the Securities, the listing and trading of the Securities on Nasdaq and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are not and will not be, as of the date hereof or on the Closing Date, affected by the M&A Rules or any official clarifications, guidance, interpretations or implementation rules in connection with or related to the M&A Rules, including the guidance and notices issued by the CSRC on September 8 and September 21, 2006, as amended (collectively, the “M&A Rules and Related Clarifications”).
(2) Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Materials, Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of the date hereof, the M&A Rules and Related Classifications did not and do not require the Company to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the listing and trading of the Securities on Nasdaq, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(ix) Foreign Private Issuer Status. The Company is a “foreign private issuer” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act.
(xii) Choice of Law. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Materials, Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the choice of law provision set forth in this Agreement constitutes a legal and valid choice of law under the laws of the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and the PRC and will be honored by courts in the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and the PRC, subject to compliance with relevant civil procedural requirements (that do not involve a re-examination of the merits of the claim) in the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and the PRC. The Company has the power to submit, and pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement, has legally, validly, effectively and submitted, to the personal jurisdiction of each of the New York Courts, and the Company has the power to designate, appoint and authorize, and pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement, has legally, validly, effectively and irrevocably designated, appointed an authorized agent for service of process in any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the Securities in any New York Court, and service of process effected on such authorized agent will be effective to confer valid personal jurisdiction over the Company as provided in Section 14 of this Agreement.
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(xiii) Recognition of Judgments. Any final judgment for a fixed sum of money rendered by a New York Court having jurisdiction under New York law in respect of any suit, action or proceeding against the Company based upon this Agreement would be recognized and enforced against the Company by Cayman Islands courts without re-examining the merits of the case under the common law doctrine of obligation; provided that such judgment is (A) given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction; (B) imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given; (C) is final; (D) is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty; and (E) was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands.
(gg) MD&A. The section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Preliminary Prospectus included in the Disclosure Materials and the Prospectus accurately and fully describes in all material respects (A) accounting policies that the Company believes are the most important in the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments (“Critical Accounting Policies”); (B) judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of the Critical Accounting Policies; and (C) the likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions and an explanation thereof; and the Company’s management have reviewed and agreed with the selection, application and disclosure of the Critical Accounting Policies as described in the Disclosure Materials and the Prospectus and have consulted with its independent accountants with regard to such disclosure.
3. Offering. Upon authorization of the release of the Securities by the Underwriter, the Underwriter intends to offer the Securities for sale to the public upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.
4. Covenants of the Company. The Company acknowledges, covenants and agrees with the Underwriter that:
(a) The Registration Statement and any amendments thereto have been declared effective, and if Rule 430A is used or the filing of the Prospectus is otherwise required under Rule 424(b), the Company will file the Prospectus (properly completed if Rule 430A has been used) pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the prescribed time period and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Underwriter of such timely filing.
(b) During the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date as, in the reasonable opinion of Underwriter’s Counsel, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act is no longer required to be provided) in connection with sales by an underwriter or dealer (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Underwriter and Underwriter’s Counsel for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Underwriter reasonably objects within 36 hours of delivery thereof to Underwriter’s Counsel. The term “General Disclosure Package” means, collectively, the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (es) (as defined below) issued at or prior to the date hereof, the most recent preliminary prospectus related to this offering, and the information included on Schedule A hereto.
(c) After the date of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly advise the Underwriter in writing of: (i) the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission; (ii) the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus; (iii) the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective; and (iv) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of any order preventing or suspending its use or the use of any prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433 of the Regulations (the “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”), or the initiation of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing the Shares from any securities exchange upon which the Shares are listed for trading, or of the threatening of initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use its reasonable efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b), 430A and 430B, as applicable, under the Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 were received in a timely manner by the Commission (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or Rule 164(b)).
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(d) (i) During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act as now in effect and as may be hereafter amended, and by the Regulations, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Securities as contemplated by the provisions hereof, the General Disclosure Package, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. If during such period any event or development occurs as a result of which the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the General Disclosure Package) would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary or appropriate in the opinion of the Company or its counsel or the Underwriter or Underwriter’s Counsel to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the General Disclosure Package) to comply with the Act, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriter and will promptly amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the General Disclosure Package) or file such document (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.
(ii) If at any time following the issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances there existing, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriter and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
(e) The Company will deliver to the Underwriter and Underwriter’s Counsel a copy of the Registration Statement, as initially filed, and all amendments thereto, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith, and will maintain in the Company’s files manually signed copies of such documents for at least five (5) years after the date of filing thereof. The Company will promptly deliver to the Underwriter such number of copies of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, and all amendments of and supplements to such documents, if any, and all documents which are exhibits to the Registration Statement and any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, as the Underwriter may reasonably request. On the Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement, and from time to time thereafter, the Company will furnish to the Underwriter copies of the Prospectus in such quantities as the Underwriter may reasonably request.
(f) The Company consents to the use and delivery of the Preliminary Prospectus by the Underwriter in accordance with Rule 430 and Section 5(b) of the Act.
(g) If the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b) under the Act, the Company shall both file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by the earlier of: (i) 10:00 P.M., Eastern time, on the date of this Agreement, and (ii) the time that confirmations are given or sent, as specified by Rule 462(b)(2), and pay the applicable fees in accordance with Rule 111 of the Act.
(h) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriter, at or prior to the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws relating to the offering or sale of the Securities of such jurisdictions as the Underwriter may reasonably designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect for so long as required for the distribution thereof; except that in no event shall the Company be obligated in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process or to subject itself to taxation if it is otherwise not so subject.
(i) The Company will make generally available (which includes filings pursuant to the Exchange Act made publicly through the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) system) to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a 12-month period that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the Regulations.
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(j) Except with respect to (i) securities of the Company which may be issued in connection with an acquisition of another entity (or the assets thereof), (ii) the issuance of securities of the Company intended to provide the Company with proceeds to acquire another entity (or the assets thereof), or (iii) the issuance of securities under the Company’s stock option plans with exercise or conversion prices at fair market value (as defined in such plans) in effect from time to time, during the three (3) months following the Closing Date, the Company or any successor to the Company shall not undertake any public or private offerings of any equity securities of the Company (including equity-linked securities) without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(k) Following the Closing Date, any of the entities and individuals listed on Schedule B hereto (the “Lock-Up Parties”), without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, shall not sell or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company, whether publicly or in a private placement, during the period that their respective lock-up agreements are in effect. The Company will deliver to the Underwriter the agreements of the Lock-Up Parties to the foregoing effect prior to the Closing Date, which agreements shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex II.
(l) The Company will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity without the Underwriter’s prior written consent, for a period ending at 5:00 P.M., Eastern time, on the first Business Day following the forty-fifth (45th) day following the Closing Date, other than normal and customary releases issued in the ordinary course of the Company’s business, or as required by law.
(m) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as set forth under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus. Without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no proceeds of the Offering will be used to pay outstanding loans from officers, directors or shareholders or to pay any accrued salaries or bonuses to any employees or former employees.
(n) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Shares on the NASDAQ Capital Market for at least two (2) years after the Effective Date, unless such listing is terminated as a result of a transaction approved by the holders of a majority of the voting securities of the Company. If the Company fails to maintain such listing of its Shares on the NASDAQ Capital Market or other Trading Market, for a period of three (3) years from the Effective Date, the Company, at its expense, shall obtain and keep current a listing of such securities in the Standard & Poor’s Corporation Records Services or Mergent’s Industrial Manual; provided that Mergent’s OTC Industrial Manual is not sufficient for these purposes. “Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Ordinary Shares is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Stock Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
(o) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to do and perform all things required to be done or performed under this Agreement by the Company prior to the Closing Date, and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Securities.
(p) The Company will not take, and will cause its Affiliates not to take, directly or indirectly, any action which constitutes or is designed to cause or result in, or which could reasonably be expected to constitute, cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities.
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(q) The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered to the Underwriter, at its expense, within two (2) Business Days from the date of this Agreement, an Electronic Prospectus to be used by the Underwriter in connection with the Offering. As used herein, the term “Electronic Prospectus” means a form of prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to the Underwriter, that may be transmitted electronically by the Underwriter to offerees and purchasers of the Securities for at least the period during which a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper prospectus and prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material shall be replaced in the electronic prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation of such material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to the Underwriter, that will allow recipients thereof to store and have continuously ready access to the prospectus at any future time, without charge to such recipients (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and for online time).
(r) In the event that at any time prior to the Closing Date the Company, or any of its affiliates, or subsidiaries shall enter into any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger, consolidation, acquisition, financing, joint venture or other arrangement) with any party (i) introduced to the Company by the Underwriter, during such period, (ii) that the Underwriter had back and forth correspondence with during the period that the Underwriter was engaged by the Company in connection with the Offering or (iii) who participated in the Offering, the Underwriter will be paid a transaction fee, payable at the closing thereof, equal to a percentage of the consideration or value received by the Company and/or its stockholders as follows:
5% of the first $1,000,000,
4% of the next $1,000,000,
3% of the next $1,000,000,
2% of the next $1,000,000, and
1% of all amounts in excess of $4,000,000.
5. Representations and Warranties of the Underwriter.
The Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, required to be filed with the Commission; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the free writing prospectuses included in Schedule C. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Underwriter is herein referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Underwriter represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.
6. Consideration; Payment of Expenses.
(a) In consideration of the services to be provided for hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Underwriter or their respective designees their pro rata portion (based on the Securities purchased) of the following compensation with respect to the Securities which they purchase from the Company in this Offering:
(i) an underwriting discount equal to seven and one-half percent (7.5%) of the aggregate gross proceeds raised in the Offering;
(ii) a non-accountable expense allowance of one percent (1.0%) of the gross proceeds of the Offering;
(iii) an accountable expense allowance of up to $150,000, of which $100,000 has already been paid to the Underwriter as an advance against accountable expenses; and
(iv) the Company shall grant to the Underwriter or its designated affiliates share purchase warrants (the “Underwriter’s Warrants”) covering a number of shares equal to seven and half percent (7.5%) of the total number of Firm and Option Shares sold in this offering.
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(b) In compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1), the Underwriter’s Warrants and the underlying securities will be locked up for one year beginning on the date of commencement of sales of the Offering and will expire five (5) years after the Effective Date. The Underwriter’s Warrants will be exercisable at a price equal to one hundred and thirty percent (130%) of the public offering price of the underlying Class A Ordinary Shares in connection with the Offering. The Underwriter’s Warrants shall not be redeemable. The Company will register the Class A Ordinary Shares underlying the Underwriter’s Warrants under the Act and will file all necessary undertakings in connection therewith. The Underwriter’s Warrants and the underlying securities shall not be sold during the Offering, or sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days beginning on the date of commencement of sales of the Offering, except that they or any portion thereof may be transferred or assigned to any successor to the Underwriter, any officer, manager, member or partner of the Underwriter, as well as to any member participating in the Offering and the officers, partners, managers or members thereof, if all securities so transferred remain subject to the lock-up restriction for the remainder of the time period. The Underwriter’s Warrants may be exercised at any time after issuance of the Warrants as to all or a lesser number of the underlying Class A Ordinary Shares, will provide for cashless exercise and will contain provisions for one demand registration of the sale of the underlying Class A Ordinary Share at the Company’s expense, an additional demand registration at the Underwriter’s Warrants holder’s expense, and unlimited “piggyback” registration rights for a period of five (5) years after the Effective Date at the Company’s expense. The Underwriter’s Warrants shall further provide for adjustment in the number and price of such warrants (and the Class A Ordinary Share underlying such Warrants) in the event of recapitalization, merger or other structural transaction to prevent dilution.
(c) The Underwriter reserves the right to reduce any item of compensation or adjust the terms thereof as specified herein in the event that a determination shall be made by FINRA to the effect that the Underwriter’ aggregate compensation is in excess of FINRA Rules or that the terms thereof require adjustment.
(d) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company hereby agrees to pay all costs and expenses incident to the Offering, including the following:
(i) all expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, formatting for EDGAR and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and any and all amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriter and dealers;
(ii) all fees and expenses in connection with filings with FINRA’s Public Offering System;
(iii) all fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act and the Offering;
(iv) all reasonable expenses in connection with the qualifications of the Securities for offering and sale under state or foreign securities or blue sky laws;
(v) all fees and expenses in connection with listing the Securities on a national securities exchange;
(vi) all reasonable travel expenses of the Company’s officers, directors and employees and any other expense of the Company incurred in connection with attending or hosting meetings with prospective purchasers of the Securities;
(vii) all the road show expenses incurred by the Company;
(viii) any stock transfer taxes or other taxes incurred in connection with this Agreement or the Offering;
(ix) the costs associated with book building, prospectus tracking and compliance software and the cost of preparing certificates representing the Securities;
(x) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities;
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(xi) any reasonable costs and expenses incurred in conducting background checks of the Company’s officers and directors by a background search firm acceptable to the Underwriter, not to exceed $15,000;
(xii) the costs associated with bound volumes and mementos in such quantities as the Underwriter may reasonably request, not to exceed $2,500; and
(xii) fees and expenses of the Underwriter’s legal counsel not to exceed $75,000.
(e) It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section 6, and Sections 8, 9 and 11(d) hereof, the Underwriter will pay all of their own costs and expenses. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6, in the event that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof, or subsequent to a Material Adverse Change, the Company will pay, less any advances previously paid which as of the date hereof is $140,000, including $100,000 as an advance to be applied towards the accountable expenses allowance (the “Advance”) and $40,000 paid at the time the Company responded to the Commission’s second comment letter. On the Closing Date, the Company shall pay the Underwriter $10,000 such that as of the Closing Date the Company shall have paid the underwriter a total of $150,000 pursuant to this Section 6(e). All documented out-of-pocket expenses of the Underwriter (including but not limited to fees and disbursements of Underwriter’ Counsel and reasonable and accountable travel) incurred in connection herewith which shall be limited to expenses which are actually incurred as allowed under FINRA Rule 5110 and in any event, the aggregate amount of such expenses to be reimbursed by the Company shall not exceed $150,000, including the Advances. To the extent that the Underwriter’ out-of-pocket expenses are less than the Advance, the Underwriter will return to the Company that portion of the Advances not offset by actual expenses.
7. Conditions of Underwriter’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriter to purchase and pay for the Firm Shares as provided herein shall be subject to: (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, (ii) the absence from any certificates, opinions, written statements or letters furnished to the Underwriter or to Underwriter’s Counsel pursuant to this Section 7 of any misstatement or omission, (iii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, and (iv) each of the following additional conditions. For purposes of this Section 7, the terms “Closing Date” and “Closing” shall refer to the Closing Date for the Firm Shares and each of the foregoing and following conditions must be satisfied as of each Closing.
(a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective and all necessary regulatory and listing approvals shall have been received not later than 5:30 P.M., Eastern time, on the date of this Agreement, or at such later time and date as shall have been consented to in writing by the Underwriter. If the Company shall have elected to rely upon Rule 430A under the Act, the Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in a timely fashion in accordance with the terms thereof and a form of the Prospectus containing information relating to the description of the Securities and the method of distribution and similar matters shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period; and, at or prior to the Closing Date and the actual time of the Closing, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof, or any amendment thereof, nor suspending or preventing the use of the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued; no proceedings for the issuance of such an order shall have been initiated or threatened; all requests of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the Underwriter’s satisfaction.
(b) The Underwriter shall not have reasonably determined, and advised the Company, that the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the Underwriter’s reasonable opinion, is material, or omits to state a fact which, in the Underwriter’s reasonable opinion, is material and is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(c) The Underwriter shall have received legal opinions, in form satisfactory to the Underwriter and Underwriter’s counsel of (i) Ogier, Cayman Islands counsel to the Company dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriter, (ii) Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC, U.S. legal counsel for the Company, dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriter; and (iii) Zhong Lun, PRC legal counsel to the Company, dated as of the Closing Date.
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(d) The Underwriter shall have received a certificate from the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that: (i) the conditions set forth in subsection (a) of this Section 7 have been satisfied, (ii) as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2 hereof are accurate, (iii) as of the Closing Date, all agreements, conditions and obligations of the Company to be performed or complied with hereunder on or prior thereto have been duly performed or complied with, (iv) except as disclosed in the Registration Statement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company has not sustained any material loss or interference with its businesses, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding, (v) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof has been issued and no proceedings therefor have been initiated or threatened by the Commission, (vi) there are no pro forma or as adjusted financial statements that are required to be included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus pursuant to the Regulations which are not so included, and (vii) subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been any Material Adverse Change or any development involving a prospective Material Adverse Change, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business.
(e) At each of the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, the Underwriter shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date and Option Closing Date (if such date is other than the Closing Date), certifying: (i) that each of the Charter and Bylaws is true and complete, has not been modified and is in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the Offering are in full force and effect and have not been modified; (iii) the good standing of the Company; and (iv) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.
(f) On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, the Underwriter shall have received a “comfort” letter from Friedman as of each such date, addressed to the Underwriter and in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter and Underwriter’s Counsel, confirming that they are independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and all applicable Regulations, and stating, as of such date (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Prospectus, as of a date not more than five (5) days prior to such date), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters relating to the Registration Statement covered by such letter.
(g) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any change or development involving a change, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, in the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, shareholders’ equity, or properties of the Company, taken as a whole, including but not limited to the occurrence of any fire, flood, storm, explosion, accident, act of war or terrorism or other calamity, the effect of which, in any such case described above, is, in the reasonable judgment of the Underwriter, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the sale of Securities or Offering as contemplated hereby.
(h) The Underwriter shall have received a lock-up agreement from each Lock-Up Party, duly executed by the applicable Lock-Up Party, in each case substantially in the form attached as Annex II.
(i) The Shares are registered under the Exchange Act and, as of the Closing Date, the Shares shall be listed and admitted and authorized for trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market and satisfactory evidence of such action shall have been provided to the Underwriter. The Company shall have taken no action designed to terminate, or likely to have the effect of terminating, the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act or delisting or suspending the Shares from trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market, nor will the Company have received any information suggesting that the Commission or the NASDAQ Capital Market is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares shall be DTC eligible.
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(j) FINRA shall have confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
(k) No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities or materially and adversely affect or potentially materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company.
(l) The Company shall have furnished the Underwriter and Underwriter’ Counsel with such other certificates, opinions or documents as they may have reasonably requested.
8. Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter and each Person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever, as incurred (including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees and any and all reasonable expenses whatsoever, incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (A) the Registration Statement, including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B of the Regulations, any Preliminary Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement to any of them or (B) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities (“Marketing Materials”), including any road show or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and will reimburse such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigations or defending against such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof); or (ii) in whole or in part upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein; or (iii) in whole or in part upon any failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (or action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement to any of them, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Marketing Materials in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter’s Information.
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(b) The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of the directors of the Company, each of the officers of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement, and each other Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever, as incurred (including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees and any and all reasonable expenses whatsoever, incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Underwriter), insofar as such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B of the Regulations, any Preliminary Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement to any of them or any Marketing Materials, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending against such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof), in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (or action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Underwriter’s Information.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify each party against whom indemnification is to be sought in writing thereof (but the failure so to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have under this Section 8 to the extent that it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability that such indemnifying party may have otherwise than on account of the indemnity agreement hereunder). In case any such claim or action is brought against any indemnified party, and it so notifies an indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense of such action, and to the extent it may elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the written consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party or parties unless: (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by one of the indemnifying parties in connection with the defense of such action; (ii) the indemnifying parties shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action within a reasonable time after notice of the claim or the commencement of the action; (iii) the indemnifying party does not diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense; or (iv) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, or any of them, in conducting the defense of any such action or there may be legal defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to any of the indemnifying parties (in which case the indemnifying parties shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by the indemnifying parties and shall be paid as incurred. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) of the indemnified party or parties unless such separate representations are required under applicable ethics rules that govern the representations of the indemnified party or parties by such legal counsel. In the case of any separate firm for the Underwriter and such control persons and affiliates of any Underwriter, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Underwriter. In the case of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Company, and such directors, officers and control persons of the Company, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Company. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, effect any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened claim, investigation, action or proceeding in respect of which indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought by an indemnified party under this Section 8 or Section 9 hereof (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party thereto), unless (x) such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, investigation, action or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or any failure to act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party, and (y) the indemnifying party confirms in writing its indemnification obligations hereunder with respect to such settlement, compromise or judgment.
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9. Contribution. In order to provide for contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in Section 8 is for any reason held to be unavailable from any indemnifying party or is insufficient to hold harmless a party indemnified thereunder, the Company and the Underwriter shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses of the nature contemplated by such indemnification provision (including any investigation, legal and other expenses incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claims asserted, but after deducting in the case of losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses suffered by the Company, any contribution received by the Company from Persons, other than the Underwriter, who may also be liable for contribution, including Persons who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company), as incurred, to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriter may be subject, in such proportions as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other hand from the Offering and sale of the Securities or, if such allocation is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportions as are appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Underwriter in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Underwriter shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as (x) the total proceeds from the Offering (net of underwriting discount and commission but before deducting expenses) received by the Company bears to (y) the underwriting discount and commissions received by the Underwriter, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company and the Underwriter shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriter and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriter agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriter were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 9. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 9 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9: (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts applicable to the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public and (ii) no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 12(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 12(f) of the Act). For purposes of this Section 9, each Person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to clauses (i) and (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence. Any party entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made against another party or parties, notify each party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify such party or parties shall not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any obligation it or they may have under this Section 9 or otherwise. As used herein, a “Person” refers to an individual or entity.
10. Survival of Representations and Agreements. All representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company and the Underwriter contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto, including, without limitation, the agreements contained in Sections 6, 14 and 15, the indemnity agreements contained in Section 8 and the contribution agreements contained in Section 9, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriter or any controlling Person thereof or by or on behalf of the Company, any of its officers or directors or any controlling Person thereof, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities to and by the Underwriter. The representations and warranties contained in Section 2 and Section 5 and the covenants and agreements contained in Sections 4, 6, 8, 9, 14 and 15 shall survive any termination of this Agreement, including termination pursuant to Sections 11. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of termination the Underwriter will receive only out-of-pocket accountable expenses actually incurred subject to the limit in Section 11(d) below, in compliance with FINRA Rules 5110.
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11. Effective Date of Agreement; Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall become effective upon the later of: (i) receipt by the Underwriter and the Company of notification of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or (ii) the execution of this Agreement. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 12 and of Sections 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 14 and 15 shall remain in full force and effect at all times after the execution hereof to the extent they are in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110.
(b) The Underwriter shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the consummation of the Closing if: (i) any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriter will in the immediate future materially disrupt, the market for the Company’s securities or securities in general; or (ii) trading on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market has been suspended or made subject to material limitations, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities have been required, on the NYSE Euronext or the NASDAQ Stock Market or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental authority having jurisdiction; or (iii) a banking moratorium has been declared by any state or federal authority or any material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services has occurred; or (iv) (A) there has occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or acts of terrorism involving the United States or there is a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or (B) there has been any other calamity or crisis or any change in political, financial or economic conditions, if the effect of any such event in (A) or (B), in the reasonable judgment of the Underwriter, is so material and adverse that such event makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale and delivery of the Firm Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus.
(c) Any notice of termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be in writing and delivered in accordance with Section 12.
(d) If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to any of the provisions hereof (other than pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof), or if the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriter set forth herein is not satisfied or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof, the Company will, subject to demand by the Underwriter, reimburse the Underwriter for only those documented out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel), actually incurred by the Underwriter in connection herewith as allowed under FINRA Rule 5110 less any amounts previously paid by the Company); provided, however, that all such expenses, including the costs and expenses set forth in Section 6(d) which were actually paid, shall not exceed $150,000 in the aggregate, including any advances.
12. Notices. All communications hereunder, except as may be otherwise specifically provided herein, shall be in writing, and:
(a) if sent to the Underwriter, shall be mailed, delivered, or emailed, to:
Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc.
2 Bridge Avenue, Suite 241
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Attention: Adam Pasholk, Managing Director
Email: adampasholk@netw1.com
with a copy to Underwriter’s Counsel at:
Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas, 31st Floor
New York, New York 10036
Attention: David B. Manno, Esq.
Email: dmanno@srf.com
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(b) if sent to the Company, shall be mailed, delivered, or emailed, to the Company with a copy to its counsel, at the addresses set forth in the Registration Statement.
13 Parties; Limitation of Relationship. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the Underwriter, the Company and the controlling Persons, directors, officers, employees and agents referred to in Sections 8 and 9 hereof, and their respective successors and assigns, and no other Person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and such Persons and their respective successors and assigns, and not for the benefit of any other Person. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of Securities from the Underwriter.
14. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof. Each of the parties hereto hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York (each, a “New York Court”) in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in the New York Courts, and irrevocably waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit or proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Company irrevocably appoints Cogency Global Inc., 122 East 42nd St 18th Floor, New York, NY 10168 as its authorized agent (the “Authorized Agent”) in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York upon which process may be served in any such suit or proceeding, and agrees that service of process in any manner permitted by applicable law upon such agent shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process in any manner permitted by applicable law upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all actions as may be necessary to maintain such designation and appointment of such agent in full force and effect for a period of three years from the date of this Agreement.
15. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the schedules and annexes attached hereto and as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, contains the entire agreement among the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof and there are no other or further agreements outstanding not specifically mentioned herein. This Agreement supersedes any prior agreements or understandings among or between the parties hereto.
16. Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement or the performance thereof shall be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect or render invalid or unenforceable any other provision of this Agreement and this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
17. Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.
18. Waiver, etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver may be sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.
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19. No Fiduciary Relationship. The Company hereby acknowledges that the Underwriter is acting solely as Underwriter in connection with the offering of the Company’s Securities. The Company further acknowledges that the Underwriter is acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s-length basis and in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriter act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, shareholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriter may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the offering of the Company’s Securities, either before or after the date hereof. The Underwriter hereby expressly disclaims any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company hereby further confirms its understanding that the Underwriter has not assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the Offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including, without limitation, any negotiation related to the pricing of the Securities; and the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate in connection with this Agreement and the Offering. The Company and the Underwriter agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriter to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriter with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.
20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
21. Headings. The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
22. Time is of the Essence. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. As used herein, the term “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any day on which any of the major U.S. stock exchanges are not open for business.
[Signature Page Follows]
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If the foregoing correctly sets forth your understanding, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement among us.
Very truly yours, | ||
Golden Sun Education Group Limited | ||
By: | ||
Name: Xueyuan Weng | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Accepted by the Underwriter,
as of the date first written above:
Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
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SCHEDULE A
Underwriters | Closing Securities | Closing Purchase Price | ||
Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc. | ||||
Total |
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SCHEDULE B
Lock-Up Parties
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SCHEDULE C
Free Writing Prospectuses
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Annex II
Lock-Up Agreement
[●]
Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc.
2 Bridge Avenue, Suite 241
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc. (the “Underwriter”) proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Golden Sun Education Group Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), providing for the initial public offering in the United States (the “Initial Public Offering”) of a certain number of the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $1.00 per share (the “Securities”). For purposes of this letter agreement, “Shares” shall mean shares of the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares.
To induce the Underwriter to continue its efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, the undersigned will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending one hundred and eighty (180) days after the date of the final prospectus (the “Prospectus”) relating to the Initial Public Offering (the “Lock-Up Period”), (1) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, make any short sale, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for or represent the right to receive Shares, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned (collectively, the “Lock-Up Securities”); (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) above or this clause (2) is to be settled by delivery of Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; (3) make any written demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any Shares or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares; or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer Lock-Up Securities without the prior written consent of the Underwriter in connection with (a) transactions relating to Lock-Up Securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Initial Public Offering; (b) transfers of Lock-Up Securities as a bona fide gift, by will or intestacy or to a family member or trust for the benefit of the undersigned and/or one or more family members (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “family member” means any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); (c) transfers of Lock-Up Securities to a charity or educational institution or other not-for-profit organization; (d) if the undersigned, directly or indirectly, controls a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, any transfers of Lock-Up Securities to any such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, or any shareholder, partner or member of, or owner of similar equity interests in, the same, as the case may be; (e) a sale or surrender to the Company of any options or Shares of the Company underlying options in order to pay the exercise price or taxes associated with the exercise of options or (f) transfers or distributions pursuant to any bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, acquisition, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of the Company’s Shares involving a Change of Control of the Company, provided that in the event that such tender offer, merger, acquisition, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the Lock-Up Securities held by the undersigned shall remain subject to the provisions of this lock-up agreement; provided that in the case of any transfer pursuant to the foregoing clauses (b), (c) or (d), (i) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (ii) each transferee shall sign and deliver to the Underwriter a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this lock-up agreement and (iii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended shall be required or shall be voluntarily made (collectively, “Permitted Transfers”). For purposes of this paragraph, the term “Change of Control” shall mean any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Shares of the Company on a fully diluted basis. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with this lock-up agreement.
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The undersigned agrees that, prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this lock-up agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any transaction or other action in connection with a Permitted Transfer) during the period from the date hereof to and including the [●] day following the expiration of the initial Lock-Up Period, the undersigned will give notice thereof to the Company and will not consummate any such transaction or take any such action unless it has received written confirmation from the Company that the Lock-Up Period has expired.
The undersigned agrees that (i) the foregoing restrictions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed or “friends and family” Shares that the undersigned may purchase in the Initial Public Offering, (ii) at least three (3) business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of Lock-Up Securities, the Underwriter will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Underwriter hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two (2) business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer of Lock-Up Securities not for consideration or in connection with any other Permitted Transfer and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this lock-up agreement.
No provision in this agreement shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the exercise, exchange or conversion by the undersigned of any securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into Shares, as applicable; provided that the undersigned does not transfer the Shares acquired on such exercise, exchange or conversion during the Lock-Up Period, unless in connection with a Permitted Transfer or in a transfer otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of this lock-up agreement. In addition, no provision herein shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the entry into or modification of a so-called “10b5-1” plan at any time (other than the entry into or modification of such a plan in such a manner as to cause the sale of any Lock-Up Securities within the Lock-Up Period).
The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriter are relying upon this lock-up agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Initial Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this lock-up agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal Underwriters, successors and assigns.
The undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Shares to be sold thereunder, then this lock-up agreement shall be void and of no further force or effect.
Whether or not the Initial Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. The Initial Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Underwriter.
This lock-up agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof. Delivery of a signed copy of this lock-up agreement by facsimile or e-mail/.pdf transmission shall be effective as the delivery of the original hereof.
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]
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Very truly yours, | ||
(Signature) | ||
Address: | ||
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Exhibit 4.2
Form of Underwriter’s Warrant
THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE WARRANT AGREES BY HIS, HER OR ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, THAT SUCH HOLDER WILL NOT FOR A PERIOD OF ONE hundred eighty days BEGINNING ON THE date of the commencemEnt of sales of the offering pursuant the registration statement No: 333[●] AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION: (A) SELL, TRANSFER, ASSIGN, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATE THIS PURCHASE WARRANT TO ANYONE OTHER THAN OFFICERS OR PARTNERS OF NETWORK 1, EACH OF WHOM SHALL HAVE AGREED TO THE RESTRICTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH FINRA CONDUCT RULE 5110(E)(1), OR (B) CAUSE THIS PURCHASE WARRANT OR THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE HEREUNDER TO BE THE SUBJECT OF ANY HEDGING, SHORT SALE, DERIVATIVE, PUT OR CALL TRANSACTION THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC DISPOSITION OF THIS PURCHASE WARRANT OR THE SECURITIES HEREUNDER, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR IN FINRA RULE 5110(e)(2).
THIS PURCHASE WARRANT IS NOT EXERCISABLE PRIOR TO [●], 2022] [DATE OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF SALES OF THE OFFERING]. VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME, [●], 2026 [DATE THAT IS FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF SALES OF THE OFFERING].
CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES PURCHASE WARRANT
For the Purchase of [●] Class A Ordinary Shares
of
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED
1. Purchase Warrant. THIS CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES PURCHASE WARRANT (this “Purchase Warrant”) certifies that, pursuant to that certain Underwriting Agreement by and between Golden Sun Education Group Limited , a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) and Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc. (“Network 1”), dated [●], 2022 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), Network 1 (in such capacity with its permitted successors or assigns, the “Holder”), as registered owner of this Purchase Warrant, is entitled, at any time or from time to time from [●], 2022 (the “Exercise Date”) [THE DATE OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF SALES OF THE OFFERING], and at or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, [●], 2026 [DATE THAT IS FIVE YEARS FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF SALES OF THE OFFERING] (the “Expiration Date”), but not thereafter, to subscribe for, purchase and receive, in whole or in part, up to [●] Class A Ordinary Shares of the Company, par value $1.00 per share (the “Shares”)1, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5 hereof. If the Expiration Date is a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law or executive order to close, then this Purchase Warrant may be exercised on the next succeeding day which is not such a day in accordance with the terms herein. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the Expiration Date, the Company agrees not to take any action that would terminate this Purchase Warrant. This Purchase Warrant is initially exercisable at $[●] per Share (130% of the price of the Shares sold in the Offering); provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 5 hereof, the rights granted by this Purchase Warrant, including the exercise price per Share and the number of Shares to be received upon such exercise, shall be adjusted as therein specified. The term “Exercise Price” shall mean the initial exercise price or the adjusted exercise price, depending on the context. Any term not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Underwriting Agreement. The Purchase Warrant is redeemable.
1 | 7.5% of the number of Class A Ordinary Shares sold in the Offering. |
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2. Exercise.
2.1 Exercise Form. In order to exercise this Purchase Warrant, the exercise form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Form”) must be duly executed and completed and delivered to the Company, together with this Purchase Warrant and payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares being purchased payable in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company. If the subscription rights represented hereby shall not be exercised at or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Expiration Date, this Purchase Warrant shall become and be void without further force or effect, and all rights represented hereby shall cease and expire.
2.2 Cashless Exercise. In lieu of exercising this Purchase Warrant by payment of cash pursuant to Section 2.1 above, Holder may elect to receive the number of Shares equal to the value of this Purchase Warrant (or the portion thereof being exercised), by surrender of this Purchase Warrant to the Company, together with the Exercise Form, in which event the Company shall issue to Holder, Shares in accordance with the following formula:
X = | Y(A – B) | |
A |
Where, | X = The number of Shares to be issued to Holder; |
Y = The number of Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Purchase Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise;
A = The fair market value of one Share; and
B = The Exercise Price of this Purchase Warrant, as adjusted hereunder.
For purposes of this Section 2.2, the fair market value of a Share is defined as follows:
(i) if the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares are traded on a securities exchange, the value shall be deemed to be the closing price on such exchange on the trading day immediately prior to the Exercise Form being submitted in connection with the exercise of this Purchase Warrant; or
(ii) if the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares are traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be the closing bid price on the trading day immediately prior to the Exercise Form being submitted in connection with the exercise of the Purchase Warrant;
(iii) if there is no active public market, the value shall be the fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors.
2.3 Legend. Each certificate for the securities purchased under this Purchase Warrant shall bear a legend as follows unless such securities have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”):
“(i) “THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCK-UP PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS FOLLOWING THE COMMENCEMENT OF SALES OF THE OFFERING PURSUANT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES (FILE NO. 333-[●])) AND MAY NOT BE (A) SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED TO ANYONE OTHER THAN NETWORK 1 FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. OR BONA FIDE OFFICERS OR PARTNERS OF NETWORK 1 FINANCIAL SECURITIES, INC., OR (B) CAUSED TO BE THE SUBJECT OF ANY HEDGING, SHORT SALE, DERIVATIVE, PUT OR CALL TRANSACTION THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC DISPOSITION OF THIS SECURITIES HEREUNDER, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR IN FINRA RULE 5110(E)(2).””
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3. Transfer.
3.1 General Restrictions. The registered Holder of this Purchase Warrant agrees by his, her or its acceptance hereof, that such Holder will not for a period of one hundred eighty days following the date of commencement of sales of the offering: (a) sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate this Purchase Warrant or any of the Shares issuable hereunder to anyone other than: (i) Network 1 or a selected dealer (including any officer, manger, member, partner of such selected dealer) participating in the Offering contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, or (ii) officers, members, managers or partners of Network 1, each of whom shall have agreed to the restrictions contained herein, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1), or (b) cause this Purchase Warrant (or any portion thereof) or the securities issuable hereunder to be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of this Purchase Warrant or the securities hereunder, except as provided for in FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2). On and after that date that is one hundred eighty days after the commencement of sales of the offering, transfers to others may be made subject to compliance with or exemptions from applicable securities laws. In order to make any permitted assignment, the Holder must deliver to the Company the assignment form attached hereto as Exhibit B duly executed and completed, together with this Purchase Warrant and payment of all transfer taxes, if any, payable in connection therewith. The Company shall within five (5) Business Days transfer this Purchase Warrant on the books of the Company and shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Warrant or Purchase Warrants of like tenor to the appropriate assignee(s) expressly evidencing the right to purchase the aggregate number of Shares purchasable hereunder or such portion of such number as shall be contemplated by any such assignment.
3.2 Restrictions Imposed by the Act. The securities evidenced by this Purchase Warrant shall not be transferred unless and until: (i) the Company has received the opinion of counsel for the Holder that the securities may be transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and applicable state securities laws, the availability of which is established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company, (ii) a Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of such securities that includes a current prospectus has been filed and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and compliance with applicable state securities law has been established.
4. New Purchase Warrants to be Issued.
4.1 Partial Exercise or Transfer. Subject to the restrictions in Section 3 hereof, this Purchase Warrant may be exercised or assigned in whole or in part. In the event of the exercise or assignment hereof in part only, upon surrender of this Purchase Warrant for cancellation, together with the duly executed exercise or assignment form and funds sufficient to pay any Exercise Price and/or transfer tax if exercised pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Holder without charge a new Purchase Warrant of like tenor to this Purchase Warrant in the name of the Holder evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase the number of Shares purchasable hereunder as to which this Purchase Warrant has not been exercised or assigned.
4.2 Lost Certificate. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Purchase Warrant and of reasonably satisfactory indemnification or the posting of a bond, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Warrant of like tenor and date. Any such new Purchase Warrant executed and delivered as a result of such loss, theft, mutilation or destruction shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation on the part of the Company.
5. Adjustments.
5.1 Adjustments to Exercise Price and Number of Shares. The Exercise Price and the number of Shares underlying this Purchase Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as hereinafter set forth:
5.1.1 Share Dividends; Split Ups. If, after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 5.3 below, the number of outstanding Shares is increased by a stock dividend payable in Shares or by a split up of Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective day thereof, the number of Shares purchasable hereunder shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding shares, and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately decreased.
5.1.2 Aggregation of Shares. If, after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 5.3 below, the number of outstanding Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination or reclassification of Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date thereof, the number of Shares purchasable hereunder shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares, and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately increased.
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5.1.3 Replacement of Shares upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Shares other than a change covered by Section 5.1.1 or Section 5.1.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Shares, or in the case of any share reconstruction or amalgamation or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the Holder of this Purchase Warrant shall have the right thereafter (until the expiration of the right of exercise of this Purchase Warrant) to receive upon the exercise hereof, for the same aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder immediately prior to such event, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, share reconstruction or amalgamation, or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, by a Holder of the number of Shares of the Company obtainable upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant immediately prior to such event; and if any reclassification also results in a change in Shares covered by Section 5.1.1 or Section 5.1.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Section 5.1.1, Section 5.1.2 and this Section 5.1.3. The provisions of this Section 5.1.3 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, share reconstructions or amalgamations, or consolidations, sales or other transfers.
5.1.4 Changes in Form of Purchase Warrant. This form of Purchase Warrant need not be changed because of any change pursuant to this Section 5.1, and Purchase Warrants issued after such change may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of Shares as are stated in the Purchase Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement. The acceptance by any Holder of the issuance of new Purchase Warrants reflecting a required or permissive change shall not be deemed to waive any rights to an adjustment occurring after the date hereof or the computation thereof.
5.2 Substitute Purchase Warrant. In case of any consolidation of the Company with, or share reconstruction or amalgamation of the Company with or into, another corporation (other than a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation which does not result in any reclassification or change of the outstanding Shares), the corporation formed by such consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation shall execute and deliver to the Holder a supplemental Purchase Warrant providing that the holder of each Purchase Warrant then outstanding or to be outstanding shall have the right thereafter (until the stated expiration of such Purchase Warrant) to receive, upon exercise of such Purchase Warrant, the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property receivable upon such consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation, by a holder of the number of Shares of the Company for which such Purchase Warrant might have been exercised immediately prior to such consolidation, share reconstruction or amalgamation, sale or transfer. Such supplemental Purchase Warrant shall provide for adjustments which shall be identical to the adjustments provided for in this Section 5. The above provision of this Section 5 shall similarly apply to successive consolidations or share reconstructions or amalgamations.
5.3 Elimination of Fractional Interests. The Company shall not be required to issue certificates representing fractions of Shares upon the exercise of the Purchase Warrant, nor shall it be required to issue scrip or pay cash in lieu of any fractional interests, it being the intent of the parties that all fractional interests shall be eliminated by rounding any fraction up or down, as the case may be, to the nearest whole number of Shares or other securities, properties or rights.
6. Registration Rights.
6.1 Demand Registration.
6.1.1 Grant of Right. Unless all of the Registrable Securities (defined as below) are included in an effective registration statement with a current prospectus, the Company, upon written demand (“Demand Notice”) of the Holder(s) of at least 51% of the Underwriter’s Warrants and/or the underlying securities (“Majority Holder(s)”), agrees to register on two occasions, all or any portion of the remaining Class A Ordinary Shares (collectively, the “Registrable Securities”) as requested by the Majority Holder(s) in the Demand Notice, provided that no such registration will be required unless the Holders request registration of an aggregate of at least 51% of the outstanding Registrable Securities. On such occasion, the Company will file a new registration statement or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities within sixty (60) days after receipt of the Demand Notice and use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such registration statement or post-effective amendment declared effective as soon as possible thereafter. The demand for registration may be made at any time after one (1) year from the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, but no later than five (5) years from the effective date of the Registration Statement. The Company covenants and agrees to give written notice of its receipt of any Demand Notice by any Holder(s) to all other registered Holders of the Underwriter’s Warrants and/or the Registrable Securities within ten (10) days from the date of the receipt of any such Demand Notice, who shall have five days from the receipt of such Notice in which to notify the Company of their desire to have their Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement.
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6.1.2 Terms. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the Registrable Securities upon the first Demand Notice, including the reasonable expenses of any legal counsel selected by the Holders to represent them in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities, but the Holders shall pay any and all underwriting commissions, if any. The Holders shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the Registrable Securities upon the second Demand Notice. The Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to qualify or register the Registrable Securities in such States as are reasonably requested by the Majority Holder(s); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be required to register the Registrable Securities in a State in which such registration would cause (i) the Company to be obligated to qualify to do business in such State or execute a general consent to service of process, or would subject the Company to taxation as a foreign corporation doing business in such jurisdiction or (ii) the principal shareholders of the Company to be obligated to escrow their shares of capital stock of the Company. The Company shall cause any registration statement or post-effective amendment filed pursuant to the demand rights granted under Section 6.1.1 to remain effective for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months from the effective date of such registration statement or post-effective amendment or until the Holders have completed the distribution of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement, whichever occurs first.
6.1.3. Deferred Filing. If (i) in the good faith judgment of the Board, filing a registration statement pursuant to Section 6.1 would be seriously detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes, as a result, that it is essential to defer the filing of such registration statement at such time, and (ii) the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the President of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be seriously detrimental to the Company for such registration statement to be filed in the near future and that it is, therefore, essential to defer the filing of such registration statement, then the Company shall have the right to defer such filing on two occasions for an aggregate of not more than one hundred and twenty (120) days in any twelve-month period.
6.1.4. No Cash Settlement Option. The Company is only required to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause a registration statement covering issuance of the Registrable Securities underlying the Underwriter’s Warrant to be declared effective, and once effective, only to use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement. The Company will not be obligated to deliver securities, and there are no contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities, if a registration statement is not effective at the time of exercise. Additionally, in no event is the Company obligated to settle any Underwriter’s Warrant, in whole or in part, for cash in the event it is unable to register the Registrable Securities.
6.2 “Piggy-Back” Registration.
6.2.1 Grant of Right. Unless all of the Registrable Securities are included in an effective registration statement with a current prospectus, the Holders of the Underwriter’s Warrants shall have the right for a period of not more than five (5) years from the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, to include the remaining Registrable Securities as part of any other registration of securities filed by the Company (other than in connection with a transaction contemplated by Rule 145(a) promulgated under the Act or pursuant to Form S-8 or any successor or equivalent form); provided, however, that if, in the written opinion of the Company’s managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, for such offering, the inclusion of the Registrable Securities, when added to the securities being registered by the Company or the selling shareholder(s), will exceed the maximum amount of the Company’s securities which can be marketed (i) at a price reasonably related to their then current market value, and (ii) without materially and adversely affecting the entire offering, then the Company will still be required to include the Registrable Securities, but may require the Holders to agree, in writing, to delay the sale of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities for a period of ninety (90) days from the effective date of the offering, provided, further, that if the sale of any Registrable Securities is so delayed, then the number of securities to be sold by all shareholders in such public offering shall be apportioned pro rata among all such selling shareholders, including all holders of the Registrable Securities, according to the total amount of securities of the Company owned by said selling shareholders, including all holders of the Registrable Securities.
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6.2.2 Terms. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the Registrable Securities, including the expenses of any legal counsel selected by the Holders to represent them in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities, but the Holders shall pay any and all underwriting commissions. In the event of such a proposed registration, the Company shall furnish the then Holders of outstanding Registrable Securities with not less than ten (10) days written notice prior to the proposed date of filing of such registration statement. Such notice to the Holders shall continue to be given for each applicable registration statement filed (during the period in which the Underwriter’s Warrant is exercisable) by the Company until such time as all of the Registrable Securities have been registered and sold. The holders of the Registrable Securities shall exercise the “piggy back” rights provided for herein by giving written notice, within ten (10) days of the receipt of the Company’s notice of its intention to file a registration statement. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any registration statement filed pursuant to the above “piggyback” rights that does not relate to a firm commitment underwritten offering to remain effective for at least nine (9) consecutive months from the effective date of such registration statement or until the Holders have completed the distribution of the Registrable Securities in the registration statement, whichever occurs first.
7. Reservation and Listing. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant, such number of Shares or other securities, properties or rights as shall be issuable upon the exercise thereof. The Company covenants and agrees that, upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant and payment of the Exercise Price therefor, in accordance with the terms hereby, all Shares and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any shareholder. The Company further covenants and agrees that upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant and payment of the exercise price therefor, all Shares and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any shareholder. As long as this Purchase Warrant shall be outstanding, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Shares issuable upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant to be listed (subject to official notice of issuance) on all national securities exchanges (or, if applicable, on the OTC Bulletin Board or any successor trading market) on which the Shares issued to the public in the Offering may then be listed and/or quoted.
8. Certain Notice Requirements.
8.1 Holder’s Right to Receive Notice. Nothing herein shall be construed as conferring upon the Holders the right to vote or consent or to receive notice as a shareholder for the election of directors or any other matter, or as having any rights whatsoever as a shareholder of the Company. If, however, at any time prior to the expiration of the Purchase Warrants and their exercise, any of the events described in Section 8.2 shall occur, then, in one or more of said events, the Company shall give written notice of such event at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date fixed as a record date or the date of closing the transfer books (the “Notice Date”) for the determination of the shareholders entitled to such dividend, distribution, conversion or exchange of securities or subscription rights, or entitled to vote on such proposed dissolution, liquidation, winding up or sale. Such notice shall specify such record date or the date of the closing of the transfer books, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall deliver to each Holder a copy of each notice given to the other shareholders of the Company at the same time and in the same manner that such notice is given to the shareholders.
8.2 Events Requiring Notice. The Company shall be required to give the notice described in this Section 8 upon one or more of the following events: (i) if the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Shares for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or distribution payable otherwise than in cash, or a cash dividend or distribution payable otherwise than out of retained earnings, as indicated by the accounting treatment of such dividend or distribution on the books of the Company, (ii) the Company shall offer to all the holders of its Shares any additional shares of capital stock of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company, or any option, right or warrant to subscribe therefor, or (iii) a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company (other than in connection with a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation) or a sale of all or substantially all of its property, assets and business shall be proposed.
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8.3 Notice of Change in Exercise Price. The Company shall, promptly after an event requiring a change in the Exercise Price pursuant to Section 5 hereof, send notice to the Holders of such event and change (“Price Notice”). The Price Notice shall describe the event causing the change and the method of calculating same and shall be certified as being true and accurate by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer.
8.4 Transmittal of Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications under this Purchase Warrant shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly made (1) when hand delivered, (2) when mailed by express mail or private courier service, (3) if sent by electronic mail, on the day the notice was sent if during regular business hours and, if sent outside of regular business hours, on the following business day, or (4) when the event requiring notice is disclosed in all material respects and filed in a Current Report on Form 6-K prior to the Notice Date: (i) if to the registered Holder of the Purchase Warrant, to the address of such Holder as shown on the books of the Company, or (ii) if to the Company, to following address or to such other address as the Company may designate by notice to the Holders:
If to the Holder:
Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc.
2 Bridge Ave., Suite 241
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Attention: Damon Testaverde, Managing Director
Email: ddtestaverde@netw1.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas, 31st Floor
New York, New York 10036
Attention: David B. Mano, Esq.
Email: dmanno@srf.law
If to the Company:
Golden Sun Education Group Limited
Profit Huiyin Square North Building
Huashan 2018, Unit 1001
Xuhui District, Shanghai, China
Attention: Xueyuan Weng, CEO
Email: _________________________________
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC
800 Third Avenue, Suite 2800
New York, NY 10022
Attn: Ying Li, Esq.
Fax: 212-202-6380
Email: yli@htflawyers.com
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9. Miscellaneous.
9.1 Amendments. The Company and Network 1 may from time to time supplement or amend this Purchase Warrant without the approval of any of the Holders in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising hereunder that the Company and Network 1 may deem necessary or desirable and that the Company and Network 1 deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders. All other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent of and be signed by the party against whom enforcement of the modification or amendment is sought.
9.2 Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Purchase Warrant.
9.3 Entire Agreement. This Purchase Warrant (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Purchase Warrant) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
9.4 Binding Effect. This Purchase Warrant shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon, the Holder and the Company and their permitted assignees and respective successors and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Purchase Warrant or any provisions herein contained.
9.5 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Purchase Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Purchase Warrant shall be brought and enforced in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York (each, a “New York Court”), and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 8.4 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company and the Holder agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor.
9.6 Waiver, etc. The failure of the Company or the Holder to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Purchase Warrant shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Purchase Warrant or any provision hereof or the right of the Company or any Holder to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Purchase Warrant. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Purchase Warrant shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.
9.7 Exchange Agreement. As a condition of the Holder’s receipt and acceptance of this Purchase Warrant, Holder agrees that, at any time prior to the complete exercise of this Purchase Warrant by Holder, if the Company and Network 1 enter into an agreement (“Exchange Agreement”) pursuant to which they agree that all outstanding Purchase Warrants will be exchanged for securities or cash or a combination of both, then Holder shall agree to such exchange and become a party to the Exchange Agreement.
9.8 Execution in Counterparts. This Purchase Warrant may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Such counterparts may be delivered by facsimile transmission or other electronic transmission.
9.9 Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Purchase Warrant, if not registered, and the Holder does not utilize cashless exercise, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.
9.10 Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Purchase Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Purchase Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Purchase Warrant.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Purchase Warrant to be signed by its duly authorized officer as of the ____ day of _______, 2022.
GOLDEN SUN EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED | ||
By: | ||
Name: Xueyuan Weng | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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EXHIBIT A
EXERCISE FORM
Form to be used to exercise Purchase Warrant:
Date: __________, 20___
The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to exercise the Purchase Warrant for ______ Shares of Golden Sun Education Group Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) and hereby makes payment of $____ (at the rate of $____ per Share) in payment of the Exercise Price pursuant thereto. Please issue the Shares as to which this Purchase Warrant is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Purchase Warrant representing the number of Shares for which this Purchase Warrant has not been exercised.
or
The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to convert its right to purchase ___ Shares under the Purchase Warrant for ______ Shares, as determined in accordance with the following formula:
X | = | Y(A-B) | ||
A |
Where,
X = The number of Shares to be issued to Holder;
Y = The number of Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Purchase Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise;
A = The fair market value of one Share; and
B = The Exercise Price of this Purchase Warrant, as adjusted hereunder
The undersigned agrees and acknowledges that the calculation set forth above is subject to confirmation by the Company and any disagreement with respect to the calculation shall be resolved by the Company in its sole discretion.
Please issue the Shares as to which this Purchase Warrant is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Purchase Warrant representing the number of Shares for which this Purchase Warrant has not been exercised.
Signature
Signature Guaranteed
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES
Name:
(Print in Block Letters)
Address:
NOTICE: The signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Purchase Warrant without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank, other than a savings bank, or by a trust company or by a firm having membership on a registered national securities exchange.
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EXHIBIT B
ASSIGNMENT FORM
Form to be used to assign Purchase Warrant:
(To be executed by the registered Holder to effect a transfer of the within Purchase Warrant):
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, does hereby sell, assign and transfer unto the right to purchase shares of Golden Sun Education Group Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), evidenced by the Purchase Warrant and does hereby authorize the Company to transfer such right on the books of the Company to
_______________________________________________ whose address is
_______________________________________________________________.
_______________________________________________________________
Dated: ____________, 20__
Holder’s Signature: _____________________________
Holder’s Address: _____________________________
_____________________________
Signature Guaranteed: ___________________________________________
NOTICE: The signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Purchase Warrant without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank or trust company. Officers of corporations and those acting in a fiduciary or other representative capacity should file proper evidence of authority to assign the foregoing Purchase Warrant.
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Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the use in this amendment to the Registration Statement on Form F-1 of Golden Sun Education Group Limited of our report dated February 11, 2022 with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Golden Sun Education Group Limited as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive (loss) income, changes in shareholders’ deficit and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended September 30, 2021, included in this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ Friedman LLP
New York, New York
April 1, 2022